Patent Application
20230330551
The present invention relates to track assemblies for miniature building sets. More specifically, the invention relates to a flexible track assembly for a roller coaster building set.
Miniaturized building systems has been a growing hobby market for a number of years. Each advancement in the industry has permitted expansion in design, creativity, and application. Further, what was once created with a few hundred pieces, is now created with a few thousand pieces. As a result, the detail of each build provides greater authenticity to replicate even the most intricate structures.
However, as popular as replicating existing structures is in the industry, there are those who want to be more creative and more design-oriented with their builds. Unfortunately, existing miniature building systems do not always allow for a wide scope of design creativity. Pieces are often rigid and systems are sold in “kits”.
Until the invention of the present application, these and other problems in the prior art went either unnoticed or unsolved by those skilled in the art. The present invention provides a track assembly and kit which are capable of multiple configurations without sacrificing creativity, design, style, or affordability.
There is disclosed herein an improved miniature track assembly and kit which avoid the disadvantages of prior devices and market offerings while affording additional structural, design and operating advantages.
Generally speaking, the track assembly comprises a plurality of central track supports, a first track support spacer, and first and second flexible track runners. Each track support has a body portion and an extended portion attached to the body portion, the extended portion having a first connection node and a second connection node for detachable connection with the flexible track runners. The first track support spacer is configured to attach to at least one of either a central track support from the plurality of central track supports, or a second track support spacer. The first and second flexible track runners are configured to attach to the connection nodes of the extended portion of each of the plurality of central track supports.
In specific embodiments, the track assembly further comprises a plurality of vertical supports configured to attach to the plurality of central track supports to elevate the track assembly. The vertical supports may be of varying lengths or may be stackable to adjust the track elevation at various points.
In specific embodiments, the track assembly comprises connectors for coupling one of either a central track support to the first track support spacer, the first track support spacer to the second track support spacer, or a central track support to another central track support.
In still other specific embodiments, the first track support spacer have a longitudinal curve to facilitate a curved track design. For such embodiments, a plurality of first track support spacers can be used with some curved and some straight.
Additionally, an assembly kit for building a miniature roller-coaster type structure is also disclosed. The assembly kit comprises a plurality of central track supports, a plurality of track support spacers, a first length of flexible track runner, and a second length of flexible track runner.
These and other aspects of the invention may be understood more readily from the following description and the appended drawings.
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail at least one preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to any of the specific embodiments illustrated.
Referring to
With reference to
Preferably, the numerous components of the disclosed miniature track assembly 10 are molded of a high-quality thermoplastic polymer. For example, the preferred Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) a strong, physical and chemical-resistive material, with good production qualities. ABS can produce components in most colors and provides good connectivity between components in its final form.
Referring now to
An embodiment of the track support spacer 14 is shown in
The track support spacer 14, of which there are preferably a plurality of for designing and building a track assembly 10, may have different lengths and contours, including straight, as shown in
Finally,
The vertical support 18 may have a similar design to the connector 20, as it is used to snap or friction-fit within an opening (i.e., receptacle 126). However, to provide varied height support, the vertical support 18 may be stackable and/or have varied body lengths.
The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants' contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
