The present invention is related to building toys, and more specifically, kits for designing and building marble run tracks.
Marble run toys known in the art have interconnecting track sections that may be arranged by a user in any of a plurality of designs. Once constructed, the track can define a downhill track through the various sections or modules. The interchangeable nature of the various module designs allows for the construction of many different marble run layouts.
In popular marble run kits, the vertical receiving tube 14 of each module is generally designed to directly physically connect to an exit tube 16 of an upstream module, thus allowing the marble to transition downstream from module to module. In
One characteristic of marble run kits similar to the one shown in
It would be advantageous to create a toy kit that builds on the advantages of the marble run kits and provides greater flexibility in marble path design.
At least one embodiment described herein contemplates a marble run kit wherein one or more marble run tracks can be removably and flexibly connected to one or more tube modules. A marble kit with such marble run tracks and tube modules can provide for customized track builds by allowing for a non-rigid relationship between two tube modules in the marble run.
A first embodiment is a marble run track connection arrangement for use a plurality of physically interconnectable marble run elements. The connection arrangement includes a marble track section, a first tube, and a connector. The marble track section has at least first and second connecting posts coupled to or forming a portion of a marble travel path of the marble track section. The first tube includes a connecting portion configured to directly physically connect to a second tube. The connecting portion passes a marble from or to the second tube. The first tube also has a side opening configured to receive a marble therethrough into or out of an interior of the first tube. The first tube also includes a track connector extending outward from the tube. The connector is configured to receive the first and second connecting posts and to couple to the track connector, such that a first path is defined between the marble travel path and the interior of the first tube.
Another embodiment is a marble run kit that includes a plurality of marble track sections, a plurality of tubes, and a plurality of connectors. Each marble track sections has at least first and second connecting posts coupled to or forming a portion of a marble travel path. Each of at least some of the plurality of tubes includes a first connecting portion at one end of the tube, and a second connecting portion at a second end of the tube. The first connecting portion directly physically connects to a second connecting portion of another tube of the plurality of tubes. The tube has a side opening configured to pass a marble into or out of an interior of the tube. A track connector extends outward from the tube. Each connector receives the first and second connecting posts and couples to the track connector to define a first path between the marble travel path and the interior of the first tube.
The above-described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Each of the marble track sections 102, 104, 105, 106 has various shapes and sizes, and may each be connected to the feeder tubes 108 and exit tubes 110. As shown in
More specifically,
In general use, the bottoms 110b of exit tubes 110 of one stage 111 are advantageously connected to the tops 108a of feed tubes 108 of another stage 111, either directly or via one or more intermediate spacer tubes 114, so that a marble may feed from a track section 102, 104, 106 connected to an exit tube 110 to a feeder tube 108, and from that feed tube 108 to another track section 102, 104 and 106. Thus, the tubes 108, 110, 114 and track sections 102, 104, 106 can be combined in various ways to create a wide variety of marble paths, with marbles rolling along track sections 102, 104, 106 between tubes 108, 110, and passing vertically between tubes 108, 110 directly or via spacer tubes 114. The spacer tubes 114 may be used as vertical supports as well as vertical passages for the marble. The bases 112 may be used as the terminus of the designed track.
In general, the marble travel path 202 is configured to support and guide a marble from the first end 204 to the second end 206. The first and second connecting posts 204a, 204b are disposed at the first end 204 of the marble travel path 202, and the third and fourth connecting posts 206a, 206b are disposed at the second end 206 of the marble travel path 202. In this embodiment, the marble travel path 202 includes two travel rails 202a, 202b, and a plurality of spaced-apart concave ribs 208. The concave ribs 208 extend between and support in fixed relative position the first travel rail 202a and the second travel rail 202b. The two travel rails 202a, 202b may suitable be elongate rods or pins that are disposed substantially parallel to each other (or at least are coplanar) at a distance less than the diameter of a standard marble or other marble intended for use with the marble track section 106. The distance between the rails 202a, 202b is suitable to support a standard marble, and allow the marble to roll thereon. The concavity of the concave ribs 208 is disposed to allow a portion of the marble, disposed on rails 202a, 202b, to extend below the bottom of the rails 202a, 202b without interference from the ribs 208.
It will be appreciated that in this embodiment, the first and third connecting posts 204a, 206a form the ends of the first travel rail 202a, and the second and fourth connecting posts 204b, 206b form the ends of the second travel rail 202b. In other embodiments, the marble travel path 202 may take other forms where the connecting posts 204a, 204b, 206a and/or 206c are different structures from the marble travel path 202. For example, the marble travel path 202 may take the form of any of the channels 12 of the prior art marble run modules shown in
It will be appreciated that the other marble track sections 102, 104 have the same structure with rails, connecting posts, and ribs, but have a different length. The marble kit 100 also includes marble track sections 105 that have a different shape. Preferably, all of the marble track sections 102, 104, 105 and 106 have the same connecting posts 204a, 204b, 206a, 206b, but have travel paths and travel rails that differ in length and/or shape.
By way of example,
The first and second connecting posts 254a, 254b are disposed at the first end 254 of the marble travel path 252, and have the same structure as the connecting posts 204a, 204b of
The base portion 306 of the top 108a is also configured to engage the bottom of another tube 108, 110 or 114). The tube body 302 terminates at the bottom 108b to form an open bottom 311 configured to receive a connection boss having the same design as the connection boss 308. The tube body 302 includes a side opening 312 that is sized to receive a toy marble therethrough. Disposed in the interior 304 directly below the opening is marble ramp 314 that extends generally upward and inward from the side opening 312. As such, the marble ramp 314 guides a marble received through the top opening 310 to exit through the side opening 312.
As discussed above, the connection boss 308 in this embodiment has an outer diameter or outer perimeter that is sized to fit within and engage an open bottom of another tube 108, 110 or 114, or another marble run module having the same open bottom configuration. In this embodiment, the connection boss 308 is in the form of a generally round ring having chords 308a or other discontinuities on the outer perimeter. The connection boss 308 may take other shapes, such as a true polygon, a ring shape without chords 308a, a ring shape with fewer cords.
It will be appreciated, therefore, that multiple tubes 108 may be stacked vertically, with the connection boss 308 of each tube 108 disposed within and engaging the open bottom 311 of another tube 108. It will further be appreciated that that top 108a and the bottom 108b can compatibly connect with the tubes 110, 114, as well as many commercially available traditional marble race toys such as those shown in
In accordance with embodiments as described herein, the feeder tube 108 includes a track connector 318. The track connector 318 includes a shaft 320, a rib 322 and an end plate 324. The shaft 320 is a short bar or shaft extending radially outward from the tube 302 at a position below the opening 312. The end plate 324 is disposed at the end of the shaft 320 opposite the end that engages the tube body 302. The end plate 324 has a width and height that exceeds, respectively the cross-sectional width and height of the shaft 320. The rib 322 extends along the top of the shaft 324, and preferably does not have a height that extends above the vertical level of the end plate 324. As will be discussed below, the track connector 318 is configured to retain a corresponding snap connector while allowing limited vertical angular movement thereof.
The base portion 406 of the top 110a is also configured to engage the bottom of another tube 108, 110 or 114. The tube body 402 terminates at the bottom 110b to form an open bottom 411 that is substantially identical in design to the open bottom 311 of the feeder tube 108. The tube body 402 includes a side opening 412 that is sized to receive a toy marble therethrough. The tube body 402 is otherwise hollow, such that a marble received through the side opening 412 falls through the open bottom 411. Ideally, the distance between bottom of the side opening 412 and the open bottom 411 is shorter than the distance between the side opening 312 and open bottom 311 of the feeder tube 108. As such, when a marble track 102, 104, 105, 106 or 250 is coupled between the feeder tube 108 and the exit tube 110, the marble track 102, 104, 105, 106 or 250 has a downhill angle from the feeder tube side opening 312 to the exit tube side opening 412.
The connection boss 408 in this embodiment is substantially identical in function and design as the connection boss 308 of
In accordance with embodiments as described herein, the exit tube 110 includes a track connector 418. The track connector 418 is disposed below the side opening 412. The track connector 418 in this embodiment is identical in construction to the track connector 318 of
Referring again to
In this embodiment, each of the first, second and third receptacles 512, 514, and 516 is formed from flexible material. The first receptacle 512 in this embodiment includes a first and second clamp jaws 520, 522 and a flexible hinge 524 connected between the first and second clamp jaws 520, 522. With additional reference to
The second receptacle 514 has a substantially similar construction with jaws 530, 532 and a flexible hinge 534. As will be discussed below, the frame 518 is configured such that the first receptacle 512 and the second receptacle 514 are separated by a distance that corresponds to the distance between the first and second connecting posts 204a, 204b of the track section 106.
The third receptacle 516 is a clamp having an open side 540 for receiving either of the track connectors 318, 418. In this embodiment, the third receptacle includes a clamping portion 542 and a retention channel 544. The clamping portion 540 is generally a C-shaped body having the open side 540. The retention channel 544 is a U-shaped structure disposed on the frame 518, and is formed to interrupt the C-shape of the clamping portion 542.
Accordingly, the third receptacle 516 defines an interior having first chamber 546 and a second chamber 548. The first chamber 546 is configured to receive and loosely retain the track connector bar 320 (or track connector bar 420). Specifically, the first chamber 546 is larger in cross section than the connecting bar 320 to allow for vertical and lateral movement of the bar 320 within the first chamber 546. However, the opening 540 is smaller than the width of the track connector bar 320 to inhibit disengagement between the third receptacle 516 and the track connector bar 320 through the opening 540. Moreover, the first chamber 546 is smaller in cross section than the dimensions of the end plate 324 to inhibit axial disengagement between the third receptacle 516 and the connecting tab bar 320.
The loose fit of the connecting tab bar 320 within the first chamber 546 allows for the track section 106 to extend at different vertical angles from the feeder tube 108 (and likewise, when so connected, from the exit tube 110). This not only allows the user flexibility in designing marble runs, but also allows for track modules 102, 104, 106 of different lengths with the same tubes 108, 110 at the same heights. Specifically, the vertical displacement between the openings 312, 412 of tubes 108, 110 is consistent in the various stages 111 shown in
The second chamber 548 is defined by the U-shaped structure of the retention channel 544, and is configured to receive the fin 322 of the track connector 318 (or the fin 422 of the track connector 418) to inhibit lateral movement of the track connector 318 (or 418) with respect to the connector 116.
The frame 518 in this embodiment includes a first arm 518a and a second arm 518b. The first arm 518a extends from a first side of the retention channel 544 to the second jaw 522 of the first receptacle 512, and the second arm 518b extends from the second side of the retention channel 544 to the second jaw 532 of the second receptacle 514. It will be appreciated that the frame is configured such that the open sides 512a, 514a of the first and second receptacles 512, respectively, 514 face away from the open side 540 of the third receptacle 514. As shown in
As discussed above, the tubes 108, 110 and 114 can be interconnected with prior art marble run pieces, such as those shown in
It will be appreciated that many of the advantages of the embodiments described above may be obtained by marble run kit that uses integrated track sections and connectors. For example,
As shown in
The marble travel path 602 includes two travel rails 602a, 602b, and a plurality of spaced-apart concave ribs 612. The concave ribs 612 extend between and support in fixed relative position the first curved travel rail 602a and the second curved travel rail 602b. The two travel rails 602a, 602b may suitable be elongate rods or pins that curved and arranged to extend alongside each other to support a standard marble, and allow the marble to roll thereon from the first end 604 to the second end 606.
The first integrated connector 608 includes a first mounting arm 614, a second mounting arm 616, and a receptacle 618. The receptacle 618 preferably has the same structure as the third receptacle 516 of the connector 116 in the embodiment of
As shown in
The second integrated connector 610 has the identical structure and function as the first integrated connector 608. It will be appreciated that alternative embodiments of the integrated marble track section 600 have different marble path lengths and shapes, by way of example, the marble path lengths and shapes of the track sections 104, 105, 106, and 250, discussed above.
It will further be appreciated that the designs of the track connectors 318, 418 and the receptacles 516, 618 may be swapped while still maintaining many of the advantages of the design described above. In other words, as shown in
It will be appreciated that the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary and that those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations and modifications that incorporate the principles of the present invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.
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Number | Date | Country |
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101611788 | Apr 2018 | KR |
Entry |
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