BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a track assembly, and more particularly to a track assembly for track guided toy vehicles.
2. Description of Related Art
A track assembly provides a path for track guided vehicles so that the track guided vehicles are able to travel on the track assembly. With reference to FIG. 6, a conventional track assembly (5) is shown and has track units (50) interconnected with one another. Each track unit (50) includes two tracks (51) mounted on top of a base (52). A connecting plate (53) is securely connected to one of the tracks (51). The base (52) has a cutout (521) defined in a first end of the base (52) and a boss (522) formed on a second end of the base (52) and opposite to the cutout (521). Therefore, when two track units (50) are connected, the boss (522) from one track unit (50) is received in the cutout (521) of another track unit (50). As a consequence of the connection between the two track units (50), the connecting plate (53) of one track unit (50) is engaged with one of the two tracks (51) of another track unit (50). Thereafter, when electricity is provided to the track assembly (5), the track guided toy vehicle, i.e., a toy train, a slot racing car, is able to run on the track assembly (5). Due to the connecting plate (53), the overall appearance of the track unit (50) is ruined and the track unit (50) is very dangerous in that the protrusion of the connecting plate (53) may easily hurt the track guided vehicle player, especially children.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an improved track assembly to mitigate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved track assembly which is safe to the player and easy for assembly.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a connecting plate fixture under the track assembly such that after the connection between two track units, the engagement between the two connecting plate fixture is secured.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the track assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one track unit of the track assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a connecting plate fixture of the track unit of the track assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing the connection between two connecting plate fixtures from two track units;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing the engagement between the connecting plate and the track; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional track assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the track assembly (1) in accordance with the present invention has multiple track units (10). Each track unit (10) includes a supporting plate (11) with two T-shaped tracks (12) movably mounted on the supporting plate (11). The supporting plate (11) has multiple pairs of widthwise L-shaped retainers (111) formed on a top face of the supporting plate (11). Each retainer (111) defines therein a path (112) to correspond to the T-shaped track (12) such that each track (12) is able to be slidably received in the path (112) and thus retained by the retainers (111). Two pairs of widthwise through holes (13,13′) are defined through the top face of the supporting plate (11).
Two connecting plates fixture (2) are provided at two opposite ends under the supporting plate (11) and orientated to opposite directions relative to each other. With reference to FIG. 3, each connecting plate fixture (2) includes a connecting plate seat (21), a first connecting plate (22) securely mounted on the connecting plate seat (21) and having a first flat engaging end (221) and an open end (222) oppositely formed relative to the first flat engaging end (221) and a second connecting plate (23) securely mounted on the connecting plate seat (21) beside the first connecting plate (22) and having a second flat engaging end (231) and a pointed end (232) oppositely formed relative to the second flat engaging end (231). A first spring (24) and a second spring (25) are respectively provided to the first connecting plate (22) and the second connecting plate (23).
The connecting seat (21) is substantially L-shaped and thus has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The connecting plate seat (21) has a first channel (211) defined in a top face of the vertical portion of the connecting plate seat (21) to correspond to and receive therein the first connecting plate (22) and having a first space (212) defined in a joint between the vertical portion and the horizontal portion to be in communication with the first channel (211) to correspond to and receive therein the first flat engaging end (221) and a second channel (213) defined in top face of the horizontal portion of the connecting plate seat (21) beside the first channel (211) and having a second space (214) in communication with the second channel (213) to correspond to and receive therein the second flat engaging end (231). Furthermore, the connecting plate seat (21) has a first positioning hole (215), a second positioning hole (216), a first hook (217) formed on a side face of the vertical portion and a second hook (218) formed on the side face of the vertical portion of the vertical portion and on top of the first hook (217).
With reference to FIG. 4, when the first connecting plate (22), the second connecting plate (23), the first spring (24), the second spring (25) and the connecting plate seat (21) are combined, it is noted that the first connecting plate (22) is received in the first channel (211) and the first flat engaging end (221) is received in the first space (212). The second connecting plate (23) is received in the second channel (213) to have the pointed end (232) extending out of the second channel (213) and the second flat engaging end (231) is received in the second space (214). A first positioning rod (14) extending from a bottom face of the supporting plate (11) extends into the first positioning hole (215) and a second positioning rod (15) extending from the bottom face of the supporting plate (11) extends into the second positioning hole (216) such that engagement between the supporting plate (11) and the connecting plate seat (21) is secured. Before the engagement between the supporting plate (11) and the two connecting plate seats (21) is finished at opposite ends of the supporting plate (11), with reference to FIG. 5, the first spring (24) is sandwiched between the first flat engaging end (221) and the second spring (25) is sandwiched between the second flat engaging end (231). First distal ends of both the first spring (24) and the second spring (25) are received in the through holes (13) to engage with a bottom side face of the tracks (12). Second distal ends of both the first spring (24) and the second spring (25) are engaged with the first flat engaging end (221) and the second flat engaging end (231) respectively.
Referring to FIG. 4, it is noted that when two track unit (10) are to be connected, the pointed end (232) and the open end (222) from one track unit (10) are inserted into the open end (222) and the pointed end (232) of the other track unit (10) respectively. Due the engagement between the first connecting plate (22) of one track unit (10) with the second connecting plate (23) of the other track unit (10) and the engagement between the second connecting plate (23) of one track unit (10) and the first connecting plate (22) of the other track unit (10), the two track units (10) are connected. In order to further enhance the connection between the two track units (10), the first hook (217) and the second hook (218) from one track unit (10) are respectively hooked to the second hook (218) and the first hook (217) of the other track unit (10) when two different track units (10) are combined.
Via the first and second springs (24,25), the first and second connecting plates (23,24) are connected to the two tracks (12). Furthermore, due to the engagement between two track units (10) via the first and second connecting plates (23,24) from one track unit (10) and the second and first connecting plates (24,23), an electrical connection between two track units (10) is finished. Because the connection between two track units (10) is beneath the track units (10), the overall appearance of the track unit (10) is tidy and accidental damage to the player is thus avoided.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Patent Grant
6951307
