Patent Application
20210379500
The present application is not related to any pending or issued United States of America or foreign patent or patent application.
The present invention generally relates to miniature motorized vehicles travelling in hollow tubes that may be at least partially transparent, with unique components more fully described below. The hollow tubes may be closed-loop or open-loop (meaning, having a closed periphery end view, such as a circular or square tube, or having an open end view periphery, such as a C-shaped tube with an open front), and these tubes may be opaque, translucent, transparent, and combinations thereof. The hollow tubes may have sidewalls constructed from a single piece or multiple pieces put together. The hollow tubes are specifically built to be bent by a user but to not bend exceedingly, i.e., to not bend so tightly as to kink or to thereby have such a small turning radius as to jam up the motorized vehicle inside and thus inhibit travel of the motorized vehicle. The motorized vehicle may be a single unit or two or more units connected to one another and may have the appearance of any theme, such as army vehicles, spaceships, old Iron Horses, trains, modern bullet trains, racing cars, various animals, Santa with sleigh and reindeer; or theme character vehicles with licensed characters such as Mickey Mouse and Shrek drivers. The motorized vehicle may come in on part, or two or more parts with removable theme tops or cover pieces that will thereby present the use of interchangeable themes (a cartoon character in a Santa Clause outfit in a Christmas vehicle, the Easter Bunny in an Easter egg vehicle, or vehicles with personalized children's names, etc.). The tubes that carry these motorized vehicles may have corresponding theme scenery. The theme scenery themselves may be interchangeable. In the alternative, the vehicles and the system itself may be used for purposes other than amusement, such as for the mobility of security cameras, the mobility of cleaning solutions, or for transport of sensitive matter such as toxins. The motor that drives the vehicle may be contained within the vehicle or external to it (such as cable, or tract driven, or magnetic motive power), to provide indirect drive. The motor may be electric (AC or DC), or magnetic or gas powered, or any other known motive power. The motorized vehicle may be operated in a continuous loop tube, or in a closed ended tube or set of tubes, back and forth.
The following patents are representative of the field pertaining to the present invention:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,280 B1 to Nitti describes an elevated toy train track that is formed from multiple platform sections and a stabilizing ring that are attachable together to form a ring-like structure. Each platform section has at least two lateral sides, where one lateral side has ridges and the other lateral side has slots. During assembly, the ridges on one platform section are placed in snug engagement with complementary slots of an adjacent platform section, until all platform sections are joined together. The stabilizing ring is attached, using threaded fasteners, to the joined platform sections to form the ring-like structure. A train track is attached to the ring-like structure or can be integrally molded to the platform sections. The structure is attachable to the central pole of a Christmas tree, thus providing an elevated toy train track.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,800 to Higuchi describes an ornamental track toy that includes a loop track assembly, a motor, an elongated coupling and an ornament. The track assembly includes a hollow base having a flat surface, a slot in the flat surface and the elongated coupling slidably mounted in a hollow channel in the base. The motor includes a gear and a pinch roller for moving the elongated coupling in a loop path around the track assembly. The elongated coupling includes a link that is connected to the ornament so that the ornament is pulled around the track assembly as the elongated coupling is moved around the loop path of the track assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,164 to Proulx describes a base unit for supporting an infant carrier seat comprising a housing member having a bottom curved surface for rocking on a generally flat support surface, an upper central portion on which an infant carrier seat is removably mountable, an endless pathway that circumscribes said central portion, a weight and a motor to move along the weight in a closed loop at a selected predetermined rate of travel. The weight in the preferred form is a toy train unit with open topped box cars that removably hold a supply of weights. A sound generator on the train provides music and/or train whistle simulation. An infant can be entertained by the train travelling around the infant, by sounds generated by the train, and the infant being rocked, all at the same time. The motion of the train travelling around the infant can be used to check responses of the infant as can also the movement of sound relative to the infant.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,682 to Franco et al describes a track display apparatus that comprises an elongated endless track preferably in the form of a ring. A pair of spaced apart conductive rails extend along the track and are engaged by conductive rollers which receive electrical power for a motor housing surrounded by an ornament. The ornament is advantageously Santa with his sleigh and the reindeer. Power is supplied by a power signal unit attached along the track and electrically connected to the rails and a low voltage direct current power source. A plurality of supports are connected around the track for supporting the track above the floor or around another ornament, for example, a Christmas tree.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,871 to Segan et al describes a Christmas display resembling a ski-lift and ski-slope, for use in conjunction with a Christmas tree. The display comprises a track having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is at a higher elevation than the second end, and a lift disposed between the first end and the second end. The device also comprises a plurality of figurines having a base configured for slidable movement along the track from the first end of track to the second end of track whereby the lift transports the figurine back to the first end of the track in a continuous manner. In the preferred embodiment, the display also comprises a support mechanism for supporting the display on a Christmas tree.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,366 to Cummings describes an improved, ornamental, decorative structure such as a Christmas tree or the like, in which the structure has a decorative device mounted above a floor in cantilever fashion. Thus, the decorative device is in effect cantilevered above the floor and uses a center portion of the structure as the main support, thus avoiding the need for additional support beneath the device and on a floor below. The device itself can be a ring which can support another object, such as a continuous track over which a train can be movable, either under manual power or by electrical power supplied to the track by an electrical transformer on the floor adjacent to the ornamental structure. The train will have an engine provided with an electrical motor which will drive the train along at an elevated position. Thus, the device will provide a display which will provide enjoyment and amusement for young and old alike. The operation of the train and other still or moving parts associated with the elevated device will be seen from a location near the structures and will present no hazards which might otherwise detract from the aesthetic and safety aspects of the device as well as the ease with which the elements mount the device on a center portion of the Christmas tree or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,712 to Wallick describes a monorail toy train suspended from an overhead guideway, which is secured to a ceiling or other fixed support structure. The elongated tubular guideway includes a plurality of guideway sections connected together at a joint by a short tubular coupler and a hanger secured to the ceiling. Each guideway section is connected to like length guide rails and rack rails, which together define a track for cars of the monorail toy. Trucks of driven and nondriver cars ride on the track defined by the rack rail and guide rail. The driven car includes a drive frame including a motor, drive gear and pinion gear, which pinion gear meshes with the rack rail to provide motive force for the monorail train.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,038 to Lawrence describes a monorail vehicular system that uses an elevated track of multipiece construction, with a central electrically insulated panel having a supporting lower metal rail, which acts as one side of an electrical supply system, and with an upper metal rail on top of the central panel for support, and to provide the other side of the electrical system. The lower rail is supported at intervals by clips, carried on spaced vertical poles which rest on bases on the ground or other supporting surface. A car used in the system rides on wide roller type wheels on top of the upper metal rail, has a resiliently urged collector in contact with the upper rail, and a pair of contacts which engage the lower metal rail, with a pair of horizontal stabilizing wheels extending downwardly from the car on each side of the central panel and in contact with it, and which wheels are unequally spaced from the upper rail.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,294 to Arzoumanian describes a toy train in which each track length or section is mounted in a base having a spaced longitudinal slot parallel with the tracks and outside of the tracks. In addition to the conventional rails, and lying between them, a pair of spaced parallel rails are mounted for carrying the electric current to the train. A transparent curved cover is arched over the tracks with the edges of the cover entering the slots in the base. When the track lengths are joined at the ends, a connecting strip also joins the contiguous edges of the transparent cover to form a continuous enclosed transparent tube. The train is generally annular to fit the tube. Besides the conventional flanged wheels for riding the rails, the train is also provided with a pair of grooved wheels adapted to engage the electrical rails. This not only supplies the electrical current to the train, but also serves to hold the train on the tracks and prevent derailment at high speeds especially around the curves. The tubular system may have an open section for a station and the sections may be raised over obstacles. The sections may also be curved to provide a sinuous track. On curved sections, the rails are banked to minimize derailment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,727 to Fetty et al describes a toy monorail system of the support type for vehicles such as miniature railway cars and slot cars. The monorail track consists of an elongated flat strip or length of plastic having flat metal conductors located in flanged recesses molded into each side of the strip or length. The track is edge-mounted and, on flat surfaces, is self-supporting. The system can be set up in an unlimited number of configurations and elevations. In use, the track is arranged either in a self-supporting configuration on floors, table tops and the like, or utilizes special supports which engage a slot or recess molded into one edge of the track. Various styles of vehicles are used with the system, including trains, automobiles, boats, and rockets. The drive vehicle is mounted on the edge of the track opposite the slotted or recessed edge. The vehicle utilizes a pair of shaped contacts to make electrical connection with the metallic conductors and a pair of drive wheels mounted on vertical axes for gripping the plastic monorail on each side at a point on the track below the location of the metallic conductors.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,153 to Aoki describes a toy comprising a track system and a vehicle for traveling over said track system, said track system comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending track sections, means on each of said track sections for interconnecting said sections together, said track sections having varied configurations so that when interconnecting a portion of said track system extends in an elevated bridge-like structure above the remainder of said track system, each said track section having a channel-shaped cross section transverse of the longitudinal direction and the channel-shaped cross section being formed of a longitudinally extending bottom portion and a pair of laterally spaced side walls, each said track section having a pair of longitudinally extending inward facing grooves, a pair of lateral spaced longitudinally extending parallel racks formed on said track sections, a motor mounted in said vehicle for supplying the power to propel said vehicle on said track sections, at least a pair of guild rollers mounted on said vehicle and extending into said grooves in said track sections for retaining said vehicle on said track system regardless of the orientation of the individual said track sections thereof, at least a pair of drive wheels on said vehicle operatively engaged with said motor and in meshed engagement with said racks on said track section for moving said vehicle over said track system, a turn table positioned at each end of said track system, said turn table comprising a stationary base, a disc rotatably for receiving said vehicle on said turntable from said system, and means in said turn table arranged for operative engagement with said drive wheels on said vehicle for rotating said disc and reversing the direction of said vehicle for returning in onto said track system for travel to opposite end thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,845 to Girz describes a toy monorailway comprising a running and guild rail and at least one vehicle including a support plate or the like and an electric motor and being driven by said electric motor, said vehicle being provided with means extending downwardly from said support plate and straddling said rail, a pair of wheels made of rubber or the like serving as running and driving wheels resting on said rail, one disposed at each end of said motor, reduction gearing connected between each said wheel and said motor and operatively linking said wheels to said motor, and a vehicle housing connected to said support plate, said means straddling said rails comprising one unit ahead of and one unit behind said motor and being articulately supported in said housing and being provided at the lower ends with current collector means, and pairs of lateral guidance and balance maintaining devices each including two members, one each in engagement, with a different side of said rail.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,106,698 to Bonanno describes an articulated toy train, in combination, a coupling section comprising a truck having wheels and axles, a truck-carried member, a spring normally holding the truck-carried member in one position, the member being freely manually movable to another predetermined position, a fixed truck-supported element, a movable element carried by the moveable member and normally held thereby in a predetermined position opposite the fixed element, and car bodies each having draft elements extending between the fixed and movable elements and having a configuration to interlock with one of said elements to prevent separation of the corresponding car body from the coupling section when the movable member is in normal position and to transmit pull from one draft to the other without changing the load on the spring, the draft elements being unlocked when said member is manually moved to the other position.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,096,579 to Frank et al describes a trolley duct having a vertical wall and a horizontal wall provided with a continuous elongated riding slot bounded by a vertical flange bent transversely from the horizontal wall into the duct, and a bus bar rail between the flange and the adjacent vertical wall and having a horizontal portion adjacent the horizontal wall of the duct and a vertical portion adjacent the flange, the vertical portion of the rail extending into the duct beyond the flange to provide on the rail exposed vertical surfaces.
United States Patent Publication No. 2003/0029927 A1 to Spano describes scenery apparatus for a toy train track array formed from a series of oblong panels which can be folded for storage and interconnected for erecting in a wide variety of layouts. The panels contain structure for interconnecting the panels, for adjusting the size of the array, for securing the panels to the track and for ensuring that the panels will not interfere with the track and or the model trains running on the track with which the scenery is associated.
United States Patent Publication No. 2013/0045656 A1 to Aigner et al describes an interactive toy train system including a track layout, a plurality of vehicles configured to travel along the track, and a plurality of destinations removably coupled to the track. The vehicles are configured to communicate with one another and the vehicles are further configured to communicate with one or more of the destinations. The system includes an infrared toy network having a network protocol, which determines who is present and who is not present thereby allowing multiple vehicles and destinations to converse intelligently and without interference.
Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby.
The present invention is directed to a tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, which includes: a) a hollow tube having, with sidewalls constructed from a single piece or multiple pieces put together, a proximal end and a distal end, the hollow tube being semi-flexible so as to bend no less than a predetermined minimum radius, without kinking, the hollow tube being opaque or transparent or at least partially transparent, the hollow tube having a supportive spine in contact therewith to facilitate control of bending and holding a bent portion of the hollow tube; b) a motorized vehicle moveably positioned within the hollow tube; c) a motor connected to and preferably within the vehicle for advancing the motorized vehicle by driving a traction mechanism; d) a power source connected to the motor, the power source being located in a position selected from the group consisting of: (i) within the motor vehicle: (ii) within the hollow tube, external from the motor vehicle, and (iii) functionally connected to the motor of the motor vehicle; e) the traction mechanism for assisting in movement of the motor vehicle, the traction mechanism selected from the group consisting of: (i) wheels connected to the motor vehicle, the wheels being friction wheels; (ii) wheels and tracks, one of the wheels and one of the and tracks being located on the motor vehicle and the other of the wheels and tracks being located in the hollow tube; (iii) a monorail system connected to the motor vehicle and the hollow tube; (iv) a magnetic drive connected to the motor vehicle and the hollow tube; and (v) a slot, detent and wheel mechanism connected to the motor vehicle and the hollow tube. The spine is necessary for structural support to hold the tube in place when put in its desired position(s) and also necessary to provide support for the tube's other components, e.g., the motor vehicle. The spine may be a separate attached component, an integrally formed component or a portion of the tube itself.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the hollow tube has background images on at least a portion thereof, such as scenery or other images.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the hollow tube supportive spine is in contact therewith to facilitate control of bending and holding a bent portion of the hollow tube wherein the hollow tube supportive spine is at least one set of fingers wherein each finger has a first end, being a proximal end that is connected to the hollow tube, and a second end, being a distal end that is extended away from the hollow tube. The tube has a first position, being a rest position, with open space between each adjacent finger distal end when the hollow tube is unbent, and having a second position with each adjacent finger distal end contacting one another when the hollow tube is bent to the minimum radius, wherein the contacting creates stops to inhibit further bending, and having a third position wherein the fingers are spread apart to a maximum spacing beyond the rest position.
In some of these embodiments, the hollow tube supportive spine is an exoskeleton attached to the hollow tube. In other of these embodiments, the hollow tube supportive spine is embedded within the hollow tube. In some embodiments, the embedded supportive spine may be selected from the group consisting of at least one continuous coil, a plurality of disconnected linear supports, or a plurality of disconnected arcuate supports. These coils, lines and arcs may be made of sturdier plastic (plastic that is sturdier than the flexible hollow tube), metal or other material, with single filament wires and woven wires preferred.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the hollow tube includes at least one light thereon, the light being selected from the group consisting of: (i) at least one spotlight; (ii) at least one backlight; (iii) at least one overhead light; (iv) at least one string of LED lights; and (v) a combination thereof.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the motor vehicle includes a receiver adapted for the attachment and removal of interchangeable overcaps, and the tubular transport system includes at least one theme-based overcap which may also be attached onto external vehicles that are not connected to the tubes. Motor vehicle should be taken to include singular and plural vehicles, with and without direct motors, which may be articulated or not.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the motor is an electric motor and the power source is selected from the group consisting of an AC power source and a DC power source. In some of these embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the power source is a DC power source, the DC power source being a battery. In other of these embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the power source is an AC power source that includes a transformer and an outlet plug. Thus, it is anticipated in these embodiments that a controller, such as a controller box external from or integrally connected to the tube, to have at least a plug, wire, transformer (to reduce the voltage to a low voltage or to transform the current to DC), and adequate switches (at least an on-off switch), as well as an optional variostat or equivalent chip to permit manual speed control and direction of the motorized vehicle. The power emanating therefrom may go into the tube by one or more rails, overhead rail(s), wires or any other means to power the vehicle(s).
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the motor is a fixed output DC motor, while in other embodiments, the motor is a variable output motor and the system further includes a variable speed manual controller.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the hollow tube is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a hollow tube having a closed side wall; and (ii) a hollow tube having an open side wall. In some preferred embodiments, the tubular transport system has a hollow tube with an open side wall. The sidewalls of the tube may be constructed from a single piece or multiple pieces attached together.
In some embodiments with an open side wall, the hollow tube supportive spine is at least one set of fingers wherein each finger has a first end, being a proximal end that is connected to the hollow tube, and has a second end, being a distal end that is extended away from the hollow tube, having a first position with open space between each adjacent finger distal end when the hollow tube is unbent, and having a second position with each adjacent finger distal end contacting one another when the hollow tube is bent inward to the minimum radius (maximum bend position), and wherein the contacting creates stops to inhibit further bending. In some of these embodiments, at least one set of fingers is located in a position selected from the group consisting of: (i) a bottom of the open side wall hollow tube; (ii) a top of the open side wall hollow tube; and (iii) both a bottom of the open side wall hollow tube and a top of the open side wall hollow tube.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, one set of fingers function also a set of tracks as part of the traction mechanism.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the open side wall hollow tube has a closed side wall with at least a portion thereof having a decorative sheet-receiving mechanism. In some of these embodiments, the closed wall portion is selected from the group consisting of transparent and translucent and wherein the closed wall portion has an outside surface that includes at least one backlight.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the closed wall portion includes a guide rail for attachment of a vehicle thereto. In some of these embodiments, the closed wall portion guide rail includes electric power rails to power a vehicle.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, a portion of one side of the motor vehicle my extend through the open side wall for enhanced three dimensional effects.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the hollow tube is a plurality of separate sections that includes interconnectors at each end for assembly.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the motor vehicle is positioned within the hollow tube with a portion extending through the open side wall for enhanced three dimensional effects. In some of these embodiments, the portion of the motor vehicle extending through the open side wall includes wheels, treads, skis, and any other component that would function to move the vehicle.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the hollow tube has at least one hatch or cap on either or both the proximal end and/or the distal end, for accessing the motor vehicle.
In some preferred embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the motor vehicle is a train.
In some embodiments of the tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, the motor vehicle includes a structure selected from the group consisting of: (i) a support for mounting and moving an object; (ii) a carrier for transporting an object; (iii) at least one illumination system; (iv) at least one sound system; (v) at least one speed controller; (vi) at least one wireless receiver; (vii) at least one sensor that would reverse the vehicle direction at end points; (viii) combination of foregoing.
Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed descriptions, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together, with detailed descriptions, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
The present invention is a tubular transport system with a motorized vehicle, wherein the degree of bending of the hollow tube is controlled to avoid crimping and to avoid radii too small to permit the motorized vehicle therein to travel, that is, to prevent tight turns that would jam up the movement of the motorized vehicle. The hollow tubes may have sidewalls constructed from a single piece or multiple pieces and may be closed-loop or open-loop (meaning, having a closed periphery end view, such as a circular or square tube, or having an open end view periphery, such as a C-shaped tube with an open front), and these tubes may be opaque, translucent, transparent, and combinations thereof.
In
Many variations and embodiments have been described above for the present invention tubular transport system with motorized vehicle. For example, the “C-links” described above may be varied from those depicted. The clip receiver on the “C-links” could be rotate-and-lock connections. The clip receiver could have small notches and/or protrusions along the outside of the clip receiver, so that as the clip receiver is rotated, the notches or protrusions lock into place between small bumps or ridges around the clip orifice. Further, each “C-link” or track section could have sidewalls that are constructed from a single piece or multiple pieces attached together, as desired. Also, as suggested elsewhere herein, the metal or other spine may be eliminated as a separate piece, and the tube structure be strong enough to act as both a spine and a tube.
While most embodiments rely upon electric motors to propel the vehicles, the present invention tubular transport system with motorized vehicle encompasses any available motive power, such as magnetic propellants, gas propellants, or combinations thereof. Further, as mentioned above, the term “motorized vehicle” includes vehicles with the motor onboard as well as vehicles that are motorized indirectly such as motor driven tracks, cogs, gears, pulleys, or other motorized push or pull mechanism. Additionally, the tubes may have any cross-sectional shape and thus are not limited to “C-link” shapes such as circles, squares, and rectangles.
While the present invention tubular transport system with motorized vehicle has been described and is in the illustrations as a device that can be seen generally as an amusement device, the present invention has other notable purposes that are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention tubular transport system with motorized vehicle may be used to carry a camera and/or multiple cameras arounds a desired or designated area. The camera(s) could take sequential stills or continuous or interrupted or scheduled videos and/or be used for real time observations. Thus, the present invention tubular transport system with motorized vehicle with cameras could be used for homes, business, hotels, warehouses, factories, amusement parks, offices, plains, trains or even public areas for roaming security cameras. They could be used with cameras for quality control in factories, stores, hospitals and other facilities. They could be used with cameras for educational or instructional filming. Further, the present invention tubular transport system with motorized vehicle could be used to transport selected items, such as uranium, toxic medications, toxins, etc. and could also be used for scientific purposes such as collecting periodic air or water samples for environmental or other testing. The present invention systems could be used for pet toys, or to disperse sprays and disinfectants throughout a room or facility.
Although particular embodiments of the present invention tubular transport system with motorized vehicle have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention tubular transport system with motorized vehicle is not limited to those particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be included therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the actual shape of the main housing may be any of numerous possibilities as long as its functionality as described is not affected adversely.
