ROLLER GLIDE SYSTEM

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the technical field of tracks that may be assembled and cars adapted to assembled tracks, as are manufactured and marketed by several commercial firms.

2. Description of Related Art

Tracks to assemble from modular units and vehicles adapted to guide in the assembled tracks are well known in the art. There are a wide variety of such apparatuses, and many designs in the way vehicles are adapted to guide in and roll in the tracks, and there are many issues with ease of use and assembly.

The present invention teaches a system in which vehicles have sophisticated multi-roller, spring-loaded roller guides on pivoting axels that provide intimate engagement and ease of motion beyond what is offered by known systems at the time of filing this patent application.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment of the inventio a roller glide system is provided, comprising a track adapted to rest on a support surface, the track having a first set of upper and lower guide rails on one side and a second set of upper and lower guide rails on an opposite side, and a vehicle adapted to travel in the track, the vehicle having four wheeled carriages, one each affixed to opposite ends of forward and rear beam axles from under a body of the vehicle, each wheeled carriage having a central vertical shaft joined pivotally to the end of the beam axle, a first frame member joined pivotally to the vertical shaft having a lower rearward extension from the vertical shaft mounting a first grooved wheel engaging the lower guide rail on the one side, having an upper rearward extension mounting a second grooved wheel directly above the first grooved wheel and engaging the upper guide rail with the upper rearward extension pivoted vertically from the first frame member, and a first compression spring between the lower rearward extension and the upper rearward extension urging the second grooved wheel by spring pressure against the upper guide rail, further having a second frame member also joined pivotally to the vertical shaft to rotate relative to the first frame member, the second frame member having a lower forward extension from the vertical shaft mounting a third grooved wheel engaging the lower guide rail, having an upper forward extension mounting a fourth grooved wheel directly above the third grooved wheel and engaging the upper guide rail, with the upper forward extension pivoted vertically from the second frame member, and a second compression spring between the lower forward extension and the upper forward extension urging the fourth grooved wheel by spring pressure against the upper guide rail.

In one embodiment the track comprises a plurality of track sections engaged together forming an extended track, each track section having a central recessed channel and opposite raised side portions housing the first and the second sets of upper and lower guide rails, with a longitudinal slot along an inner wall of each side portion opening to the central recessed channel with the vehicle body in the recessed channel and the forward and rear beam axles from under the body extending to each side through the longitudinal slots into the raised side portions, the wheeled carriages pivoted to the ends of the axles engaging the guide rails by the pairs of grooved wheels. Also, in one embodiment the forward and the rear beam axles each have a rectangular cross section with a height lesser than a height of the longitudinal slots through the inner walls of the raised side portions. In one embodiment the forward and the rear beam axles are mounted pivotally to the underside of the body of the vehicle at a center of the body. And in one embodiment the roller glide system further comprises a drive unit mounted below the body of the vehicle, between the mounting of the forward and the rear beam axles, the drive unit having a vertically oriented drive wheel on a horizontal shaft powered by an electric motor, the drive unit mounted to translate vertically with compression springs urging the drive wheel against a bottom surface of the central recessed channel of the track.

In one embodiment the system further comprises a strip of high friction material joined lengthwise along the center of the central recessed channel of the track sections, providing a high friction contact for the drive wheel. Also, in one embodiment the system further comprises a rechargeable battery in the body of the vehicle, providing power to the electric motor of the drive unit. Also, in one embodiment the system further comprises an on-off switch on the body of the vehicle, accessible to a user to turn the drive motor on and off. In one embodiment individual ones of the track sections are adapted to change direction in one of a plurality of ways, such that tracks may be assembled in a variety of configurations. And in one embodiment vertical supports of a variety of different heights are provided to support individual ones of the track sections.

In one embodiment the system further comprises a drive unit mounted by a frame member to a rear wall of a body of the vehicle and by a rotary bearing unit adapted to allow the drive unit to rotate in a limited arc in a horizontal plane, the drive unit having a horizontal axle driven by an electric motor through a gear box, the axle driving a drive wheel urged against the track by force of a spring. In one embodiment the system further comprises a gear unit mounted horizontally between the front and the rear axle assemblies engaging horizontal gear units on the front and rear axle assemblies such that the front and rear axle assemblies are constrained to rotate in the same rotary direction and to the same degree. And in one embodiment the system further comprises a gear unit on a rotary axis of the drive unit engaging the gear unit on the rear axle assembly such that the drive unit is constrained to rotate in a limited arc in a rotary direction opposite the direction of rotation of the rear axle assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective assembly view of an assembled track in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of a vehicle engaged in a track with passengers in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a side elevation view of the track and vehicle of FIG. 2A in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2C is an enlarged side view of one roller assembly from FIG. 2B in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of one guide wheel assembly in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a beam axle and a guide wheel assembly in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a face-on view of a vehicle engaged in a track shown sectioned in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is transverse partial section view through a track section illustrating a motive assembly in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a vehicle in an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 7 from a viewpoint below the vehicle.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the vehicle of FIG. 7 showing the front and the rear axle units rotated in unison and the rear-mounted drive unit rotated in a direction opposite the front and the rear axle assemblies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective assembly view of an assembled track 100 supported on a floor surface 104 in an embodiment of the invention, having a vehicle 102 engaged in the track. Track 100 is an assembly in this example of a plurality of individual track sections, such as sections 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d as labeled. Track section 101d is a flat section adapted to lie flat on support surface 104. Section 101a is formed to provide an upward ramp from flat, section 101b is formed as an arc to transition from upward to downward. A wide variety of sections of different design are provided with a roller glide system in different circumstances to provide for assembling closed track assemblies, like assembly 100, but in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Track sections may be provided, for example, to assemble into spirals and loops.

In this example individual track sections are assembled to support structures such as structures 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d and 103e. Support structures 10 (3 (a-n) typically each comprise two posts, such as posts 104a and 104b set into a base such as base 105. Further detail of track sections in embodiments of the invention are described below.

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of track section 101d with vehicle 102 engaged in the track. In FIG. 2A two mannequins 203a and 203b are shown seated in the vehicle. In one embodiment these are “Brat5z” dolls that fold at the waist and at the knees. In other embodiments they may be any other of a variety of dolls or mannequins although not shown in FIG. 1 due to scale. Track section 101d in FIG. 2A has a recessed center portion 201 and two opposite, raised side portions 202a and 202b.

FIG. 2B is a partial section view along section line B-B of FIG. 2A though the length of raised side portion 202b. A first guide wheel assembly 205a is joined at an outer end of a first axle 208a of vehicle 102 that enters raised portion 202b through a slot 209. Section B-B passes through both an upper guide rail 204a and a lower guide rail 204b, shown in section. A second guide wheel assembly 205b is joined at an outer end of a second axle 208b of Vehicle 102 that also enters raised portion 202b through slot 209. Wheels of wheel assemblies 205a and 205b engage guide rails 204a and 204b and are urged into the guide rails by compression springs.

FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of wheel assembly 205b, comprising wheels 206a and 206b, urged against guide rail 204a by springs 207a and 207b, and wheels 206c and 206d, urged against guide rail 204b by springs 207a and 207b. Axle 208b is shown through slot 209 in FIG. 2C as well.

The details of FIGS. 2B and 2c should be taken as substantially representative by the skilled person, as the scale does not admit specific detail. FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of wheel assembly 205b, which is also representative of the three other wheel assemblies of a vehicle, showing more specific detail and function in an embodiment of the invention. The axles from the vehicle that pass through slots, such as slot 209 in FIGS. 2B and 2C are actually flat beams. One end of an axle 317, upon which wheel assembly 205b is actually mounted, is shown in FIG. 3 with a rounded end illustrated as surrounding a vertical shaft 316 around which portions of the wheel assembly pivot horizontally about centerline 313 of shaft 316. The rounded end of axle 317 is joined to shaft 316 by bearings, not shown.

A first frame element 303 of wheel assembly 205b has two horizontal portions 304 and 306, joined by a vertical portion 305, that join to vertical shaft 316 also by ball bearings, such that frame element 304 may pivot horizontally about centerline 313 of shaft 316. Frame element 304 further has a horizontal portion 307 extending away from centerline 313, at an end of which wheel 206c is mounted by a pivot pin 301c.

An arm 302a is pivotally mounted to frame element 303 by a pivot pin 314, and wheel 206a is mounted at an end of arm 302a away from centerline 313 by a pivot pin 301a. It will be apparent that arm 302a may rotate within limits vertically, allowing wheel 206a to translate vertically, while arm 302a with wheel 206a is urged vertically by compression spring 312a.

A second frame element 308 is disposed opposite centerline 313 and has two horizontal portions 309 and 311, joined by a vertical portion 310, that also join to vertical shaft 316 by ball bearings, such that frame element 308 may pivot within limits horizontally about centerline 313 of vertical shaft 316. Frame element 308 further has a horizontal portion 311 that mounts wheel 206d by a pivot pin 301d at and end away from centerline 313.

An arm 302b is pivotally mounted to frame element 308 by a pivot pin 315, and wheel 206b is mounted at an end of arm 302b away from centerline 313 by a pivot pin 301b. It will be apparent that arm 302b may rotate within limits vertically, allowing wheel 206b to translate vertically, while arm 302b with wheel 206b is urged vertically by compression spring 312b. Arm 302b is shown in FIG. 3 as slightly rotated downward with wheel 206b.

Functionally, frame element 303 as mounted to vertical shaft 316 allows for horizontal rotation of both wheels 206a and 206c on one side of the wheel assembly, and frame element 308, as mounted to vertical shaft 316 allows for horizontal rotation of both wheels 206b and 206d on the opposite side of the wheel assembly. The pivoted arms 302a and 302b with compression springs 312a and 312b function to urge the wheels apart to grip the tracks 204a and 204b at the top and bottom of the raised side portions of track section 101d. The end of axle 317 joined by bearings to vertical shaft 316, stacked evenly with horizontal portions of frame element 303 and 308 provide an assembly with wheels that may follow guide rails 204a and 204b left and right and up and down as directions change along an assembled track, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of wheel assembly 205b from inside, under a vehicle, along axle 317 that passes through a slot into raised side portion 202b (not shown in FIG. 4, see FIGS. 2A, B and C). The physical elements are the same as indicated in FIG. 3 but seen as indicated from inside under the vehicle. Axle 317 joins to vertical shaft 316 by bearings such that the entire wheel assembly may pivot horizontally about centerline 313 of vertical shaft 316.

It may be seen in FIG. 4, as in FIG. 3 that arms 302a and 302b pivot about pins 314 and 315 respectively allowing wheels 206a and 206b to move relative to wheels 206c and 206d. It may also be seen in FIG. 4, as in FIG. 3 that frame elements 303 and 308 are pivotal about vertical shaft 316 (about axis 313) such that wheels 206b and 206d, as well as wheels 206a and 206c may also pivot horizontally about axis 313. These relative movements are to enable the wheel assemblies to follow the track as track directions change.

FIG. 5 is a face on view of track section 101d of FIG. 1, showing vehicle 102 from the front with two mannequins 203a and 203b seated in the vehicle. Track section 101d is seen in this end view to be a molded element with a multiplicity of internal triangular reinforcing pockets. Vehicle 102 has two beam axles, one of which, forward axle 317, is seen in FIG. 5. The body of vehicle 102 is joined to beam axle 317 under the body by a pivot unit 501 that allows beam axle 317 to pivot. A wheel assembly 205b (see FIGS. 2B and 2C) is joined to one end of axle 317 within raised side portion 202b of track portion 101d, and has four wheels engaging guide rails 204a and 204b. Two of these wheels, 206b and 206d, are seen in FIG. 5. The upper and lower wheels are urged apart against guide rails 204a and 204b by a strong compression spring 317.

A second wheel assembly 205d is joined to an opposite end of beam axle 317 from wheel assembly 205b, and has four wheels, 206f and 206h shown, engaging guide rails 204c and 204d, the wheels urged apart against the guide rails by compression spring 502.

The skilled person will understand that track section 101d may be joined linearly with other track sections that may curve left or right or extend upward or downward and the guide rails will extend seamlessly through successive track sections such that vehicle 102 may navigate along successive track sections.

In one embodiment vehicles adapted to translate in an assembly of track sections, such as assembled track 100 as seen in FIG. 1, may be self-powered to move along the assembled track. FIG. 6 is a transverse partial section view through track section 101d at a point just behind the forward beam axle 317 illustrating a motive assembly 601 having a drive wheel 602 mounted in a drive module 603 contacting a strip 604 that is integrated with a bottom level of the track between the raised side portions 202a and 202b. Strip 604 is of a material that provides increased friction for the drive wheel. The section does not pass through any portion of the vehicle body or the mannequins.

Module 603 has four vertical cylindrical passages in a square pattern, two of which, passages 605 and 606 are seen in FIG. 6. A mounting unit 607 has four downward facing shafts passing through the vertical cylindrical passages, and there are four compression springs, two of which, springs 608 and 609, are seen in FIG. 6, that urge drive module 603 downward, and hence urge wheel 602 against strip 604 with sufficient force to provide traction. An electric motor 610 drives a shaft 611 carried on an opposite end in a bearing 612 and drives wheel 602. Electric motor 610 may in some embodiments be an AC motor, and in others a DC motor. Electric power for the motor in one circumstance is from a battery in the vehicle, in some instances under a seat of the vehicle. An example battery is indicated as battery 210 in FIG. 2B. Power lines and recharging ports are not shown.

Because of the position of the section plane behind the front beam axle 317 and in front of the drive system the wheel assemblies seen in FIG. 6 are wheel assembly 205a and 205c which are at opposite ends of a rear beam axle 613. The wheels and springs of wheel assemblies 205a and 205c are not labeled in FIG. 6.

In various embodiments motor 610 may be activated in different ways. In one embodiment there may be a button or switch, such as button 614, on a surface of the vehicle body and the switch may operated by a user to turn on the drive motor or to turn it off. In another embodiment the activating element may be a switch that may be initiated by hand, and there may be an extended element from the track at a particular position that contacts the switch and turns the motor off, stopping the car. In another embodiment the battery may be external to the tracks and vehicles, an there may be a rail similar to strip 604 that is maintained at a positive voltage for vehicle motors, and the vehicles may have a slider that contacts the voltage rail to power the motors. There are many possibilities.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention with a vehicle 700 having front and rear axle assemblies 701 and 703 with beam axles 702 and 704 having each a guide wheel assembly on each end of the beam axle, with the beam axle pivoted in a center of the vehicle. The beam axles and guide wheel assemblies in this embodiment are essentially the same as described above with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 3 and 4. The drive for vehicle 700, however, differs fundamentally from the center-mounted drive unit 607 described above with reference to FIG. 6. Vehicle 700 has instead a rear-mounted drive unit 705, mounted by a frame 707 bolted to a back wall of a molded body 712 of the vehicle, with a drive wheel 706 mounted in a drive unit 709 pivoted vertically about a point 710 on a bearing unit 708 that enables the drive to rotate in a limited arc horizontally. Drive unit 709 has a forked frame 713 that attaches to bearing unit 708 at point 710. The drive wheel is adapted to bear on the track behind the vehicle with pressure from a tensile spring 711. Further detail of this unique embodiment is provided in enabling detail below.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of vehicle 700 of FIG. 7 from a viewpoint below the vehicle. Frame 707 is seen in FIG. 8 bolted to a rear wall of molded body 712 of vehicle 700. Bearing unit 708 is not visible in FIG. 7, being occluded by drive unit 709. Drive unit 709 has forked frame 713 attached below bearing unit 708 (see FIG. 7) and may be rotated in a limited arc in a horizontal plane.

Drive unit 709 in this view shows electric motor 714 driving an axle 716 through a gear box 715 to drive wheel 706 to propel the vehicle in a track. Forked frame 713 is urged down onto the track by spring 713, also seen in FIG. 7.

Front axle assembly 701 comprises the beam axle pivoted under the vehicle body at point 801 and both wheel assemblies 205b and 205d at ends of the beam axle. Rear axle assembly 703 comprises the beam axle pivoted under the vehicle body at point 803 and both wheel assemblies 205a and 205c at ends of the beam axle. In this unique arrangement a gear unit 805 is disposed between front axle assembly 701 and rear axle assembly 703 and pivots at point 802. Front axle assembly 701 has a gear unit 804 that meshes with gear unit 805, and rear axle assembly 703 has a gear unit 806 that meshes on one side with gear unit 805 and on an opposite side (to the rear) with a gear unit 807 that is a part of drive unit 705.

A consequence of the gear units and engagement is that rotation of front axle assembly 701 is copied by rear axle assembly 703. The skilled person will understand that front axle assembly 701 is caused to rotate in a limited arc either to left or to right by wheel assemblies 205b and 205d encountering a curvature in track 100 (see FIG. 1) as the vehicle is propelled along the track in a forward direction. It should also be understood that the wheel assemblies encountering a curve will impose some friction tending to retard forward motion of the vehicle. Gearing the front and rear axle assemblies to rotate together causes the rear axle assembly to rotate as it encounters the curved track, alleviating friction on the rear wheel assemblies.

The geared engagement of drive unit 709 with rear axle assembly 703 causes the drive unit to rotate in a limited arc in a rotary direction opposite the rotation of the front and the rear axle assemblies.

FIG. 9 is a top view of vehicle 700 showing the front and the rear axle rotated about ten degrees into a left-handed curve, with drive unit 705 rotated about ten degrees in the opposite rotary direction. It should be apparent to the skilled person that rotating the drive unit opposite the rotation of the front and the rear axle assemblies will tend to drive the vehicle into the curve, while if rotated in the same direction as the axle assemblies would tend to drive the vehicle against the curve. It should be remembered as well that each of the wheel assemblies 205a through 205d are free to pivot about their attachment to the axle (see FIG. 4) so may also adjust to the direction of curvature of the track.

The skilled person will understand that the embodiments illustrated and described in this patent application are exemplary only, and that there may be many alterations that may be made within the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims.