Tube racer track system

A closed loop toy track system for a toy vehicle to move therein and along, comprising:

• a toy vehicle, a plurality of tube sections including at least first and second tube sections which are connectable endwise together to form part of the toy closed loop track system;
• each of the tube sections having first and second parts which are connected with adjacent first or second parts of axially adjacent tube sections to axially connect the first and second tube sections;
• and interlocking structures which are provided on the first and second tube sections respectively and are connected with each other to fix the first and second tube sections whereby the tube sections are relatively rotatable about each other along a longitudinal axis running through each tube section, wherein each tube section is separable from the other to constitute two separated components and is formed by two elongated separated portions, each portion being a separate semicircular tube section having elongated edges, a first of the separate semicircular tube sections having at least one latch on a first longitudinal edge of one half tube section and not having a mating hook and being releasably connectable to a mating hook on the elongated edge of a second mating separate half tube section, such second mating half tube section not having a mating latch thereby to form a closed circular tube section, the mating hook and mating latch being located on an outer uniform surface of the respective tube semicircular sections, so that when assembled the latch extends from one separate half circular section towards a position over the second separate half section and to engage the mating hook thereby together forming an irregular upstanding feature relative to the outside uniform surface of the respective tube sections, and the mating hook and latch snapping together to form the closed circular tube such that relative rotation of adjoining tubes is possible over the entire circumference of the tubes;
• and wherein there are multiple tubes connected together to form the closed loop track, and the relative rotatable sections permit the track to be formed in a three dimensional layout;
• wherein each of the two tube sections is open ended with a substantially equal opening at both ends and throughout the tube thereby to be an unobstructed axial pathway from end to end, and wherein the toy vehicle is for frictionally engaging an inner wall of the tube under the biasing action of a spring in the vehicle urging the vehicle against the inner wall, and the toy vehicle being propelled through the tube collectively by a motor in the vehicle, and by the frictional engaging interaction of the toy with the inner wall of the tube, whereby the toy is propelled through the closed loop track.

A closed loop toy track system for a toy vehicle to move therein and along, comprising:

• a toy vehicle, a plurality of tube sections including at least first and second tube sections which are connectable endwise together to form part of the toy closed loop track system;
• each of the tube sections having first and second parts which are connected with adjacent first or second parts of axially adjacent tube section to axially connect the first and second tube sections;
• and interlocking structures which are provided on the first and second tube sections respectively and are connected with each other to fix the first and second tube sections, wherein the first and second separate tube sections are connectable endwise for inter-engagement to axially connect the first and second tube sections wherein each tube section is separable from the other to constitute two separated components and is formed by two separate elongated portions, each portion being a separate semicircular tube section having elongated edges, the separate semicircular tube section having at least one latch on a first longitudinal edge of one half tube section and being releasably connectable to a mating hook on the elongated edge of another separate half tube section thereby to form a circular tube section, including a connector formation in the end area of each tube section, the connector formations being for interlocking the adjacent tube sections and wherein the connector formations are mating elements including an interengaging flexible snap joint on a first tube for matingly engaging with a notched ring segment on a second tube, one of the flexible snap joint or notched ring segment extending around a portion of the complete circumference of its respective tube, and the other of the snap joint or notched ring segment extending completely around the circumference of its respective tube, such that relative rotation of adjoining tubes is possible over the entire circumference of the tubes;
• and wherein there are multiple tubes connected together to form the closed loop track, and the relative rotatable sections permit the track to be formed in a three dimensional layout;
• and wherein the toy vehicle is for frictionally engaging an inner wall of the tube under the biasing action of a spring in the vehicle urging the vehicle against the inner wall, and the toy vehicle being propelled through the tube collectively by a motor in the vehicle, and by the frictional engaging interaction of the toy with the inner wall of the tube, whereby the toy is propelled through the closed loop track, wherein each of the two tube sections is open ended with substantially equal opening at both ends and throughout the tube thereby to be an unobstructed axial pathway from end to end whereby a vehicle can pass from end to end of the tube without obstruction and formed by two elongated portions, each portion being a semicircular half tube having elongated edges, the semicircular half tubes being releasably connectable on the elongated edges thereby to form a circular open ended tube, and the two elongated portions are separable from each other when in a released position relative to each other thereby to constitute two separated portions.

A toy vehicle for moving in and along a closed loop toy track system, the toy vehicle including a longitudinal central axis, comprising:

• a vehicle body having opposite first and second ends and opposite first and second sides and the longitudinal axis being from front to end;
• a driving wheel provided at the first end on the first side of the vehicle body for frictional engagement with an inner surface of the closed loop track system to move the vehicle body;
• a motor provided in the vehicle body for rotating the driving wheel;
• gears provided in the vehicle body for transmitting drive from the motor to the driving wheel for rotating the driving wheel;
• the driving wheel being mounted to be urged towards an inner surface of a tube of the track system to maintain frictional engagement of the driving wheel on the surface;
• at least two principal guides provided on an end of the vehicle body, the principal guides being displaced from the driving wheel and being for maintaining the driving wheel substantially in a central plane when the toy vehicle moves along the toy track system;
• and auxiliary guides provided on an end of the vehicle body and being radially offset from the principal guides and being for guiding the driving wheel when the toy vehicle moves along the toy track system, including a suspension internally mounted in the vehicle, and wherein the rear driving wheel associates with the suspension to provide sufficient friction between the rear driving wheel and the track inner surface, and the suspension system being directed from a central portion of the vehicle body towards a base of the vehicle body at an angle rearwardly and being at an angle between non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body and non-right angular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, and the closed loop track system being formed by adjoining tube sections, such that relative rotation of adjoining tubes is possible over the entire circumference of the tubes;
• and wherein there are multiple tubes connected together to form the closed loop track, and the relative rotatable sections permit the track to be formed in a three dimensional layout, the track being formed with multiple tube sections, the tube sections being interengagable, and wherein the tube sections are open ended tube sections with substantially equal openings at both ends of the tube sections and throughout the tube sections such that when joined together an unobstructed axial pathway is formed whereby a vehicle can pass from end to end of the tube sections without obstruction and wherein the vehicle is shaped to be longer in length than in height or width, and being for the vehicle to propelled by the motor through the entire closed loop pathway with the front leading the rear by the frictional engagement and each tube being formed by two separate elongated portions, each portion being a separate semicircular half tube having elongated edges, the separate semicircular half tubes being releasably connectable on the elongated edges thereby to form a circular open ended tube, and the two elongated separate portions are separable from each other when in a released position relative to each other thereby to constitute two separated portions, and wherein the first and second tube sections are connectable endwise for inter-engagement to axially connect the first and second tube sections, including a connector formation in the end area of each tube section, the connector formation being for interlocking the adjacent tube sections and wherein the connector formations are mating elements including an interengaging flexible snap joint on a first tube for matingly engaging with a notched ring segment on a second tube, one of the flexible snap joint or notched ring segment extending around a portion of the complete circumference of its respective tube, and the other of the snap joint or notched ring segment extending completely around the circumference of its respective tube, such that relative rotation of adjoining tubes is possible over the entire circumference of the tubes.

A closed loop toy track system for a toy vehicle to move therein and along, comprising:

• a toy vehicle, a plurality of tube sections including at least first and second tube sections which are connectable endwise together to form part of the toy closed loop track system;
• each of the tube sections having first and second parts which are connected with adjacent first or second parts of axially adjacent tube sections to axially connect the first and second tube sections;
• and interlocking structures which are provided on the first and second tube sections respectively and are connected with each other to fix the first and second tube sections whereby the tube sections are relatively rotatable about each other along a longitudinal axis running through each tube section, wherein the first and second tube sections are connectable endwise for inter-engagement to axially connect the first and second tube sections, including a connector formation in the end area of each tube section, the connector formation being for interlocking the adjacent tube sections, such that relative rotation of adjoining tubes is possible;
• and wherein there are multiple tubes connected together to form the closed loop track, and the relative rotatable sections permit the track to be formed in a three dimensional layout;
• and wherein the toy vehicle is for frictionally engaging an inner wall of the tube under the biasing action of a spring in the vehicle urging the vehicle against the inner wall, and the toy vehicle being propelled through the tube collectively by a motor in the vehicle, and by the frictional engaging interaction of the toy with the inner wall of the tube, whereby the toy is propelled through the closed loop track. wherein each of the two tube sections is open ended with a substantially equal opening at both ends and throughout the tube thereby to be an unobstructed axial pathway from end to end whereby a vehicle can pass from end to end of the tube without obstruction and formed by two elongated portions, wherein the tube section includes a branch tube from the straight tube in addition to the straight open ended tube, such that there at least two pathways in a tube section, a first pathway through the tube is end to end in a straight line, and a second pathway includes a second portion to divert the first straight pathway to a second pathway, the second pathway including the branch tube including a tube portion and the second pathway includes a portion which is parallel to the first pathway, and wherein both pathways are closed endless tracks.