GB2206499A - Track-running toy vehicle system - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy vehicle system comprises a track 1 a wheeled vehicle 2 having a driving motor, and a motion command unit 3 detachably fixed to the track, e.g. by fitting over studs 12. Unit 3 bears coded data 4 indicative of a desired vehicle motion mode and possibly indicative also of desired operations of LED's 24 and loudspeaker 25. The vehicle includes means for reading the coded data (e.g. by using infra-red emitters and detectors) and commanding the driving motor, LED's and loudspeaker accordingly. A plurality of different units 3 are provided for selective application to the track. The coded data is in first and second sections corresponding respectively to a first command when the unit is traversed right to left and a second command when traversed left to right. Couplings between cars 20, 22 of the vehicle may be magnetic (Figures 13-30). <IMAGE>

Description

Track-runníng toy vehicle system The subject device relates to a track-running toy vehicle system, and specifically, to a track-running to vehicle system wherein vehicles are run on the track by driving a motor which is installed in the vehicle.

Traditionally, a track-running toy vehicle system is equipped with tracks, toy vehicles to be placed on the tracks, the toy vehicles each having a motor installed therein and drive-wheels; and a power source to be connected with the motor; and the drivewheels are driven when the above-mentioned motor is powered so that the vehicles run on the track.

However. the above-mentioned traditional trackrunning toy vehicle system has problems such as the number of run modes for vehicles being limited because the run mode for each vehicle is switched mainly by mechanical means.

The purpose of the object device is to provide track-running toy vehicle system wherein various and diversified run bodes are available.

The present invention provides a toy vehicle.

system comprising a track; a vehicle having a motor for driving the vehicle along the track; a power source for connection to the motor; and a motion command unit which can be detachably fixed to the track having a motion pattern section; the vehicle having a control circuit for reading a motion pattern fro the motion pattern section and outputting commands to the motor corresponding to the motion pattern.

The subject device is capable of electrically controlling the run mode of vehicles by means of the motion pattern section which is arranged on the motion command code unit and the control circuit which is installed in the vehicle.

Also, the structure is designed so that motion command code units can be attached to and detached from the track easily.

Further, a visual recognition mark section or symbol is preferably installed on the motion command code unlit together with the motion pattern section so that the run mode based upon the motion pattern section can be visually recognized.

The toy vehicle according to the present invention preferably comprises two or more carriages coupled together, for example a toy train. Any known coupling mechanism may be used to connect the carriages.

Coupling mechanisms for toys in prior art generally consist of a hook section provided with a hook at one end, and a loop section provided with a loop at one end. The other ends of the hook section and the loop section are attached respectively to either end of the bodies to be connected of the toy. Coupling the bodies to be connected so as t be mutually connectable and disconnectable by linking the hook of the hook section with the loop of the loop section. If the hook of the hook section is undone from the loop of the loop section, the bodies to be connected can be mutually separated.

However, the above toy coupling mechanism in prior art involves mutual mechanical coupling and uncoupling of the bodies to be connected by means of engaging and disengaging the tiny hook of the hook section and the loop of the' loop section, an operation which is awkward and troublesome. Furthermore, the hook of the hook section is usually simply engaged with the loop of the loop section by lowering it downward onto it, so that during play, if the bodies that are connected are for example vehicles, there is the problem that any relative vertical movement between them will cause the hook to disengage from the loop and the attached vehicles to separate etc.

Thus in the preferred embodiment of the present invention the carriages are held together by means of a magnetic coupling mechanism.

The coupling mechanism preferably includes a support attached to one of the carriages which rotatably supports a magnet in such a way that the orientation of the poles of the magnet may be varied by rotating the magnet.

Certain -embodiment- of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle running on a track; Figure 2 is a plan view showing a suitable track circuit; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a section of linear track; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a section of curved track; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a track intersection portion; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of gradient track; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a track point portion; Figure S is a plan view of a motion command code unit; Figure 9 is a circuit diagram of the control circuit; Figure 10 is a partial view of the bottom surface of a vehicle;; Figure 11 is an explanatory table showing the corelationship between command signal patterns and detailed motions of the vehicle and Figure 12 (1) to (16) are plans of various motion pattern sections installed on the upper surface of the motion command unit.

Figure 13 is a partial vertical cross section showing the coupling mechanism between two cars of the vehicle shown in Fire 1; Figure 14 is a plan view showing the movement of a support for the coupling mechanism; Figure 15 is an exploded plan view of a support and magnet of the coupling mechanism, the magnet being shown in section; Figure 16 is an exploded side elevation of the support and magnet of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a plan view of the support and magnet of Figure 15 connected together; Figure IR is a side elevation of the support and magnet connected together.

Figure 19 is a perspective view of two supports with their respective magnets facing one another; Figure 20 is a side elevation of the two supports and magnets of Figure 19; Figure 21 is a side elevation of the two supports and magnets mechanisms of Figure 19 with the magnets attached to one another; Figure 22 is a partial vertical cross section showing an alternative coupling mechanism for coupling two cars; Figure 23 is a plan view showing the movement of a support for the alternative coupling mechanism; Figure 24 is an exploded plan view of a support and magnet of the coupling mechanism of Figure 27; Figure 25 is an exploded side elevation of the support (in section) and magnet of Figure 24: Figure 26 is a plan view of the support and magnet of Figure 24 connected together.

Figure 27 is a view corresponding to Figure 25 showing the support and magnet connected together; Figure 2 & is a perspective view of two supports with their respective magnets connected together; Figure 29 is a side elevation of the supports and magnets of Figure 28; Figure 30 is a side elevation of the supports and magnets of Figure 28 after being connected together.

In drawings, X is r track which consists of a horizontal running-portion 10, vertical guides 11 installed on both sides of the horizontal runningportion 10 and cylindrical Dounting-protrusions 12 which are installed nd incorporated in appropriate places on the upper surface of the horizontal runningportion 10.The track ] may consist of various track components such as the linear track 1A shown in Fig-3, the curved track 1B shown in Fig-4, the crosspoint track iC shown in Fig-S, the sloped track ID shown in Fig-6 and the point track IE shown in Fig-7; and the ends of respective tracks lA, 1B, IC, ID and lE can be attached to and detached from. one another (connectable and separable). Fig-2 shows an oblong track which is formed by combining linear tracks 1A and curved tracks )B.

Referring to Figure 1, reference numeral 2 indicates the vehicle. The width of the vehicle 2 is designed to be approximately equal to or slightly narrower than the width between the guides ii of the track 1; and the vehicle can run on the track 1 without running off the rails. In Fig-i, the vehicle consists of three cars. The front and tail cars 20 are made as models of a passenger car and driver's booth car respectively with a transparent covering 21 so that the inside of the car can be seen. The middle car 22 is made as a model of a locomotive with a transparent covering 23 so that each element of the control circuit 6, LED 24 and the speaker 25 in the locomotive can be seen.Driving wheels and driven wheels 24 (see Figure 13) are rotatably installed to the vehicle 2; a driving motor M is installed in the locomotive 22 of the vehicle 2 and is connected with the driving wheels; then the driving motor M is connected to the power source (not shown in the Figures). Thereby, when the driving motor M is powered, the driving motor M is activated and the driving wheels rotate then the vehicles 2 run on the track 1. Also, the power source can be installed in the locomotive 22 of the vehicles 2 or it can be placed outside of the vehicles 2 so as to power the driving motor M via the track 1.

Numeral 3 indicates the motion command code which is installed detachably on the upper surface of the running portion 10 of the track 1 in such a manner that it does not interfere with the running of the vehicle 2; and the bottom surface of the motion command code unit 3 has ports (not shown in the drawings) to receive detachably cylindrical mounting-protrusions 12 of the track 1.

Also, ends of the track I and vehicle 2 mentioned above are connected detachably by means of cylindrical mounting-protrusions and ports to receive them in a manner similar to the connection of the motion command code unit 3. to the track 1.

Numeral 4 indicates the motion pattern section which is printed on the upper surface of the motion command code unit 3; and said motion pattern section 4 consists of the standard pattern section 40 in the center and the motion mode pattern section 41 which is arranged on both sides of the standard pattern section 40. Said standard pattern section 40 consists of plural number, eight, for example, of oblong dropouts (while portions in the drawing) which are regularly arranged in the direction of the running of the vehicles 2 to form a pattern of standard data. As shown in Fig-8, positions of data in said dropout arrangement are designated as DO, D1, D2, D3, D3, D2, D1 and DO from the left.The above-mentioned motion mode pattern section 41 is in the form of data arranged on both sides of the standard pattern section 40 corresponding to each of the eight data positions, D0, D1, D2, D3, D3, D2, D1 and D0 with a surprint (black portion) as signal "0" and dropout (withe portion) as signal "1. " Thus, for example, the signals generated by the @otion mode pattern section 41 shonw in Fig-8 are "1," "0," "0," "0," "0," "0," "0," and "1," from the left which correspond to the data positions. DO, D1, D2, D3, D3, D2, D1 and DO, io the above-mentioned standard pattern section 40.

The above-mentioned standard pattern section 40 is divided into two portion by the jud@ment circuit 61 of the circuit 6 mentioned below: Unaveilable Area coo@isting of four data positions, DO, Dl, D2 and D3, arranged in the front portion and Available Area consisting of four data positions. D3, D2, D1 and DO arranged io the rear portion. A. r result. in the standard pattern section 40 and the lotion mode pattern section 41 shown in Fig-8, the front portion of the standard pattern section 40 with DO, D1, - ~- D2 and D3 constitutes the Unavailable Area and the rear portion with D3, D2, D1 and DO constitutes the Availa- bi. Area. if the vehicle 2 rung from left to right in the arrowad direction of (a). In this case, signals "0," "0," "0," and "1" of the motion mode pattern section 41 which correspond to the rear portio@, D3, D2, D1 and D0, of the standard pattern section 40 are recognized.

Similarly, when the vehicle 2 runs from right to left in the arrowed direction of (b), the front portion. DO, Dl, D2, and D3, of the standard pattern section 40 constitutes the Unavailable Area and the rear portion, D3, D2, D1 and D0, constitutes the Available Area. In this case, signals, "0", "0", "0", and "1", of the motion mode pattern section 41 which correspond to the rear portion, D3, D2, D1 and DO , of the standard pattern section 40 are recognized.

As shown above, there are eight data positions in the standard pattern section 40; however, only four data positions. D3. D2. D1 and DO, in the rear portion in the direction of tbe running of the vehicle 2 are used for recognizing and commanding signals in the motion rode pattern section 41. The number of coubinations of the four data positions, D3, D2, D1 and DO, in tbe rear portion of the standard pattern section 40 end signals "0" and "1" in the corresponding motion mode pattern section 41 is as follows: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 24 = 16 However, it is possible that tbe vehicle 2 runs up and don on the track, i. e., in opposite directions as shown by arrows (a) and (b).Accordingly, when the vehicle 2 runs iD tbe direction of (a), four data positions, DO, DI, D2 and D3, in tbe front portion of the standard pattern section 40 constitutes the Unavailable Area; bowever, when the vehicle 2 runs in the opposite direction shown by an arrow (b), tbe Available Area is tbe rear portion with four data positions, D3, D2, D1 and DO. Also, when tbe vehicle 2 runs iD the direction of (b), the four data positions, DO, Dl, D2 and D3, of tbe front portion of the standard pattern section 40 constitutes tbe Unavailable Area; bowever, if the vehi- cle 2 runs in tbe opposite direction, i.e., in the direction of (a), tbe Available Area is the rear portion with tbe four data positions, D3, D2, D1 and DO.

As a result, although tbe number of possible combinations of the four data positions, D3, D2, D1 md DO, in tbe rear portion, which is tbe Available Area, of the standard pattern section 40 ansd signals "0" and "1" in the corresponding notion iode pattern section 41 is 16 as shown above, the number of possible combinations will be 16 x 16 = 256 when up and down runs (runs in the direction of (a) and (b)) of the vehicle 2 are considered.

Accordingly, the number of possible combination of the eight data positions, DO, Dl, D2, D3, D3, D2, D1 and DO, of the standard pattern section 40 and signals "0" and "1 of corresponding notion node pattern section 41 will be equivalent to 28 = 256.

It is obvious from the above that a great number of running nodes are available for tbe vehicle 2. Also, although the standard pattern section 40 is arranged in the riddle and tbe notion node pattern section 41 is arranged on both sides of the standard pattern section 40 iD tbe above embodiment, it is possible that the notion mode pattern section 41 is arranged in the riddle and the standard pattern section 40 is arranged on both sides of tbe notion node pattern section 41 in contrast to the embodisent described Numeral 5 indicates a visual recognition iark Which is printed on the upper surface of the above-mentioned notion @@@@@@@ code unit 3;; md said visual recognition sark b provides a visual indentification of the abowe-mentioned notion pattern section 4. i.e.. of tbe notion node of the vehicle 2 which is commanded by said notion pattern section 4.

Numeral 6 indicates the control circuit which is installed on the locomotive 22 of tbe vehicle 2; and said control circuit 6 consists of en optical motion-pattern reader 60, a judgnent circuit 61, a comparison circuit 62 and z nenory circuit 63 as shown in Fig-9.

The optical motion-pattern reader 60 consists of in- frared ray emitting elements 600 and 600' and receiving elements 601 and 601' and they are arranged oo the bottom surface of the locomotive 22 of the vehicle 2.

Namely, as shown in Fig-10, the emitting element 600 and receiving element 601 for reading the standard pattern section' 40 are arranged in the center of the locomotive 22 in the running direction so that they face the standard pattern 40 oo the notion command code unit 3 which is attached to the track 1. Also, tbe emitting element 600' and receiving element 601' for reading the notion node pattern section 41 are arranged beside tbe emitting element 600 and receiving e element 601 for reading tbe standard pattern section 40 mentioned above so that they face the notion node pattern section 41 of tbe notion command code unit 3 which is attached on tbe track 1. This optical notionpattern reader 60 reads the standard pattern section 40 and the notion pattern section 41 which are printed on the Potion node pattern section 4 on the notion coamand code unit 3 attached oo the track 1 and outputs the infornation to tbe judgment circuit 61.

The above-nentioned judgment circuit 61 regards as invalid (unaveilable) the signals of the notion node pattern section 41 which correspond to the data positions, DO, D1, D2,and D3, of the front portion of the standard pattern section 40 which have been input by the optical motion-pattern reader 60; instead, the judgment circuit 61 outputs to the comparson circuit 62 tbe signals of the notion lode pattern section 41 which correspond to the data positions, D3, D2, D1 and DO, of tbe rear portions of the standard pattern section 40.

The above-mentioned comparisoo circuit 62 outputs to the rotor N, LKD 24 and the speaker 25 the motion command that corresponds to the signal pattern of the notion command which is input by the Judgment circuit 61 and the signal patterns of the motion command which is saved in the memory circuit 63.

The above-mentioned memory circuit 63 saves the same number of the notion command signal patters as the lotion command cignal patteras of tbe notion node pattern section 41 on the notion pattern section 4 which is printed oo the motion command code unit 3.

The trak-running toy vehicle system of the present invertion which is explained in this working example is structured as shown above and its operation is ex- plained below.

First, when the power source is turned on, tbe driving rotor W drives and the driving wheels rotate, thereby tbe vehicle 2 runs on the track 1. Then, when tbe locomotive 22 of tbe vehicle 2 reaches the notion command code unit 3 which is attached on the track 1, the lotion pattern section 4 which is printed on tbe notion command code unit 3 is read by tbe control circuit 6 which tbea outputs the notion command of the lotion pattern section 4 to the rotor M, LED 24 add the speaker 25, thereby the actor M, LED 24 and speaker 25 will Operate according to said lotion command.

Accordingly, running nodes (operation nodes of the actor 8) of the vehicle 2, flashing nodes of LED 24 and pronunciation nodes of the speaker 25 car, be electrically controlled by oceans of the motion pattern section 4 installed on tbe motion command code unit 3 and the control circuit 6 installed on the vehicle 2.

Therefore, if notion command code units 3 with a different notion pattern section 4 on it in a plural number, for example 256, are arranged on the track 1 and the arrangement of said notion command code units 3 is changed from tine to tine, various and diversified running nodes of tbe vehicle 2, flashing nodes of LED 24 and pronunciation modes of tbe speaker 25 are available.

Also, tbe structure is designed so that tbe notion command code unit 3 can be attached to and detached from tbe track l; therefore, notion command code units 3 on the track 1 can be easily detached and re-arranged.

Further, as the notion command code unit 3 is equipped with the visual recogniion mark section 5 besides tbe lotion pattern section 4, running nodes of the vehi- cle 2 which are based upon the notion pattern section 4 can be visually recognized by beans of said visual recognition mark section 5. Accordingly, motion comand code units 3 on the track 1 can be re-arranged easily and at the pleasure of users.

Fig-11 is an explanatory table showing the co-relationship among command signal patterns of the motion lode pattern section 41 which is printed on tbe notion pattern section 4 of the notion command code unit 3, running nodes (operation nodes of tbe drive rotor M) of tbe vehicle 2, flashing nodes of LED 24, pronunciation nodes of the speaker 25 and tbe visual recognition mark section 5 which provides visual identification of tbe running node of the vehicle 2.

In Code No. 0, the signal of tbe notion mode pattern section 41 are "0," "0," "0" and "0"; LED 24 flashes in Hode A; the speaker 25 is not activated; and the vehicle 2 continues running. In Code No. 1, tbe signals of the notion mode pattern section 41 are ~0," "0," 90" and "1"; LED 24 flashes in Mode A; tbe speaker 25 pronounces in Mode B; and the vehicle 2 continues running.In Code No. 2, the signals of the notion mode pattern section 41 are 'O,' "0," and "0"; speaker 25 . pronounces in Mode B; and after the vehicle 2 passes this motion node pattern section 41 twice, tbe power source is turned off, thereby the vehicle 2 will stop. In Code No. 3, the signals of tbe notion mode pattern section 41 are "0," '0,- 1 and "1"; LED 24 does Dot flash; the speaker 25 pronounces in Node B; and after tbe vehicle 2 passes this notion node pattern section 41 four times, the power source is turned off, thereby the vehicle 2 will stop.In Code No. 4, the signals of the notion node pattern section 41 are "0," "1," "0" and "0"; LED 24 flashes in Mode A; the speaker 25 does not pronounce; and tbe driving motor M reverses, thereby tbe vehicle 2 changes the direction and runs iD the opposite direction. In a similar Tanner for the remaining codes, ID No. 5, tbe signals are "0," "1," "0" and "1"; LED 24 flashes in Mode A; the speaker 25 does not pronounce; and the vehicle 2 changes tbe direction of running after it has passed this notion mode pattern section 41 twice.In No. 6, the signals are "0," "1," "1" and "0"; LED 24 flashes in Mode A; the speaker does not pronounce; and the vehicle 2 changes the direction of running after it has passed this notion node pattern section 41 three times In No. 7, the signals re "0," "0," "1" and '0"; LED 24 flashes in Mode A; tbe speaker does not pronounce; and the vehicle 2 changes the direction of running after it has passed this lotion node section 41 four tires. In No. 8, the signals are 1, tO," "0" and "0"; LED 24 flashes in Mode B; tbe speaker 25 pronounces in Mode A; and the vehicle 2 pauses for 5 seconds.In No. 9, tbe signals are -1,- "0, " "0" and "1"; LED 24 flashes in Mode B; the speaker 25 pronounces in Hode A; and the vehicle 2 pauses for 10 seconds. In No. A, the signals are "1," "0," "0" and "1"; LED 24 flashes in Mode B; the speaker pronounces in Mode A; and the vehicle 2 changes the direction of running after it bas paused for 5 seconds. In No. B, the signals are "1," "0," "1" and "1"; LED 24 flashes in Mode B; the speaker 25 pronounces in Mode A; and the vehicle 2 changes the direction of running after it has paused for 10 secoDds. In No. C, the signals are "1," "1," "0" and "0"; LED 24 flashes in Mode A; the speaker 25 does not pronounce; and the vehicle 2 reduces the speed for 5 seconds. In No. D, tbe signals are "1," "1," "0" and "1"; LED 24 flashes in Mode A; tbe speaker does not pronounce, and tbe vehicle 2 reduces the speed for 10 seconds. In No. E, the sig- nals are 1,' "1," 0" and "0''; LED 24 flashes in Mode A; the speaker 25 pronounces in Mode C; and the vehicle 2 reduces the speed for 5 seconds. In So. F, the signals are '1,' 1, 1 and 1"; LED 24 flashes in Mode A; the speaker pronounces in Mode C; and tbe vehicle 2 reduces the speed for 10 seconds.

As shown above, tbere are 16 running modes for the vehicle 2 and the number [16] is the same as 24 = 16 combinations of the signals 0' and "1" of the motion mode pattern section 41 which correspond to the four data positions, D3, D2, Dl and DO, of the standard pattern section 40.

When these 16 different motion mode pattern sections 41 are combined with the up direction (in the direction of an arrow (a), for example) and the down direction (in the direction of an arrow (b), for example) of the vehicle 2, 16x16=256 different notion node pattern sections 41 can be obtained. Namely, the number [256] is the same as 28 = 256 combinations of the signals, "0" and "1" of the notion mode pattern section 41 which correspond to tbe eight data positions, DO, Dl, D2, D3, D3, D2, D1 and DO, in the standard pattern section 40.Also, the judgment circuit 61 of the control circuit 6 does not read the signals of the notion mode pattern section 41 which correspond to the data positions, DO, Dl, D2 and D3, in the front portion, which is the Unavailable Area, of the standard pattern section 40; instead, it reads tbe signals of the notion node pattern section 41 which correspond to tbe data positions, D3,- D2, Dl and DO, in the rear portion, which is the Available Area; therefore, no problems occur to the running of the vehicle 2 in the up and down directions.

Fig-12 shows top-surface views of notion command code units 3 with the motion pattern section 4 and tbe visual recognition mark 5 section installed on them.

In the figure, (1) is the combination of the foregoing Code Ho. 0 and Code Ho. 2. (2) is the combination of Code Ho. 0 and Code No. C. (3) is tbe combination of No. 0 and Ho. B. (4) is the combination of Ho. 0 and Ho. 3. (5) is the combination of No. 0 and Ho. D. (6) is the combination of No. 4 and No. 4. (7) is the combination of No. 0 and No. 5. (8) is the combination of No. 0 and No. 8. (9) is the combination of No. 0 and Ho. 6. (10) is the combination of No. 1 and No. 1. (11) is the combination of No. 0 and Ho. 9. (12) is the combination of No. 0 and No. A. (13) is tbe combination of Ho. 6 and No. 8. (14) ir the coibination of No. 0 and No. B. (15) is the conbination of Ho. 0 and No. 7.

(16) is the combination of No. 9 and No. 9.

As shown above, if 16 different notion mode pattern sections 41 are combined respectively for the up and down directions, 256 different notion modes can be obtained.

Also, although the data positions in the standard pattern 40 are set for eight as Do, D1, D2, D3, D3, D2, D1 and DO and said eight data positions are divided into tbe front portion and the rear portion in the foregoing working example, the number rof data positions and divisions need not necessarily be limited in that way.

Also, tbe arrangement and shape of tbe standard pattern section 40 and the motion mode pattern 41 of the notion pattern section 4 which is installed on the notion command code unit 3 need not be = limited to those shown in tbe figures as long as they can correspond to the optical motion-pattern reader 60 of the control circuit 6.

Although in the embodiment described above the control circuit controls the mode of flashing of one LED 24 the control circuit can of course control flashing of any number of LEDs provided on the vehicle.

As obvious from the foregoing, the preferred embodiment of track-running toy vehicle system according to the present invention is equipped with the notion command code unit; the notion pattern section and the visual recognition mark section which provides visual identification of said lotion pattern section installed on the surface of tbe notion command code unit; and the control circuit which is installed on the vehicle and reads the motion pattern section on tbe motion command code unit, then outputs the notion commands corresponding to said each motion pattern section to the rotor; thus, the running nodes of the vehicle can be electrically controlled by means of the notion pattern section installed on the notion command code unit and the control circuit installed on the vehicle. Accordingly, various and diversified running nodes for tbe vehicle are available by arranging on the track a plural number of motion command code units with a different notion pattern section and by re-arranging tbe location of such notion command code units.

Also, the structure is designed so that notion command code unitr can be easily attached to and detached from tbe track. Therefore, the notion command code units arranged on the track can be easily re-arranged.

Further, as tbe notion command code unit is equipped with the visual recognition nark section besides the notion pattern section, the running node of tbe vehicle which is based upon the motion pattern section can be visually recognized by means of said visual recognition mark section. Accordingly, notion command code units on tbe track can be re-arranged easily and at the pleasure of users.

In the preferred embodiment of to vehicle system according to the present invention, the cars or carriages of the vehicle are held together by a magnetic coupling mechanism. Two alternative preferred forms of magnetic coupling mechanism will be described below with reference to Figures 13 to 30.

Each car of the vehicle is provided with coupling means at each end which is to be joined to another car. Thus, in the vehicle shown in Figure 1, the engine car or locomotive has coupling means at both ends, the front car has coupling means at its rear end and the rear car has coupling means at its front end. These ends of the cars are each provided with a gap or recess 25 as shown in Figure 13 for receiving the coupling means in a manner to be described below. A vertical pillor shaped spindle 26 is provided in each gap 26.

Referring to Figures 1, to 21, 102 is the support of the toy coupling mechanism in this device. This support 103 is made of synthetic resin or the like, and has a round aperture 131 provided in a tongued end 130. The inside diameter of this aperture is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the said spindle 126 of the vehicle 2. At the other end of this support 103 are fork-shaped support arms 132, protuberances 133 being integrally formed on the inner surfaces of these support arms 132 as the face each other. The other end 130 of the support 103 is designed so that it can turn around said spindle 126 of the vehicle 2 b means of the aperture 1 30, and can moreover move upwards and downwards.The support 10 is attached to the vehicle 2 by separating the upper parts having the cover 121 of the roof section 123 from the lower parts and the wheels and fitting the spindle 126 to the upper part or the lower part, or the upper part and the lower part, sliding the support 103 around the spindle 126, and then fitting the upper part back together with the lower part.

104 is the magnet of the toy coupling mechanism in this device. This magnet 104 is of cylindrical shape, and has an aperture 140 along its central axis. The N and S poles of this magnet are arranged around the axis i.e.

in the direction of rotation. For example the half of the magnet on one side of the axis is the north pole, and the other half is the south pole. This magnet 104 is placed between the support arms 132 of said support 103, the protuberances 133 of the support arms 132 fitting into the aperture 140 of the magnet 104, allowing it to rotate in the support 103 at right angles to the axis of the spindle 126.

Since the toy coupling mechanism of the present device in this practical embodiment is constituted as explained above with the magnets supported in the support 103 in such a way that they can rotate, and with N and S poles which vary according to the direction of rotation, when the magnets 104 and 104.of two carriages 120, 122 approach each other and when the facing parts of the two magnets 104 and 104 are of the same pole, the two magnets 104 and 104 can rotate freely to a point where the facing parts are of different poles, and are attracted together by magnetic force. As a result the two carriages 120 and 122 are coupled very simply.

The three sections of the vehicle 2 are coupled in the same way.

As the toy coupling mechanism of the present device couples together two carriages 120 and 122 using the magnetic force of the to magnets 104 and 104, the two carriages 120 and 122 will not separate unless forced apart with a strength greater than that of the two magnets 104 and 104. Thus during play, in other words whilst the vehicle 2 is running, a secure coupling is obtained and there is no danger of the two carriages 120 and 122 coming apart due to the coupling mechanisms disengaging.

Furthermore, if a force greater than the magnetic attraction of the two magnets 104 and 104 is used to pull carriages 120 and 122 apart, they will separate quite easily.

Figures 29-zO illustrate an alternative form of coupling mechanism which may be used in a toy vehicle system according to the invention. Numbers in the figures that are the same as in Figures 13-21 refer to the same items. In the figures, 105 is a primary support, this primary support being made of synthetic resin or the like and having a tongued end 150 in which there is a round aperture 151. The inside diamter of this aperture 151 is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the spindle 126 of the said, vehicle 2. At the other end of this primary support 105 is an insert 152, on the front face of which is integrally formed a protuberance 153, ridges 154 being integrally formed on the upper and lower faces of the insert 152.

The upper and lower faces of these ridges 154 are formed with a tapered slope from front to rear.

106 is the secondary support, and is also formed of synthetic resin of the like. This secondary support 106 has a cavity formed in the shape of a rectangular parallel pipe, and has stops 160 on the upper and lower parts of an opening at one end, and accomodating slots 161 on the upper and lower surfaces at the other end which engage with the ridges 154 on the said primary supporter 105. There are protrusions at the front edge of these slots 161 which project slightly inwards and are designed to abut against the front surfaces of the ridges 154 on the primary support 105.

107 is a magnet which is cylindrical shape, and the outside diameter of this magnet 107 is slightly less than the height of the pace within the said secondary support 106. The N and S poles of this magnet vary with respect to the direction of rotation, in other words around the central axis.

The said magnet 10; is inserted into the cavity of the secondary support 106, and then with insertion of the insert 152 of the primary support 105 into the cavity of the secondary support 106 the ridges 154 on the primary support 105 engage with the slots 161 in the secondary support 106. In this way the magnet 107, pressed by the protuberance 153 of the primary support 105, projects from the stops 160 of the secondary support 1o6, and is thus supported by the primary support 105 and the secondary support 106 in such a way as to be able to rotate around its central axis. The other end 150 of the primary support 105 is attached to the spindles 126 of the carriages 120, 122 by means of the aperture 151 in such a way that it can turn. This means of attachment is the same as for that in the first practical embodiment described above.

The toy coupling mechanism of this device in this practical embodiment achieves the same effect as the first practical embodiment described above.

In the above practical embodiments the supports 103, 105 and 106 are attached to the carriages 120 and 122 in such a way that they can turn, but they may also be attached to the carriages using a ball and socket joint.

Moveover, although magnets 104 and 107 in the above practical embodiments are of cylindrical shape, they may be of polyhedral, spherical or other shape providing they can be supported by supports 103, 105 and 1o6 in such a way that they can rotate.

Finally, although coupling and separating has been explained in the above practical embodiments with reference to the carriages 120 and 122 of a vehicle 2 in a toy track system, the device may be used for coupling and separation of other toys.

As is clear from the above explanation, the two coupling mechanisms described above are arranged to support magnets whose poles vary with the direction of rotation, in other words around their axis of rotation, and in such a way that they can rotate. Thus when two of these magnets approach each other the magnets rotate freely, and at a point where opposite poles on the two magnets face one another the magnets stick to each other by magnetic force thus holding together the two bodies to be coupled.

Separation of the two coupled bodies can be achieved by pulling the two magnets apart with a force greater than that of the magnetic force. For this reason coupling and separation of the objects to be coupled is easier than with prior toy coupling mechanics in which coupling and separation of the objects to be coupled is done by means of engaging and disengaging a hook on a hook section and a loop on a loop section. Furthermore, since the coupling mechanims are held together by the magnetic force of two magnets, a securer coupling is possible than in prior art. Again, as the supports hold the magnets in such a way as to allow them to rotate, simply by bringing two magnets close together the magnets rotate feely, and at the point where opposite poles on the two magnets face one another the two magnets stick to each other and hold together the objects to be coupled. In this way the objects to be coupled can be easily coupled simply by bringing two magnets close to one another and without worrying about the polarity of the magnets.

Claims (15)

1. A toy vehicle system comprising a track; a vehicle having a motor for driving the vehicle along the track; a power source for connection to the motor; and a motion command unit which can be detachably fixed to the track having a motion pat-tern section; the vehicle having a control circuit for reading a motion pattern from the motion pattern section and outputting commands to the motor corresponding to the motion pattern.

2. A toy vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, in which the motion pattern section carries a code in the form of dropouts formed in the surface of the motion command unit.

3. A toy vehicle system as claimed in claim 2, in which the control unit is provided on the underside of the vehicle and includes an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver for reading the code.

4. A toy vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the motion pattern section comprises a standard pattern section wherein a pattern of standard data is regularly arranged in the direction of motion of the vehicle and a motion mode pattern section where in motion mode data is arranged in positions corresponding to the pattern of standard data.

5. A toy vehicle system as claimed in claim 4 in which the standard pattern section is arranged in the centre of the motion mode pattern section with the motion mode data arranged on both sides of the standard data pattern.

6. A toy vehicle system as claimed in claim 4 or 5 in which the motion node data is divided into two portion and the control circuit recognises one portion when the vehicle is travelling in one direction and the other portion when the vehicle is travelling in the other direction.

7. A toy vehicle system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the vehicle is provided with at least one light and the control circuit controls flashing of the or each light in response to the reading from said motion pattern section.

8. A toy vehicle system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the vehicle is provided with a speaker and the control circuit controls the operation of the speaker in response to the reading from the motion pattern section.

9. A toy vehicle system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the motion command unit carries a symbol which cnables the motion pattern to be visually recognised.

F4. A toy vehicle system substantially as hereinbefore described with-reference to Figures 1 to 12 of the accompying drawings.

11. A toy vehicle system as claimed in any proceding claim in which the vehicle comprises at least two carriages coupled together by means of a coupling mechanism including a support attached to one of the carriages, said support rotatably supporting a magnet such that the orientation of the poles of the magnet may be varied by rotating the magnet.

12. A toy vehicle system as claimed in claim 11 in which the other of said two carriages has a support attached to it which rot at ably supports a magnet for attachment to the magnet of the first mentioned carriage, said magnet of said other carriage also being supported such that the orientation of the poles of the magnet ma be varied by rotating the magnet.

13. A toy vehicle system as claimed in claim 11 or 12 in which the magnet(s) isare cylindrical in shape and is/are supported such that the axis of rotation corresponds to the central axis of the cylinder.

14. A toy vehicle system as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 13 to 21 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A toy vehicle system as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 22 to 30 of the accompanying drawings.