Convertible starting gate for racing track

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/311,303, which was filed on Mar. 6, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates generally to race tracks on which toy cars are used. More particularly, the invention relates to starting gates for race tracks on which toy cars are used.

For some time toy cars have been raced against each other to see which toy car is the fastest. In certain settings, the toy cars are placed on adjacent tracks, which enable the toy cars to simultaneously race against each other.

One such organized toy car racing competition is called the pinewood derby, which is typically participated in by youth such as through Cub Scouts or church groups. Person participating in these races design and then build their own cars that are thereafter used in the racing competition.

Each of the toy cars must weigh no more than five ounces and have several other characteristics that are set forth in the pinewood derby rules. The race cars are each formed by carving a block of wood into a desired shape and then the wheels are attached thereto. In some instances, weights may be added to the race car to get the weight as close as possible to five ounces.

The track used in conjunction with the pinewood derby races generally has between 2 and 8 lanes. The race track generally has a length of between about 32 feet and 50 feet. In some cases, the tracks are formed by cutting sheets of plywood into one foot wide strips and then attaching lath strips to guide the toy race cars. The race tracks have also been made from metallic and plastic materials, which enhance the durability of the race track.

One end of the race track is supported in an elevated position such that the race track slopes downwardly from a start end to a finish end so that gravity causes the race cars to move along the track. A starting gate located at the start end of the race track is moveable between a closed position for maintaining the race cars at the start end of the race track and an open position for allowing the race cars to travel toward the finish end of the race track. An electronic timer may also be located at the finish end of the race track to accurately determine the winner of a particular race.

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a convertible starting gate for a race track that is used in conjunction with toy race cars. The convertible starting gate allows multiple lanes on the race track to either be controlled as a single unit or controlled individually.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and together with the description serve to explain principles of embodiments. Other embodiments and many of the intended advantages of embodiments will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts.

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a racing track on which the convertible split starting gate may be used.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged upper perspective view of the starting gate.

FIG. 3 is a lower perspective view of the starting gate in a first configuration.

FIG. 4 is a lower perspective view of the starting gate in a second configuration.

Race tracks are often used in conjunction with toy race cars because the race tracks guide the race cars between a starting location and an ending location. When it is desired to simultaneously race multiple race cars, the race track may be formed with multiple lanes that are oriented in a parallel relationship, as illustrated in FIG. 1 .

The lanes may each have a base surface over which the race car may roll. The lanes may also include at least one divider that extends above the base surface. The dividers are oriented in a spaced-apart configuration so that a spacing between adjacent dividers is slightly wider than a width of the race car. The dividers thereby direct the race cars in a straight direction along the race track.

The race tracks may be fabricated from a variety of materials using the concepts of the invention. Two such materials that are typically used for fabricating the race track are wood and aluminum. While the wood race tracks are generally less expensive, the aluminum race tracks are generally more durable and weigh less.

While it is possible for persons to hold the race car and then release the race car when it is desired to start the race, it is customary to utilize a starting mechanism that engages the race car to retain the race car at a starting position until it is time for the race to start. Thereafter, the starting mechanism releases, which allows the race car to begin it movement along the race track.

There are two general types of starting mechanisms. A first type of starting mechanism engages all of the race cars at the same time. Releasing of the starting mechanism causes all of the race cars to be released at the same time. This type of starting mechanism removes the response time of the individual persons who are racing their race cars because all of the race cars are released at the same time.

A second type of starting mechanism has separate activation mechanisms for each of the lanes on the race track. When a signal is given to start the race, each of the individuals must release the starting mechanism that is associated with their individual race car. This type of starting mechanism thereby causes the response time of the individual persons to play a role in which race car wins the race because the person with the quickest reaction to the start signal will release the starting mechanism first.

The starting mechanism 10 is mounted proximate a proximal end of the race track 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 . The placement of the starting mechanism 10 on the race track 12 thereby allows a race car (not shown) to be positioned on the race track 12 behind the starting mechanism 10 .

The starting mechanism 10 generally includes a start pin 20 and a start lever 22 that are mounted with respect to the race track 12 , as illustrated in FIG. 2 . The start lever 22 is operably attached to the start pin 20 such that movement of the start lever 22 causes movement of the start pin 20 .

The start pin 20 is formed with a length that is sufficiently long so that the start pin 20 extends at least partially in front of the race car when the race car is in the starting position and the start pin 20 is in a stop orientation. The start pin 20 thereby retains the race car in the starting position.

The start pin 20 is movable to a start orientation that permits the race car to begin moving along the race track 12 towards a distal end thereof. When in the start orientation, the start pin 20 may be substantially below an upper surface of the race track base surface 30 .

The start lever 22 is utilized to move the start pin 20 between the stop orientation and the start orientation. The start lever 22 may be formed with a length and a width that facilitates a person gripping the start lever 22 with one of the person's hands. In certain embodiments, the start lever 22 is formed with a length of about 6 inches.

When in the stop orientation, the start lever 22 may extend above an upper surface of the race track 12 to remind persons using the race track that the starting mechanism 10 is in the stop orientation.

The start pin 20 may be biased to the start orientation. The start lever 22 may be rotated to urge the start pin 20 to the stop orientation. When the force is removed from the start lever 22 , the bias force causes the start pin 20 to rotate to the start orientation. Using this configuration enhances the ability of the convertible start gate to have repeatable starts.

A start base 24 may be used to operably attach the start lever 22 to the start pin 20 as well as to operably attach the starting mechanism 10 to the race track 12 . The start base 24 may include at least a first base portion 30 and a second base portion 32 that are pivotally attached to each other.

The first base portion 30 may be attached to the race track 12 using a variety of techniques. One such suitable attachment technique is a bolt that engages a lower surface of the race track 12 . An important aspect of attaching the first base portion 30 to the race track 12 is that the first base portion 30 remains substantially stationary with respect to the race track 12 .

When the first base portion 30 is attached to the race track 12 , the first base portion 30 should be oriented substantially transverse to an orientation of the race track 12 so that each of the race cars will be substantially aligned with each other when starting the race.

The start pin 20 may be operably attached to the second base portion 32 . An end of the start lever 22 may be adjacent to the second base portion 32 . Rotation of the start lever 22 causes the start lever 22 to engage the second base portion to thereby retain the start pin 20 in the stop orientation.

It is possible for other connection mechanisms between the start lever 22 and the start pin 20 to be utilized. An example of one such alternative connection mechanism is at least one gear. A person of skill in the art will appreciate that utilizing the at least one gear would enable the start pin 20 to move at a different rate than the start lever 22 . Depending on the configuration of the least one gear, the start pin 20 may move slower or faster than the start lever 22 .

The starting mechanism 10 may also include a connection mechanism 40 such as is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 . The connection mechanism 40 operably connects the second base portion 32 on adjacent starting mechanisms 10 . The connection mechanism 40 thereby enables the starting mechanisms 10 to be converted from being independently operable such as in a split start configuration to being simultaneously operable.

The connection mechanism 40 may engage the second base portion 32 in a variety of ways using the concepts of the invention. One such way is for the connection mechanism 40 to have a U-shaped configuration so that the connection mechanism 40 extends over the second base portions 32 on the adjacent starting mechanism 10 .

A fastener 42 may extend through an aperture on the connection mechanism 40 and then engage a surface of the second base portion 32 to thereby retain the connection mechanism 40 in a stationary portion with respect to the second base portion 32 . In certain embodiments, the fastener 42 is a screw. The screw may have an enlarged head that enables the screw to be manually turned without the use of an external mechanism such as a screw driver. Such a manually operable screw may be a thumb screw.

It is possible for the connection mechanism 40 to have alternative configurations using the concepts of the invention. One such alternative configuration includes a frictional engagement between the connection mechanism 40 and the second base portion 32 . Similar to the embodiment discussed above, the connection mechanism 40 may have a U-shape.

While the figures illustrate the connection mechanism 40 being used in conjunction with a race track 12 having two lanes, it is possible to adapt the concepts for use in conjunction with race tracks having more than two lanes by using multiple connection mechanisms 40 to connection adjacent starting mechanisms 10 .

In the preceding detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The preceding detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application, as well as those described in the above applications incorporated by reference, can be mixed and matched to suit particular circumstances. Various other modifications and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.