Toy with remote control track switching
First Claim
1. A track toy comprising:
- infrared signal transmission means for transmitting at least one type of infrared signal;
a track having at least one changeover element movable between two operative positions;
drive means coupled to the at least one changeover element for driving the changeover element between the two operative positions;
infrared signal receiver means associated with each at least one changeover element for receiving the at least one type of infrared signal transmitted by the infrared signal transmission means;
control means operatively coupled to the infrared signal receiver means and the drive means, for outputting a drive command signal to the drive means when the received type of infrared signal matches a predetermined type of infrared signal corresponding to the at least one changeover element;
wherein the track includes a plurality of changeover elements and the infrared signal transmission means transmits plural types of infrared signals, each type of signal corresponding to one of the plural changeover element, and the control means associated with each infrared signal receiver means includes discrimination means for comparing the plurality of transmitted signals to the predetermined types of infrared signals, each type of signal corresponding to one of the plural changeover elements, and to control means associated with each infrared signal receiver means and outputting the corresponding drive command when the predetermined and transmitted infrared signals match;
wherein the drive means includes an electric drive motor operatively coupled to each changeover element;
wherein each changeover element includes a pivotal lever movable between the two operative positions on an upper surface of a segment of track; and
wherein each changeover element further includes an actuating arm disposed on a lower surface of the track segment and having a common pivot axis with the pivotal lever, the pivotal lever being elastically connected to actuating arm by a resilient member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A track toy includes an infrared signal transmitter for transmitting at least one type of infrared signal, a track having at least one changeover element movable between two operative positions, and a drive coupled to the at least one changeover element for driving the chageover element between the two operative positions. An infrared signal receiver is associated with each at least one changeover element for receiving the at least one type of infrared signal transmitted by the infrared signal transmission device, and a controller operatively coupled to the infrared signal receiver and the drive, outputs a drive command signal to the drive when the received type of infrared signal matches as predetermined type of infrared signal corresponding to the at least one changeover element.
47 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A track toy comprising:
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infrared signal transmission means for transmitting at least one type of infrared signal; a track having at least one changeover element movable between two operative positions; drive means coupled to the at least one changeover element for driving the changeover element between the two operative positions; infrared signal receiver means associated with each at least one changeover element for receiving the at least one type of infrared signal transmitted by the infrared signal transmission means; control means operatively coupled to the infrared signal receiver means and the drive means, for outputting a drive command signal to the drive means when the received type of infrared signal matches a predetermined type of infrared signal corresponding to the at least one changeover element; wherein the track includes a plurality of changeover elements and the infrared signal transmission means transmits plural types of infrared signals, each type of signal corresponding to one of the plural changeover element, and the control means associated with each infrared signal receiver means includes discrimination means for comparing the plurality of transmitted signals to the predetermined types of infrared signals, each type of signal corresponding to one of the plural changeover elements, and to control means associated with each infrared signal receiver means and outputting the corresponding drive command when the predetermined and transmitted infrared signals match; wherein the drive means includes an electric drive motor operatively coupled to each changeover element; wherein each changeover element includes a pivotal lever movable between the two operative positions on an upper surface of a segment of track; and wherein each changeover element further includes an actuating arm disposed on a lower surface of the track segment and having a common pivot axis with the pivotal lever, the pivotal lever being elastically connected to actuating arm by a resilient member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification