Track unit of bifurcated rail

Abstract

The utility model discloses a bifurcated rail unit which comprises a base and a guide rail switching piece, a main route guide rail and at least two branch route guide rails are arranged on the base, and a plurality of rail connecting pieces are further arranged at the end of the base. The guide rail switching piece is movably arranged on the base, at least two route butt joint guide rails are arranged on the guide rail switching piece, and the route butt joint guide rails and the branch route guide rails are the same in number and correspond one to one; the guide rail switching device is characterized in that at least one switching shifting block is arranged on the guide rail switching piece; the switching shifting block is arranged between the two adjacent branch route guide rails, and when one branch route guide rail is communicated with the main route guide rail through the corresponding route butt joint guide rail, the switching shifting block is located on the path of the other branch route guide rail. According to the bifurcated track unit, track connection and switching can be automatically carried out when a toy car runs from a branch route to a main route without electric control, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of toys, especially a bifurcated rail track unit. BACKGROUND

[0002] Track toys are usually composed of multiple different track units, which can be freely combined into different complete tracks to effectively exercise children's hands-on ability and inspire children's thinking. However, the current track units are generally limited to flat, sloped, or curved types, and the structures of these track units are relatively simple. Even if they are combined in various ways to form different complete tracks, their playability is still insufficient.

[0003] There are also track toys that use bifurcated rail track units for combination (such as the toy train track change structure disclosed in CN204337748U on May 20, 2015). The bifurcated rail track units enable the toy car to switch routes and enrich the playability. However, most existing bifurcated rail track units do not have automatic lane changing function, especially when the toy car is driving from the branch route to the main route. Manual operation of the push block or adjustment of the guide structure is still required to switch routes, which disrupts the continuity of the toy car's driving and reduces the immersion. Fewer models with automatic lane changing function (such as the toy train track switch assembly disclosed in CN116850607A on October 10, 2023) require an electric control system to achieve automatic lane changing. This requires the installation of circuit boards, motors, and other electronic components, which significantly increases the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity. The electric control components are prone to failure and have poor durability. Moreover, they have a high operation threshold for young children, limiting the target audience. SUMMARY

[0004] The utility model solves the technical problem of providing a bifurcated rail track unit that can automatically switch tracks when the toy car drives from the branch route to the main route without the need for electric control, reducing manufacturing costs.

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, the technical solutions adopted are as follows:

[0006] A bifurcated rail track unit comprises a base and a guide rail switching piece, the base is provided with a main route guide rail and at least two branch route guide rails, and the end of the base is further provided with a plurality of track connecting pieces; the guide rail switching piece is movably arranged on the base, and the guide rail switching piece is provided with at least two route butt joint guide rails, the number of the route butt joint guide rails is the same as that of the branch route guide rails and corresponds one by one; characterized in that: the guide rail switching piece is provided with at least one switching block; the switching block is arranged between the adjacent two branch route guide rails, and when a branch route guide rail is connected in communication with the main route guide rail through the corresponding route butt joint guide rail, the switching block is in the path of another branch route guide rail.

[0007] When the bifurcated rail track unit is used, the base is connected with other track units through the track connecting pieces, the number of the track connecting pieces is usually equal to the sum of the number of each route guide rail on the base, and can be combined into a plurality of different routes according to the number of the branch route guide rails. After assembly, according to the needs, one end of one of the route butt joint guide rails can be butt jointed with the main route guide rail and the other end can be butt jointed with the corresponding branch route guide rail by pre-adjusting the position of the guide rail switching piece; at the same time, the switching block is in the path of another branch route guide rail. When the moving direction of the toy car on the track is from the branch route guide rail to the main route guide rail, and the current branch route guide rail is not connected in communication with the main route guide rail, the toy car can contact the corresponding switching block at the branch route guide rail, and as the toy car continues to travel, the toy car pushes the switching block to move until the guide rail switching piece is pushed to the state that the corresponding route butt joint guide rail is butt jointed with the current branch route guide rail through the switching block, at this time, the toy car can continue to travel along the connected guide rail. The bifurcated rail track unit can automatically realize route switching without relying on an electric control system, reduce manufacturing cost and difficulty, and children can randomly combine different routes, and the toy car can change lanes on these different routes to realize route diversification and rich playability.

[0008] Generally, the track connecting pieces arranged at the end of the base are protrusions or grooves corresponding to the main route guide rail, and are grooves or protrusions corresponding to each branch route guide rail.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the number of the branch route guide rails and the route butt joint guide rails is two, and the number of the switching blocks is one.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment, the switch block is provided with a pushing surface on each side. When a branch track is connected to the main track via the corresponding track interface, the pushing surface of the switch block on the side facing the other branch track extends from the outside to the inside along the direction of travel of the branch track to the main track. When the direction of travel of the toy car on the track is from the branch track to the main track, and the branch track is not connected to the main track, the toy car can contact the pushing surface at the branch track, and the toy car can push the switch block through the pushing surface as it travels, until the switch block pushes the track switch to the state where the corresponding track interface is in contact with the branch track, and the toy car can pass through smoothly. When the direction of travel of the toy car on the track is from the main track to the branch track, the position of the track switch does not change, and the toy car can travel normally along the current single track.

[0011] In a further preferred embodiment, the main track and each branch track are provided with a first clamping slot on each side extending along the length of the corresponding track, and the track interface is provided with a second clamping slot on each side extending along the length of the track interface. When the two ends of the track interface are connected to the main track and the branch track, the corresponding second clamping slots are connected to the first clamping slots. Typically, the toy car is provided with a clamping connector that matches the clamping slots, and other track units in the toy track are also provided with clamping slots. During play, the toy car can be clamped in the clamping slots by the clamping connector, and the walking wheels driven by the power mechanism of the toy car can move along the tracks. When passing through the diverging track unit, the clamping connector can pass through the first clamping slots on the main track, the second clamping slots on the track interface, and the first clamping slots on the branch track, or the first clamping slots on the branch track, the second clamping slots on the track interface, and the first clamping slots on the main track, in that order.

[0012] In a further preferred embodiment, upper and lower limit plates are arranged between the two adjacent branch route rails, the upper and lower limit plates have a shifting space for the shifting block therebetween, and the shifting block is located in the shifting space. In the case where the two ends of the route connecting rail are connected to the main route rail and the branch route rail respectively, the lower edge of the upper limit plate, the corresponding pushing surface and the upper surface of the lower limit plate jointly form the first clamping groove. The shifting block is hidden in the shifting space between the two adjacent branch route rails, so that when the branch route rail is connected to the main route rail through the corresponding route connecting rail, the lower edge of the upper limit plate, the corresponding pushing surface and the upper surface of the lower limit plate jointly form the first clamping groove, and the clamping connector can normally be clamped with the first clamping groove when the toy car passes. At the same time, the pushing surface of the shifting block facing the other branch route rail extends from the outside to the inside along the direction in which the branch route rail advances to the main route rail, and when the toy car passes, the clamping connector can contact the pushing surface, and with the advancement of the toy car, the clamping connector pushes the shifting block through the pushing surface until the pushing surface can jointly form the first clamping groove with the lower edge of the upper limit plate and the upper surface of the lower limit plate. At this time, the route switching member switches the route, and the two ends of the corresponding route connecting rail can be connected to the main route rail and the branch route rail respectively, and the toy car can pass smoothly.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, a guide groove is arranged on the base between the main route rail and the branch route rail, and the route switching member is movably arranged on the guide groove. The route switching member can move along the guide groove to realize the connection of different routes.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment, the guide groove is an arc-shaped guide groove, the route switching member is rotatably arranged on the base, a first guide plate is arranged on the route switching member, and the first guide plate is arranged in the arc-shaped guide groove and can move along the arc-shaped guide groove. Generally, the route connecting rail and the second clamping groove on the route switching member are arranged on the first guide plate.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment, the diverging rail track unit further comprises a first shifting lever, one end of the first shifting lever is hingedly connected to the base and fixedly connected to the route switching member, and the other end of the first shifting lever extends to the outside of the base and is provided with a shifting block. In the initial state, the two ends of any route connecting rail can be connected to the main route rail and the branch route rail respectively by first shifting the first shifting lever.

[0016] In a further preferred embodiment, one end of the first shifting lever is fixedly connected to one of the shifting blocks.

[0017] In another further preferred solution, the guide slot is a transverse guide slot, the rail switching piece is translatable mounted on the base, the second guide plate is provided on the rail switching piece, and the second guide plate is located in the transverse guide slot and is movable along the transverse guide slot. Further, the bifurcated rail track unit further comprises a second shifting lever, a guide hole parallel to the transverse guide slot is formed on the base, one end of the second shifting lever is fixedly connected with the rail switching piece, and the other end of the second shifting lever extends out of the guide hole. The rail switching piece can be translated along the transverse guide slot by shifting the second shifting lever.

[0018] The bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model has the advantages that the bifurcated rail track unit can realize automatic track connection switching when the toy car drives from a branch route to a main route without electric control, can effectively enrich route building, and can reduce manufacturing cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 Fig. 1 is a structure schematic view when a branch route rail and a main route rail in the bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model embodiment 1 are connected;

[0020] Figure 2 Fig. 2 is a structure schematic view after the upper limiting plate and the first clamping groove in the bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model embodiment 1 are removed; Figure 1 Fig. 3 is a structure schematic view after the lower limiting plate and the second clamping groove in the bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model embodiment 1 are removed;

[0021] Figure 3 Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the upper limiting plate, the lower limiting plate and the switching shifting block when the bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model embodiment 1 drives along the A direction; Figure 1 Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the upper limiting plate, the lower limiting plate and the switching shifting block when the bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model embodiment 1 drives along the B direction;

[0022] Figure 4 Fig. 6 is a structure schematic view when another branch route rail and a main route rail in the bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model embodiment 1 are connected;

[0023] Figure 5 Fig. 7 is a structure schematic view after the upper limiting plate and the first clamping groove in the bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model embodiment 1 are removed; Figure 4 Fig. 8 is a structure schematic view after the lower limiting plate and the second clamping groove in the bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model embodiment 1 are removed;

[0024] Figure 6 Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the upper limiting plate, the lower limiting plate and the switching shifting block when the bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model embodiment 1 drives along the A direction; Figure 4 Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the upper limiting plate, the lower limiting plate and the switching shifting block when the bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model embodiment 1 drives along the B direction;

[0025] Figure 7 Fig. 11 is a structure schematic view of a connecting part of the rail switching piece and the base in the bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model embodiment 1;

[0026] Figure 8 Fig. 12 is a structure schematic view of the switching shifting block and the first guide plate in the rail switching piece of the utility model embodiment 1;

[0027] Figure 9 Fig. 13 is a sectional view when the toy car drives on the bifurcated rail track unit of the utility model embodiment 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments:

[0029] Example 1, such as Figures 1-9 The diagram shows a branched track unit, including a base 1 and a guide rail switching component 2. The base 1 is provided with a main route guide rail 101 and two branch route guide rails 102, and three track connectors 3 are also provided at the end of the base 1. The guide rail switching component 2 is movably mounted on the base 1 and is provided with two route docking guide rails 201, which correspond one-to-one with the branch route guide rails 102. The guide rail switching component 2 is provided with a switching block 202. The switching block 202 is located between two adjacent branch route guide rails 102. When one branch route guide rail 102 is connected to the main route guide rail 101 through the corresponding route docking guide rail 201, the switching block 202 is located on the path of the other branch route guide rail 102.

[0030] When the aforementioned branched track unit is in use, the base 1 is connected to other track units via the track connector 3, and can be combined into multiple different routes depending on the number of branch route guide rails 102. After assembly, as needed, the position of the guide rail switching piece 2 can be pre-adjusted so that one end of one route docking guide rail 201 is docked with the main route guide rail 101 and the other end is docked with the corresponding branch route guide rail 102; at the same time, the switching block 202 is positioned on the path of another branch route guide rail 102. When the toy car 4 moves from the branch route guide rail 102 to the main route guide rail 101 on the track, and the current branch route guide rail 102 is not connected to the main route guide rail 101, the toy car 4 can contact the corresponding switching block 202 at the branch route guide rail 102. As the toy car 4 continues to move, it pushes the switching block 202 until the switching block 202 pushes the guide rail switching component 2 into a state where the corresponding route docking guide rail 201 is connected to the current branch route guide rail 102. At this point, the toy car 4 can continue to move along the connected guide rail. This branched track unit can automatically switch routes without relying on an electronic control system, reducing manufacturing costs and ease of use. Children can freely combine different routes, and the toy car 4 can change lanes on these different routes, achieving route diversification and enriching playability.

[0031] The track connector 3 provided at the end of the base 1 has a protrusion corresponding to the main route guide rail 101 and a groove corresponding to each branch route guide rail 102.

[0032] The two sides of the switching block 202 are respectively provided with a pushing surface 2021. When a branch route rail 102 is connected to the main route rail 101 through the corresponding route butt rail 201, the pushing surface 2021 of the switching block 202 extends from the outside to the inside along the running direction of the branch route rail 102 to the main route rail 101. When the moving direction of the toy car 4 on the track is from the branch route rail 102 to the main route rail 101, and the current branch route rail 102 is not connected to the main route rail 101, the toy car 4 can contact the pushing surface 2021 at the branch route rail 102, and the toy car 4 can push the switching block 202 through the pushing surface 2021, until the switching block 202 pushes the rail switching piece 2 to the state that the corresponding route butt rail 201 is butted against the current branch route rail 102, and the toy car 4 can pass smoothly. When the moving direction of the toy car 4 on the track is from the main route rail 101 to the branch route rail 102, the position of the rail switching piece 2 will not change, and the toy car 4 can normally run along the current single route.

[0033] The two sides of the main route rail 101 and each branch route rail 102 are respectively provided with a first clamping groove 5 extending along the length direction of the corresponding route rail; the two sides of the route butt rail 201 are respectively provided with a second clamping groove 2011 extending along the length direction of the route butt rail 201; when the two ends of the route butt rail 201 are connected to the main route rail 101 and the branch route rail 102, the corresponding second clamping groove 2011 is connected to the first clamping groove 5. The toy car 4 is provided with a clamping connecting piece 401 matched with the clamping groove, and other track units in the toy track are also provided with clamping grooves. During playing, the toy car 4 can be clamped in the clamping groove through the clamping connecting piece 401, the walking wheels driven by the power mechanism of the toy car 4 can move along the rail, and when passing through the bifurcated track track unit, the clamping connecting piece 401 can pass through the first clamping groove 5 on the main route rail 101, the second clamping groove 2011 on the route butt rail 201, and the first clamping groove 5 on the branch route rail 102 in sequence, or the first clamping groove 5 on the branch route rail 102, the second clamping groove 2011 on the route butt rail 201, and the first clamping groove 5 on the main route rail 101 in sequence.

[0034] The upper limiting plate 103 and the lower limiting plate 104 are provided between the two adjacent branch route guide rails 102, and the switching block moving space is provided between the upper limiting plate 103 and the lower limiting plate 104, and the switching block 202 is located in the switching block moving space; in the case that the two ends of the route butt joint guide rail 201 are connected with the main route guide rail 101 and the branch route guide rail 102 respectively, the lower surface edge of the upper limiting plate 103, the corresponding pushing surface 2021 and the upper surface of the lower limiting plate 104 jointly form the first clamping groove 5. The switching block 202 is hidden in the switching block moving space between the two adjacent branch route guide rails 102, so that when the branch route guide rail 102 is connected with the main route guide rail 101 through the corresponding route butt joint guide rail 201, the lower surface edge of the upper limiting plate 103, the corresponding pushing surface 2021 and the upper surface of the lower limiting plate 104 jointly form the first clamping groove 5, and when the toy car 4 passes, the clamping connector 401 can be normally clamped with the first clamping groove 5; at the same time, the pushing surface 2021 of the switching block 202 towards the other branch route guide rail 102 extends from the outside to the inside along the running direction of the branch route guide rail 102 to the main route guide rail 101, and when the toy car 4 passes, the clamping connector 401 can be in contact with the pushing surface 2021, and along with the advancement of the toy car 4, the clamping connector 401 pushes the switching block 202 through the pushing surface 2021, until the pushing surface 2021 can jointly form the first clamping groove 5 with the lower surface edge of the upper limiting plate 103 and the upper surface of the lower limiting plate 104, at this time, the whole guide rail switching piece 2 switches the route, and the two ends of the corresponding route butt joint guide rail 201 can be connected with the main route guide rail 101 and the branch route guide rail 102 respectively, and the toy car 4 can pass smoothly.

[0035] The base 1 is provided with a guide groove 105, and the guide groove 105 is between the main route guide rail 101 and the branch route guide rail 102. The guide rail switching piece 2 is movably arranged on the guide groove 105. The guide rail switching piece 2 can move along the guide groove 105 to realize the butt joint of different routes.

[0036] The guide groove 105 is an arc-shaped guide groove 105, the guide rail switching piece 2 is rotatably arranged on the base 1, the guide rail switching piece 2 is provided with a first guide plate 203, and the first guide plate 203 is located in the arc-shaped guide groove 105 and can move along the arc-shaped guide groove 105. The route butt joint guide rail 201 and the second clamping groove 2011 on the guide rail switching piece 2 are arranged on the first guide plate 203.

[0037] The bifurcated rail track unit further comprises a first lever 6, one end of the first lever 6 is hinged to the base 1 and fixedly connected with the guide rail switching piece 2, and the other end of the first lever 6 extends to the outside of the base 1 and is provided with a lever block 601. In the initial state, the two ends of any one route butt joint guide rail 201 can be connected with the main route guide rail 101 and the branch route guide rail 102 respectively by first pushing the first lever 6.

[0038] One end of the first dialing lever 6 is fixedly connected with one of the switching dialing blocks 202.

[0039] Embodiment 2, the difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that the guide groove is a transverse guide groove, the guide rail switching piece is translatable installed on the base, the second guide plate is arranged on the guide rail switching piece, the second guide plate is in the transverse guide groove and can move along the transverse guide groove. Further, the bifurcated rail track unit further comprises a second dialing lever, the base is provided with a guide hole parallel to the transverse guide groove, one end of the second dialing lever is fixedly connected with the guide rail switching piece, and the other end of the second dialing lever extends out of the guide hole. The guide rail switching piece can be translated along the transverse guide groove by dialing the second dialing lever.

[0040] Embodiment 3, the difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that the base is provided with a main route guide rail and a plurality of branch route guide rails, the guide rail switching piece is provided with a plurality of route butt joint guide rails, the number of the route butt joint guide rails is same as that of the branch route guide rails and one-to-one correspondence, the guide rail switching piece is provided with a plurality of switching dialing blocks, and the switching dialing blocks are arranged between adjacent two branch route guide rails.

Claims

1. A branched track unit, comprising a base and a guide rail switching component, wherein the base is provided with a main route guide rail and at least two branch route guide rails, and the end of the base is also provided with multiple track connectors; the guide rail switching component is movably mounted on the base, and the guide rail switching component is provided with at least two route docking guide rails, the number of route docking guide rails being the same as and corresponding one-to-one with the number of branch route guide rails; characterized in that: The guide rail switching piece is provided with at least one switching block; the switching block is arranged between two adjacent branch route guide rails, and when one branch route guide rail is connected with the main route guide rail through the corresponding route connecting guide rail, the switching block is located on the path of the other branch route guide rail.

2. A diverging rail track unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the branch route guide rails and the route connecting guide rails is two, and the number of the switching blocks is one.

3. A diverging rail track unit as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that: The two sides of the switching block are respectively provided with pushing surfaces, and when one branch route guide rail is connected with the main route guide rail through the corresponding route connecting guide rail, the pushing surfaces of the switching block towards the other branch route guide rail extend from the outside to the inside along the running direction of the branch route guide rail to the main route guide rail.

4. A diverging rail track unit as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The two sides of the main route guide rail and each branch route guide rail are respectively provided with first clamping grooves extending along the length direction of the corresponding route guide rail; the two sides of the route connecting guide rail are respectively provided with second clamping grooves extending along the length direction of the route connecting guide rail; when the two ends of the route connecting guide rail are respectively connected with the main route guide rail and the branch route guide rail, the corresponding second clamping grooves are connected with the first clamping grooves.

5. A diverging rail track unit as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that: The two adjacent branch route guide rails are provided with upper limiting plates and lower limiting plates, and the switching block is located in the moving space of the switching block between the upper limiting plate and the lower limiting plate; when the two ends of the route connecting guide rail are respectively connected with the main route guide rail and the branch route guide rail, the lower surface edge of the upper limiting plate, the corresponding pushing surface and the upper surface of the lower limiting plate jointly form the first clamping groove.

6. A diverging rail track unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that: The base is provided with a guide groove between the main route guide rail and the branch route guide rail, and the guide rail switching piece is movably arranged on the guide groove.

7. A diverging rail track unit as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that: The guide groove is an arc-shaped guide groove, the guide rail switching piece is rotatably arranged on the base, the guide rail switching piece is provided with a first guide plate, and the first guide plate is located in the arc-shaped guide groove and can move along the arc-shaped guide groove.

8. A diverging rail track unit as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that: The bifurcated rail track unit further comprises a first pushing rod, one end of the first pushing rod is hingedly connected to the base and fixedly connected with the guide rail switching piece, the other end of the first pushing rod extends to the outside of the base and is provided with a pushing block.

9. A diverging rail track unit as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that: One end of the first pushing rod is fixedly connected with one of the switching blocks.

10. A diverging rail track unit as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: The guide groove is a transverse guide groove, the guide rail switching piece is translatably arranged on the base, the guide rail switching piece is provided with a second guide plate, and the second guide plate is located in the transverse guide groove and can move along the transverse guide groove.

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