Modular Toy Raceway with Hinged Brackets for Compact Rolling Cart
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toy vehicle raceways lack a compact and portable design that allows for easy transportation and storage while maintaining functionality for racing configurations.
Innovation Solution
A modular toy vehicle raceway system with snap-together track segments, hinged support brackets, and a finishing order indicator that can be disassembled and folded into a rolling cart for transportation, featuring a friction fit or snap-together mechanism and wheeled brackets for easy assembly and disassembly, enabling a compact storage and transport configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the raceway is designed as a complete racing structure, then the racing functionality is improved, but the portability and storage ease deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The raceway is divided into multiple separate track segments that can be assembled together to form the complete racing structure. Each segment is a discrete component that can be easily stored separately, yet when combined they create a functional raceway system. This segmentation allows the racing functionality to be maintained while improving portability and storage ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The raceway structure is designed to be dynamically configurable - it can be assembled into a racing configuration when needed and disassembled into individual segments for storage or transport. The track segments connect through mechanisms that allow quick assembly and disassembly, enabling the structure to transition between functional and storage states without permanent fixation.
2Ease of operation
If the track segments are designed to be modular and disassemblable, then the ease of assembly and storage is improved, but the structural stability and connection reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple track segments are designed to connect through joining mechanisms that merge them into a continuous, stable racing structure. The connection points are engineered to provide sufficient structural stability when assembled, allowing the segments to function as a unified whole while maintaining the ability to be disassembled when needed.
3Volume of moving object
If the raceway includes multiple track segments with folding sub-segments, then the compact storage configuration is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The track segments are designed with nested folding capabilities where sub-segments can be folded into each other or against the main segment body. This nesting arrangement allows the raceway to collapse into a compact form factor for storage while maintaining the option to unfold and assemble into the full racing configuration when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system allows for easy assembly and disassembly, providing a compact and portable solution for toy vehicle racing while maintaining a functional racing configuration, facilitating easy transportation and storage.
Implementation Method 1
The three track segments may be configured to connect to each other with a friction fit or snap-together tab-and-slot mechanism
Implementation Method 2
snap-together tab-and-slot mechanism
Implementation Method 3
Each of the three bracket portions may be hingedly attached to a track portion and configured to provide support and positioning for the raceway when it is deployed in a racing configuration
Implementation Method 4
Another bracket portion may function as a carrying or pull handle for the assembly, such that the combination forms a rolling cart
Implementation Method 5
The starting gate may be configured to retain toy vehicles in a starting position and further configured to release the toy vehicles to roll down the pathways
Data Source
AI summary
A toy vehicle raceway and rolling cart may include a plurality of multilane track segments, each of which may have a corresponding pivotably mounted support bracket. A toy vehicle raceway may be capable of being assembled in a plurality of configurations, including a racing configuration wherein the track segments and brackets may be assembled as a ramped raceway and a transport configuration wherein one or more of the track segments and brackets may be assembled to form a rolling cart for securely carrying other raceway components.