Model railroad track wiring apparatus

Abstract

A model railroad track wiring apparatus comprises a tie section comprising one or more attached model railroad tie members; one or more insulating members that are attached to the tie section and that protrude upwardly from the tie section; a plurality of rail members secured to the tie section and arranged in one or more pairs, wherein each of the pairs has a first end that is joinable to a model railroad track section, wherein each of the pairs has a second end that is attached to the tie section adjacent to a respective one of the insulating members; and two or more power receptacles that are secured to and electrically coupled to the rail members. The apparatus enables convenient introduction of electrical gaps into a model railroad track layout and convenient wiring of power, control, and accessory elements to rails on either side of a gap.

1 . A model railroad track wiring apparatus, comprising: 
 a tie section comprising one or more attached model railroad tie members;    one or more insulating members that are attached to the tie section and that protrude upwardly from the tie section;    a plurality of rail members secured to the tie section and arranged in one or more pairs, wherein each of the pairs has a first end that is joinable to a model railroad track section, wherein each of the pairs has a second end that is attached to the tie section adjacent to a respective one of the insulating members;    two or more power receptacles that are secured to and electrically coupled to the rail members.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tie section and the insulating members are integrally formed.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the power connectors are formed within the tie members.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a conductor having two ends terminating in power connectors that mate to two of the power receptacles.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tie section and the insulating members are integrally formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, wood, fiber, and resin.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the power connectors comprise downwardly protruding tubes.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the power connectors comprise downwardly protruding studs.  
   
   
       8 . A model railroad wiring kit, comprising: 
 one or more apparatus as recited in  claim 1;     one or more feeder wires, each terminating, in at least one end, in a power connector that mates to one of the power receptacles.    
   
   
       9 . A kit as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a conductor having two ends terminating in power connectors that mate to two of the power receptacles.  
   
   
       10 . A kit as recited in  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the feeder wires comprises a switch which, when operated, selectively establishes a conduction path among one of the pairs of rail segments and across the insulating member associated with that pair.  
   
   
       11 . A kit as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the tie section and the insulating members are integrally formed.  
   
   
       12 . A kit as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the power connectors are formed within the tie members.  
   
   
       13 . A kit as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the tie section and the insulating members are integrally formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, wood, fiber, and resin.  
   
   
       14 . A kit as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the power connectors comprise downwardly protruding tubes.  
   
   
       15 . A kit as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the power connectors comprise downwardly protruding studs.  
   
   
       16 . A method of manufacturing a model railroad wiring apparatus, comprising the steps of: 
 forming a tie section comprising one or more attached model railroad tie members and one or more insulating members that are attached to the tie section and that protrude upwardly from the tie section;    forming a plurality of rail members, wherein the rail members comprise model railroad rail segments wherein two or more power receptacles are secured to and electrically coupled to the rail members; and    securing the plurality of rail members to the tie section arranged in one or more pairs, wherein each of the pairs has a first end that is joinable to a model railroad track section, wherein each of the pairs has a second end that is attached to the tie section adjacent to a respective one of the insulating members.    
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the tie section and the insulating members are integrally formed.  
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the power connectors are formed within the tie members.  
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising forming a conductor having two ends terminating in power connectors that mate to two of the power receptacles.  
   
   
       20 . A model railroad track wiring article of manufacture, consisting of in combination and affixed in a unitary article: 
 a tie section comprising one or more attached model railroad tie members integrally formed with one or more insulating members that protrude upwardly;    a plurality of rail members secured to the tie section and arranged in one or more pairs, wherein each of the pairs has a first end that is joinable to a model railroad track section, wherein each of the pairs has a second end that is attached to the tie section adjacent to a respective one of the insulating members, wherein the insulating members establish electrical gaps between the rail members; and    two or more power receptacles that are secured to and electrically coupled to the rail members.