Marble track amusement device

Abstract

An entertainment device including a track for rolling marbles. The track may be configured onto at least one vertical or horizontal planar support surface, such as walls, tables, doors, floors, and vertically or horizontally oriented rod-like structures, such as the branches of a tree. In one embodiment, the three-dimensional track configurations may include at least one interconnected substantially vertical and substantially horizontal support surface.

1 . A marble track amusement device comprising:
 a plurality of structural elements, wherein the structural elements create a path along which at least one marble travels; and   re-usable putty that reversibly attaches each structural element to at least a first substantially planar support surface.   
     
     
         2 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 1  wherein the first planar support surface is selected from the group consisting of:
 a) a substantially horizontal planar support surface; and 
 b) a substantially vertical planar support surface. 
 
     
     
         3 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second planar support surface. 
     
     
         4 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 3  wherein the first planar support surface is substantially vertical and the second planar support surface is substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         5 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the structural elements includes at least one tab integral to the structural element that enables the attachment of the structural element to the at least one planar support surface. 
     
     
         6 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the structural elements are not in direct contact with each other. 
     
     
         7 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein none of the structural elements are in direct contact with each other. 
     
     
         8 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the structural elements are selected from the group consisting of ¼ circles, ½ circles, ¾ circles, full circles, funnels, rail systems, peg systems, and alternating structures. 
     
     
         9 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the structural elements comprises edges that contact the first substantially planar support surface such that the substantially planar support surface creates a solid side of the structural element that is open when the edges do not contact the substantially planar support surface. 
     
     
         10 . A marble track amusement device comprising a plurality of structural elements that create a path along which at least one marble travels, wherein at least one of the structural elements is reversibly mounted to at least one substantially horizontal planar support surface, and at least one of the structural elements is reversibly mounted to at least one substantially vertical surface. 
     
     
         11 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 10 , wherein at least two of the structural elements are not in direct contact with each other. 
     
     
         12 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 10 , wherein none of the structural elements are in direct contact with each other. 
     
     
         13 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one attachment element that reversibly attaches each structural element to the planar support surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 13 , wherein the attachment elements are selected from the group consisting of clamps, magnets, suction cups, hook and loop fasteners, and re-usable putty. 
     
     
         15 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the structural elements comprises a re-director, wherein the re-director diverts the marble in a manner selected from the group consisting of: a) from the substantially horizontal planar support surface to the substantially vertical planar support surface; and b) from the substantially vertical planar support surface to the substantially horizontal planar support surface. 
     
     
         16 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 15 , wherein the re-director comprises a substantially L-shaped bracket. 
     
     
         17 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the structural elements is reversibly attached to both the at least one substantially horizontal planar support surface and the at least one substantially vertical planar support surface. 
     
     
         18 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 17 , wherein the structural elements are selected from the group consisting of ¼ circles, ½ circles, ¾ circles, full circles, funnels, rail systems, peg systems, and alternating structures. 
     
     
         19 . A marble track amusement device comprising:
 a plurality of structural elements that create a path along which at least one marble travels; and   at least one L-shaped bracket that reversibly connects at least one structural element to at least one substantially planar support surface.   
     
     
         20 . The marble track amusement device of  claim 19 , wherein the L-shaped bracket changes an orientation of the structural element approximately 90 degrees.