Ball track set

Abstract

A track set includes track sections having parallel first and second rail edges on which a ball travels. Each track section includes a first upstanding sidewall projecting from the first rail edge having a first guide rail positioned a sufficient distance radially outward of the first rail edge. Each track section further includes a second upstanding sidewall projecting from the second rail edge having a second guide rail positioned a sufficient distance radially outward of the second rail edge. A connection member includes a resilient retaining portion configured to be inserted and retained between two spaced-apart pillar supports on at least one other track section to attach thereto. The track sections accommodate a derailed ball using a guide rail positioned a sufficient distance from an adjacent rail edge, to support the derailed ball via the guide rail and one rail edge when the ball rolls off the first and second rail edges.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A track set, comprising:
 two or more track sections having a proximal and a distal end, each track section including:   parallel first and second rail edges on which a rolling ball travels;   a first upstanding sidewall projecting from the first rail edge, having an upper portion defining a first guide rail positioned a sufficient distance radially outward of the first rail edge to support a rolling ball via two points of contact established by the first rail edge and the first guide rail when the ball rolls off the first and second rail edges;   a second upstanding sidewall projecting from the second rail edge, having an upper portion defining a second guide rail positioned a sufficient distance radially outward of the second rail edge to support a rolling ball via two points of contact established by the second rail edge and second guide rail when the ball rolls off the first and second rail edges; and   a connector member disposed on a distal end of at least one track section, having a resilient retaining portion configured to be inserted and retained between two spaced-apart track support pillars on at least one other track section, to attach thereto in a manner that permits the connected track sections to flex;   wherein the track sections are configured to retain a derailed ball that rolls off the first and second rail edges due to said guide rail being positioned a sufficient distance from an adjacent rail edge so as to support the rolling ball via said guide rail and one rail edge, to thereby minimize rolling resistance while retaining the rolling ball on the track.   
     
     
         2 . A track set, comprising:
 two or more track sections having a proximal and a distal end, each track section including:   parallel first and second rail edges on which a rolling ball travels;   a first upstanding sidewall projecting from the first rail edge, having an upper portion defining a first guide rail positioned a sufficient distance radially outward of the first rail edge to support a rolling bail via two points of contact established by the first rail edge and the first guide rail when the ball rolls off the first and second rail edges;   a second upstanding sidewall projecting from the second rail edge, having an upper portion defining a second guide rail positioned a sufficient distance radially outward of the second rail edge to support a rolling ball via two points of contact established by the second rail edge and second guide rail when the ball rolls off the first and second rail edges;   wherein the distance between the first guide rail positioned radially outward of the first rail edge, and the distance between the second guide rail positioned radially outward of the second rail edge, is a distance that is at least 80 percent of the distance between the first and second rail edges;   a connector member disposed on a distal end of at least one track section, having a resilient retaining portion configured to be inserted and retained between two spaced-apart track support pillars on at least one other track section, to attach thereto in a manner that permits track sections to flex;   wherein the track sections are configured to retain a derailed ball that rolls off the first and second rail edges due to said guide rail being positioned a sufficient distance from an adjacent rail edge so as to support the rolling ball via said guide rail and one rail edge, to thereby minimize rolling resistance while retaining the rolling ball on the track.   
     
     
         3 . The track set of  claim 2 , further comprising a ball configured to be positioned on and roll along the first and second rail edges. 
     
     
         4 . The track set of  claim 3 , wherein the connection member is configured to longitudinally align track sections to minimize alignment imperfections that cause a ball to roll off the first and second rail edges, and the first and second guide rails retain a ball that rolls off the first and second rail edges through support of the ball via two points to maintain rapid rolling speed. 
     
     
         5 . The track set of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second rail edges comprise first and second spaced-apart radiused corner edges. 
     
     
         6 . The track set of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second guide rails comprise radiused corner edges on the first and second upstanding sidewalls. 
     
     
         7 . The track set of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second upstanding sidewalls each include a plurality of openings therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The track set of  claim 6 , further including first and second aligning tabs on an end of the track section that fit in recesses in a mating track section. 
     
     
         9 . The track set of  claim 6 , further including a clamp support surface depending from at least one of the first and second upstanding sidewalls. 
     
     
         10 . The track set of  claim 6 , wherein at least one track section includes an aperture disposed between the first and second track support pillars, the aperture being configured to receive the connecting member therein. 
     
     
         11 . The track set of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second upstanding sidewalls comprise a plurality of upstanding sidewalls projecting upwardly to a guide rail surface extending longitudinally along the length of the track section. 
     
     
         12 . The track set of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second rail edges comprise a pair of rectilinear beams connected by one or more curved portions that maintain the pair of rectilinear bars in a parallel spaced-apart configuration. 
     
     
         13 . A track section having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising:
 parallel first and second rail edges on which a rolling ball travels;   a first upstanding sidewall projecting from the first rail edge, having an upper portion defining a first guide rail positioned a sufficient distance radially outward of the first rail edge to support a rolling ball via two points of contact established by the first rail edge and the first guide rail when the ball rolls off the first and second rail edges;   a second upstanding sidewall projecting from the second rail edge, having an upper portion defining a second guide rail positioned a sufficient distance radially outward of the second rail edge to support a rolling ball via two points of contact established by the second rail edge and second guide rail when the ball rolls off the first and second rail edges;   wherein the distance between the first guide rail positioned radially outward of the first rail edge, and the distance between the second guide rail positioned radially outward of the second rail edge, is a distance that is at least 80 percent of the distance between the first and second rail edges first and second spaced apart pillar supports depending from the proximal end of the track section; and   a connecting member depending from the distal end of the track section, having a retaining portion configured to be inserted and retained between the first and second spaced apart pillar supports of a mating track section, to attach thereto in a manner that permits the track sections to flex;   wherein the track section is configured to retain a derailed ball that rolls off the first and second rail edges due to said guide rail being positioned a sufficient distance from an adjacent rail edge so as to support the rolling ball via said guide rail and one rail edge, to thereby minimize rolling resistance while retaining the rolling ball on the track.   
     
     
         14 . The track set of  claim 13 , further comprising a ball configured to be positioned on and roll along the first and second rail edges. 
     
     
         15 . The track set of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second rail edges comprise first and second spaced-apart radiused corner edges. 
     
     
         16 . The track set of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second guide rails comprise first and second radiused corner edges on the upper portion of the first and second upstanding sidewalls. 
     
     
         17 . The track set of  claim 16 , wherein at least one track section includes an aperture disposed between the first and second track support pillars, the aperture being configured to receive the connecting member therein. 
     
     
         18 . The track set of  claim 17 , further including first and second aligning tabs on the distal end of the track section, being configured to fit within recesses in an end of a mating track section. 
     
     
         19 . The track set of  claim 18 , further including a clamp support surface depending from at least one of the first and second upstanding sidewalls. 
     
     
         20 . The track set of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second upstanding sidewalls each include a plurality of openings therethrough.