The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 20, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1999
Andrew Shun Pui Chiu, Kowloon, HK;
Other;
Abstract
A lap counting mechanism is described for a race-track for toy cars of the type in which the cars are guided in slots. The guide member of the car, which in use is received within the slots, is provided with a left-right asymmetry and the lap counting mechanism is able to detect this asymmetry. This allows at least two cars to be clearly distinguished by the lap counting mechanism and so the number of laps that an individual car has done may be totaled accurately even though the cars may swap tracks and slots. The sensing means and the associated asymmetry may be electrical, optical or magnetic. Means are also provided for detecting the speed of the cars and for generating sound and light effects.