MODEL TRAIN STORAGE AND DISPLAY APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to storage and display apparatus for model trains and more particularly to such apparatus wherein the assembled multiple-car trains are stored on track sections on vertically spaced shelves of an elevator shelf assembly. The shelf assembly may be selectively raised and lowered so as to index any given shelf track system in alignment with an existing powered layout track system.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the prior art it is customary to remove each individual car from a track layout and either store the individual cars or reassemble the train in a storage or display unit. For further use, the individual cars must be rerailed and reassembled.

Although various devices have been proposed for elevating, rotating or laterally shifting individual cars on track sections for various purposes, these devices are unsuitable for moving a plurality of multiple car trains in a position for storage and display. Prior art devices which are capable of moving multiple car trains are either too complex or cumbersome and do not otherwise provide an effective display of unique model trains in their assembled condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention enables a model train hobbyist to store and display completely assembled model trains in a clean environment. A plurality of assembled trains are supported on vertically arranged shelves fitted with track sections. The shelves are mounted on an elevator assembly which is selectively raised or lowered relative a powered layout track system. An assembled multiple- car train supported on an elevator shelf can thus be selectively vertically moved into place in line with the powered track system, electrically coupled thereto, and then operated under control of the powered track system. In order to store the multiple-car train, it is moved onto an inline track section carried by an elevator shelf and then moved vertically to electrically disconnect it from the powered system and move it to an offline storage position. This allows the storage and display of the assembled model trains in a clean environment without the

necessity of disconnecting and handling each car individually. In this fashion, several assembled trains may be stored and displayed on vertically spaced shelves.

The stored trains are then ready for re-use without having to rerail and connect each car on a layout track system. The apparatus includes a vertically movable shelf assembly mounted within an open-bottomed display case. The display case can be hung on a wall or other support system and will normally be installed so that the bottom shelf is aligned and level with an existing layout track system.

Each shelf of the assembly has a track section installed thereon and wired to dedicated electrical contacts for connection to the powered layout track. As each shelf is lowered or raised it is indexed to exactly coincide with a powered layout track system. When the desired shelf is lined up with the powered layout track system, the shelf track is powered via the shelf s dedicated contacts and electrical contacts connected to the layout track. The operator can then drive the train off or onto the elevator shelf unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is perspective view of the elevator and display device with shelf track segments for receiving assembled multiple-car trains; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the elevator shelf assembly with parts broken away to show the details of structure; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view similar to Fig. 2 with the elevator shelf assembly in a lowered position; Fig. 4 is a partial cross section taken along lines 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the circled area shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of Fig. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus includes a wall mounted display case indicated generally at 1 and an elevator shelf assembly indicated generally at 2.

The display case 1 may be mounted on a wall surface 3 or any other vertical support surface so as to be held stationary. The display case may be securely mounted by any desired attachment means such as bolts, screws, nails or the like to fix it in position. The display case is mounted so as to be directly above and

aligned with a break or gap in a powered layout track system having terminal ends 4 and 6 for a purpose presently to be described.

The display case 1 may be of any design but preferably includes side panels 7 and 8 and top panel 9 so as to form a rectangular configuration with an open bottom to accommodate vertical movement of the elevator shelf assembly 2 as will be presently described. The side and top panels may be securely attached to a back panel 11 which is fixed to the wall surface 3 so as to form a box-like structure. It will also be possible to provide a plastic or glass operating front panel on the display case if desired, in order to provide a dust free environment and to enable ready access to the stored trains. The display case may be made of any desirable material such as wood, plastic, metal or the like so as to form a durable display case capable of supporting a plurality of model trains.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the elevator train shelf assembly comprises a backing panel 12 located within the display case between the side panels 7 and 8 for vertical movement in front of the display case back panel 11. The back side of the panel 12 is provided with guide rails 13 and 14 adjacent the outside edges thereof for guiding vertical movement of the shelf assembly. As indicated in Fig.

4, the guide channels 13 and 14, which are fixed to the back side of the shelf panel 12, may be U-shaped in cross section and fabricated from metal extrusions or the like. The guide channels 13-14 engage suitable annular slots 16 in the guide buttons 17, appropriately positioned on the display back panel 11 as illustrated in Fig. 4. As illustrated most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, the guide channels 13 and 14 extend a distance above and below the back panel 12 of the shelf assembly in order to maintain alignment of the back panel 12 in the extreme upper and lower positions of the shelf assembly. Individual vertically spaced horizontal train shelves, including the bottom shelf 18, top shelf 19 and a plurality of intermediate shelves 21, are securely fixed to the front face of the shelf back panel 12. The shelves may be connected to panel 12 by any suitable means such as screw fastenings, adhesive or any other connecting means which provides sufficient strength for supporting a model train having a plurality of train cars. The number of shelves utilized and the spacing therebetween will, of course, be dependent upon the size of the display unit and the size of the model trains which may vary.

Each shelf will be fitted with an appropriate train track section, the size of which will depend upon the particular model train layout system in use.

As aforementioned, the train shelf assembly 2 is mounted to be selectively raised and lowered within the display case 1. This is accomplished in the disclosed embodiment by means of the laterally spaced lifting cables 24 located on the back side of the shelf back panel 12 and connected adjacent the bottom edge thereof as illustrated in Fig. 5. The lifting cables 24 may be connected to the back side of the panel 12 by means of such as the screw fastener 26 illustrated.

The upper ends of the lifting cables 24 are connected to winding drum units 27 fixed to the transverse winding shaft 28. The winding shaft 28 may be journaled in suitable bearings 29 affixed to the back panel 11 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in a well known manner. Shaft 28 is driven for rotation by means of the reversible electric motor 31 and reduction gear unit 32. It will be understood that any conventional reversing switch suitable to control the directional rotation of the shaft 28 may be utilized to control the reversible motor 31. With this arrangement, the motor 31 may be powered to either wind cables 24 on the drums 27 to lift the shelf assembly 2 or to pay out the cables to allow the shelf assembly to be lowered by gravity. Accurate indexing of the shelf tracks 22 with the layout track system may be accomplished by the electrically controlled indexing assembly illustrated in Figs. 2,3 and 6. The left side of the shelf back panel 12, as viewed in the drawings, is provided with index notches 33 which are strategically located relative to the plunger mechanism 34 of a solenoid unit 36 such that the rails of an associated shelf track 22 will be perfectly aligned at the proper elevation for mating with the rails of the system track 23. As seen in Fig. 6, the plunger 33 is normally held in an extended engaged position in the slot 33 by means of a suitable spring device 37. It will be understood that the mechanical details of the indexing apparatus may be modified as for example, to utilize a notched bar or other structural element affixed to the back side or edge of the shelf panel 12 rather than the notches 33 illustrated. This expedient is considered to be well within the skill of an artisan. With this arrangement, the plunger normally rides against the indexing notch structure of the panel 12 which is arranged to receive the plunger at each shelf level. If the operator wishes to by-pass a shelf, he

activates the solenoid 36 to prevent the plunger from entering the notch. When the desired shelf reaches the layout track level, the spring loaded plunger is released by de-energizing the solenoid to allow the spring loaded plunger to enter the appropriate notch to accurately position the shelf. An electrical contact switch may be positioned to, at the same time, disconnect the power from the motor. To move the shelf unit again, the operator powers the solenoid to withdraw the . plunger from the notch 33 which restores the power to the motor 31 to operate in the selected direction. Upper and lower limit switches 38 and 39 respectively are mounted adjacent the bottom and top train shelves 18 and 19 respectively to limit the upward and downward extent of movement of the shelf assembly. The limit switches 38 and 39 may be of conventional design and may be mounted either on the panel 11 or the panel 12 with appropriate switch contacts located on the opposite panel. The limit switches will disconnect the power to the motor 31 at the limit positions.

In order to move the trains stored on any particular shelf and aligned with the layout track system, the tracks of the shelf segment must be electrically connected with the tracks of the powered layout system. To accomplish this, the preferred illustrated embodiment utilizes such means as a leaf spring rubbing contact 41 mounted on the front face of the display case back panel 11 in the manner shown in Fig. 7. This contact member 41 will be understood to be connected to the electrical controls of the powered layout track system by means such as the leads 42 in a well known manner. The electrical contact 41 will be located in a position so as to be contacted by mating contacts on the backside of the panel 12 at the position of an associated shelf 21 which has been brought into alignment with the powered layout track system. As shown in Fig. 7, an electrical contact button or the like 43 is mounted on the back side of shelf panel 12 adjacent each track shelf. The electrical contact buttons 43 may be connected to the associated train tracks 22 by electrical leads 44 as illustrated in Fig. 7.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that alternative structural or mechanical details may be employed in order to accomplish the objects of the invention. As an example, the winding shaft 28 with the winding drums 27, could be extended

through the side walls 7 and/or 8 of the display case 1. Another option would be to utilize a gear and chain assembly that would allow an operator to manually rotate the shaft 28 to raise and lower the elevator shelf assembly. Additionally, a manually operated plunger could be used in place of the solenoid and plunger 34- 36 to locate the train shelves. Still other modifications such as the use of a power or hand driven screw jack, a rack and pinion arrangement, or a low pressure hydraulic system could be employed to raise and lower the shelf assembly. Either a reversing AC or DC motor system could be used as well as an electronic positioning unit, similar to those used in machine tool industry could be employed to properly locate each shelf.