Forming an object of the present invention is a system for moving objects or elements according to the preamble of the main claim. A system for moving objects according to such preamble is described in DE9207931U1.

A system of the type mentioned above is for example defined by a "scale model" and it can be used to represent, in an animated and three-dimensional manner, a landscape, city or town settings, or the like. A "scale model" is for example a reduced scale model of a landscape, of a town, of a marine environment or other scale models. However, the invention is not limited to a such representation or use, but it relates to a general system for moving objects of any nature and shape along a closed path or track.

With particular but non-limiting reference to "scale models", various methods for providing such systems are known. They may comprise fixed bodies defining closed guide tracks for movable bodies in an independent manner, which may be railway scale model where on rails fixed to a support and provided with a power supply there moves a train model with at least one component having an electric motor which drives the train engine pulling all the remaining components coupled to each other.

There are also known scale models representing settings where part of the elements present therein (such as representations of people or animals) are movable and others are fixed and wherein said elements move because they are fixed to a movable structure which supports them.

With reference to the latter type of scale model, said movable structure comprises one or more components, independent with respect to each other or assembled to each other, but however movable along a fixed guide. The movement of such structure may occur in various ways: by pulling or by "pushing" into said fixed guide. In the case of pulling, for example, the components of the movable structure, which support the single elements of the scale model (like representations of human or animal characters of the scale model), are for example defined by an element or cable which pulls such components in the fixed guide. Such solution is complex, expensive and subject to cable breakage problems.

In case of movement by thrust, and in the case of movable structure defined by movable components assembled to each other and movable in a closed fixed guide, there is known to provide for - in a point of such fixed guide - means for actuating such movement comprising gears which act on opposite sides of such components and they cause the movement thereof by friction.

However, the latter solution does not guarantee a proper movement of said components given that there could be a relative sliding between said components and the gears which act thereon by friction through a rubbered perimeter surface or the like. This occurs especially when the elements associated with the assembled movable components have an overall weight which exceeds a limit value and it causes a clear difficulty of said "friction" gears in moving the components.

Furthermore, still due to the relative sliding between the gears and the movable components, the scale models obtained as indicated above cannot be arranged on inclined surfaces given that they ensure the movement of the elements (characters or the like) thereon.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved system for moving objects or single elements of the type comprising a plurality of components assembled to each other and movable along a fixed guide body, said components carrying said elements.

In particular, an object of the invention is to provide a such system which can also be arranged on inclined surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a such system where the movement of said components is reliable and safe.

Another object is to provide a system of the type mentioned above which can be obtained in any size and configuration, where the movement elements are unconstrained as much as possible from the movable components which support them and where such elements are moved in a very fluid and continuous manner.

These and other objects which shall be more apparent to the person skilled in the art are attained by a system for moving objects or single elements according to the attached claims.

For a better understanding of the present invention, the following drawings are attached hereto, purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein: figure 1 shows a top view of a system according to the invention; figure 2 shows a front perspective view of a portion of a first part of the system of figure 1; figure 3 shows a lateral perspective view of the portion of figure 2; figure 4 shows a top view of the portion of figure 2; figure 5 shows a front perspective view of a component of a second part of the system of figure 2; figure 6 shows a rear perspective view of another component of the second part of the system of figure 2; figure 7 shows a front perspective view, with some parts removed for the sake of greater clarity, of a movement part of the system of figure 1; figure 8 shows a lateral perspective view of the for movement part of figure 7; figure 9 shows a top view of the movement part of figure 7; figures 10 and 11 show perspective views of examples of elements moved by a system according to the invention; and figure 12 shows a part of the system of figure 1.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, it shows a system according to the invention and some of the components thereof. The system shown in the figures and described below is a detail of the movement system (or "scale model") which has the purpose of allowing to represent landscapes, urban or natural settings of any type where the elements 100 representing characters (human and/or animal, like in figures 10 and 11) or things (cars or other vehicles) are moved along a track, whether flat or slopy, in a continuous, safe and "fluid" manner without such movement being jerky. The various parts of the system that allow the scale model to be modelled easily to obtain a closed path (this will be shown as "annular-shaped") for such movable elements of any shape, whether circular (like in figure 1), elliptical or however with curves and straight parts along which such elements can be moved.

However, the system described herein represents a nonlimiting example of the invention given that the latter relates to a generic system for moving single objects or elements with respect to a surface (on which the system rests), said objects being of any type, shape and size and of any purpose (including furnishing objects and showcased objects or items, even in commercial environments).

The system or scale model according to the invention shown in the figures is generally indicated with 1 in figure 1 and it mainly comprises three parts interconnected to each other both functionally and structurally: a first part is defined by a body 2 (annular) fixed to a surface S on which the structure lies, a second part is defined by a structure 3 movable along and on said fixed body 2 and a third part or movement part of such structure is defined by actuator means 4 inserted into a box-like container or containment body 5 (open in the figures) fixed to the fixed body 2.

More particularly, the body 2 is defined by a plurality of portions 10 modularly coupled to each other. Each portion 10 (see figure 2-4) comprises a base 11 from which there rise lateral blocks 11A and 11B which - in the figures - are defined by single members 11K spaced from each other. Such lateral blocks 11A,B (which can be defined by continuous walls) delimit an internal groove 12 from whose bottom 13 there rises a wall or a fin 14 and they have holes 11W distributed for constraining, using screws or the like, the portion 10 to a support surface (not shown).

At opposite ends 15 and 16 of each portion 10 (made of flexible material), at the blocks 11A,B there are present constraint means suitable to allow the coupling - in succession - of the adjacent and consecutive 10 portions. Such constraint means are a pin 20 obtained at a first lateral block 11A and a hole 21 made in a tab 22 protruding from the other lateral block 11B.

The positions of such pin 20 and hole 21 are arranged in a mirror-like fashion with respect to the opposite ends 15 and 16 of each portion 10 so as to allow the coupling of the adjacent and consecutive portions.

The movable structure 3 comprises a plurality of portions 25K and 25W (shown, respectively, in figures 5 and 6), made of flexible material, each having a body 26 having a base 27 provided with a longitudinal recess 28, lateral edges or opposite sides 29A and 29B, terminal opposite ends 30A and 30B and a vacant surface 31. Such portions 25K and 25W preferably have different lengths; the portions 25K (see figure 5) are suitable to support elements to be moved, while the portions 25W (figure 6) are simply for connection between the portions 25K.

The aforementioned body 26 is suitable to be arranged, movable, in the internal groove 12 of each portion 10 defining the fixed body 2 and slides - in a guided manner - on the fin 14 of the latter inserted into the longitudinal recess 28.

At the lateral edges or sides 29A and 29B there are present reliefs 32 interspaced by recesses 33 suitable to define a rack and pinion 35 arranged on each edge 29A and 29B of the body 26. At the one (for example the one 30A) of the terminal ends 30A and 30B, instead, there are present elastically deformable parallel arms 36; the arms have end teeth 37 protruding outwards of the arms and suitable to cooperate with the L-shaped recesses 39 provided for inside the second terminal end 30B of the body 26.

In this manner, consecutive and adjacent portions 25K,W may be constrained to each other through a snap-coupling of teeth 37 of a first portion 25K,W in the recesses 39 of the second adjacent portion.

Obviously, the method for connecting the portions 25K or 25W of the movable structure 3 may be different from the ones described and shown and they can be obtained even using other elements known to the person skilled in the art suitable to allow a firm constraint between such portions. In the vacant surface 31 (considered such, that is vacant, given that it is present on the side of each portion 25K,W opposite to the base 27 inserted and movable in the portions 10 and provided with a recess 28) of the portions 25K only (see figure 5) there are provided for seats 40 for one or more permanent magnets 41 (shown with a dashed line) suitable to cooperate with metal parts or with other magnets suitably associated with the movable elements 100 of the system. Obviously, also the opposite may be provided for: metal parts are inserted into the seats 40 and the permanent magnets are associated with an end part - lower or bottom - of the movable elements 100 of the system.

Therefore, said movable elements (100) may be removably associated - in different positions - with the movable structure 3 when it moves along the body 2. Preferably, above each portion 10 of the fixed body 2 (and therefore of the movable structure) there is provided for a flat element or sheet made of plastic material 43 which may be opaque, coloured or transparent, which has transversal dimensions (measured orthogonally to a longitudinal axis F of each portion 10) similar to those of each of said portions 10 and which is fixed to such body 2 in any known manner (for example using screws, glue, rivets or other fixing means). In the case of use of glue or other adhesive material, it can be arranged at the recesses 80 provided for in the blocks 11A,B.

Besides making the scale model or system more realistic, such sheet 43 (shown with a dashed line in figure 3 and in figures 10 and 11) allows to prevent the movable elements from coming into contact with the movable structure 3 making them - on the contrary - visually "free" from it (see figures 10 and 11); furthermore, such sheet 43 protects said structure 3 from dust or other which could penetrate into the internal groove of the body 2 (groove defined by all the channels 12 of the coupled portions 10) and which could negatively affect the movement of such structure on and into said body.

The structure 3 moves in the fixed body 2 thanks to the actuator means 4, shown in figures 7-9 and 12. Such actuator means comprise a pair of toothed gears 46 and 47 associated with the box-like body or container 5 regarding which figures 7 and 9 show only the lower part 48; such gears 46 and 47 rotate in the latter and they are enclosed therein by a closing part or lid 49 (partially shown in figure 12) suitable to be superimposed to said lower part 48. Such gears 46 and 47 both cooperate directly with each portion 25W,K defining the movable structure 3, and they receive the motion from a gearwheel 50 moved by an electric geared motor 51 (indicated with a dashed line in figure 8 and shown in a position separated by a pin 52 of the wheel 50), associated - in a known manner - with the upper closing part (not shown) of the box-like body 5. The geared motor is inserted into a guard 90 associated with the lid 49 of the box-like body 5.

More particularly, each gear 46 and 47 comprises a pair of toothed portions 55 and 56 having different diameter and superimposed with respect to each other. The lower toothed portions 55 of such gears 46 and 47 cooperate with each other and receive the motion of the gearwheel 50 which, in the figures, meshes with the toothed portion 55 of the gear 47.

The upper toothed portion 56 of each gear 46 and 47 has a diameter smaller than that of the corresponding portion 55. In this manner, the toothed portions 56 of the gears are separated by a space 59 corresponding to the length or transversal dimension (with respect to the longitudinal axis F) of each portion 25K,W and the gears 56 cooperate with the rack and pinion 35 present on the opposite sides of such portion 25K,W.

This solution allows to move - without relative sliding between the portions 25K,W and the gears 46, 47 the portions 25K and 25W defining the movable structure 3 on the fixed body 2 and drive the elements - integrally joined with such movable structure - in movement. Such coupling between the gears 56 and the rack and pinion 35 of the portions 25K,W allows to move the movable structure 3 even when the system or scale model 1 does not lie on a perfectly flat surface.

Obviously, the geared motor may act on multiple gearwheels 50 coupled to each other or on multiple gearwheels coupled to the gears 46 and 47 so as to transfer more drive power to the movable structure 3. Multiple geared motors operating in a synchronised manner on corresponding gearwheels 50 may also be used, geared motors which can be associated with multiple box-like containers or bodies 5 integrally joined with the fixed body 3.

Furthermore, the portion 48 of the box-like body 5 has means 70, at least on one side 60 thereof, for coupling to an end portion 10K of the fixed body 2 which may therefore be connected to the box-like body 5. Such portion 48 also comprises protruding parallel arms 62 e 63, spaced apart proportionally to the transversal width of a portion 10 of the body 2, suitable to contain and elastically block therebetween the other end portion 10W of the body 2. Such end portion 10W is not fixed to the box-like body or container 5, but it is inserted into the parallel arms 62, 63 at the end of the arrangement of the body 2 on the surface S and before fixing said body 2 to such surface. This allows to arrange the system 1 so that the movable structure 3 has a positioning in said body 2 such to allow the correct movement, without torsions and without traction stresses.

The aforementioned coupling means are a pin 71 and a hole 72 respectively suitable to cooperate with the hole 21 and the pin 20 of said portion 10K.

The geared motor 51 preferably has the possibility of changing the rotation speed thereof (and therefore change that of the gearwheel 50) through a common electric voltage regulator.

The invention allows to provide a structure or scale model 1 of any shape, with a path of the movable elements of any length, not predefined and which can be modified (with addition of other portions 10 and 25K,W). This due to the fact that the actuator means 4 are provided in a manner such to cooperate permanently mechanically coupled with the rack and pinion provided on both sides of the portions 25K,W of the movable structure 5.

In a simplified embodiment, the aforementioned movement is obtained through only one gear 47 cooperating with the gearwheel 50 and which cooperates with a rack and pinion provided for on only one side of the portions 25K,W of the structure 3 which faces the gear 47. The other side of the portion 25K,W may be without such rack and pinion and slide along a guide with smooth wall provided for instead of the gear 46; alternatively, the portion 25K,W comprises a rack and pinion on both sides, but the gear 46 is idle and acts as a simple guide for the portion 25K,W which penetrates into the box-like body 48.

According to another alternative, at least two gears 46 and 47 are arranged on the same side of the portion 25K,W mentioned above which in turn has a rack and pinion only on this side, while the other side is smooth and slides along a smooth wall.

However, combinations of such embodiments may be provided for.

The invention allows to obtain a system or scale model which may have multiple shapes and always operating optimally, lying on a flat or non-flat horizontal or inclined surface.

A particular embodiment of the invention applied to the representation of settings has been described. However, the invention relates to a generic system for moving objects of various shapes and sizes along a closed path or track. For example, it may be used in showcasing items for sale on showcases or to display - in succession - objects of the same kind, but various shapes.

Other embodiments may also be provided. For example, for each lateral block 11A, 11B of the base 11 of the portion 10 may provide for one or more fins protruding towards the groove 12 suitable to be superimposed to the portions 25K and 25W of the movable structure 3 so as ensure that they are retained in said groove 12. This solution is particularly useful should the structure 1 be arranged on a surface with variable slope or where such slope changes along the structure.

Even such variants have innovative characteristics as defined by the claims that follow.