Amusement devices: toys – Construction toy – Resilient interlocking joint
Patent
1990-10-11
1992-03-10
Hafer, Robert A.
Amusement devices: toys
Construction toy
Resilient interlocking joint
446102, 446125, 403348, 403359, A63H 3306, A63H 3312, A63H 3308, B25G 300
Patent
active
050946439
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a connection device for construction elements, in particular for toy-construction elements. The elements are provided with a shaft and a shaft bushing mountable on the shaft in the longitudinal direction thereof. The shaft has a cross section which deviates from a circular shape with a plurality of radially protruding cross sectional parts which have an outer face consisting of segments of a cylinder which are separated from each other by intermediary areas of smaller diameter. The shaft is provided with transverse grooves into which the shaft bushing is lockable for fixing its longitudinal position on the shaft. Such a connecting device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,352. This known connection device comprises a toy-construction unit with a wheel and a shaft. The wheel is provided with a wheel part and a hub part which is mounted by a flange to the wheel part. The wheel is detachably mounted with the shaft by means of a mounting element. The shaft is provided with a cross like cross section and transverse grooves. The wheel and hub part are provided with a reamed hole adapted to the cross section of the shaft. The mounting element is shaped as a spring ring which engages a transverse groove of the shaft being movably received in a recess provided in the wheel part and retained by the hub part. The flange of the hub part is mountable with the wheel part by means of coupling pins. In this known connection device a wheel can easily be slipped onto a shaft and mounted thereon without using any tools. While the connection is rotation-proof, the wheel can only support a limited axial load. From EP-A-0 273 863 a further connection device of the aforementioned type is known. Here, the shaft has two radially protruding cross sectional parts with saw tooth like transverse grooves offset from each other by 180.degree., as well as intermediary areas of smaller diameters. At each side of the radially protruding cross sectional parts a radial deflecting bar extends parallel to the shaft axis. The shaft bushing also has opposite offset areas with saw tooth like grooves offset by about 180.degree.. Between these areas the throughgoing opening has a diameter which corresponds to the outer diameter of the radially protruding cross sectional parts of the shaft. The bushing can be displaced in the one rotating position along the shaft and can be rigidly connected with the shaft in an axial direction by rotating it by 90.degree.. Thereby, the bars of the shaft lock into corresponding longitudinal grooves of the shaft bushing so as to prevent an undesired detaching of the connection device. A rotation proof connection in both directions between the shaft and the shaft bushing is not possible with this structure. Therefore, the device is unsuitable for connecting toy-construction elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connection device of the aforementioned type that is particularly suitable for connecting toy-construction elements, enabling a rapid assembly and providing a secure connection axially as well as in both circumferential directions.
This object is attained by providing a connection device which includes a shaft bushing consisting of a first bushing part and a second bushing part. The two bushing parts are nondetachably connected with each other and movable relative to each other between a release position wherein the shaft bushing is displaceable axially along the shaft and a locking position, wherein at least one protrusion positively engages into one of the transverse grooves of the shaft. Cooperating locking elements are provided on the first and the second bushing part which lock in at least one of the positions of the two bushing parts, and at least one of the bushing parts is provided with a throughgoing opening adapted to the cross section of the shaft for a rotation proof engagement with the shaft.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a s
REFERENCES:
patent: 2457942 (1949-01-01), Van Zandt
patent: 2765581 (1956-10-01), Adler
patent: 2886358 (1959-05-01), Munchbach
patent: 3335580 (1967-08-01), Simpson, Jr.
patent: 4124949 (1978-11-01), Bach et al.
patent: 4261668 (1981-04-01), Rigal
patent: 4859110 (1989-08-01), Dommel
patent: 4957387 (1990-09-01), Nasu
Bolli Peter
Looser Heinz
Hafer Robert A.
Interlego A.G.
Mair D. Neal
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