Amusement devices: toys – Construction toy – Having parts assembled for relative movement
Patent
1983-01-12
1986-10-14
Shay, F. Barry
Amusement devices: toys
Construction toy
Having parts assembled for relative movement
59 80, 59900, 59901, 403 56, 403 90, 446104, 446120, A63H 3308
Patent
active
046170014
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to construction or assembly elements provided with coupling members serving for associating these elements with one another, and more particularly a set of construction elements suited to one another, by means of which it is possible to produce a very large number of combinations serving as toys.
For this purpose, the coupling members for the construction elements or links of the present invention consist of at least one spherical part, on the one hand, constituting a penetrating element, and at least one receptacle corresponding to the spherical parts, on the other hand, which are designed in such a way that a spherical part of one link can be locked elastically in the receptacle of another element forming the receiving link.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the penetrating link has at least two identical spherical parts which are connected to one another by means of an intermediate cylindrical narrowed portion, the distance between the centres of these spherical parts being substantially equal to the diameter of the latter.
The receiving link can be formed by a single or multiple link which has at its two opposite ends receptacles which are intended for receiving spherical parts such as those mentioned above.
The abovementioned receptacle can likewise be limited on at least one of its sides by an elastically articulated lip which grips the spherical part of the coupling member located in the receptacle.
Other advantages and special features of the invention will emerge from the description given below of some specific embodiments of the construction elements according to the invention.
FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a penetrating link;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective representations of special forms of the penetrating links;
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show respectively in perspective a receiving link, a modified penetrating link and their assembly, FIG. 6 including a partial cutaway portion;
FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of the relative dimensions of the elements according to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6;
FIG. 8a is a top view of a receiving link;
FIG. 8b is a front view of a receiving link;
FIG. 8c is a side view of a receiving link;
FIG. 9a is a top view of a penetrating link;
FIG. 9b is a side view of a penetrating link; and
FIG. 10 is an alternative embodiment.
In the various figures, the same reference numerals denote identical or similar elements.
The penetrating link 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 is provided with two spherical parts 7 which are fixed to one another by means of a cylindrical intermediate piece 17 in such a way that a cylindrical outer surface is formed between these parts 7. The distance "a" between the centres of these spherical parts is approximately equal to the diameter of the latter.
FIG. 2 shows three spherical parts fixed to one another by intermediate pieces 17, whilst FIG. 3 shows a penetrating link 2 consisting of a cubic box 19 to which, for example, two spherical parts are fixed at right angles to one another, whilst in the two open ends of the box it is possible to mount two spherical parts 7 removably by means of a connector 20 which can be slipped into this box 19.
This connector has ribs 22 on its side faces which interact with corresponding notches 21 which are made in the inner walls of the box and which therefore make it possible to retain the connector sufficiently firmly in the box in a removable manner.
The length of the connector 20 is at most equal to half the length of the box 19, so that it is possible to fix to it, at the same time, a spherical part 7 in both ends.
It is therefore possible, on this special element, to build in different directions at right angles to one another.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a receiving link 1 is formed by a link which has at its two opposite ends receptacles 5 for the spherical parts 7 of a penetrating link 2.
This link 1 consists of two H-shaped parts 9 and 10 parallel to one another and spaced from one another at a distance which is a little less than the diameter of a spherical part 7, s
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Shay F. Barry
Snyder John P.
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