Machine element or mechanism – Gearing – Directly cooperating gears
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-12
2001-05-08
Fenstermacher, David (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Gearing
Directly cooperating gears
C074S089170, C074S089180, C074S410000, C384S295000, C446S460000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227065
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a rack and pinion having a rack and a pinion or gear wheel in operative engagement with each other, whereby movement of the rack causes rotation of the gear wheel or vice versa, and wherein an end stop is provided in the form of there being after the outermost gap at the end of the row of teeth of the rack, instead of a gap, a “filled” gap which prevents a tooth of the gear wheel from getting into engagement.
Such a rack and pinion is known e.g. from EP 410 936. Used in toys, it is expedient that a rack and pinion has an end stop, thereby ensuring that the parts of the rack and pinion cannot be separated unintentionally. Toys are frequently made of plastics, and in case of a great impact on the rack at its end stop position there will be a risk of overloading of the mechanism, causing damage in the form of breaks or permanent deformation.
With the invention, the gear wheel is mounted such that it can move relative to the rack in a direction transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rack. An overload protection is provided hereby, by means of which such unfortunate consequences are avoided. In the event that the rack is forced past one of its end stops, the gear wheel will yield laterally and be disengaged from the rack, without any of the parts being overloaded. The user can then easily put rack and gear wheel into position again, thereby re-establishing the full function of the mechanism.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5919072 (1999-07-01), Pohlman
patent: 5924910 (1999-07-01), Liu
patent: 0 102 511 A1 (1984-03-01), None
patent: 0 410 936 A1 (1991-01-01), None
patent: 2 001 409 (1979-01-01), None
patent: 2 252 055 (1992-07-01), None
Fenstermacher David
Hansen Colby
INTERLEGO AG
Pitney Hardin Kipp & Szuch LLP
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