EP0085542A2

EP0085542A2 - Constructional toy

Info

Publication number: EP0085542A2
Application number: EP83300427A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Tasker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Tasker Peter
Priority date: 1982-01-28
Filing date: 1983-01-27
Publication date: 1983-08-10
Also published as: ES270208U; ES270208Y; EP0085542A3; AU1091583A

Abstract

A constructional toy consists of a relatively small number of types of components which can be assembled in a relatively large number of constructions. In the simplest embodiment the components consist of a main chassis with either a longitudinal slot which receives constructional members having projecting male connecting means which fit into the slot or else circular recess which receives pegs or pins on constructional members. The set includes a wheel assembly and frame members. The connecting members are connecting pins and pegs which are compatible in many combinations with the other components of the set.

Description

This invention relates to a constructional toy. More particularly it relates to a constructional toy in which there is a relatively small number of types of components which may be used to create a relatively large number of different toys.
Constructional toys may conveniently be classified in two general catagories. The first of these consists of toys which may be assembled into a number of different embodiments. However, the constructed toys do not very closely resemble the articles which they are intended to. In this catagory of toys would be included "Tinker toys" and "Mechano" sets.
A second category of constructional toys is one In which only one or two embodiments may be constructed out of the specialized com. ponents. These one or two embodiments resemble the article which is intended to be constructed but there is provided only a very narrow range of embodiments which can be constructed from these sets.
It is an object of this invention to go some way towards achieving the desideratum of providing a constructional toy set of a minimum number of basic components which can be used to assemble a maximum number of toys which closely resemble the articles they are intended to portray.
The closest U.S. patent specification of which I am aware is U.S. Patent 3,660,927. The manner in which it resembles my invention is in the provision of an elongate chassis in which may be fitted other components. However, the slot provided does not have resilient press fitting means to allow for press fitting of a constructional element into the chassis element as is provided for in a broad embodiment of the present invention. Further it appears that auxiliary screws are required to hold the toy component in position.
Other U.S. patents which show constructional toys are U.S. Patents 4,193,597; 3,224,137; 3,740,895; 3,811,218; 3,996,692 and 4,170,083. Each of these Patents falls into the second category discussed above of toys which can be assembled and disassembled but which can only be constructed into a minimum number of different embodiments.
The invention may be said broadly to consist in a constructional toy which comprises:

a main chassis member,
female connecting means in said main chassis member,
a constructional member including a male connecting means and a toy component portion,
a resilient press fitting member adapted in use to provide a press fitting between said male and female connecting means to join said constructional member to said main chassis member.

1n another embodiment the invention may be said broadly to consist in a constructional toy which comprises:

a main chassis member,
female connecting means in said main chassis member,
a constructional member including a toy component portion and a female connection means,
a connecting member having a male connecting means at either end thereof, one said male connecting means being adapted to engage in a press fit in said female connecting means in said main chassis member and said other male connecting means being adapted to engage in a press fit in said female connecting means in said constructional member.

In a still further embodiment the invention may be said broadly to consist in a constructional toy wheel assembly comprising a connecting pin having a substantially cylindrical central portion of a first diameter integral with a pair of pins each pin having a longitudinal axis common with the axis of said cylinder and projecting from either end thereof,

a pair of wheels each having an open center,
a pair of connecting peg members each comprising a shaft portion and a head portion having a common longitudinal axis said head portion being stepped outwardly from said shaft portion,
a central bore in the shaft portion of each said peg member open at the end of said shaft portion remote from said head portion,
said central bore of each said peg member being adapted to receive in a press fit one of said projecting pins from said connecting pin, and
each said connecting peg being adapted to be received in a clearance fit in said open center of each said wheel, the shaft portion of each said peg extending inwardly thereof.

In a still further embodiment the invention may be said broadly to consist in a constructional toy wheel assembly as defined above fitted into a transverse bore through the main chassis of a constructional toy as defined above.
The invention may be more fully understood by having reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing a chassis provided with three pairs of wheels;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a wheel assembly and the chassis;
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the wheel assembly;
Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of a frame member;
Figure 5 is the sectional view V-V of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a end view of the frame member of Figure 4;
Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a load tray;
Figure 8 is a front view of the load tray shown in Figure 7 with the frame member as illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 shown In section;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a forklift truck constructed according to the invention;
Figure 10 is a top plan view of the upright member of the forklift truck;
Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the forklift truck shown in Figure 9;
Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view and Figure 13 an assembled perspective view of a racing car constructed according to the invention;
Figures 14 and 15 are respectively exploded and assembled views of a rocket sled constructed with the components according to the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 a main chassis member is chassis 10 which has a longitudinal slot 12 along its length. Slot 12 may be stopped short of either end but is preferably open. Slot 12 is lined with a liner 14 which is a main press fit component of the constructional toy. Liner 14 is made of a suitable low friction lining material such as polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, nylon or the like. The slot 12 can be itself a resilient member if a suitable piastics material is useo in construction ana snapea as is liner 14. Front grill 15 is integral with a liner 14 and is of the same material. Bores 16 pass through grill 15. Slits 13 are provided near the top portions of grill 15 so as not to restrict the resiliency of liner 14 at its end. Three transverse bores 32 of diameter greater than shaft portion 26 of peg members 23 are provided through the chassis 10. A pair of longitudinal bores 16 are provided at the front thereof. Bores 16 are of a diameter to receive either shaft portions ₂6 of pegs 23 or else central portions 29 of pin members 21 in a press fit. In a preferred embodiment the chassis 10 is constructed of a plastics or other suitably mouldable material.
The wheel assembly shown in Figures 2 and 3 comprises a tire portion 20 fitted over a rim portion 22. A groove 18 is provided around the rim portion to assist in retention of the tire and to allow the wheel to be used as a pulley wheel. A peg member 23 has a shaft portion 26 with a hollow centre 25 stepped out to a head portion 24 which itself has a stepped out central opening 31. Rim 22 has an open centre with two stepped fitting portions 28 and 30 in which head 24 and shaft 26 clearance fit so that it can rotate on the peg member 23. A pin member 21 comprises pin portions 27 projecting outwardly from and concentric with a cylindrical portion 29. The diameter of cylindrical member 29 is the same as that of shaft 26 of peg 23. Bore 25 in shaft 26 is of a diameter to receive pin portions 27 in a press fit. The opening 31 in head 24 is of a diameter to receive either central portions 29 or shaft portions 26 in a press fit. The diameter of the cylindrical portion 29 and shaft portion 26 Is slightly less than the diameter of bore 32.
The frame member 33 illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the specification is provided with four stepped bores 34a, 34b, 34c and 34d. These correspond with the head portions 24 and shaft portions 26 of pegs 23 to allow a press fit with a substantial portion of shafts 26 of pegs 23 projecting through the frame member 33. On the opposite side of frame member 33 moulding cavities 36a and 36b are shown. Bore 38 corresponds to shaft portion 26 of peg member 23 to allow for a press fit of the shaft member. Frame member 33 is of a width to allow it to be press fitted into slot 12 of main chassis 10 and thus to provide bores to receive peg members 23 or pin members 21 in press fittings for joining other constructional members in some embodiment.
Although peg member 23 and pin member 21 and the corresponding bores are shown as being circular in cross-section it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other cross- sections may be employed for a number of the uses. When pegs or pins are being used as rotating shafts in bores such as bore 32 illustrated in Figure 2 a circular cross-section or substantially circular cross-section would be used.
The load tray shown in Figures 7 and 8 can be used in a number of different ways. The tray 40 has a projecting bottom member 42 which is of a dimension to be press fitted into the liner 14 of slot 12 in the main chassis 10. There is provided a bore 50 in load tray 40 of a diameter to accommodate the head 24 a peg member 23 In a press fit. In side wall 45 there may be provided recesses 43 and a slot 44 which corresponds to pin 27 of pin member 21 to receive the pin member in a press fit. Bore 46 at each end of each of the sides 45 is of a diameter to receive shaft portion 26 of peg member 23 in a press fit. Between walls 45 there is provided a bed or recess 48 which corresponds in function to slot 12 in main chassis 10.
In the assembly illustrated in Figure 8, load tray 40 is provided with a log carrying assembly which comprises a peg member 23 fitted into bore 50. A frame member 33 is fitted over the end of peg member 23 with shaft portion 26 fitted into bore 38. Additional pegs 23 are fitted upside down In the manner shown In bores 34a and 34d respectively. This assembly can also be used in forming a ladder truck and loader which are not illustrated.
In Figures 9 to 11 there is illustrated a forklift truck. It will be seen that the truck employs a main chassis 10 and a pair of wheel assemblies as are illustrated in Figure 2. The forklift mecha- nisim comprises the loading member 56 which is integral with a cut out block 57. There are provjded transverse bores 64 through the cross members of the block 57. The upright frame comprises three frame members 33. Between the two side frame members 33 there is positioned a truncated chassis 52 which in cross-section is identical with chassis 10 but which is of a length of approximately a third of that of chassis 10. There is a hook 54 in the end of truncated chassis 52 for use in other toys. A pair of peg members 23 pass through bores 34a of frame members 33 and join In a press fit with pin member 21 which is illustrated in Figure 2. Similarly peg members 23 pass through bores 34c and 34d of the side frame members 33 to join in bores 64 in a press fit with pin members 21. Bores 64 may be of a diameter to receive shaft portions 24 in a press fit or may be slightly larger as are the diameters of the transverse bores 32 through chassis 10.
In a separate embodiment peg members 23 may pass through cavity 65 in block 57 to retain the block and loading member assembly against the front of chassis 10. Cab 58 is then press fitted into slot 55 in loading member 56 to provide a low forward driving position.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 9 to 11 frame member 33 is press fitted et its upper end in liner 14 of truncated chassis 52 while its lower end is fitted by means of a peg member 23 passing through bore 34d, the shaft portion 26 of the peg member 23 fitting within a bore 66 of an engine block 62. The engine block 62 is of a width to be press fitted within the slot 12 of main chassis member 10. There is provided a cab 58 having a windshield 51 and frame 53 together with a cockpit 72. These three components can be snapped together and apart. From the bottom of cockpit 72 there are a pair of projections 74 which are of dimensions to be press fitted with slot 12.
The final component of this assembly is a mini load tray 60 having a projection 63 from the bottom thereof. This projection 63 is of dimension to be press fitted within slot 12. A bore 61 is provided toward the front of mini load tray 60. This bore 61 has a dimension to receive the shaft of a peg 23 or else the central portion 29 of a pin member 21 in a press fit.
The racing car embodiment shown In Figures 12 and 13 comprises a main chassis 10 with a pair of wheel assemblies as illustrated in Figure 2. The nose piece 68 has one set of small wings 69 and a larger set of wings 70 from the side thereof. In assembly a pair of pin members 21 are press fitted in the bore 16 at the front of chassis 10 and into concealed slots in the nose piece 68 which is thereby fitted into position. Cockpit 72, which is in this case separated from cab 58, has a pair of projections 74 from the bottom thereof. These projections may be press fitted within slot 12 of chassis 10.
Frame member 33 is used in this construction for yet another purpose. It is press fitted into slot 12 and bores 34 are positioned with their wide ends upwardly. A pair of peg members 23 are press fitted into bores 34a and 34b as Illustrated with the shaft portions 26 ponting outwardly to provide exhausts for racing car motor. Mini tray 60 serves as a wing for the racing car. A peg member 23 is fitted with its head in a bore 34c while its shaft portion 26 is press fitted within bore 61 in mini tray 60 to raise the wing above the level of the chassis 10 as is illustrated in the assembled version in Figure 13.
The rocket sled illustrated in Figures 14 and 15 uses a main load tray 40 as the basic chassis. In the bed 48 of the load tray 40 there is provided a pair of filler blocks 76, the space between the filler block: 76 being of the dimensions of slot 12 in main chassis 10. The nose piece 68 is mounted to the front of the load tray 40 by means of a pair of pin members 21 into bores 71. The cab 58 illustrated in relation to the forklift truck shown in Figures 9 and 11 is used as the cockpit for this rocket sled. Mini tray 60 provides a load tray. A pair of rims 22 showing a groove 18 are employed as a rocket motors. A peg member 23 passing through the rim 22 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 has its shaft 26 press fitted into a bore 46 at the rear of the load tray 40.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the versatility of the components in constructing large numbers of vehicles is limited only by the imagination of the users. Although frame members 33 are illustrated as having four main bores 34 it will be appreciated that longer frame members with greater numbers of bores may be used within the scope of the present invention. The elements 111ustrated in Figures 1 to 8 are the main chassis and connecting elements according to the invention. The constructional elements are exemplified by the loading member 56 illustrated in Figures 9 and ₁₁, the engine block 62, the cab 58 incorporating the cockpit 72, the mini tray 60 and the nose assembly 68. Other constructional elements having male or female connecting means will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
With the components illustrated in the drawings and a small number of other components, with different design features but common functional or assembly features, over twenty easily identifiable toys can be constructed. Other toy components can be readily prepared

Claims

1. A constructional toy which comprises:

a main chassis member,

female connecting means in said main chassis member,

a constructional member including a male connecting means and a toy component portion,

a resilient press fitting member adapted in use to provide a press fitting between said male and female connecting means to join said constructional member to said main chassis member.

2. The constructional toy according to claim 1 wherein said chassis is an elongate chassis and said female connecting means comprises an elongate slot along substantially the length of said elongate member and said resilient press fitting member comprises a resilient liner within said slot, said male connecting means comprising a projecting elongate rib on said constructional member.

3. A constructional toy according to claim 1 wherein said chassis is an elongate chassis and said female connecting means comprises a slot along substantially the length of said chassis, said resilient press fitting comprising a resilient liner in said slot, a frame member fitted in said resilient liner, said frame member being provided with at least one bore, which bore provides a female connecting means.

4. A constructional toy according o wherein said female connecting means comprises at least one bore in said main chassis member and said male connecting means comprises a pin member.

5. A constructional toy which comprises:

a main chassis member,

female connecting means in said main chassis member,

a constructional member including a toy component portion and a female connection means,

a connecting member having a male connecting means at either end thereof, one said male connecting means being adapted to engage in a press fit in said female connecting means in said main chassis member and said other male connecting means being adapted to engage in a press fit in said female connecting means in said constructional member.

6. A constructional toy according to claim 5 wherein said connecting member comprises a central portion of a first cross-sectional area and pins having the same longitudinal axis as said central portion extending out of either end, the cross-sectional area of said pins being smaller than that of said central portion and said female connecting means comprising stepped recesses to receive said central portion and pin portions in a press fit.

7. A constructional toy according to claim 6 wherein said cross- sections are circular.

₈. A constructional toy according to claim 5 wherein said connecting member comprises a peg member having a head of a first cross-sectional area and a shaft having a common axis with said head and a smaller cross-sectional area and said female connecting means comprising a bore adopted to receive either said shaft portion or else being stepped to receive both said shaft and said head protion or alternatively adapted to receive said head portion alone.

9. A constructional toy according to claim 8 wherein said cross-section of said shaft, head and female connecting means are each circular,

10. A constructional toy wheel assembly comprising a connecting pin having a substantially cylindrical central portion of a first diameter integral with a pair of pins each pin having a common longitudinal axis with the axis of said cylinder and projecting from either end thereof,

a pair of wheels each having an open center,

a pair of connecting pegs each comprising a shaft portion and a head portion having a common longitudinal axis and stepped outwardly from said shaft portion,

a central bore in the shaft portion of each said peg open at the end of said shaft portion remote from said head portion,

said central bore of each said peg being adapted to receive in a press fit one of said projecting pins from said connecting pin, and

each said connecting peg being adapted to be received in a clearance fit in said open center of each said wheel, the shaft portion of each said peg extending inwardly thereof.

11. A constructional toy wheel assembly according to claim 10 wherein each of said projecting pins, shaft portions, central bores, and open centres of said wheels are circular in the cross-section.

12. The combination of a constructional wheel assembly according to claim 11 and a constructional toy according to claim 2, there being provided a transverse bore through the main chassis member of said constructional toy according to claim 2, said wheel assembly being fitted in a loose fit in said bore.