EP3574969B1

EP3574969B1 - System for connecting parts of a three-dimensional mechanical model

Info

Publication number: EP3574969B1
Application number: EP17893857.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anton Oleksandrovych RUBAN
Original assignee: Mobimods Spolka Z Organiczona Odpowiedzialnoscia
Current assignee: Mobimods Spolka Z Organiczona Odpowiedzialnoscia
Priority date: 2017-01-30
Filing date: 2017-03-06
Publication date: 2023-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-06
Also published as: RU171326U1; EP3574969A4; CN209500791U; EP3574969C0; EP3574969A1; EP3574969B8; UA114768U; PL128079U1; PL71536Y1; WO2018139981A1

Description

The invention relates to construction sets, in particular, to systems for connecting stationary and movable parts of three-dimensional mechanical models and can be used for manufacture of children's, play and souvenirs construction sets.
There is a known system for connecting parts of a three-dimensional mechanical model (Patent No. UA 104751 , IPC A63H 33/00, publication date is 27.11.2015) consisting of at least two planar connectable parts and a set of connecting elements. The connectable parts are predominantly made in the form of coaxial wheels and/or gears for assembling the movable modules and the stationary shaping and/or frame parts. The set of connecting elements consists of at least one extension element in the form of a plate with a rectangular cross section at opposing ends and one needle-shaped fixing element with a round cross section and pointed ends. The connectable parts include at least one round hole with the diameter corresponding to the diameter of the fixing element, and at least one rectangular opening or outer recess, the sizes of which correspond to the cross-section of the end portions of the extension element. Open around the perimeter and corresponding shape-wise to the holes slots may be designed to be around the aforementioned holes.
The parts of the three-dimensional mechanical model are connected by successive introduction of the opposing ends of the extension elements into the rectangular shaped holes on the aforementioned parts with the subsequent locking of them when assembled by means of fixing elements, which are put into round-shaped holes. The fixing elements also serve as axles for securing the movable modules on the stationary shaping and/or frame parts. The ends of the fixing elements projecting from the outside of the connectable parts are broken off after assembly. The connectable parts and the extension elements are made of laminated plywood, and the axle is made of wood with lower hardness, in particular, toothpicks.
The disadvantages of the known system are:

low reliability of connection caused by quick deformation of the ends of the fixing elements inside holes of connectable parts in movable modules during operation of models, which results in loss of their serviceability;
inconvenience in disassembly of the models due to the difficulty of extracting the fixing elements from the holes of connectable parts after their ends have been broken off in the preceding assembly;
comparatively high cost due to the need to purchase new sets of fixing elements for each reassembly;

These disadvantages significantly limit the field of use of the known system.
There is a known system for connecting parts of a three-dimensional mechanical model ( WO 2016076816 A1 , IPC A63H 33/12, publication date is 16.03.2015) consisting of at least two planar connectable parts and a set of connecting elements. Connected parts are primary made in the form of coaxial wheels and/or gears with hub and/or spokes, and comprise through -holes in the connection areas. The set of connecting elements consists of at least two plates with locks in the form of transverse grooves on one of its surfaces from opposing ends of the plate, and a thrusting element in the form of an axle with a round cross section and pointed ends. Round-shaped holes are cut in the centers of connectable parts to receive the opposing ends of the axle, and rectangular holes to receive the opposing ends of the locks on the plate are cut on the hub or on the spokes. Rectangular holes are arranged symmetrically in the radial direction relative to the corresponding round shaped hole, and their sizes correspond to the sizes of the locks of the plates. Locks may be provided with beads along the edges of transverse grooves or without them. The length of the locks on the opposing sides of the plates corresponds to the thickness and number of connectable parts.
In central part of plates on the surface opposite to the surface with locks, there are one or two rectangular protrusions to provide for the mutual thrusting effect with the axle. When the connectable parts are assembled, a gap corresponding to the diameter of the axle is formed between aforesaid protrusions on the plates, which after axle is inserted into a round hole has a thrusting effect on the plates through protrusions, ensuring surface contact of the locks with the corresponding surfaces in the openings of the holes of the connectable parts. Thus, the beads on the edges of the locks embrace the surfaces of the connectable parts on the both sides of the openings of the holes. In the openings on the side of the centers of the connectable parts, gaps corresponding to the height of the beads are formed. The plates may also be designed to have longitudinal slotted openings in the end portions along the locks designed to reduce the size of gaps and increase the tightness of the parts connection. Connectable parts and plates are made of laminated plywood, and the axle is made of wood with lower hardness, in particular, toothpicks.
Use of plates with locks as connecting elements makes it possible to increase the reliability of connection of parts in comparison with the known technical solution, and also to improve convenience of disassembly and reassembly of models.
The disadvantages of the known system are:

limited field of use due to the usage of fixing elements for connection parts of mainly movable modules, and also to the limitation of center-distance dimensions of these modules and number of connectable parts in the module, which are related to the necessity of providing the strength and elastic properties of the small-diameter axle;
insufficient reliability of connection of parts due to uncompensated gaps in openings of rectangular holes after assembly, which causes the ends of the plates to fall out of them as a result of the reduced thrusting effect of the axle due to the rapid loss of the elastic properties during rotation and/or movement of the model during operation;

insufficient service life of the axles, due to their simultaneous use as thrusting elements and as axles for connecting movable and stationary modules, which results in the need to change the axles for each reassembly;
significant influence of air temperature and air humidity on elastic properties of the axles after assembly of connectable parts.

A known system for connecting parts of a three-dimensional mechanical model is (Patent No. UA 108449 , IPC A63H 33/00, A63F 9/12, publication date is 11.07.2016) consists of at least two planar connectable parts and a set of connecting elements. Connectable parts are made in the form of coaxial wheels and/or gears intended for movable modules and stationary shaping and/or frame parts of models and have through holes in areas of connection. A set of connecting elements consists of a plate with locks in the form of transverse grooves at opposing ends of one of the surfaces of the plate, and a thrusting element with a rectangular cross-section. The holes on the connectable parts are made suitable for receiving opposing ends of the thrusting element and the locks of the plate. The plate and the thrusting element are designed to be able to exert a mutual thrusting effect on one another by means of a radially - shaped protrusion on the surface thereof opposite the surface with locks, or on the corresponding surface of the thrusting element. The height of the aforementioned protrusion provides for a mutual thrusting effect on one another. The connecting elements for movable modules also include round central holes for their assembly by means of axles with stationary shaping and/or frame parts of models. Connectable parts and connecting elements are made of strong sheet material, for example, moisture-resistant plywood or plastic.
The design of the connecting elements provides more reliable connection of parts in the models with the largest value for the mutual thrusting effect between the plate and the thrusting element as compared to the known systems, and also avoidance of gaps in openings of rectangular holes on connectable parts on assembly. Furthermore, the increased rigidity of the thrusting element makes it possible to increase its length in accordance with the length of the plate and thereby increase the number of connectable parts, and to change the distance between them in a wide range while providing the required thrusting effect, which makes it possible to substantially increase the number of standard sizes of the three-dimensional mechanical models and, therefore, extends the field of use of the system.
The drawback of the known system is a certain loss of reliability of the connections in the repeated use of the set of connecting elements as a result of the gradual wear of the surface of the radially- shaped protrusions on the plates and the lower corresponding mutual thrusting effect.
The object of the invention is to improve the system for connecting parts of a three-dimensional mechanical model due to different design of connecting elements, which makes it possible to substantially increase the reliability of the parts connection in subsequent reassemblies and disassemblies.
The technical result of this achievement is to ensure the locking of the connecting elements under the mutual thrusting effect.
This task is solved by a system for connecting parts of a three-dimensional mechanical model, consisting of at least two planar connectable parts and a set of connecting elements comprising a plate with locks in the form of transverse grooves at opposing ends of one of the surfaces of the plate, and a thrusting element, furthermore, the plate and the thrusting element have a rectangular cross section, the connectable parts have through holes, shape and sizes of which correspond to the shape and sizes of the cross-section of the locks and the opposing end portions of the thrusting element, the plate and the thrusting element are designed to be capable of exerting a mutual thrusting effect on one another when the aforementioned parts are assembled by means of a radially-shaped protrusion designed on the surface of the plate opposite the surface with locks by inserting said thrusting element into said through-holes after said plate has been inserted into said through-holes, according to the invention the thrusting element and the plate are designed to be capable of locking one another in place under the mutual thrusting effect by means of a transverse recess designed on the plate in a central portion of the radially-shaped protrusion and a transverse protrusion corresponding shape-wise thereto on the interacting surface of the thrusting element said recess and said protrusion are designed so as to be triangular in cross-section.
The improved design of the system for connecting parts of a three-dimensional mechanical model ensures the achievement of the claimed technical result.
The essence of the invention is illustrated by the example of connection of movable and stationary modules of a three-dimensional mechanical model of the double-deck city bus body.
The modular system is represented by the drawings, in which: fig. 1 shows a general view of a movable module comprising two connectable parts; fig. 2 shows the same module as an assembly; fig. 3 shows the design of the plate and the thrusting element (example 1); fig. 4 shows the same (example 2); fig. 5 shows the same (example 3); fig. 6 shows a general view of a movable module, comprising three connectable parts; fig. 7 shows the same view as an assembly; fig. 8 shows a general view of a movable module of four connectable parts; fig. 9 shows the same view as an assembly; fig. 10 shows a general view of the movable and stationary modules assembled; fig. 11 shows the same top plan view.
Example 1. Movable module comprising two connectable parts (fig. 1, 2) Movable module consists of two planar connectable parts 1 and 2 made in form of gears of different diameters and three sets of connecting elements, each comprising the plate 3 and the thrusting element 4. Connectable parts 1 and 2 are designed to have hubs 5 and spokes 6. Round through - holes 7 are designed on the hubs 5 in center of connectable parts 1 and 2, and there are rectangular through holes 8 designed on the spokes 6. End portions of plates 3 are designed with locks 9 in the form of transverse grooves defined by the beads 10 on one of their surfaces (fig. 3-5). The radially- shaped protrusion 11 is designed on opposite surface of the plate 3 to provide for interaction with the thrusting element 4 with a rectangular cross section. The height of the protrusion 11 on the plate 3 is chosen in order to ensure the mutual thrusting effect with the thrusting element 4, required for the interference fit inside the openings of the holes 8 of the connectable parts 1 and 2. In the central portion of the protrusion 11 there is a transverse recess designed to be triangular 12 in plan, and on the interacting surface of the thrusting element 4 there is a transverse protrusion 13 designed to be opposing triangular in plan (fig. 3-5). The recess 12 on the plate 3 and the protrusion 13 on the thrusting element 4 provide for their locking of one another with the greatest extent of the mutual thrusting effect when connectable parts 1 and 2 are assembled. The thrusting elements 4 are made with the possibility of entering them into through holes 8 from the outside of the connectable parts 1 and 2. One of the end portions of the thrusting element 4 is designed to have a limiting bead 14. The shape and sizes of the through holes 8 on the connectable parts 1, 2 correspond to the shape and sizes of the cross-section of the locks 9 on the plate 3 and the cross-section of the opposing end portions of the thrusting element 4, which prevents formation of gaps after assembly. The beads 10 on the plate 3 embrace the surfaces of connectable parts 1, 2 on the both sides of openings of through holes 8, thus, eliminating the possibility of unintentional disconnection during rotation or movement of modules, and considerably improving the reliability of connections during use of models.
Depending on the sizes and the purpose of the connecting elements, the plate 3 can be designed without a slot above the protrusion 11 (fig. 8, 9) as well as with a rectangular (fig. 1-4, 6 7) or curvilinear (fig. 5) slot 15. The slot 15 makes it possible to increase the elasticity of the material in the area of protrusion 11 under mutual thrusting effect and locking of the plate 3 and the thrusting element 4 and, consequently, to reduce the forces during assembly and disassembly of the modules and the wear of the surface of the protrusion 11 on the plate 3.
The length of the plate 3 and of the thrusting element 4 is chosen taking into account the given distance between the connectable parts 1, 2. The length of the locks 9 on the plates 3 defined by the beads 10 is chosen taking into account the thickness and number of connectable parts. In the given example the length of the locks 9 on the plates 3 is equal to the thickness and number of the respective gears 1 and 2. On the plates 3 which are used for connecting parts of the drive mechanism, a trough 16 may be provided in the middle portion for winding, for example, of an elastic gum (fig. 1-7). In addition, the locks 9 on the plates 3 can be made at the same (fig. 5 ) or different (fig. 1-4, 6-9) height relative to each other with due account of holes coordinates 8 on connectable parts . The plates 3 and the thrusting elements 4 used for connecting the shaping and/or frame parts, may be designed to have a different shape of the external surface, for example, an arc-shaped, or angular, or ornately shaped, or of other shape.
Example 2. Movable module of three and more connectable parts (fig. 6, 7).
The movable module with three connectable parts consists of the gears 1, 2 and 17 and three sets of connecting elements, each comprising the plate 3 and the thrusting element 4. The gear wheel 1 is designed to be of larger diameter, and the gear wheels 2 and 17 are smaller in size with the same diameter. The design of the connectable parts 1, 2 and 17 and the connecting elements is similar to that of example 1. In contrast, the locks 9 on the plate 3 are of different lengths, which corresponds on one side to the thickness of the connectable part 1, and on the opposing side they correspond to the total thickness of the connectable parts 2 and 17.
The movable module with four connectable parts consists of gears 1, 2, 17 and 18 and three sets of connecting elements, each comprising the plate 3 and the thrusting element 4 (fig. 8, 9). The gears 1 and 18 are designed similar with larger diameter, and gears 2 and 17 are similar with smaller diameter. The design of the connectable parts 1, 2, 17 and 18 is the same as for the connecting elements in example 1. In contrast, the locks 9 on the plate 3 are designed of larger length, corresponding on one side to the total thickness of connectable parts 1 and 18, and on the opposite side to the total thickness of the connectable parts 2 and 17.
Example 3. Stationary and movable modules of the model of the double-deck city bus body (fig. 10, 11).
The stationary modules consist of two planar shaping elements 19 and 20 imitating the side walls of the body, and several sets of connecting elements, in each the plates 3 are designed with locks 9 and radially-shaped protrusions 11; a transverse recess 12 in the central portion of aforementioned protrusions is designed to be triangular in plan, and the thrusting elements 4 have a transverse protrusion 13 of opposing triangular shape in plan. The assembly of movable modules intended for the winding mechanism and transmission of rotation to the wheels of the bus (not shown) is performed in advance similarly to the examples indicated above.
In accordance with the assembly scheme, aforesaid movable modules are rotatably fixed by means of axles 21 in round holes on the shaping parts 19 and 20. After that, the shaping parts 19 and 20 are connected in the upper part by means of plates 3 and arc-shaped thrusting elements 4 imitating roof slopes, and at the ends of the body - by means of plates 3 and thrusting elements 4 designed with the possibility of connection with the shaping parts of the front and rear panels of the bus body.
Disassembly of the aforementioned modules is carried out, respectively, in the reverse order.
The claimed technical solution provides for the significant improvement of the reliability of the connection of parts during primary assembly and reassembly of models by locking the connecting elements during assembly. Increased rigidity of the connecting elements also allows you to increase the number of sizes of the connectable parts and, accordingly, the field of use of the system. The system is simple and convenient for assembling and disassembling of three-dimensional mechanical models.

Claims

System for connecting parts of a three-dimensional mechanical model consisting of at least two planar connectable parts (1, 2) and a set of connecting elements, said set containing a plate (3) with locks (9) in the form of transverse grooves at opposing ends of one of the surface of the plate (3), and a thrusting element (4), furthermore, the plate (3) and the thrusting element (4) have a rectangular cross section, the connectable parts (1, 2) have through-holes (8), the shape and sizes of which correspond to the shape and size of the cross-section of the locks (9) and the opposing end portions of the thrusting element (4), and the plate (3) and the thrusting element (4) are designed to be capable of exerting a mutual thrusting effect on one another when the aforementioned parts are assembled by means of a radially-shaped protrusion (11) on the surface of the plate (3) opposite the surface with locks (9) by inserting said thrusting element (4) into said through-holes (8) after said plate (3) has been inserted into said through-holes, characterized in that the thrusting element (4) and the plate (3) are designed to be capable of locking one another in place under the mutual thrusting effect by means of a transverse recess (12) designed on the plate (3) in a central portion of the radially-shaped protrusion, and by means of a transverse protrusion (13) corresponding shape-wise to the aforesaid transverse recess on the interacting surface of the thrusting element (4), furthermore, said recess (12) and said protrusion (13) are designed so as to be triangular in cross-section.
The system according to claim 1 characterised differs in that the plate and the thrusting element are designed to be capable of exerting a mutual thrusting effect on one another by means of a radially-shaped protrusion on the surface thereof opposite the surface with locks.
The system according to claim 1 characterised in that the plate and the thrusting element are designed to be capable of locking one another in place under the mutual thrusting effect by means of a transverse recess designed in the central portion of the radially-shaped protrusion on the plate and the transverse protrusion corresponding shape-wise to the aforesaid transverse recess designed on the interacting surface of the thrusting element.
The system according to claim 1 characterised in that the transverse recess designed in the central portion of the aforesaid protrusion on the plate and the transverse protrusion corresponding shape-wise thereto on the interacting surface of the thrusting element are designed so as to be triangular in plan.