GB1573978A

GB1573978A - Toy construction kits

Info

Publication number: GB1573978A
Application number: GB2873677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-07-14
Filing date: 1977-07-08
Publication date: 1980-09-03
Also published as: DD130448A5; NL7707631A; BE856079A; JPS539947A; ES229874Y; ES229874U; SE7707778L; FR2358178B1; DK312877A; DE7622184U1; FR2358178A1; CH616855A5; IT1085843B

Abstract

The axle (3) composed of plastic can be inserted into an undercut groove (1) of a structural element (2) of a toy construction kit in order to form a vehicle axle. The tyres (4) of the vehicle are placed on the axle ends which jut out on either side of the structural element (2). The tyres are secured by beads (6) on the axle ends, which can be resiliently pressed together by slots (5) to the diameter of the hole (7) of the tyres (4). <IMAGE>

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TOY CONSTRUCTION KITS (71) I, ARTUR FISCHER, a German citizen, of Weinhalde 34, D-7244 Waldachtal 3, (Tumlingen), Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a toy construction kit including an axle and a wheel or tyre for mounting on the axle.

The axles and shafts of toy construction kits normally consist of steel. For fixing vehicle tyres axially onto these axles spring washers are normally used which can be snapped onto the ends of the axles after the vehicle tyres or wheels have been pushed on. To snap on and remove these spring washers requires some force which presents difficulties for children of pre-school age. Moreover, such spring washers have small dimensions which makes manipulation difficult.

The present invention provides a toy construction kit including an axle, each end portion of the axle having a part of enlarged diameter and having a longitudinally extending slot which bisects that portion, and a wheel or tyre having a hub the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the said enlarged part of each end portion of the axle, wherein the bisected parts of each end portion of the axle can be resiliently brought together so that the enlarged part can be inserted through the hub.

To make a model vehicle, the axle can be inserted, by slide or snap-fifting it into the undercut groove of a building block.

The wheels or tyres of the vehicle can then be pushed onto the end portions of the axles which project beyond the building block.

Because of the slots in the end portions of the axle, each tyre or wheel can be secured on the axle by bringing together the two bisected parts of an end portion of the axle so that the part of enlarged diameter is reduced in diameter enabling it to be inserted through the hub of the tyre or wheel. After the wheels or tyres have been pushed on, the bisected parts spring resiliently back so that the enlarged part forms a stop preventing the tyres or wheels from falling off.

Preferably the difference in diameter between the enlarged part and the reminder of each portion is comparable to, or approximately equal to, the width of the slot. This arrangement achieves the spring action necessary for the vehicle tyres or wheels to be pushed onto the axle end portions.

A toy construction kit according to the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which shows an exploded view of a building block with an axle and two wheels for mounting on the axle.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, an axle 3 made of resiliently flexible plastics material has been inserted in an undercut groove 1 of a building block 2.

Each end portion of the axle has a longitudinally extending slot which bisects that portion, and a part 6 at the end of enlarged diameter. When the two parts of the end portions of the axle on either side of the slot 5 are compressed when the diameter of the enlarged part 6 is reduced approximately to the diameter of the remaining part of the axle 3. In other words the difference in diameter between the enlarged part 6 and the remaining part of the axle 3 is approximately equal to the width of the slot 5.

A wheel or tyre 4 is arranged to be mounted on the end portions of the axle 3; the hub 7 of each wheel being seated on a respective end of the axle 3. Each hub has a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the enlarged portion 6 of the axle and is approximately the same as the remaining portion of the axle. Each wheel 4 can be mounted on the axle by bringing together the two bisected parts of the end portion of the axle on either side of the slot 5 so that the diameter of the enlarged part 6 is reduced enabling it to be passed through the hub 7 of the wheel 4.

The bisected parts of each end portion of the axle 3 can also be brought together to insert and slide the axle along the groove 1.

Once the enlarged part 6 has passed through the hub 7, then the bisected parts of the axle spring resiliently back to their former position. This springing back of the bisected parts is possible because the diameter of the hub 7, although smaller than the diameter of the non-compressed enlarged part 6 of the axle, is equal to or larger than the diameter of the remaining unslotted part of the axle. When the slotted portion of the axle returns to its original shape, then the enlarged part 6 provides a stop in the form of a rim which prevents the wheel 4 from slipping off the end of the axle.

Although the axle described and illustrated above is formed entirely of plastics material it would be possible to form only the end portions from such material.

Further, the plastics material could be replaced by any suitable resiliently flexible material.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A toy construction kit including an axle, each end portion of the axle having a part of enlarged diameter and having a longitudinally extending slot which bisects that portion, and a wheel or tyre having a hub the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the said enlarged part of each end portion of the axle, wherein the bisected parts of each end portion of the axle can be resiliently brought together so that the enlarged part can be inserted through the hub.

2. A kit as claimed in claim 1, in which the end portions of the axle are each formed from plastics material.

3. A kit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the axle is formed entirely from plastics material.

4. A kit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the difference in diameter between the enlarged part and the remainder of each end portion is comparable to or approximately equal to the width of the slot.

5. A toy construction kit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. diameter of the enlarged portion 6 of the axle and is approximately the same as the remaining portion of the axle. Each wheel 4 can be mounted on the axle by bringing together the two bisected parts of the end portion of the axle on either side of the slot 5 so that the diameter of the enlarged part 6 is reduced enabling it to be passed through the hub 7 of the wheel 4. The bisected parts of each end portion of the axle 3 can also be brought together to insert and slide the axle along the groove 1. Once the enlarged part 6 has passed through the hub 7, then the bisected parts of the axle spring resiliently back to their former position. This springing back of the bisected parts is possible because the diameter of the hub 7, although smaller than the diameter of the non-compressed enlarged part 6 of the axle, is equal to or larger than the diameter of the remaining unslotted part of the axle. When the slotted portion of the axle returns to its original shape, then the enlarged part 6 provides a stop in the form of a rim which prevents the wheel 4 from slipping off the end of the axle. Although the axle described and illustrated above is formed entirely of plastics material it would be possible to form only the end portions from such material. Further, the plastics material could be replaced by any suitable resiliently flexible material. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A toy construction kit including an axle, each end portion of the axle having a part of enlarged diameter and having a longitudinally extending slot which bisects that portion, and a wheel or tyre having a hub the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the said enlarged part of each end portion of the axle, wherein the bisected parts of each end portion of the axle can be resiliently brought together so that the enlarged part can be inserted through the hub.