GB2162786A - A toy fastener insertion and removal tool for use in a toy construction system - Google Patents

Abstract

The tool 32 comprises a casing 34, an operating lever 36, an axially movable sleeve 38, a pair of resilient plastics jaws 40, and a return spring 48. In order to grip a fastener 5, the jaws 40 are positioned about the head of the fastener and sleeve 38 is moved axially over the jaws, by depressing the lever 36, causing the jaws to close about the head. A fastener 5, so gripped, may be inserted into and removed from holes in structural members of the construction system with the aid of the tool. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A toy fastener insertion and removal tool for use in a toy construction system Creative toys which allow a child to construct various items, such as boxes, small houses, bridges, and the like have been in existence for many years.

Perhaps one of the oldest and most popular has been the so called "Erector" set which includes a series of plates and bars with holes in them which may be joined together with nuts and bolts. Other systems use such things as wooden pegs to join the units together.

Prior art patents showing various construction toys include U.S. Patents Nos. 1,860,627; 1,996,722; 2,426,326; 2,826,000 and 3,195,266. My own U.S. Patents 4,057,886, 4,104,952 and 4,110,932, show another toy construction system utilizing distensible rubber "rivets".

My copending patent application No. 8303690 (Specification No. 2114650A), from which the present application is divided, describes a toy construction system which is an improvement upon the prior art in that it is simple and economical to make and easy and safe in use. It does, however, require that the plates and bars be of uniform thickness and have joinder holes of similar diameter.

The construction system described in my copending application is one in which a child may join planar structural members, such as bars and plates together, to construct various objects. The bars and plates to be joined are of uniform thickness and have one or more holes in them of uniform size. They are joined by the use of reusable structural fasteners with a shank having a pair of axially extending prongs or tines at one end with gripping or latching steps on their outer surfaces and of sufficient flexibility to bend inwardly to allow insertion into the holes.

The outer surfaces of the two prongs of each fastener define a generally cylindrical configuration with a diameter approximating that of the holes in the structural members. The outer surfaces include the latching steps so spaced from one another and from an upper shoulder on the fastener as to conform to and lock the structural members together.

The steps normally are positioned a distance from the shoulder on the fastener equal to the thicknesses of two and three structural members. The former steps are smaller than the latter ones. The fastener includes a head above the shoulder of a shape and size that conforms to, and can be gripped by, a pair of jaws on an insertion tool.

These jaws allow it to be firmly held.

The present invention is directed to a toy fastener insertion and removal tool which is suitable for use in a toy construction system of the above type. It consists in such a tool for use in a toy construction system in which planar structural members having holes therein are joined by pronged fasteners, having latching steps on the outer surface thereof, a shoulder portion and a head portion, said tool comprising a pair of opposing jaws of a size and configuration to fit about the head and complementary fit between the head and shoulder, said jaws being made of resilient plastics material and having a longitudinal shaft extending to a base support, and said jaws having bevelled outer surfaces, a casing for the tool to receive and fixably hold the base support, an axially slidable sleeve operatively associated with the casing and the jaws and so dimensioned as to permit the jaws resiliently to open when the casing does not extend about the jaws themselves and to force the jaws closed about the head when the sleeve is axially positioned about the jaws, and spring-pressed means within the casing for moving the sleeve axially.

The insertion and removal tool may include a pair of jaws with cammed outer surfaces and surrounded by a slidable sleeve mounted in the tool handle. Sliding the sleeve (with its inner cammed surface) outwardly over the jaws serve to press them together so that they can grip the head Of the fastener. The tool holder may also include a control or operating lever to move the sleeve axially over the jaws and a spring to press the sleeve away from the jaws in opposition to the movement of the control lever.

When two or three structural members are to be joined together, their holes are held in alignment by the child. He places the head of the fastener within the jaws of the insertion tool and presses the operating lever. This moves the sleeve outwardly over the jaws to close them about the fastener's head. The prong end of the fastener is then pressed into the holes. Since the steps have angular surfaces, this pressure serves to press the prongs inwardly allowing the steps to pass through the hole. When the fastener is all the way in the prongs snap outwardly, and the appropriate steps lock it in position within the structural members. At the same time, axial pressure on the end of the sleeve surrounding the jaws, caused by pushing it against the surface of the plate, moves the sleeve back from the jaws and so releases the insertion tool.The fasteners can be removed by gripping their heads with the tool and pulling on them.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a structure made with a toy construction system of the type described in my aforementioned copending application and capable of assembly with the aid of the tool according to the present invention. It shows a series of plates and bars held together by the fasteners.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure of Figure 1 giving further details of the assembly.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the fastener itself. It shows its general cylindrical shape, its head, shoulder, flexible prongs, and the latching steps on the prongs.

Figure 4 is a perspective side view, partially broken away, of the fastener.

Figure 5 is a cross-section transversely of the fastener showing the reduction in width of the prongs, transverse of the prongs, which permits their insertion into the holes of the plates and bars.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are partial sectional views showing insertion of the fastener into the aligned holes of two-plate and three-plate systems.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of tool according to the present invention.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a portion of the tool as it grips the head of the fastener.

Figure 11 is a sectional view of a portion of the tool, taken on line 11-11 of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 12-12 of Figure 11, showing the jaws of the tool about the head of the fastener and grasping it.

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view of the tool, taken on line 13-13 of Figure 12 showing details of the operating lever.

The toy construction system Portions of an assembled structure, as it may have been put together by a child, are shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The toy construction system 1 is made up of a series of planar plates 2 and bars 3 of predetermined, uniform thickness. Each of the plates and bars includes a series of holes 4 of uniform size therein.

The plates and bars are joined together with a type of reusable fastener 5 (note especially Figs. 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8). The fastener 5 has a generally cylindrical configuration. Fastener 5 includes a head 8, a locking shoulder 10 with a face 11, and shank portion defining a pair of resilient prongs or tines 12. There is a space 14 between head 8 and shoulder 10 which defines an opening to receive the jaws of an insertion and removal tool. The space in this opening is defined by the head and shoulder and is so dimensioned and shaped as to conform to the size and shape of the jaws of an insertioii and removal tool (see below) so that the fastener may be held securely.

Details of fastener 5 can best be seen in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The diameter "D" of the generally cylindrical prong section (Figure 4) is approximately the diameter of the holes 4 in the plates 2 and bars 3.

Diameter "D" is slightly less than the diameter of face 11 of shoulder 10. Prongs 12 have two pairs of gripping or latching steps on their outer surfaces, first or inner steps 18 and second or outer steps 20. Steps 18 are at a distance from face 11 equal to twice the thickness of one plate or bar 2 or 3, i.e., equal to the thickness of two plates. Step 18 is shown at such distance from face 11 of locking shoulder 10 by the arrow in Figure 4 and 7 identified as "2X". Both steps have bevelled surfaces.

Steps 20 are removed from face 11 by distance equal to the thickness of three plate or bars, and is identified by the arrow "3X" in Figures 4 and 8.

When fastener 5 is holding two plates or bars together the plates are locked between face 11 and the pair of steps 18; when holding three plates or bars, between face 11 and the pair of steps 20.

Steps 20 have a greater diameter than steps 18, which in turn have a greater diameter than the outer diameter "D" of prongs 12. The steps have angular surfaces to permit ready insertion and withdrawal, but are sufficiently sharp to hold the plates and bars together and sufficiently shallow to permit removal. As can be seen in Figure 5, the side edges of prongs 12 are bevelled at 25 to reduce their diameter (since the fastener prongs do not flex in a direction parallel to the slot 23 between the prongs).

The outer end of prongs 12 include outer bevelled insertion surfaces 22 and, near them, inner bevelled insertion surfaces 24. These permit easy insertion of prongs 12 of fastener 5 into holes 4 and also serve as a bearing surface to force the prongs 12 inwardly as they are inserted into holes 4 and press against the sides of those holes. Surface 21, surface 26 between steps 20 and 18, and surface 28 between steps 18 and face 11 of locking shoulder 10 are coaxial surfaces. Coaxial surface 28 has a diameter approximating the diameter of holes 4 and surface 26 has a slightly larger diameter.

It has been found that the following dimensions for the fastener are useful when the plates and bars have a thickness of.060" (1.52 mm) and the holes 4 have a diameter of .190" (4.83 mm): total length of fastener .528" (13.4 mm); slot 14.050" (1.27 mm); diameter of locking shoulder .210" (5.33 mm); axial length of surface 28 .120" (3.05 mm); axial distance between face 11 and step 20 .180" (4.57 mm); diameter "D" .187" (4.75 mm); diameter of step 18 .200" (5.08 mm); diameter of step 20 .214" (5.44 mm). The inner faces of steps 18 and 20 are 45" from the axis; bevelled face 22 is 30" from the axis. If desired, bars and plates may be of fractional thicknesses which, together, equal the uniform thickness.

The toy fastener insertion and removal tool.

The insertion and removal tool 32 is shown in Figures 9 to 13. As seen by the observer, tool 32 includes a casing 34, an operating lever 36, an axially movably sleeve 38 and a pair of opposing jaws 40. In use, jaws 40 are positioned about the head 8 of a fastener 5 (Figure 10), and sleeve 38 is moved axially over the jaws, by pressing lever 36, causing jaws to close to fit about head 8. It should be noted the jaws 40 have outer bvevelled surfaces and that the size and shape of jaws 40 are complementary with space 14 so that, when closed about head 8, the jaws fit tightly within space 14 between locking shoulder 10 and head 8. This permits the fastener to be held securely while being inserted into, or removed from, the holes 4.

The jaws 40 are made of resilient plastic material and are normally open. As shown in Figures 11 and 13, jaws 40 have an inner structure consisting of a shaft 42 which leads to a supporting base portion 44 which is securely positioned within slot 33 in casing 34 by guides 47 and overlapping rail 35.

Base 44 has a forwardly projecting pin 45 positioned against the inner surface of the cap 31 secured to the forward end of casing 34. Base 44 and pin 45 prevent axial movement of jaws 40 relative to casing 34.

Sleeve 38 has a transverse pin 39 across the lower portion of its inner end which is operatively engaged on each side with slot 37 on the forward lower end of lever 36 to form a linkage. A spring 48 is around sleeve 38 within casing 34 and presses between the lower portion of operating lever 36 and cap 31, thus tending to force sleeve 38 inwardly to expose jaws 40.

Operating lever 36 includes a locking notch 50 engagable with a locking detent 52 on flexible locking arm 54 (mounted within casing 34). Lever 36 is pivotted on pins 58 fitting within the pivot bearing 56 in the upper portion of cap 31.

Operation Operation of the tool 32 to assemble and disassemble a structure made with a toy construction system as described above can be summarized as follows: The head 8 of a fastener 5 is placed within jaws 40. Operating lever 36 is pressed downwardly and locks in its downward position by engagement of locking notch 50 with detent 52. At the same time, through the linkage 37 and 39, sleeve 38 moves outwardly about jaws 40. I.ts outer end 41 presses the jaws inwardly into space 14 and around head 8. The unit is so dimensioned that sleeve 38 moves outwardly to a position slightly beyond face 11 of locking shoulder 10. It is also so dimensioned that, when it surrounds the jaws 40 and presses them inwardly the jaws are fully engaged about head 8.

Either two or three plates or bars (2 and 3) are then picked up, and one of the holes in each of them is aligned with the hole in another (see Figures 6, 7 and 8).

With fastener 5 held by jaws 40, the fastener is pressed into hole 4. Bevelled surface 22 enables fastener 5 to enter the hole easily. If two plates are being joined, as in Figure 6 and 7, fastener 5 is pressed inwardly until face 11 of locking shoulder 10 is against the surface of one plate 2. While the fastener is being pressed axially, prongs 12 will be flexed inwardly permitting the passage of steps 18 and 20 through the hole. When the fastener is fully inserted, prongs 12 will flex outwardly to their normal position and, because of the dimensioning, step 18 will have just passed through hole 4 and spring outwardly, thus locking the plates or bars (2 and 3) between shoulder face 11 and step 18.

Figure 8 shows fastener 5 being used to secure three plates or bars together. In this instance the fastener can only be inserted to the point where the second or outer step 20 pressed against the lower surface of the plates. The three plates or bars are then locked between face 11 of shoulder 10 and step 20. It will be noted (Figure 8) that the prongs 12 do not fully extend to their normal position when fastener 5 is used to secure 3 plates or bars. This is because inner step 18 is pressing against the inside of hole 4. For this reason, the outer diameter of step 20 has been made greater than the outer diameter of step 18.

When the fastener has been positioned within the holes 4 in the plates and fully inserted, the surface of plate 2 nearest head 8 is pressed against the outer end 41 of sleeve 38. This pushes sleeve 38 and so, through the linkage of 37 and 39, re leases operating lever 36 (which has been held down through the inner engagement of detent 52 and locking notch 50). Jaws 40 are made of a slightly flexible and elastic plastic material having a normally open position. Consequently, when the sleeve is pushed back from the jaws they will open, releasing tool 32 from fastener 5. Another fastener may then be inserted and the process re peated while a toy is constructed.

It should be noted that bevelled surface 22 and inner surface 21 on the fastener allow a child to first insert the tool-held fastener into the hole in one plate and so support the plate on the fastener.

He may then press the fastener into the hole in a second plate to join the two pieces.

To remove a fastener, the process is reversed.

Jaws 40 are placed about head 8 and operating lever 36 pressed inwardly. This serves to press sleeve 38 outwardly around the jaws and so engage head 8 of fastener 5. Fastener 5 may then be removed from hole 4. If one desires to remove the fastener from tool 32 without inserting the fastener in a hole, this may be done by pressing operating lever 36 inwardly all the way and quickly releasing it so that it slips by detent 52 and sleeve 38 moves inwardly, releasing the jaws 40.

Claims (4)

1. A toy fastener insertion and removal tool for use in a toy construction system in which planar structural members having holes therein are joined by pronged fasteners, having latching steps on the outer surface thereof, a shoulder portion and a head portion said tool comprising a pair of opposing jaws of a size and configuration to fit about the head and complementary fit between the head and shoulder, said jaws being made of resilient plastics material and having a longitudinal shaft extending to a base support, and said jaws having bevelled outer surfaces, a casing for the tool to receive and fixably hold the base support, an axially slidable sleeve operatively associated with the casing and the jaws and so dimensioned as to permit the jaws resiliently to open when the casing does not extend about the jaws themselves and to force the jaws closed about the head when the sleeve is axially positioned about the jaws, and spring-pressed means within the casing for moving the sleeve axially.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, in which the spring-pressed means include an operating lever linked to the sleeve to move said sleeve about the jaws.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 2, including retractable locking means operatively associated with the operating lever and adapted to hold the lever in a position extending the sleeve about the jaws, said locking means being releasable through axial pressure on the sleeve.

4. A toy fastener insertion and removal tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 9 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.