GB2226862A

GB2226862A - A retaining washer for attachment of parts to toys

Info

Publication number: GB2226862A
Application number: GB8918413A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki
Original assignee: SUZUSEI CO Ltd
Current assignee: SUZUSEI CO Ltd
Priority date: 1988-12-28
Filing date: 1989-08-11
Publication date: 1990-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-11
Also published as: HK110893A; CN1043635A; GB2226862B; GB8918413D0; JPH0290414U

Abstract

A retaining washer comprises a circular engaging wall 6 projecting on one surface of an insertion hole 4 of the washer body 1 for the insertion of a mount pin 3 of a toy part such as an eye, nose, arm or leg. Projections 11 prevent rotation. One or more radial grooves 8 allow the wall to spring into locking engagement with the mount pin 3. In a second embodiment (Fig 4), the grooves (8) also extend through the body (1). <IMAGE>

Description

WASHER FOR ATTACHMENT OF PARTS TO TOYS Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention This invention concerns a washer for the attachment of parts, including eyes, nose, arms and legs, to toys such as dolls and stuffed toy animals.

2. Description of the Prior Art Washers for the attachment of parts such as eyes, nose, arms and legs to toys such as dolls and stuffed animals1 have been described in prior art as in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.153492/1977, in which invention the central part of the base plate had a hole for the insertion and engagement of the mount pins of toy parts. However, this construction had the disadvantage firstly that considerable strength was required to open the insertion hole and insert the mount pin because of the continuous circular construction of the insertion hole, thus hampering the task of mounting the part on the toy; and also there was the danger that unnecessary force applied to the base plate would cause cracks in the base plate which could result in the toy part becoming detached from the toy.

Summary of the Invention This invention has been made for solving the problems described above, and aims to provide a washer for attachment of parts to toys capable of engaging the mount pin in the toy part without exerting unnecessary force, thus eliminating accidental damage through the occurrence of cracks in the base plate which result in the toy part detaching from the toy.

These and other objects, advantages, features and uses will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when considered with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig.l is a cross-sectional view showing the first embodiment of a washer for attachment of parts of this invention; Fig.2 is a plan view of the washer shown in Fig.l; Fig.3 is a cross-sectional view showing the toy parts in its engaged state with the washer shown in Fig.l; and Fig.4 is a sectional view similar to Fig.l showing the second embodiment of the washer for attachment of parts.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments A washer for attachment of parts to toys of this invention is constructed such that an insertion hole for the insertion and engagement of the mount pin of the toy part is formed in the base plate as a through hole in the axial direction, with a circular engaging wall projecting on one surface of the exterior of the insertion hole of the base plate, with the inside surface of this engaging wall projecting in the insertion hole direction, and with a groove formed in the radial direction in the engaging wall.

Further, there may be one groove constructed in the engaging wall in the radial direction, or there may be multiple grooves constructed in the engaging wall in the radial direction.

Also, the groove may be formed such that it pierces through to the back wall of the base plate, or it may be constructed such that it does not pierce through to the back side of the base plate.

Further, this groove may be constructed only in the engaging wall so that it does not extend to the base plate.

Then, in order to mount toy parts such as eyes, noses, arms and legs, on toys such as dolls and stuffed animals, first a mount pin on the toYe part is pierced through the toy part to be mounted such as an eye, nose, or arm. Next, the mount pin is inserted and engaged in the insertion hole on the base plate, by exerting pressure on the engaging wall formed projecting from the outside of the insertion hole, to make the hole open towards the outside. This opening under pressure forces only the engaging wall open for the mount pin because the inside surface of the engaging wall projects internally in the direction of the insertion hole, and the effec;t of the opening of the engaging wall on the base plate is zero or negligible, resulting in no cracks in the base plate.

Further, the construction of a groove in the engaging wall as described above, facilitates the opening of the engaging wall, and a much smaller amount of force than previously is required to securely engage and attach the mount pin on the base plate through this groove. Thus the work of mounting toy parts on toys is considerably improved.

In the following description of one embodiment of this invention, (1) is a base plate, made of a hard plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyacetal and polycarbonate formed in a appropriate circular, oval or shape, with an insertion hole (4) for the insertion and engagement of a mount pin (3) on the toy part (2), piercing the plate in a central position in the axial direction. The toy part (2) may be an eye, nose, arm or leg, and the mount pin (3) may be formed projecting in one piece with the toy part (2), having on the outside an engaging stepped part (5) with a diameter slightly smaller than the insertion hole (4).Also, on the outside of the insertion hole (4) on one surface of the base plate (1), there is a projecting circular engaging wall (6), with the internal surface (7) of the engaging wall (6) formed projecting and slanting towards the direction of the insertion hole (4), with the internal diameter of the engaging wall (6) being slightly smaller than the external diameter of the mount pin (3), and with a single or multiple grooves (8) formed in a radial direction in this engaging wall (6). The number of these grooves (8) may be increased in order to simplify the opening of the engaging wall (6) to the outside and to reduce the effect on the base plate (1); or the number of grooves (8) may be reduced in order to increase the engaging strength of the mount pin (3) with the engaging step (5).To improve the engagement with the toy (10), the other surface of the base plate (1) has an engaging projection (11) designed to prevent rotation.

And in order to mount the toy parts such as eyes, nose, arm and legs to a toy (10) such as a doll or stuffed animal, first the mount pin (3) of the toy part (2) is pierced through the through hole (12) provided in the mounting part of the eye, nose, arm, etc. of the toy (10). Next, the mount pin (3) is inserted and engaged in the insertion hole (4) of the base plate (1), while pressure is being exerted on the engaging wall (6) formed on the outside of the insertion hole (4), with an internal surface (7) projecting in the direction of the insertion hole (4). The mount pin (3) is inserted between the main part of the toy part (2) and the base plate (3); this results in the part (2) being held tightly in the desired position on the toy (10). If an engaging stepped part (5) is formed on the outside of the mount pin (3) then the engagement with the engaging wall (6) will be more secure.

Any adverse effect on the engaging wall (6) of the pressure required to open the hole will be eliminated or reduced because pressure is applied to the wall (6) which projects externally from the insertion hole (4) on the base plate (1), and because of the formation of grooves (8) on the engaging wall(6). Thus this construction eliminates the incidence of cracking in the base plate (1).

Further, since there are grooves (8) formed in the engaging wall (6) as described above, the expansion, under pressure, of the internal circumference of the engaging wall (6) is facilitated since the engaging wall (6) is split by the grooves (8) into sections, and the grooves (8) absorb the expansion of the internal circumference of the engaging wall (6).

And, because the engagement and mounting of the mount pin (3) on the base plate (1), an action which previously required some considerable effort, can now be carried out so that the pin is secured with little effort, the work of mounting the toy part (2) on the toy (10) can be performed much more easily.

When the grooves (8) in the engaging wall (6) are, as shown in Fig.4(the second embodiment), formed such that they pierce the back surface of the base plate (1), it is possible to construct a sturdy toy which is easy to assemble. This compares with the embodiment which is described below in which the grooves (8) are formed so that they are not pierced through to the backside of the plate. In the second embodiment shown in Fig.4, common parts with the first embodiment have been indicated with the same refer ence number and any duplicate description has been omitted.

Further, when the grooves (8) formed in the engaging wall (6) are formed so that they are not pierced through to the back side of the base plate (1) as shown in Fig. 1, it is still possible to increase the strength of the base plate (1) and prevent the occurrence of cracks, even if slightly more force is applied not only to the engaging wall (6) but also to the base plate (1).

If these grooves (8), constructed desirably as in Fig. 1, are formed only in the 'engaging wall(6) and do not extend to the base plate (1), the opening of the engaging wall (8) through the insertion of the mount pin (3, occurs only to the engaging wall (6); this design has the benefit that because the main base plate (1) is not affected, cracking and splitting of the base plate (1) does not occur.

Because this invention is constructed as described above, the attachment and engagement on the base plate of the mount pin on the toy part can be performed without considerable force being exerted, and the accidental cracking of the base plate and the consequent detachment of the toy part from the toy can be preventted.

Claims

What is Claim is:

1. A washer used to attach parts to toys, which is characterized by being constructed of a base plate with an insertion hole pierced in the axial direction for the insertion and engagement of the mount pin of a toy part, with a circular engaging wall projecting on one surface of the outside of the insertion hole of this base plate, and also the inside surface of the engaging wall projecting in the direction of the insertion hole; and further by having a groove constructed in the radial direction of the engaging wall.

2. The washer used to attach parts to toys described in Claim 1, characterized by being constructed with one groove set in a radial direction in the engaging wall.

3. The washer used to attach parts to toys described in Claim 1, characterized by being constructed with multiple grooves set in a radial direction in the engaging wall.

4 The washer used to attach parts to toys described in Claim 1, characterized by having a groove formed so that it pierces through to the backside of the base plate.

5 . The washer used to attach parts to toys described in Claim 1, characterized by having a groove formed so that it does not pierce through to the backside of the base plate.

6 . The washer used to attach parts to toys described in Claim 5, characterized by having a groove formed only in the engaging wall and not extending to the base plate itself.