US1661687A

US1661687A - Toy building element

Info

Publication number: US1661687A
Application number: US167207A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter R Benjamin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-02-10
Filing date: 1927-02-10
Publication date: 1928-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1945-03-06

Description

March 6, I928 1,661,687 W. R. BENJAMIN TOY BUILDING ELEMENT Filed Feb. 10, 1927 Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

WALTER B. BENJAMIN, OF GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS.-

-. TOY BUILDING ELEMENT.

Application filed February 10, 1927. Serial No. 167,207.

This invention relates to an assortment of elements that may be assembled in a plural ity of ways to build a variety of structures, articles, models, or toys. It is especially adapted for the use of children, enabling them to exercise their ingenuity in erecting various articles, rigid or loosely jointed, such, for example, as a table, a bed, a chair, a bench, a ladder, a swing, a kiddy car, a wheelbarrow, a wagon, and other objects too numerous to mention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part offithis specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the clamp by means of which the component parts are connected together;

Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional View of the clamp, showing the manner in which two rods may be rigidly coupled together thereby;

Figure 3 is a similar view exhibiting the manner in which the clamp is used to form a loose connection between two rodsj Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating a wheel that forms one of the elements of this invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a swing that has been erected by the assemblage of parts of this invention; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a wheelbarrow that has been constructed of an assortment of elements that comprise this invention.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a U-shaped clamp 1, preferably stamped out of a metal strip and including a base 2 and arms 3. The base 2 is formed with a threaded opening 4, in which can be adjusted set screw 5. An elongated opening 6 is formed in each of the two arms. The distance between the arms is preferably equal to the width of the elongated openings, which are preferably twice as long as they are wide.

The clamp 1 is employed to connect together a pair of rods 7, that are preferably formed of wood or other suitable material that may be readily pierced by a pointed wood screw, while, also, adapted to react against pressure that may be exerted thereagainstby the flat end of a set screw. lVhen a pair of the rods 7 are to be rigidly connected together, one of the rods is placed thereto. andthe set screw 4.)

in the outer end of the openings 6, and the other red is inserted between the base 2 and its companion rod, either through the pair of openings 6 and parallel to its companion or between .the arms 3 transversely is adjusted to bear onthe juxtaposed roe and clamp the latter against the rod in the outer end of the arms 3. as shown in Figure 2. lVhcn a loose jointis desired, a'pointed wood screw 8, having a shank slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the hole 1 at the root of its thread, is inserted through the in the wheel 9 to receive one of the rods 7,

The rods 7 may fit loosely in the opening 11 so thatthe wheel turns freely thereon, or they may be adapted to fit tightly therein, so that the pulley will rotate therewith, or rods of alternate widths that lit tightly or loosely may be furnished.

The swing of Figure 5 is constructed of uJri 'htrods 12, ri idly connected at their l 2: s

upper ends'to a cross rod 13 by clamps 1 and set screws 5, in the manner illustrated in Figure 2. Rods 14 are loosely connected at their upper ends to the cross rod 13 by means of clamps 1 and wood screws 8, the type of joint being as illustrated in Figure 3, so that the clamps 1 and rods 14 swing together loosely about the rod 13. The lower ends of the rods 14 are rigidly connected to a cross rod or seat 15 by means of the usual clamps 1 and set screws 5.

The wheelbarrow of Figure 6 comprises side rods 16, anterior and

posterior cross rods

17 and 18, respectively, and upright rods or standards 19, all rigidly connected together by means of clamps 1 and set screws 5 to effect the tight joints indicated in Figure 2. The wheel 9 turns loosely on the anterior cross rod 17.

Having thus fully described this invention. I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form. arrangement, order, or use of parts, as itis evident thatmany minor changes may he made therein without departing from the spirit of this invent-ion or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An assortment of elements for building a variety of structures, including a U- shaped clamp having an opening in its base and respective aligned openings in its arms, a wood screw adapted to extend through the hase opening, and a pair of elements adapted to engage with said clamp, one of said elements heing of wood whereby it may he pierced by the wood screw in order to bind it to the base of said clamp.

22. An assortment of elements for huildin a variety of structures, including a U-shaped clamp having an opening in its base and respective aligned openings in its arms, a perfo'ated wheel, and a pair of elements adapted to he engaged in angular relation with said clamp, a wood screw in the hase opening one of said elements hein; of wood so that it may be secured to the base portion of said clamp by said screw, while the other of said elements is free to rotate within the aligned openings of said clamp. with said wheel rigidly secured thereto.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature.

WALTER it. BEJJAMIN.