US1860627A - Toy - Google Patents

Description

May 31, 1932. J. Q. SHERMAN TOY Filed 001,. 6. 192

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Patented May 31, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JOHN G. SHERMAN, OF DAYTON, OHIO Application filed October 6, 1927. Serial No. 224,385.

My invention relates to toy model building devices, and more particularly to means for coupling bars and plates in various positions of relative adjustment.

It has been customary to interconnect the various parts and elements of model building or erecting sets by means of screw bolts.

- Such bolted connections many times failed to hold their adjusted positions, even though drawn as tightly together by the adjustment of the connecting holes, as in the power of the child. Moreover, a child who has assembled a complicated structure from the parts or elements of such set usually consisting of bars, plates, angles and the like, many times losses interest when the structural assembly has been completed and is reluctant to disassemble the structure because of the difiiculty of removing connecting bolts, and particularly the time required. Usually at such period the child is interested not in the disassembly of the completed structural apparatus, but solely in the construction of a new assembly.

To overcome these two outstanding difficulties there is provided in the present construction structural elements having about the spaced perforations for the connecting devices rosettes comprising radiating embossed clutch teeth which interengage with like radiating clutch teeth of other elements or members, or with interposed washers to hold the several parts in the1r predetermined adjusted relation with each other. These elements are interconnected b complementary snap fastenors, one of w ich is int oduced through the registering holes of the several structural elements and engaged with the complementary member on the opposite side thereof, which holds the parts in their adjusted position by a clamping action but is capable of being readily and instantly disconnected by the application of limited pressure or force. Thus the disassembly or disconnection of the elements may be quickly accomplished without the laborious and tedious task of the removal of nuts and screw bolts as are ordinarily employed.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure, as well as the means and mode of assembly of toy structural elements for model building, and the like, whereby they wlll not only be cheapened in construction but will be more easily assembled and disassembled, capable of being securely interengaged in predetermined relative positions and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide interengaging clutch means between the contacting portions of the interchangeable structural elements whereby they will be securely held in their relatively adjusted positions. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide quick detachable means for connecting and disconnecting said structural elements, and which when connected will maintain suflicient clamping pressure thereon to maintain the elements in interlocked relation and which will yield to a moderate application of force, well within the power of a child to enable the rapid disconnection of such assembled parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch collar or washer for assembly intermediate connected elements to prevent interference between the locking barrier or clutch rosettes not being used for connecting purposes.

A further and primary object of the invertion is to provide model building or toy structural elements which may be quickly and easily interconnected into predetermined relative relation with means for insuring the maintenance of such adjusted positions which interconnecting means will subsequently facilitate the disassembly or wreckage of the assembled structure.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily, the only form of embodi ment of the invention, Fig. 1 is an assembl of several structural elements of a toy building or erector set embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of one of such elements, and Fig. 3 1s a plan view of a clutch collar or washer to be interposed between the elements for spacing purposes. Fig. 4 are side elevations of the male and female members of the interconnecting or coupling device. Fig. 5 is a face view and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the female member of such coupling device. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a modification of the structural elements wherein an annular series of spaced holes are provided surrounding the orifice or the connecting element, in lieu of the radiating clutch teeth or ribs disclosed in the preceding view. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the male member of the coupling device modified for use with an element such as shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 illustrates a pair of prongs for applying fastener devices under pressure.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 1-1 are elements of a toy building set, which in the present instance have been shown as bars or flat strips. It is to be understood, however, that such elements may be formed into lates, angle bars, angle brackets, panels, or ot er structural elements of various forms and configurations. The structural elements of whatever form are provided with spaced holes 2-2 to receive fastening or coupling devices. The holes 2 located at spaced intervals in the elements 1 from figures of rosettes 3 consisting of embossed radiating teeth or ribs forming clutch faces concentric with the holes 2. These clutch teeth or radiating ribs 4 comprising the rosette 3 may be cut entirely through the elements 11 on their radiating line and attached thereto only at their ends, or such stock may be displaced by stamping with suitable dies to force alternating portions thereof in opposite directions without severing the web of material. The radiating ribs or teeth 4 form acute sector shapes and are spaced equidistant from each other sufiicient to permit like ribs or teeth 4 of a different structural element 1 to be interengaged therebetween. In assembling elements 1 they are arranged with the selected perforations 2 in registry one with the other, and with the radiating ribs or teeth 4 of the rosette 3 of one member interlocking or interengaging between those of the second member. By this means the members are secured in predetermined angular relation and so held against loss of adjustment due to the interlocking of the clutch rosettes. The clamping pressure by which the parts are held together need not be very great. When two smooth surfaces are to be held together by a clamp bolt as has been generally heretofore employed it is necessary that the bolt be drawn very tight in order to afford the necessary frictional resistance of relative adjustment. This requirement for tight ad ustment is beyond the power of a small child, and consequently the failure of such parts to hold their adjusted positions after assembly is a source of great annoyance and disappointment. By the present construction, a very moderate clamping action nearly suflicient to permit the bodily displacement of the memher away from each other is suflicient to hold them in their adjusted position since the interlocking clutch teeth or radiatin ribs 4 will effectually prevent any pivotal displacement.

To afford a connecting means which will, at the same time, afford a moderate degree of compression or clamping action and yet be capable of being instantly disengaged by application of moderate force within the power of the child, snap fasteners of a general type and construction ordinarily employed as garment fasteners are utilized. These snap fasteners are made in appropriate size and consist of male and female elements. The male element 6 consists of a disc like main portion 7 projecting centrally from which is a tapered head 8 of such size as to easily pass through the perforations 2 in the elements 1 sufficiently long to receive a female member 9 on the opposite side of the assembled member. Obviously these fastener elements may be formed with heads'of different lengths to be used in the assembly of more than two structural elements by a single fastener. The female member 9 comprises a tip like element having therein a spring 10 of annular form, the ends 11 of which are inturned into substantially parallel relation to clasp the opposite side of the tapered head 8 of the male member which is introduced therebetween. The ends 11 of such spring member are forced apart and the spring placed under tension by the introduc' tion of the head 8 of the male member. Thus the spring ends 11 are caused to exert constant contractile pressure upon the tapered sides of the head 8, which by their camming action tends to draw the elements (3 and 9 towards each other, thereby exerting a moderate clamping effect upon the assembled elements.

In case the elements 1-1 are assembled at such acute inclination to each other that the clutch rosettes 3 other than those registering with each other and so interlocked shall over lap as shown at 12, to avoid interference clutch collars or washers 13 are provided, which may be interposed between the assembled elements 1l to space such members apart thereby serving to avoid the interference of clutch rosettes other than those which are interconnected and interlocked with each other by fastening devices. In lieu of the radiating teeth or ribs 4 forming the clutch rosette, there is shown in Fig. 7 a modification wherein an annular series of small holes 14 surround the perforations 2. In this instance coupling members will be provided with one or more studs or pins 15 so located as to engage in any one of the annular series of holes 14, when the head of the coupling member is engaged in the perforations 2. The pins or studs 15 are sufliciently long to extend through and engage the registering perforations 15 of the assembled member and so interlock such members against pivotal movement, insuring their maintenance in their proper relative positions of adjustment.

While only a moderate degree of pressure is required to interengage the complementary members of the fasteners, to facilitate their engagement in difiicult positions and by children who may lack the necessary strength, a pair of tongs are provided consisting of inter-pivoted levers 17 and 18 carrying jaws 19 and 20, the abutting faces of which are shaped and adapted to receive the members 6 and 9 of the snap fastener before mentioned. By use of this tong a child lacking the necessary strength can apply the snap fasteners with considerable pressure amply sufficient to insure their engagement. Moreover, the use of the tool insures the accurate registry of the male and female members and thus facilitate their interconnection and minimizes the time necessary for the construction of a model or structure. The tool may be magnetized to easily hold the fastener units until snapped into place. When it becomes necessary to disassembleor disconnect the elements of such model or structure it is only necessary to pull them apart with a prying action which is sufiicient to dislodge the female member from the male member, as shown in Fig. 4, and completely loosen the connection. By this means a model or structure may be torn down very easily and with minimum efiort.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a construction of the character described, possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, and arrangement of parts, without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention is described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Coupling means for detachably interengaging a plurality of reversible perforated elements of a toy building set with each other into various structures, including clutch faces formed on the opposite faces of said members in registry with each other, and concentric with the perforations comprising alternately disposed radial projections and depressions and engageable with like clutch faces of other elements with the perforations of such elements in registry, and a washer having a central perforation and corresponding alternately disposed radial projections and depresslons on its opposite sides for interlocking engagement with alternately disposed radial projections and depressions of two such elements to space said elements apart to afiord clearance between nonregistering clutch aces.

2. Coupling means for detachabl interconnecting a plurality of building e ements, to be interconnected with each other into various structures, including alternately disposed radial projections and depressions on the opposite sides of the elements at spaced intervals interlocking engagement with like projections and depressions of other elements, coupling means for the elements, and washers to be interposed between the elements having alternately disposed radial projections and depressions on their opposite sides for engagement with the corresponding adjacent clutch faces of two elements to be interconnected to afford clearance beween other nonregistering clutch faces of the connected ele- 1 JOHN Q. SHERMAN.

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