US3513587A - Construction kit including toothed rack element - Google Patents

Construction kit including toothed rack element Download PDF

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Publication number
US3513587A
US3513587A US608706A US3513587DA US3513587A US 3513587 A US3513587 A US 3513587A US 608706 A US608706 A US 608706A US 3513587D A US3513587D A US 3513587DA US 3513587 A US3513587 A US 3513587A
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United States
Prior art keywords
rack
teeth
structural elements
assembly kit
kit
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Expired - Lifetime
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US608706A
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English (en)
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Artur Fischer
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Individual
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Individual
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63HTOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00Other toys
    • A63H33/04Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
    • A63H33/042Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/19Gearing
    • Y10T74/19642Directly cooperating gears
    • Y10T74/1967Rack and pinion

Definitions

  • the present invention provides a toothed rack in an assembly kit comprising structural elements with elongated undercut grooves or with male coupling portions having a wider head and a narrower neck connecting the head to the respective structural element.
  • the toothed rack is elongated and comprises at least one row of gear teeth, cooperating coupling portions for connecting to said elements to operate as a rack or to be utilized as an additional structural element.
  • the present invention relates to a structural element, and more particularly to a structural element for use in an assembly kit of the type set forth in my abovementioned copending application, Ser. No. 580,240.
  • an assembly kit which comprises structural elements, or building blocks, which are provided in one or more faces thereof either with elongated undercut grooves, that is with grooves which diverge inwardly from the respective face in which they are formed, or with connecting heads which are configurated in a manner complementary to the cross-section of the grooves, i.e. which have a relatively narrow neck portion connected to the respective building block and a wider head portion which is received or receivable in one of the grooves of another building block with a narrow neck portion extending outwardly beyond the groove.
  • Such structural element or building blocks are connected to one another by inserting, as will be evident, the wider head in the groove, thus assuring that withdrawal of the head in the direction transversely of the elongation of the groove is not possible.
  • Assembly kits of this type are highly advantageous and have been very successful, particularly in the toy industry.
  • the utilization of motion-transmitting means with such assembly kits heretofore has still presented a problem because it has until now been relatively difficult to connect such motion-transmitting means with the building blocks of the kit.
  • the present invention increases further the versatility of assembly kits of the general type outlined above, and known from some of my prior applications such as the one mentioned earlier.
  • the invention provides a structural element for motiontransmitting purposes which can be simply and reliably connected to the other structural elements of a kit of the type outlined above, utilizing the same type of connecting means herebefore described.
  • I provide, in an assembly kit of the type which comprises structural elements provided with coupling means, a motiontransmitting member which includes first engaging means arranged to couplingly engage the coupling means of respective structural elements, and which further includes second engaging means arranged to engage an auxiliary member in cooperating relationship therewith for transmittal of motion from one to the other of these members.
  • my novel motiontransmitting member which will generally be a toothed rack, is provided with at least one row of teeth on an exterior surface of the rack, and is further provided on a further surface of the rack which is located at the exterior or readily accessible from the exterior, with a male or female coupling portion adapted to cooperate with a mating coupling portion on one or more of the structural elements of the assembly kit in conjunction with which the novel rack is to be utilized.
  • the invention also contemplates the provision of a rack in such a manner that its cross-sectional dimensions correspond to the cross-sectional dimensions of the structural elements of the kit, so that the novel rack in accordance with the present invention is compatible with these structural elements in the direction of various models; in other words, this concept makes possible the utilization of the rack itself as a structural element or as an extension of one of the structural elements of the kit.
  • I may also construct the novel rack in tubular form, that is with a hollow interior bounded by an inner peripheral surface.
  • the hollow interior will then have the cross sectional configuration of the exterior of the structural elements provided in the assembly kit, but the dimensions of the crosssection of the hollow interior will be slightly larger than the overall exterior cross-sectional dimensions of the structural elements so that the latter can at least partially be received in the hollow interior of the novel rack.
  • I provide one or, advantageously, two oppositely located facets of the inner peripheral surface bounding the hollow interior with coupling portions, usually male coupling heads projecting into the interior, and it will be understood that on introduction of one or more of the structural elements provided in an assembly kit with which the novel rack is to be used, these male coupling heads will be received in corresponding undercut grooves of such structural elements.
  • the novel rack is primarily a motion-transmitting means, it of course cooperates with auxiliary members, such as with gear wheels.
  • auxiliary members such as with gear wheels.
  • the width of the teeth as seen transversely of the elongation of each row of teeth is less than the width of the surface on which they are provided so that each row of teeth is bounded laterally by non-toothed surface portions which preferably are flush with the tips of the teeth of each row.
  • FIG. 1 is a top-plan view of a novel structural element in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but seen from the other end of the structural element shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 shows, by way of example, how the novel structural element in accordance with the present invention can be utilized in conjunction with other structural elements of an assembly kit
  • FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the structural element in accordance with the present invention, in a topplan view
  • FIG. 6 is a lateral view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 7 is a transverse section taken through the embodiment shown in FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 8 illustrates, by way of example, how the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-7 can be used in conjunction with other structural elements of an assembly kit
  • FIG. 9 shows yet a further embodiment of the invention in a top-plan view.
  • FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken through the embodiment of FIG. 9.
  • FIGS. 1-3 the novel structural element in accordance with the present invention is a toothed rack, indicated generally with reference numeral 1.
  • this rack is shown to be of quadratic cross-section and it will be seen that it is provided on each of two opposite faces with a row of teeth identified, respectively, with reference numerals 2 and 3.
  • FIGS. l-3 the length of the teeth in the direction normal to the elongation of the respective rows is less than the width of the respective lateral face so that the lateral stripshaped surface portions 5, 6 remain which bound the respective rows 2 and 3.
  • FIGS. 1 the length of the teeth in the direction normal to the elongation of the respective rows is less than the width of the respective lateral face so that the lateral stripshaped surface portions 5, 6 remain which bound the respective rows 2 and 3.
  • each row 2, 3 have tips which are flush with the respective lateral face, that is the teeth of each row are recessed in their respective face so that their tips are located in the plane of the respective surface and thereby in the plane of the respective stripshaped lateral surface portions 5, 6.
  • the rows 2, 3 of gear teeth are provided on two oppositely directed lateral faces of the nozzle rack 1.
  • the remaining lateral faces which are also oppositely directed with reference to one another, are each provided with an undercut groove 7 extending in longitudinal direction of the rack, that is parallel to the elongation of the rows 2, 3 of teeth.
  • the configuration of these grooves, as seen in cross-section, is evident from FIGS. 2 and 3 and requires no elaboration.
  • the end faces of the novel rack are, as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each provided with an axially projecting male coupling portion, respectively identified with reference numerals 8 and 9, and the configuration of these coupling portions 8 and 9 will be particularly evident in conjunction with FIG. 4, it being obvious that these male coupling portions 8, 9 are to be matingly received in grooves such as those identified with reference numeral 7 to thus permit the novel rack 1 to be connected with other structural elements of the assembly kit which are provided with such undercut grooves.
  • FIG. 4 shows, by way of example, how the novel rack of FIGS. l-3 can be used in constructing a structure in conjunction with the other structural elements of an assembly kit.
  • Building blocks 10, 11 constitute the basic structural elements of such a kit, as is evident in FIG. 4, and since these building blocks 10, 11 are provided with undercut grooves and with male coupling portions corre sponding to the various portions 7, 8 and 9 of FIGS. 1-3, the building blocks 10, 11 are secured to one another by means of these portions.
  • a shaft 12 is supported by the thus connected building blocks and a gear wheel 13 is non-rotatably carried by the shaft 12.
  • a crank 14 is also arranged on the shaft 12, non-rotatable relative thereto, and it will be understood that the shaft 12 with its associated gear wheel 13 can be turned by rotating the crank 14.
  • FIGS. 5-7 A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5-7 where the novel rack is identified with reference numeral 20 and is shown as carrying on its upper face a row 21 of teeth which latter are again bounded by lateral surface portions 22.
  • FIG. 7 shows that the lateral faces, that is the faces which extend at a right angle to the upper face, are each provided with a further row 23, 24 of gear teeth, and this is also evident from FIG. 5.
  • the underside of the rack shown in FIGS. 5-7 is flat, as evident from FIGS. 6 and 7, and is provided with at least one end, as shown in the drawing, preferably several male coupling portions 25 of a configuration which enables these coupling portions to mate with undercut grooves corresponding to those identified with reference numeral 7 in FIGS. 1-3.
  • FIGS. 5-7 To make the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7 compatible with the other structural elements of the assembly kit, such as the elements identified With'reference numerals 10, 11 and 10', 11', in FIG. 4, the cross-sectional dimension as measured from the tips of the teeth in row 23 to the tips of the teeth in row 24 again corresponds to the corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the structural elements 10, 11 and 10', 11' and by this it is possible to use the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7 in a fully compatible manner with such structural elements.
  • FIG. 8 shows how the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7 can be employed in conjunction with other structural elements of the assembly kit, and it will be seen that the novel rack is secured by introduction of its male coupling heads 25 into the undercut grooves 26, two structural elements or building blocks 27, it being understood that with this arrangement the rack 20 can be shifted relative to the building blocks 27 in the direction of the elongation of the grooves 26.
  • a gear wheel 28 cams with its teeth with the cooperating teeth of the row 24 provided on the rack 20, and the gear wheel 28 is carried by a shaft 29 which, it will be evident although not specifically illustrated, is suitably supported in bearings of any type.
  • a second gear wheel 30 is arranged on a shaft 31 extending normalto the shaft 29 and the teeth of the second gear wheel 30 in turn cam with the teeth of the row 21 provided on the upper face of the rack 20. This construction evidently makes it possible to transmit motion between the shaft 29 and 31 by linear movement of the rack 20.
  • the novel rack which here is identified with reference nuumeral 40, is hollow. Its crosssection, including its interior cross-section, is quadratic in keeping with the cross-section of the other structural elements or building blocks 10, 11, 10', 11, 27 and each of its four exterior faces is provided with a row of teeth extending in longitudinal direction, such rows being respectively identified with reference numerals 41, 42, 43 and 44.
  • the rows 42 and 44 are again bounded by lateral surface portions 45, 46 although it will of course be evident that these surface portions 45, 46 could be eliminated so that all rows of teeth would be similar to the rows '41 and 43 which are not so bounded, or that conversely the rows 41 and 43 could also be provided with such surface portions in the manner illustrated with reference to the rows 42 and 44.
  • the hollow interior of the rack 40 is bounded, as is evident from the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10, by an inner peripheral surface comprising four mutually inclined facets and two opposite facets are provided with male coupling portions 47 which may be elongated in the direction of elongation of the rack 40, if so desired.
  • the building blocks or basic structural elements of an assembly kit be of quadratic cross-section; they could, for instance, be. of polygonal cross-section, or specifically of triangular cross-section or of any other cross-section which is desired.
  • the cross-section of the rack in accordance with the present invention evidently also need not be of quadratic configuration but can be of any other desired configuration.
  • the arrangement of the rows of teeth, of undercut grooves and of the projecting male coupling portions can be varied at will without deviating from the inventive concept disclosed herein.
  • plastic materials such as nylon and the like are particularly suitable for reasons of manufacturing economy, cost and other factors.
  • An assembly kit comprising structural elements provided with coupling means and an elongated rack member having lateral surfaces and two end surfaces normal to said lateral surfaces, said rack member further comprising first engaging means including an undercut male coupling portion on one of said end surfaces projecting therefrom and an undercut female coupling portion recessed in the other of said end surfaces, and second engaging means including at least one row of teeth provided on one of said lateral surfaces and extending between said end surfaces, said second engaging means being operative for engaging an auxiliary member in cooperating relationship therewith for transmittal of motion between said auxiliary member and at least one of said structural elements through the intermediary of said rack member.
  • said undercut male coupling portion including a head spaced from said one end surface and a neck narrower than said head and connecting the same to said one end surface.
  • said undercut female coupling portion comprising an elongated undercut groove provided in said other end surface and having a cross-section which diverges inwardly away from said other end surface.
  • additional second engaging means inform of at least one additional row of teeth provided on another of said lateral surfaces and also extending between said end faces.

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  • Toys (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
US608706A 1966-01-18 1967-01-11 Construction kit including toothed rack element Expired - Lifetime US3513587A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEF0048192 1966-01-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3513587A true US3513587A (en) 1970-05-26

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US608706A Expired - Lifetime US3513587A (en) 1966-01-18 1967-01-11 Construction kit including toothed rack element

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US (1) US3513587A (de)
AT (1) AT280860B (de)
BE (1) BE690328A (de)
CH (1) CH453172A (de)
DE (1) DE1603289A1 (de)
FI (1) FI44995C (de)
FR (1) FR1507815A (de)
GB (1) GB1127309A (de)
IL (1) IL27157A (de)
NL (1) NL150012B (de)
NO (1) NO117065B (de)
SE (1) SE330343B (de)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3881274A (en) * 1974-05-22 1975-05-06 Oku Seisakusho Co Ltd Interlocking units having meshed gears and drive means for a movable toy thereon
US3965610A (en) * 1973-09-07 1976-06-29 Brabo Corporation Naamloze Vennootschap Construction units, some with corresponding pinion wheels mounted in meshed relation
US4169332A (en) * 1976-08-21 1979-10-02 Artur Fischer Crank assembly
US4505496A (en) * 1981-09-14 1985-03-19 Repa Feinstanzwerk Gmbh Drive device for moving the end fitting of a passive safety belt
US4722238A (en) * 1985-04-19 1988-02-02 Navarro Bernard J Rack and pinion gear
EP0427698A1 (de) * 1989-10-10 1991-05-15 Ronald L. Lyman Spielzeug-Baukasten, bestehend aus einer Vielzahl von Bausteinen
US5213449A (en) * 1991-07-08 1993-05-25 Morris T Richard Apparatus for inserting wick drains into the earth
US20050075036A1 (en) * 2003-05-22 2005-04-07 Joshua Lamb Toy block with rack assembly
US7854571B1 (en) 2005-07-20 2010-12-21 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Systems and methods for handling piles
US20110162859A1 (en) * 2010-01-06 2011-07-07 White John L Pile driving systems and methods employing preloaded drop hammer
US8434969B2 (en) 2010-04-02 2013-05-07 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Internal pipe clamp
US8496072B2 (en) 2002-09-17 2013-07-30 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Preloaded drop hammer for driving piles
US9957684B2 (en) 2015-12-11 2018-05-01 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Systems and methods for installing pile structures in permafrost
US10273646B2 (en) 2015-12-14 2019-04-30 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Guide systems and methods for diesel hammers
US10392871B2 (en) 2015-11-18 2019-08-27 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Earth boring systems and methods with integral debris removal
US10538892B2 (en) 2016-06-30 2020-01-21 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Hydraulic impact hammer systems and methods

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS59175931A (ja) * 1983-01-03 1984-10-05 マイヤ−・ウント・コムパニ− 工作機械構成セツト
FR2717096B1 (fr) * 1994-03-11 1996-04-05 Berchet Fernand Ets Jouet pour enfant comportant un accessoire déplaçable linéairement.

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1073714A (en) * 1912-09-06 1913-09-23 William John Shorten Clasp.
US1164686A (en) * 1915-05-22 1915-12-21 Francis A Wagner Mechanical toy.
US1736310A (en) * 1926-04-16 1929-11-19 Gilbert Co A C Toy building construction

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1073714A (en) * 1912-09-06 1913-09-23 William John Shorten Clasp.
US1164686A (en) * 1915-05-22 1915-12-21 Francis A Wagner Mechanical toy.
US1736310A (en) * 1926-04-16 1929-11-19 Gilbert Co A C Toy building construction

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3965610A (en) * 1973-09-07 1976-06-29 Brabo Corporation Naamloze Vennootschap Construction units, some with corresponding pinion wheels mounted in meshed relation
US3881274A (en) * 1974-05-22 1975-05-06 Oku Seisakusho Co Ltd Interlocking units having meshed gears and drive means for a movable toy thereon
US4169332A (en) * 1976-08-21 1979-10-02 Artur Fischer Crank assembly
US4505496A (en) * 1981-09-14 1985-03-19 Repa Feinstanzwerk Gmbh Drive device for moving the end fitting of a passive safety belt
US4722238A (en) * 1985-04-19 1988-02-02 Navarro Bernard J Rack and pinion gear
EP0427698A1 (de) * 1989-10-10 1991-05-15 Ronald L. Lyman Spielzeug-Baukasten, bestehend aus einer Vielzahl von Bausteinen
US5213449A (en) * 1991-07-08 1993-05-25 Morris T Richard Apparatus for inserting wick drains into the earth
US8496072B2 (en) 2002-09-17 2013-07-30 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Preloaded drop hammer for driving piles
US20050075036A1 (en) * 2003-05-22 2005-04-07 Joshua Lamb Toy block with rack assembly
US7854571B1 (en) 2005-07-20 2010-12-21 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Systems and methods for handling piles
US8070391B2 (en) 2005-07-20 2011-12-06 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Systems and methods for handling piles
US20110116874A1 (en) * 2005-07-20 2011-05-19 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Systems and methods for handling piles
US20110162859A1 (en) * 2010-01-06 2011-07-07 White John L Pile driving systems and methods employing preloaded drop hammer
US8763719B2 (en) 2010-01-06 2014-07-01 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Pile driving systems and methods employing preloaded drop hammer
US8434969B2 (en) 2010-04-02 2013-05-07 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Internal pipe clamp
US10392871B2 (en) 2015-11-18 2019-08-27 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Earth boring systems and methods with integral debris removal
US9957684B2 (en) 2015-12-11 2018-05-01 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Systems and methods for installing pile structures in permafrost
US10273646B2 (en) 2015-12-14 2019-04-30 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Guide systems and methods for diesel hammers
US10538892B2 (en) 2016-06-30 2020-01-21 American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. Hydraulic impact hammer systems and methods

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1507815A (fr) 1967-12-29
DE1603289A1 (de) 1970-10-22
FI44995B (de) 1971-11-01
CH453172A (de) 1968-05-31
NO117065B (de) 1969-06-23
NL150012B (nl) 1976-07-15
IL27157A (en) 1969-07-30
GB1127309A (en) 1968-09-18
SE330343B (de) 1970-11-09
BE690328A (de) 1967-05-02
FI44995C (fi) 1972-02-10
AT280860B (de) 1970-04-27
NL6616359A (de) 1967-07-19

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