WO1998034705A1 - Systeme d'engrenages pour jeu de construction - Google Patents

Systeme d'engrenages pour jeu de construction Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1998034705A1
WO1998034705A1 PCT/US1998/001165 US9801165W WO9834705A1 WO 1998034705 A1 WO1998034705 A1 WO 1998034705A1 US 9801165 W US9801165 W US 9801165W WO 9834705 A1 WO9834705 A1 WO 9834705A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
gear
gears
quadrature
construction toy
gear system
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1998/001165
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Joe K. Pohlman
Original Assignee
Mattel, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mattel, Inc. filed Critical Mattel, Inc.
Priority to AU60349/98A priority Critical patent/AU6034998A/en
Publication of WO1998034705A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998034705A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
    • A63H33/042—Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H31/00—Gearing for toys

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to construction toy sets and particularly to a combination of construction toy set elements which may be used to fabricate a variety of gear drive apparatus in combination with other construction toy set elements.
  • Construction toy playsets have been provided in different forms for many decades. Earliest construction toy sets provided a plurality of elongated metal elements together with suitable fastening devices to form various apparatus and play structures. Other early construction toy playsets utilize various elongated elements having end pegs together with coupling elements formed of wood or similar material having plural peg receiving passages allowing the pegged elements to be assembled to form various structures and toy apparatus. Construction toy playsets provide substantial developmental activity for the child user and thus are very well received and appreciated by educators and parents. The challenge for providing construction toy sets which enjoy commercial success is the dual roll of entertainment and amusement on one hand and child developmental skills on the other. In order for the child user to maximize the developmental activity, the user must remain interested in and challenged by the toy playset. The amusement and entertainment aspects of the toy playset provide the primary motivation for use which leads to the desired developmental skills.
  • gear drive or gear coupling apparatus for moving the structure fabricated using construction toy set elements.
  • gear drive or gear coupling apparatus is intended to be used with a variety of construction toy sets.
  • one of the challenges presented to designers is the provision of flexibility to meet the user's creativity in arranging the construction toy set elements into various configurations.
  • the appeal of the construction toy set is substantially improved when the fabricated structure allows the gear mechanisms to be viewable during operation.
  • US Patent 5,069,647 issued to Zuviria sets forth a SOLID RECTANGULAR BUILDING BLOCK FOR TOY BUILDING SET having a plurality of block structures defining plural ribs and grooves allowing the blocks to interlock. Additional elements may be secured to the blocks such as wheel shafts or the like to enhance flexibility.
  • US Patent 5,310,376 issued to Mayuzumi , et al. sets forth a TOY THAT CAN BE ASSEMBLED INDEPENDENTLY BY A CHILD having a planar base member defining a plurality of peg receiving holes therein together with a plurality of coupling elements supporting plural outwardly extending pegs. Elongated flexible elements are interlockably received upon the coupling elements allowing various structures to be fabricated.
  • US Patent 4,764,143 issued to Gat, et al. sets forth ASSEMBLY TOYS FOR JOINING CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS having a plurality of devices for removably connecting a plurality of cylindrical objects.
  • Each device includes apparatus for interconnecting to other devices at a variety of angles and for securing a cylindrical object.
  • US Patent 5,046,982 issued to Erickson sets forth CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS having a plurality of relatively flat components each having at least three sides.
  • the apparatus further includes an elongated rod-like member extending along each side and in large corner portions between the members.
  • a plurality of connectors are provided for interconnecting adjacent sides of members to form structures.
  • apparatus for specialized assembly such as toy vehicles or the like.
  • US Patent 4,802,876 issued to Bertrand sets forth an AXLE STRUCTURE AND AXLE JOINT FOR CONSTRUCTION TOY ASSEMBLY having a base plate, an abutment plate normal to one edge of the base plate, a cross-shaped columnar connector perpendicular to the base plate and a cross-shaped shaft perpendicular to the abutment shape.
  • the shaft defines bulges at its free end and is attachable to the cross-shaped structure.
  • US Patent 5,071,384 issued to Poulsen sets forth a STEERING MECHANISM for use with toy building sets to assemble devices such as toy vehicles.
  • the mechanism includes rack means and a pinion cooperating therewith.
  • US Patent 4,690,656 issued to Friedman, et al. sets forth WHEEL AND WINCH ASSEMBLIES utilizing identical hubs and axles in a toy construction set.
  • a special block having a axle projecting therefrom is provided and a hub mechanism is receivable upon the shaft to support a resilient tire.
  • a gear system for use in a construction toy set, the gear system comprising: a plurality of gears, each capable of engagement with an additional one of the gears in either a quadrature or in-line relationship, each gear having a supporting rim and a plurality of gear teeth, each of the teeth having outer tapering edges and an outer straight edge portion; and means for supporting a plurality of the gears such that at least one of the gears engages another of the gears in a quadrature relationship while another of the gears engages one of the gears in an in-line relationship.
  • Figure 1 sets forth a side elevation view of a gear system for construction toy set constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 2 sets forth a partial section view of the present invention gear system taken along section lines 2-2 in Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 sets forth a partial section view of an exemplary gear used in the present invention gear system taken along section lines 3-3 in Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 sets forth a partial section view of a pair of engaged gear teeth depicting the engagement of the present invention gear system between orthogonal gears;
  • Figure 5 sets forth a partial section view showing engaging teeth of a pair of in-line gears used in the present invention gear system.
  • Figure 1 sets forth a side elevation view of an exemplary gear system for construction toy set fabricated in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 10.
  • Gear system 10 is shown supported by an arrangement of construction toy set elements fabricated in accordance with the above-described related application.
  • a plurality of couplers are snap-fit attachable to various other elements such as straight beam elements and angle elements to fabricate relatively complex structures.
  • each coupler defines a plurality of passages therethrough which function to support elongated cylindrical shafts for further flexibility and for greater structural variety in the fabrication of devices using the construction toy set.
  • gear system 10 includes a trio of gears 30, 40 and 50 engaged in a cooperating arrangement which illustrates the advantages of the present invention gear system.
  • gears 30, 40 and 50 are identical and that the coupling mechanism provided by the present invention gears facilitates both a perpendicular engagement similar to conventional bevel gears as well as an in-line engagement similar to conventional straight gears.
  • the capability of the gears within the present invention to engage both in quadrature and in-line relationships facilitates a variety of gear combinations without the need of providing dedicated bevel gear or in-line gear components.
  • gear system 10 a pair of couplers 14 and 17 are commonly joined to a beam element 16 in the snap-fit engagement described in the above-referenced application.
  • coupler 14 defines a passage 15 which receives shaft 25 in a rotatable attachment.
  • coupler 17 defines passage 18 which receives shaft 27 in a rotatable attachment.
  • Gears 40 and 50 are received upon shafts 25 and 27 respectively and rest against couplers 14 and 17 respectively.
  • a pair of tight fitting annular sleeves 26 and 28 are fitted upon shafts 25 and 27 to further secure gears 40 and 50.
  • Gear system 10 further includes an angle element 13 snap-fit attached to coupler 14 and supporting a further coupler 11 in a similar snap-fit attachment.
  • Coupler 11 defines a passage 12 which receives a groove shaft 20.
  • a gear 30 is received upon shaft 20 in a key engaging relationship better seen in Figure 2.
  • Gear 30 is supported upon shaft 20 by a keyed hub 31 and is positioned in quadrature engagement with gear 40.
  • a cylindrical sleeve 22 is snugly fitted upon shaft 20 to captivate gear 30 upon the shaft.
  • gears 30 and 40 In operation, rotational forces are transmitted between gears 30 and 40 in a quadrature arrangement similar to that provided by conventional bevel gears.
  • gears 40 and 50 are positioned in an inline arrangement such that rotational force is communicated between gears 40 and 50 similar to a conventional in-line gear relationship.
  • the structural support combination of couplers 11, 14 and 17 together with angle element 13 and beam element 16 is representative of a variety of structural element combinations of the type found in the above-described construction toy set.
  • gears such as gears 30, 40 and 50 would be supported within a complex structure fabricated using construction toy set elements.
  • Of importance to the present invention is the capability of the bevel and straight gear engaging gear of the present invention as illustrated by gears 30, 40 and 50 to provide either straight line or quadrature engagement interchangably without resorting to bevel gear or straight gear elements.
  • Figure 2 sets forth a section view of gear system 10 taken along section lines 2-2 in Figure 1.
  • Figure 2 shows gear 30 supported upon hub 31 which in turn defines aperture 32 and gear element 33.
  • Shaft 20 is correspondingly shaped and defines a groove 21 allowing shaft 20 to be inserted through aperture 32 such that groove 21 receives and engages key 33 of hub 31.
  • key may utilize either a keyed aperture such as that shown for key 30 or, alternatively, a conventional cylindrical bore such as that shown in dashed-line representation which facilitates use of a conventional nongrooved shaft.
  • gears 40 and 50 are identical to gear 30 and thus provide identical teeth configuration as set forth below which facilitate the alternative engaging relationships of quadrature or in-line engagement.
  • gears 30, 40 and 50 will be understood to be fabricatable using either a keyed aperture as shown for illustration in Figure 2 for gear 30 or, alternatively, a cylindrical aperture therethrough as shown in dashed-line in Figure 2.
  • Figure 3 sets forth an exemplary gear tooth constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 60.
  • Gear tooth 60 is presented for illustration of the various pluralities of gear teeth formed on the present invention gears within the inventive gear system such as gears 30, 40 and 50 set forth above in Figure 1. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the plurality of gear teeth provided on the gears within the present invention system are substantially identical to gear tooth 60 and thus the description thereof will be understood to apply equally well to the teeth found on each of the gears within the present invention system.
  • gear tooth 60 is shown supported upon a support web 36 which will be understood to extend inwardly to a supporting member such as a gear hub (see for example hub 31 of gear 30 in Figure 1) .
  • a supporting member such as a gear hub (see for example hub 31 of gear 30 in Figure 1) .
  • each of the surfaces of each tooth within the gears of the present invention system is angled to provide a tapered gear.
  • tooth 34 defines angled surfaces
  • tooth 60 defines parallel sides 62 and 63 and angled edges 64 and 65. Edges 64 and 65 taper inwardly and terminate at a straight edge portion 66. The provision of inwardly tapering edges 64 and 65 together with outer straight edge portion 66 result in a trapezoidal tooth profile which is an important aspect of the present invention. As is set forth below in Figures 4 and 5, the combination of angled edges 64 and 65 together with angled surfaces 68 and 69 of rim 60 facilitates the alternative engagement of the gears within the present invention system.
  • Figure 4 sets forth partial section views of gears 30 and 40 in a quadrature engagement while Figure 5 sets forth a partial section view of gears 30 and 40 in an in-line engagement. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art by comparing Figures 4 and 5 that the identical gear pair may, in accordance with the present invention, be engaged in either a quadrature or in-line relationship.
  • Figure 4 sets forth partial section views of gears 30 and 40 in a quadrature arrangement showing a pair of gear teeth 34 and 42.
  • Gear 30 defines a supporting web 39 terminating in a rim 70.
  • Rim 70 defines angled surfaces 71 and 72 and supports gear tooth 34.
  • Gear tooth 34 defines parallel sides 73 and 74 and inwardly angled edges 75 and 76.
  • a straight portion 77 is formed between the outer portions of edges 75 and 76.
  • gear 40 includes a supported web 43 terminating in rim 44 which defines angled surfaces 45 and 46.
  • Gear 40 defines a gear tooth 42 having parallel sides 47 and 48 and angled edges 55 and 56. Edges 55 and 56 meet at an outer straight edge 49.
  • gears 30 and 40 are shown in Figure 4 to have teeth 34 and 42 engaged in a quadrature engagement.
  • angled edges such as edges 75 and 76 of gear tooth 34 and edges 55 and 56 of gear tooth 42 are shown to provide for a quadrature engagement similar to the action provided by conventional bevel gears.
  • a substantial distance is provided between angled edges such as edges 55 and 56 of the gear tooth and angled surfaces such as surfaces 45 and 46 of rim 44. This distance facilitates a substantial variation in the spatial relationship between quadrature engaging gears and thus provides a substantial tolerance in gear positioning.
  • Figure 5 sets forth gears 30 and 40 in a straight line or in-line engaging relationship illustrating gear tooth 34 of wheel 30 and gear tooth 42 of wheel 40 engaging in a straight line engagement. More specifically, Figure 5 sets forth gear 30 having a supporting web 39 terminating in a rim 70. Rim 70 defines angled surfaces 71 and 72 and supports gear tooth 34. Gear tooth 34 defines parallel sides 73 and 74 and inwardly angled edges 75 and 76. A straight portion 77 is formed between the outer portions of edges 75 and 76. Similarly, gear 40 includes a supported web 43 terminating in rim 44 which defines angled surfaces 45 and 46. Gear 40 defines a gear tooth 42 having parallel sides 47 and 48 and angled edges 55 and 56. Edges 55 and 56 meet at an outer straight edge 49.
  • gears 30 and 40 which are capable of quadrature engagement as shown in Figure 4 are also capable of in-line engagement as shown by Figure 5.
  • each gear tooth such as angled surfaces 37 and 38 of gear tooth 34 seen in Figure 2
  • a single common gear structure is capable of either quadrature or in-line engagement and provides great flexibility and maintains a lower cost and a lower part count for a construction toy set.

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  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

Dans cette invention, plusieurs engrenages (30, 40, 50) sont placés en support rotatif sur un cadre fabriqué à partir d'éléments de jeu de construction à assemblage par déclic interverrouillables (16, 17). Plusieurs éléments d'arbres (25, 27) sont logés dans le cadre de support et plusieurs engrenages correspondants sont logés et soutenus dans les arbres. Chaque engrenage de ce système d'engrenages est sensiblement identique et forme une structure de dents d'engrenage (40) qui permet l'engrènement des engrenages selon une relation en quadrature ou en ligne. Dans le mode de réalisation illustré, une paire d'engrenages s'engrène selon une relation en ligne, tandis qu'un troisième engrenage s'engrène selon une relation en quadrature.
PCT/US1998/001165 1997-02-10 1998-01-20 Systeme d'engrenages pour jeu de construction WO1998034705A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU60349/98A AU6034998A (en) 1997-02-10 1998-01-20 Gear system for construction toy set

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US79905197A 1997-02-10 1997-02-10
US08/799,051 1997-02-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998034705A1 true WO1998034705A1 (fr) 1998-08-13

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1998/001165 WO1998034705A1 (fr) 1997-02-10 1998-01-20 Systeme d'engrenages pour jeu de construction

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU6034998A (fr)
WO (1) WO1998034705A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2994154A (en) * 1957-07-18 1961-08-01 Eugene S Mccaa Mechanical toys
US3486269A (en) * 1965-04-26 1969-12-30 Artur Fischer Rotary element
DE2729308A1 (de) * 1976-07-01 1978-01-05 Lego As Zahnrad fuer spielzeugbausaetze
EP0104716A1 (fr) * 1982-09-28 1984-04-04 Weng-Pin Lin Jouet modulaire

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2994154A (en) * 1957-07-18 1961-08-01 Eugene S Mccaa Mechanical toys
US3486269A (en) * 1965-04-26 1969-12-30 Artur Fischer Rotary element
DE2729308A1 (de) * 1976-07-01 1978-01-05 Lego As Zahnrad fuer spielzeugbausaetze
EP0104716A1 (fr) * 1982-09-28 1984-04-04 Weng-Pin Lin Jouet modulaire

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
"EXCERPTS FROM LEGO EXPERT BUILDER CATALOG (SETS #952, #948, #956, #954, #960, #961), PRINTED 1978.", LEGO EXPERT BUILDER CATALOG, XX, XX, 1 January 1978 (1978-01-01), XX, pages COMPLETE 04., XP002912275 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6034998A (en) 1998-08-26

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