ASSEMBLY KIT FOR TOY OR THE LIKE

Abstract: An assembly kit (43,44,52) for toy or the like comprises a plurality of rod elements (1), each having a pair of half portions (1a) and fasteners (3) for fixing together the half portions (1a), the half portions (1a) having ends in the axial direction and first and second recessed portions (17,18,19) on the ends respectively, the first recessed portions (17) being formed in semi-­ arcuate configuration, and the second recessed portions (18,19) being smaller in diameter than the first recessed portions (17) and extending axially outward from the first recessed portions (17), a plurality of bolts (4) having head portions (5) and shank portions (6) connected to the head portions (5), the head portions (5) being formed in a disk shape to respectively fit into the first recessed portions (17) and the shank portions (6) being respectively provided with external threads (7) at front end of the shank portion (6) to fit in the second recessed portion (18,19), and a plurality of connecting elements (2) forming spheres in general being provided with a plurality of internal threads (8) with which the bolts (4) are engaged.

Description: This invention relates to an assembly kit for constructing a framework or the like and, more particularly, to an assembly kit suitable for use as a toy. A typical prior art disclosure of the sort is found in Japanese Publication of Unexamined Patent Applica­ tion No. 55-14396. Such assembly kit includes a plurality of hollow tubes having a linear axis, and joints having juncture portions into which the tubes are fitted at their ends for connection and which are sterically provided in L-­ shape, T-shape, and tridimensional patterns. With such prior art assembly kit, one difficulty is that there must be joints having various different structural configurations in order to meet the needs for changes in assembly configuration, which naturally means a larger number of parts required. Assembly kits of the type are often used as toys for younger children in general households, in which case comparatively frequent changes are required in assembly configuration. Indeed, the procurement of various different joints for such purpose requires con­ siderable costs to be borne by toy users. Another difficulty with the prior art is that when assembling a cube, for example, by using tubes and joints, or disassembling the cube, fitting the ends of one tube into juncture portions of some joints or pulling the tube ends out from the juncture portions may exert some unreasonable force on the other tubes and joints, thus causing some strain to them. Furthermore, such assembling and disassembling require considerable force and involve some handling difficulty to those who are not experienced in such work. A further difficulty with the prior art assembly kit is that the tube and joint elements of the kit are comparatively complicated in configuration because they are to be fixedly connected together, with the tubes fitted at their ends into corresponding juncture portions of the joints, which fact means complicated assembling and disas­ sembling work and poor productivity. In order to overcome aforesaid difficulties, therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved assembly kit for toy use. It is another object of the invention to provide an assembly kit for toy use which has a reduced number of parts and which is easy to assemble and disassemble, with no much labor required in such work. In accomplishing the above objects, an assembly kit for toy or the like according to an aspect of the inven­ tion comprises a plurality of rod elements, each having a pair of half portions and fasteners for fixing together the half portions, the half portions having ends in the axial direction and first and second recessed portions on the ends respectively, the first recessed portions being formed in semi-arcuate configuration, and the second recessed portions being smaller in diameter than the first recessed portions and extending axially outward from the first recessed por­ tions, a plurality of bolts having head portions and shank portions connected to the head portions, the head portions being formed in a disk shape to respectively fit into the first recessed portions and the shank portions being respec­ tively provided with external threads at front end of the shank portion to fit in the second recessed portion, and a plurality of connecting elements forming spheres in general being provided with a plurality of internal threads with which the bolts are engaged. In a preferred embodiment, the pair of half por­ tions are formed respectively in identical configuration. In another preferred embodiment, a total of six internal threads are formed in the connecting elements, having axes on three straight lines which are perpendicular to one another. According to this invention, as assembly kit com­ prises half-parted rod elements, bolts, and spherical con­ necting elements; therefore, it is unnecessary to provide a large variety of parts, which fact means simplified con­ struction and improved productivity. Especially where the assembly kit is a toy, this also means reduced cost to general household users and it is thus expected that the invention will be widely reduced to practice. Rod elements each is such that one pair of half portions is jointed by fasteners; therefore, when assembling the assembly kit into a cube, for example, or disassembling such cube, each rod element is separated into two half portions by loosening the fasteners, so that connecting and disconnecting may be easily carried out through the fasten­ ers or bolts by which the rod element is in screw engagement with connecting elements. Therefore, no much laborious force is required when constructing a cube or the like, it being thus easy to perform assembling and disassembling work. As such, the assembly kit in accordance with the invention permits unskilled persons to perform such assem­ bling and disassembling work without difficulty. According to the invention, a disc-shaped head of a bolt fits in a first recessed portion of a semi-arcuate configuration formed in each half portion of each rod ele­ ment and a shank portion of the bolt fits in a second reces­ sed portion which is smaller in diameter than the first recessed portion, so that the bolt head is securely held in the rod element. Thus, connecting the rod element to another rod element may be easily performed through a con­ necting element. This, coupled with the fact that the assembly kit is simple in construction as a whole, leads to improved productivity. These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the follow­ ing detailed specification and drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodi­ ment of the invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view in perspective showing one rod element; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a bolt threadedly engaged with a connecting element; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the connect­ ing element and the bolt when separated from each other; Fig. 5 is a front view of the connecting element; Fig. 6 is a side view of the bolt; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the bolt; Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a half portion; Fig. 9 is a side view of the half portion; Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the half portion; Fig. 11 is a section taken along the line XI-XI in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a section taken along the line XII-XII in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a section taken along the line XIII-­ XIII in Fig. 11; Fig. 14 is a section taken along the line XIV-XIV in Fig. 11; Fig. 15 is a plan view showing half portions coupled together by the bolt; Fig. 16 is a side view of construction in Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a side view showing the coupled con­ figuration in Figs. 15 and 16; Fig. 18 is a side view showing a bolt; Fig. 19 is a front view of the bolt; Fig. 20 is a perspective view showing an assembly according to the invention; Fig. 21 is a perspective view showing another form of assembly according to the invention; Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing further form of assembly according to the invention; Fig. 23 is a perspective view of plate elements shown in Fig 22; Fig. 24 is a section showing a plate element threadly engaged with a rod element; Fig. 25 is an exploded view in perspective show­ ing another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 26 is a plan view of a connecting element; Fig. 27 is a plan view of a bolt; Fig. 28 is a longitudinal section of the bolt shown in Fig. 27; Fig. 29 is a plan view of a bolt; Fig. 30 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bolt shown in Fig. 29; Fig. 31 is a front view of a clamping device; Fig. 32 is a side view of the clamping device shown in Fig. 31; Fig. 33 is a plan view of the clamping device shown in Fig. 31; Fig. 34 is a bottom view of a plate element; Fig. 35 is a plan view showing the plate element when fixed to a rod member; Fig. 36 is a section taken along the line A-A in Fig. 35; Fig. 37 is a bottom view of another form of a plate element corresponding to Fig. 34 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 38 is a section showing the plate element when fixed to a rod member. Referring now to the drawings, preferred embodi­ ments of the invention are described below. Fig.1 is a perspective view showing one embodi­ ment of the invention. A generally spherical connecting elements 2 are mounted to each axial end of a rod element 1. Another rod element 1 is connected to the rod element 1 through the connecting elements 2. A toy assembly or the like is constructed in this way. Fig. 2 is an exploded view in perspective showing one rod element 1. The rod element 1 consists of a pair of half portions 1a of identical construction coupled in face to face relation. These half portions 1a are fixed together by bolts 3 as a fastener (see Fig. 1). Fig. 3 is perspective view showing a connecting element 2 and a bolt 4 threadedly engaged therewith. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the connecting element 2 and the bolt 4 as they appear when separated from each other. The bolt 4 has a disk-shaped head 5 and a shank 6 fixed at its base to the head 5. The shank 6 is provided with an external thread 7 at its front end. The connecting element 2 has a plurality of internal threads 8 formed therein. One of the internal threads 8 is engaged by the external thread 7. Fig. 5 is a front view of the connecting element 2. A total of six internal threads are formed in the connecting element 2, and the axes of these internal threads 8 are either on straight lines or perpendicular to one another. Fig. 6 is side view of the bolt 4 and Fig. 7 is a plan view thereof. On the outer periphery of the head 5 there is formed a series of knurls 9 extending along the axis thereof which facilitates manual rotation. An outer peripheral edge 10 of the external thread 7 formed on the front end portion of the shank 6 is tapered and truncated-­ cone shaped, which prevents possible injury during the handling of the kit and facilitates screwing the external screw 7 into one of the internal threads 8. Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a half portion 1a of a rod element 1. Fig. 9 is a side view of the half portion 1a. Fig. 10 is a bottom view thereof. Fig. 11 is a section taken along the line XI-XI in Fig. 10. Referring to these views, the half portion 1a has an outer periphery of a semi-arcuate configuration, and at both ends thereof in the longitudinal direction there are formed taperedly curved portions 11. A first recessed portions 17 are defined by a peripheral wall 14, an axially inwardly located walls 15a and 15b, and an axially outwardly located walls 16, of the half portion 1a. The first recessed portions 17 are coaxial with the rod element 1, and are configured semi-arcuate, being of uniform radius in the axial direction. Second recessed portions 18, 19, each having a smaller diameter than the first recessed portions 17, are respectively formed in the walls 16 and an end walls 12. The head 5 of the bolt 4 closely fits in the first recessed portion 17. With the head 5 so held in position, the shank 6 of the bolt 4 fits in the second recessed portions 18, 19. The axes of the second recessed portions are coincident with the axis of the rod element 1. A barrel portion 21 having an internal thread 20 formed therein is provided axially inwardly of one wall 15a of the half portion 1a. An upwardly protruding annular ledge 22 is formed on the end of the barrel portion 21. Walls 23, 24, 25, 26 and an axially extending wall 27 are formed in the half portion 1a. A positioning recess 28 is formed at an intersection between the walls 25 and 27. A barrel portion 30 defining a through hole 29 is provided axially inwardly of the other wall 15b of the half portion 1a. At an intersection between the walls 26 and 27 there is formed a positioning protrusion 31. A notch 32 correspond­ ing to the annular ledge 22 is formed on the end of the barrel portion 30 defining the through-hole 29. The protrusion 31 corresponds to the recess 28. Fig. 12 is a section taken along the line XII-XII in Fig. 11. The spiral ridges of the internal thread formed in the barrel 21 ha a comparatively large width in the axial direction of the thread 20 (in the vertical direction in Fig. 12), which fact contributes toward improved strength and reduced number of turns required in screwing the bolt 3 and facilitates assembling and disassembling. Fig. 13 is a section taken along the line XIII-­ XIII in Fig. 11. The walls 25, 27 continue to the periph­ eral wall 14, which fact contributes toward increased strength of the half portion 1a, and accordingly of the rod element 1. Fig. 14 is a section taken along the line XIV-XIV in Fig. 11. A recess 33 is formed in a connecting zone between the barrel portion 30 and the peripheral wall 14. The head 34 of the bolt 3 shown in Fig. 1 fits into the recess 33. The external thread 36 formed on the shank 35 of the bolt 3 engages the internal thread 20 of the other half portion 1a. Fig. 15 is a plan view showing a pair of half portions 1a coupled together by bolt 3. Fig. 16 is a side view thereof. Fig. 17 is a right end view in side elevation showing the coupled configuration in Figs. 15 and 16. The external thread formed on the shank 35 of the bolt 3 extends through the through-hole 29 of one half portion 1a and engages the internal thread 20 of the other half portion 1a. With the shank 35 held in that position, the head 34 of the bolt 3 never does protrude radially outwardly of the outer periphery of the half portion 1a. The head 34 of the bolt 3 seats on the bottom 33a of the recess 33. A cross-shaped arcuate depression 34a is formed on the bolt head 34. There­ fore, the bolt 3 can be tightened or unscrewed with a coin. A slight notch 37 is formed on both longitudinal side edges of the half portion 1a. The presence of such notch 37 prevents possible injury during manual handling of the half portions 1a. No notch 37 is present on the curved portion 11 at either end of the half portion 1a. The peripheral surface of the end wall 12 of the half portion 1a forms an arcuate surface 38 running along the outer periphery of the connecting element 2. Thus, the arcuate surface 38 may be brought into closed surface contact with the outer periphery of the connecting element 2, which fact ensures firm connection between the rod element 1 and the connecting element 2 and prevents loose connection. As shown in Fig. 10, each half portion 1a is configured generally symmetrically relative to a symmetrical plane perpendicular to kits axis at a median location thereof, and the internal thread 20 and the through-hole 29 are equispaced from the symmetrical plane 39, the recess 28 and protrusion 31 being also equispaced from the symmetrical plane 39. In this way, each rod element 1 is comprised of a pair of half portions 1a having an identical configuration, which fact means simplified construction and reduced number of parts. Furthermore this means that only one set of mold is required in the fabrication of such rod element, which in turn means improved productivity. Fig. 18 is a side view showing a bolt 3. Fig. 19 is a front view of the bolt 3. The outer periphery 40 of head 34 of the bolt 3 is spherical. The front end outer peripheral edge 41 of the external thread 36 is of a tapered truncated cone shape, which fact ensures easy engagement of the external thread 36 with the internal thread 20 and eliminate the possibility of any personal injury being caused during the handling of the kit, thus assuring han­ dling safety. When the rod element 1, in its assembled condi­ tion, is seen from above, the head 34 of another bolt 3 is out of sight, which fact adds to the beauty of the kit. With the bolt 4 and the connecting element 2 fixed together, the bolt 4 and the rod element 1 are angularly displaceable about their axes and relative to each other. Therefore, with the rod element 1 and the connecting element 2 coupled together through the bolt 4, it is possible to assemble and disassemble the rod 1 with the bolt 3, which fact assures improved assembly work. Fig. 20 is a perspective view showing an assembly 43 constructed by using such rod elements 1, bolts 3, 4, and connecting elements 2 in plurality as shown in Figs. 1 to 19. After such assembly 43 is constructed, it is very easy to construct an assembly 44 shown in Fig. 21, according to the invention. In this case, it is possible to remove a rod element 45 of the assembly 43 in Fig. 20 by disassembling it into a pair of half portions by removing the corresponding bolt 3. Then, bolts 4 may be removed from connecting ele­ ments 46, 47 by rotating the bolts by finger. Bolts 4 are brought in thread engagement with connecting elements 48, 49 of the assembly 43, and then rod elements 50, 51 for the assembly 44 in Fig. 21 are fixed in position. Subsequent assembling work may be continued in similar manner in order to construct the assembly 44. During such assembling and disassembling work, no excessively laborious force is required; and no unreasonable force will be exerted on the rod elements 45, 50, 51 or any other rod element. Hence, all work involved may be very efficiently performed. Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing another form of assembly according to the invention. In this embodiment, plate elements 53 are used. As shown in Fig. 23, each plate element 53 has support pieces 54, which engage inner side periphery of rod elements 55 of the assembly as Fig. 24 shows. Rod elements 45, 50 51, 55 have a configuration similar to that of aforesaid rod element 1, and connecting elements 46, 47, 48, 49 have a configuration similar to that of the connecting element 2. In the earlier mentioned embodiment, the axis of the internal threads 8 in each connecting body 2 are either on same straight line or perpendicular to one another, but alternatively they may have such other angles as 35° and 45°. It is also possible that connecting ele­ ments 2 having different angles for the axes of the internal threads are differentiated in color from one another. Such differentiation may enable younger children to easily con­ struct an assembly in accordance with the invention. Further, differentiating bolt elements in color from bolts 3 add to the beauty of the assembly kit. Differentiating each pair of half portions 1a constituting a rod element 1 in color from one to the other will also add to the beauty of the kit. Fig. 25 is an exploded view in perspective showing another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 26 is a plan view of a connecting element 61. Fig. 27 is a plan view of a bolt 64. Fig. 28 is a longitudinal section of the bolt 64 shown in Fig. 27. Fig. 29 is a plan view of a bolt 65. Fig. 30 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the bolt 65 shown in Fig. 29. This embodiment is similar to the earlier described embodiment, with comparable portions given identi­ cal reference numerals. In this embodiment, the connecting element 61 has a configuration more convenient for molding purposes than the connecting element 2 in the earlier men­ tioned embodiment. A protrusion 62 formed on the wall 25 of a half portion 81a extends perpendicularly to the axis of the half portion 81a and is generally of a rectangular parallelepiped configuration, its both ends in the longitu­ dinal direction being chamfered. The wall 26 has recess 63 formed therein correspondingly to the protrusion 62. The protrusion 62 and the recess 63 are larger in size than the protrusion 31 and the recess 28 in the earlier embodiment. This ensures more accurate positioning and fitting in assem­ bling a pair of half portions 81a. Bolts 64, 65 have fitting holes 66, 67 respective­ ly formed therein which extend therethrough in the axial direction thereof. An axially perpendicular section of the fitting holes 66, 67 each is square. A clamping device 70 shown in Figs. 31 to 33 has a fitting portion 71 formed in a square rod shape, which fits in the fitting holes 66, 67. By holding and turning a handle portion 72 continued to the fitting portion 71 is it possible to clamp the bolts 64, 65 easily. Heads 64a, 65a of the bolts 64, 65 have depressions 64b, 65b formed thereon as in the case of the bolt 3 in the earlier mentioned embodiment, so that the bolts 64, 65 may be readily clamped by using a coin. Thus, working efficient­ cy may be improved by suitably using the clamping device. The fitting holes 66, 67 extend through the entire axial length of the bolts 64, 65 from the heads 64a, 65a to the front ends 64e, 65e of shanks 64d, 65d having external threads 64c, 65c formed thereon, and this prevents the possibility of windpipe choking in the event of accidental swallowing by an infant and thus assures improved safety. Fig. 34 is a bottom view of a plate element 75. Fig. 35 is a plan view showing the plate element 75 as it appears when fixed to a rod member 81. Fig. 36 is a section taken along the line A-A in Fig. 35. Mutually intersecting two reinforcement ribs 77, 78 are formed on the back of a sheet portion 76 of the plate element 75. A peripheral edge portion 80 having support pieces 79 formed thereon is provided around outer periphery of the sheet portion 76. The plate element 75 formed in this way is more durable than the plate element 53 in earlier embodiment, because it is reinforced, and is easy to remove. Support pieces 79 are formed in pair on each side, and therefore they are not likely to slippage in the event of external force being exerted in a direction perpendicular to the thicknesswise direction of the plate member 75 (in the direction parallel to the sheet surface of Fig. 34). Fig. 37 is a bottom view of another form of a plate element 85 corresponding to Fig. 34 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention and Fig. 38 is a section showing the plate element 85 when fixed to a rod member 86. Support pieces 87 are fixed to the rod element 86 in the condition affixed to outer surface of the rod element 86. Rib plate 88, 89 are mounted on the sheet portion 85. The assembly kit in accordance with the invention may be formed of synthetic resins. Not only may the assembly kit according to the invention be used as a toy, but also it may be worked in connection with shelves or the like. According to the invention, as above described, it is possible to accomplish a large variety of assembly configurations by using parts of identical construction, thereby minimizing the number of parts involved. Further, according to the invention, no much labor is required in assembling and disassembling work using the assembly kit of the invention, which naturally means improved working efficiency. Thus, the assembly kit according to the inven­ tion may be very widely in general households.

Claims: 1. An assembly kit (43,44,52) for toy or the like characterized by: a plurality of rod elements (1), each having a pair of half portions (1a) and fasteners (3) for fixing together the half portions (1a), the half portions (1a) having ends in the axial direction and first and second recessed portions (17,18,19) on the ends respectively, the first recessed portions (17) being formed in semi-­ arcuate configuration, and the second recessed portions (18,19) being smaller in diameter than the first recessed portions (17) and extending axially outward from the first recessed portions (17); a plurality of bolts (4) having head portions (5) and shank portions (6) connected to the head portions (5), the head portions (5) being formed in a disk shape to respectively fit into the first recessed portions (17) and the shank portions (6) being respectively provided with external threads (7) at front end of the shank portion (6) to fit in the second recessed portion (18,19); and a plurality of connecting elements (2) forming spheres in general being provided with a plurality of internal threads (8) with which the bolts (4) are engaged. 2. An assembly kit as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the pair of half portions (la) are formed respectively in identical configuration. 3. An assembly kit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 characterized in that a total of six internal threads (8) are formed in the connecting elements (2), having axes on three straight lines which are perpendicular to one another.

Inventors: YOSHIDA, TAKAHARU
Applicants: ABERO LABORATORY INC.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A63H33
IPC codes: E04B1, F16B35, A63H33, F16B12