A COUPLING ELEMENT FOR A CONSTRUCTIONAL BUILDING SET

Abstract: A coupling element for releasable retention of an end of an elongate pull element has a cavity to receive said end. The pull element is formed with a constriction and the coupling element with a corresponding cavity. The pull element may be inserted unobstructedly and subsequently be locked by moving a movable portion, e.g. in the form of a hinged portion, into a locking position in which, in combination with the cavity, it establishes releasable locking of the pull element.

Description: A coupling element for a constructional building set The invention concerns coupling elements for elongate pull elements and is of the type defined in the introduc- tory portion of claim 1. The invention moreover concerns the use of such a coupling element as a terminating ele¬ ment and a connecting element, respectively, it being possible to secure an elongate pull element by means of the coupling element to other elements in the construc- tional building set or to other pull elements. The type of building elements forming the subject-matter of the invention is used in constructional building sets of a more complex nature. An example of such a building set is the one marketed under the trademark LEGO TECHNIC™. EP-A-560 851 discloses such a coupling element which receives elongate, flexible pull elements between opposed, resilient walls of the coupling element. The ac¬ tual mounting of the pull element takes place by moving it laterally into a keyhole-shaped cavity in which snap- locking is established when the pull element has passed two projections in parallel with its longitudinal direc¬ tion. However, a relatively great moment is required to pass these projections, and this is not expedient since the parts involved are relatively small and resilient. The corresponding principle is known from US 5 061 219, the flexible pull elements being here replaced by rigid, rod-shaped members. The object of the invention is to provide a coupling ele¬ ment of the type mentioned above, where the coupling ele¬ ment can be coupled with flexible, elongate pull ele¬ ments, without it being necessary to subject the pull elements to a great moment in the transverse direction in order to establish coupling. This object is achieved in that the coupling element is constructed as defined in the characterizing portion of claim 1, an end of the pull element being placed in the cavity in the coupling element, following which locking takes place in that a movable portion is moved to a closed position in which it contributes to retaining the pull element. The movable portion may advantageously be constructed as a hinged portion having a hinge axis in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pull element, since loads on the portion caused by pulls in the pull element can be dis¬ tributed evenly. The coupling element is expediently made integral with the hinged portion by plastics injection moulding, since the costs of manufacturing the element are hereby reduced. The hinged portion may then advanta¬ geously be formed with snap-locking means, so that, in its closed position, it is secured to the coupling ele- ment through the snap-locking means in its one side and by the hinge axis in its other side. As stated in claim 5, the projection may advantageously be provided on the movable portion in a U-shaped channel, since the introduction of the pull element into the cav¬ ity thus takes place completely without resistance, the pull element being merely inserted until the end face abuts the bottom wall of the cavity. Then the U-shaped channel on the movable portion guides the pull element into position during closing, and retains it subsequently when closing has been completed. This structure is par¬ ticularly expedient if the pull element is introduced axially through an opening in the end of the coupling element, said opening being formed in that a bridge por- tion is provided in extension of the movable portion, said bridge portion serving as a support portion for the movable portion. The coupling element is used particularly expediently as a terminating element for a pull element, it being pro¬ vided with coupling means, in addition to the cavity with the hinged portion in its other end, for coupling with other building elements incorporated in the toy building set. These coupling means may e.g. be a cylindrical bush- ing having guide beads to receive a ball head, or merely a bushing to receive a cross-shaft or cross stub shaft. Further, the coupling element may be used as a connecting element between e.g. two pull elements, so that two pull elements can replace one longer pull element upon cou- pling. However, nothing prevents the coupling element from being incorporated in a hub structure where it forms the basis for a plurality of radially protruding pull elements. The invention will be explained more fully below in con¬ nection with preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawing, in which: fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a coupling ele- ment according to the invention used as a connecting ele¬ ment; fig. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a coupling element according to the invention; and fig. 3 is a sectional view of the locking principle of the embodiment shown in fig. 1 along the line III-III. Fig. 1 shows a pull element 1 having an annular constric- tion 2 near its one end. The pull element 1 as such is known per se in connection with constructional building sets and is marketed in such a set designated LEGO TECHNIC™. A coupling element 3 is formed with a cavity 5 to receive and secure one end of the pull element. The coupling element 3 is formed with a hinged portion 4 which is provided with an insert 6 having a U-shaped channel to surround the end of the pull element 1 upon closing of the hinged portion 4, for which reason the U- shaped channel of the insert 6 is formed with an annular projection 7 which cooperates with the constriction 2 on the pull element 1. The pull element 1 is coupled to the coupling element 3 by moving the end of the pull element 1 through an open¬ ing corresponding to the opening 15, which is shown in fig. 2, and which has an inside diameter corresponding to the cross-section of the pull element 1. During the in¬ sertion of the pull element 1, the channels 18 in each end of the cavity 5 serve as guides for the pull element 1. When the pull element 1 is in position, the hinged portion 6 is tipped around its hinge axis, whereby the insert 6 contacts the pull element 1 to secure the pull element until the hinged portion is again turned to its open position. With reference to fig. 3 it will be seen that the hinged portion 4 and the main body 8 of the coupling element 3 are integral, said part being connected through a film hinge or an integral hinge 12. The hinged portion 4 is maintained in a closed position by means of an angled wall portion 9, which is formed with snap-locking means 10 that engage complementary snap-locking means on the main body 8 in the locking position. It will moreover be seen that the angled wall portion 9 is made additionally flexible by means of a recess 13, so that even a very small force on the angled wall portion 9 in the direction of the arrow A causes the locking means 10, 11 to be dis- engaged, and enables the hinged portion 4 to be disen¬ gaged from the pull element 1. Fig. 1 shows that the coupling element is formed with a bridge connection which engages the hinged portion 4 in its locking position, so that it relieves the pull acting on the hinge 12 and the snap-locking means 10 of the hinged portion. A skilled person will moreover appreciate that the con¬ striction 2 and the projection 7 are selected with suita¬ bly inclined guide faces, so that a pull in the direction indicated by the arrow C on the pull element 1 causes the hinged portion 4 and the bottom wall 19 on the main body 8 of the coupling element to move away from each other in the direction indicated by the arrows B, whereby the re¬ silient walls of the coupling element prevent the parts from being destroyed by a too great pull. The parts will merely be separated without being subjected to permanent damage. It will be seen that the coupling element shown in fig. 1 is formed as a connecting element, since it connects the ends of two adjacent pull elements. To increase the use- fulness of the connecting element, it is moreover formed with coupling means 17 for coupling with other elements incorporated in the toy building set, and here it is a through hole with snap-locking beads for cooperation with a bushing, a cross-shaft or a cross stub shaft. Correspondingly, the coupling element shown in fig. 2 is formed as a terminating element, it being formed with coupling means 16 for coupling with other components in the toy building set. Thus, the pull element is termi- nated to e.g. a ball head which can be received and re¬ tained in the coupling means 16, which is in the form of a bushing having internal locking beads or locking pro¬ jections, and a bridge 16a which forms a bottom bearing for the ball head. It may also be said that the coupling element shown in fig. 1 constitutes a combined terminating and connecting element since it may serve both purposes. It is clear that the insert 6 with the U-shaped channel with an internal projection 7 can be formed in the bottom of the cavity 5, the pull element 1 being moved into the U-shaped channel by a lateral movement, which does not apply any considerable moment load, because the retention is subsequently established by means of the hinged por- tion. It is likewise clear that the film hinge may be provided attached to the bridge connection 14, and the hinge axis of the hinged portion 4 will then just extend trans- versely to the longitudinal direction of the pull element 1. Other embodiments are also conceivable in which the mov¬ able portion is slidable with respect to the main body of the coupling element, and where the pull element is re¬ ceived between two resilient walls on the main body, the resiliency of the walls being subsequently prevented by displacing the locking portion.

Claims: P a t e n t C l a i m s : 1. A coupling element for elongate pull elements ( 1 ) for a toy building set, said pull elements (1) being formed with an annular constriction (2) in the immediate vicin¬ ity of at least their one end, said coupling element (3) being formed with a cavity (5) to receive an end section of said pull element ( 1), said cavity ( 5) being formed with a projection (7) which, when engaged with said con- striction (2), at the end of the pull element (1), re¬ tains the pull element in the cavity (5), c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the coupling element (3) has a movable portion (4) with locking means ( 10) in the cavity ( 5) to secure it in a closed position in which it con- tributes, as part of the cavity (5), to retaining the pull element (1), while the pull element ( 1) is permitted to be released when the movable portion (4) assumes an open position. 2. A coupling element according to claim 1, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the movable portion (4) is hinged to the coupling element (3) via a hinge axis sub¬ stantially in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pull element. 3. A coupling element according to claim 2, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that it is made integral with said hinged portion (4) by plastics injection moulding. 4. A coupling element according to claims 2-3, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the hinged portion (4) has snap-locking means (10) in the side facing away from the hinge axis (12), and that the snap-locking means (10) of the portion cooperate with complementary snap-locking means (11) on the main body (8) of the coupling element. 5. A coupling element according to claims 1-4, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the projection (7) is pro¬ vided on the portion (4) in a U-shaped channel (6) ex¬ tending in the longitudinal direction of the pull ele- ment. 6. A coupling element according to claim 5, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the cavity (5) is formed with a bridge portion (14) in the inlet end of the pull element (1), said bridge portion (14) forming an opening for the pull element (1 ), said opening having an internal diameter corresponding to the cross-section of the pull element. 7. Use of a coupling element according to claims 1-6 as a terminating element (fig. 1; fig. 2) for a pull element (1) in a constructional building set, it being formed with coupling means (16; 17) for coupling with other building elements in the constructional building set. 8. Use of a coupling element according to claims 1-6 as a connecting element (fig. 1) for two or more pull ele¬ ments ( 1 ) , it being formed with two or more cavities to receive pull elements ( 1 ) .

Inventors: HATTING JAN, POULSEN OLE VESTERGAARD, HATTING, JAN, POULSEN, OLE, VESTERGAARD
Applicants: HATTING JAN, INTERLEGO AG, LEGO AS, POULSEN OLE VESTERGAARD, HATTING, JAN, LEGO A/S, POULSEN, OLE, VESTERGAARD
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A63H33
IPC codes: A63H33