BUILDING BLOCKS FOR TOY CONSTRUCTION FASTENING ASSEMBLY
A connecting block including at least one socket for receiving and releasably engaging an elementary rod is provided. The socket includes at least one spline disposed about the socket opening. The rod is forced into the socket such that it deforms around the one or more splines to accommodate the splines and that the rod is rotationally prevented with respect to the socket. A stopper including a channel for receiving and releasably engaging an elementary rod is further provided. The channel includes a ridge disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the channel. The rod is forced into the channel such that it deforms around the ridge to accommodate the ridge and that the rod is prevented from sliding with respect to the channel.
1. The Field of the Invention The present invention is directed generally to a fastening assembly and more particularly to a releasably engaged fastening assembly using snap-on components.
2. Background Art
Fabricated blocks or parts have been in existence for many years, and their manufacturing techniques have remained fairly consistent over the past 80 years. Among the most prominent and widely used fabricated blocks include construction sets marketed under the tradename LEGO®, The Lego Group (Billund, Denmark), including its various brands and tradenames such as DUPLO, BIONICLE, MINDSTORMS, the BELVILLE, KNIGHTS' KINGDOM and EXO-FORCE, the Brick and Knob configurations and the Minifigure. In the LEGO proprietary toys units, wheels, gears, blocks, axle pins, stop bushings are designed to be compression fitted. Lego's axle pins are provided with rigid splines disposed on their curved surfaces and configured to be received by one or more sockets on one or more blocks, wheels and/or gears. The sockets typically include various rigid matching splines that do not experience substantial change in size or shape when axle pins are mounted. However, the current designs have limitations, such as, for example, that the axle pins are fabricated in various fixed lengths. Further, there is a limited number of axle pin lengths which may be feasibly produced. Therefore, there arises a need for user-configurable assemblies which provide added flexibility in the design or construction of an assembly, in particular, varying sizes of axle pin lengths.
Further, the seemingly ubiquitous toy construction sets TINKERTOY® marketed by Hasbro, Inc include connecting blocks and rods that are compression fitted. As will be demonstrated elsewhere in this document, each interface between a connecting block and a rod lacks positive securement, thereby allowing the interface to be easily overcome by mere over torquing or pulling of the rod against a socket of the connecting block.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,782 discloses a plurality of connector blocks and connecting members. Each connector block is formed to have a body portion defining a plurality of sides that extend outwardly from a central region. Each side is substantially cross-shaped and has a substantially cross-shaped receiving slot. A plurality of elongated connecting members are also provided for releasable engagement within the receiving slots of the connector units. This patent discloses connecting members that are specially engineered to result in a substantially cross-shaped or planar profile. Further, the connecting members may only be mated to the connector units having cross-shaped receiving slots. As such, the prior art only works with purpose built connecting members.
Thus, there arises a need for a fastening assembly that is versatile, simple to manufacture, low cost to produce and comprises a component that can be engaged with a non-proprietary or purpose-built component part, a more commonly available material to create a releasably engaged assembly and allow a user to vary the dimensions of the component parts of an assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed toward a fastening assembly for constructing a releasably engaged structure. The assembly includes a plurality of connecting blocks. Each connecting block includes at least one circular socket having an internal wall, a central axis and at least one spline. Each spline includes a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross-sectional area. In one embodiment, the circular socket is disposed with its central axis substantially normal to the surface of the connecting block on which it is disposed. The spline is disposed on the internal wall with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the central axis of the circular socket. The circular socket is configured to be coupled to a cylindrical deformable rod having a central axis and two opposing ends. In use, one deformable end is forced into the circular socket such that the deformable end deforms to accommodate the spline by forming a groove. In its inserted state, the cylindrical deformable rod is disposed substantially coaxial with the circular socket and rotational relationship between the circular socket and the cylindrical deformable rod is prevented.
The spline is configured to be removable using a reamer. Upon removing the spline, the circular socket is a mere circular through hole which is able to receive a cylindrical deformable rod and allow it to rotate freely within the socket.
The assembly further includes a stopper having a channel, a thumb hold and a ridge, wherein the channel is defined by a lengthwise portion of a cylinder and includes a central axis. The ridge is disposed along an arc in a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the channel. The thumb hold is opposingly disposed from the channel and used as a leverage to facilitate the removal of an installed rod from a channel.
Similar to a connecting block, the stopper is also configured to be coupled to a cylindrical deformable rod. In use, the cylindrical deformable rod is forced into the channel such that the central axis of the cylindrical deformable rod is substantially parallel to the central axis of the channel and the cylindrical deformable rod deforms to form a groove to accommodate the ridge. In its inserted state, the cylindrical deformable rod is disposed substantially coaxial with the channel and sliding relationship between the channel and the cylindrical deformable rod is prevented.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide connecting blocks that cooperate with elementary rods to create a releasably engaged assembly.
It is another object of the present invention to provide stoppers that cooperate with elementary rods to create a releasably engaged assembly.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide connecting blocks which can be used both to releasably engage a rod in its unmodified form and also ones that can be used to support rotating rods with minor modification.
Whereas there may be many embodiments of the present invention, each embodiment may meet one or more of the foregoing recited objects in any combination. It is not intended that each embodiment will necessarily meet each objective. Thus, having broadly outlined the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated, there are, of course, additional features of the present invention that will be described herein and will form a part of the subject matter of this specification.
In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and objects of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
The drawings are not to scale, in fact, some aspects have been emphasized for a better illustration and understanding of the written description.
PARTS LIST
- 2—connecting block
- 3—socket opening
- 4—socket
- 5—internal wall of socket
- 6—relief
- 7—central axis of socket
- 8—spline
- 9—transverse cross-sectional area of spline
- 10—rod
- 12—reamer
- 14—spline cutter
- 16—handle
- 18—deformable rod end
- 20—fitted rod end
- 22—gear
- 24—alternate connecting block
- 26—pointed profiled spline
- 28—polygonal profiled spline
- 30—aslant profiled spline
- 32—reamed socket
- 34—drill bit
- 36—stopper
- 38—installation guide
- 40—channel
- 41—diameter of channel
- 42—ridge
- 43—height of ridge
- 44—direction in seating a rod to stopper
- 46—impression or groove made in rod due to seating of rod to socket
- 48—impression or groove made in rod due to seating of rod to stopper
- 50—thumb hold
- 52—force as applied using a thumb
- 54—force as applied using a finger
- 56—bevel angle of socket opening
- 58—prior art rod
- 60—prior art connecting block
- 62—socket of prior art connecting block
- 64—rod end of prior art connecting block
The present fastening assembly enables the use of stock or elementary rods for constructing toys. Rather than being premanufactured to specified lengths, stock rods are simply cut to desired lengths by users during use to suit particular purposes. This provides a manufacturing advantage in that the stock rods may be provided at a lower cost due to a fewer number of steps required to construct such rods where the stock rods are merely machined into feature deficient rods. Further, a user of the present invention need not be concerned with stocking rods of various fixed lengths to anticipate potential usage, thereby reducing the cost associated with storage or logistics management of the rods. In one preferred embodiment, the rods are constructed from a natural wood material which is biodegradable and recyclable as compared to plastic or metal materials which are traditionally used for such rods.
The present invention enables versatile positioning of a socket along the length of a rod. A connecting block is forced to slide along the length of the rod to a desired position. In contrast to prior art rods whose end portions are configured to interface with sockets, the present rods and sockets are designed to allow sockets to be installed at a position farther removed from a rod end. As a result of such versatility, a more sophisticated structure can be built with the present rods and connecting blocks which otherwise requires purpose built building blocks, rods or other interfaces.
Sockets having tapered through holes that are commonly used to temporarily secure rods. In contrast, by disposing a plurality of splines within a socket having an opening with a final usable diameter, the required force to enable rod rotation in the socket of the present invention is significantly less than the amount of force required of sockets having tapered through holes due to the availability of the opening already having the final usable diameter. Further, a rod can be positively secured against rotation within the spline equipped socket of the present invention. In the case of a tapered through hole, slight relative axial movement between the socket and the rod causes the socket-rod engagement to fail.
Each socket opening is configured to incline inwardly toward the center of the socket. Such incline serves as a guide to focus or center the effort of inserting a rod in the socket, thereby eliminating wasted effort due to misalignment of the rod against the socket.
The requirement for a precise rod end is relaxed with the use of splines. Unlike tapered sockets, the relatively large difference between the diameter of a rod and the diameter of a socket relaxes the requirement for rods or sockets of precise dimensions, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and wastes.
The sockets of the present invention are designed to be dual-use. The connecting blocks can be used both to releasably engage a rod in its unmodified form. The connecting blocks can also be used to support one or more rotating rods with minor modification to their sockets. The target socket clearance for receiving and supporting a rod is achievable by mere removal of splines from each socket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENTThe use of splines 8 is not limited to the pattern shown in
As another example of the use of a reamer,
The applicant discovered various factors affecting the performance of the stopper 36. As the transverse cross-sectional area of the ridge 42 is increased, the ridge 42 becomes more able in preventing sliding of the rod 10 with respect to the channel 40. As the diameter of the channel 40 increases, the ridge 42 becomes less able in preventing sliding of the rod 10 with respect to the channel. As the height 43 of the ridge 42 increases, the ridge 42 becomes more able in preventing sliding of the rod with respect to the channel. Preferably, the ratio of the height ̂2 (square of height 43) of ridge to the transverse cross-sectional area of the ridge ranges from 0.66 to 8.
Claims
1. A fastening assembly for preventing rotational movement of a first component with respect to a second component of said fastening assembly, wherein:
- (a) said second component comprises a cylindrical deformable rod having a transverse cross-sectional area and two opposing ends, and
- (b) said first component comprises a circular socket i. having an internal wall, an opening and at least one spline having a transverse cross-sectional area, wherein said at least one spline is disposed about said internal wall, and ii. is configured to receive one of said two opposing ends by force to cause said one of said two opposing ends to deform and to conform to the shape of said at least one spline to prevent rotational movement of said first component relative to said second component.
2. The fastening assembly of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a transverse cross-sectional area of said at least one spline to a transverse cross-sectional area of said cylindrical deformable rod ranges from about 0.035 to 0.51.
3. A fastening assembly for preventing sliding movement of a first component with respect to a second component of said assembly, said assembly comprising:
- (a) said first component comprising a cylindrical deformable rod having a first central axis; and
- (b) said second component comprising i. at least one stopper having a channel including a length, a diameter and a central axis, ii. a thumb hold, and iii. at least one ridge having a transverse cross-sectional area, wherein said channel is defined by a lengthwise portion of a cylinder, and said at least one ridge is disposed along an arc in a plane substantially perpendicular to said central axis of said channel, and said thumb hold is opposingly disposed from said channel,
- wherein said cylindrical deformable rod is forced into said channel such that said channel is substantially coaxial with said cylindrical deformable rod and said cylindrical deformable rod deforms to conform to the shape of said at least one ridge to prevent rotational movement of said first component relative to said second component and said thumb hold is used as leverage to release said first component from said second component.
4. A fastening device for engaging at least one cylindrical deformable rod having a central axis, a first diameter and two opposing ends, said fastening device comprising:
- a connecting block comprising at least one circular socket having an opening, an internal wall, a central axis, a diameter of said opening and at least one spline having a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross-sectional area, wherein said at least one circular socket is disposed in said at least one connecting block and said at least one spline is disposed on said internal wall and spans a circumference portion of said opening of said at least one circular socket and the longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the central axis of said at least one circular socket, wherein the at least one cylindrical deformable rod is configured to be releasably engaged to said at least one connecting block by forcing one of the two opposing ends of the at least one cylindrical deformable rod into said at least one circular socket such that said one of said two opposing ends deforms to accommodate said at least one spline, said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is substantially coaxial with said at least one circular socket and rotational of said at least one circular socket with respect to the at least one cylindrical deformable rod is prevented and sliding of said at least one circular socket with respect to the at least one cylindrical deformable rod is initiated only by a force of at least 2 lbs.
5. The fastening device of claim 4, wherein said opening is beveled with an angle sloping inwardly toward the center of the opening at an angle of from 10 to 60 degrees from a plane defining said opening of said circular socket.
6. The fastening device of claim 4, wherein a ratio of said transverse cross-sectional area of said at least one spline and the area of said opening of said at least one socket ranges from about 0.035 to 0.51.
7. The fastening device of claim 4, wherein a ratio of the first diameter and said diameter of said opening ranges from about 0.70 to 0.98.
8. The fastening device of claim 4, wherein a ratio of said circumference portion to a circumference of said opening of said at least one circular socket is no more than 0.7 such that said at least one spline is easily removed in order to convert said at least one circular socket to a smooth through hole.
9. A fastening device for engaging at least one cylindrical deformable rod having a central axis, said fastening device comprising:
- at least one stopper having a channel, a thumb hold and at least one ridge having a transverse cross-sectional area, wherein said channel is defined by a lengthwise portion of a cylinder and includes a central axis and a diameter, said at least one ridge is disposed along an arc in a plane substantially perpendicular to said central axis of said channel, and said thumb hold is opposingly disposed from said channel,
- wherein said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is configured to be releasably engaged to said at least one stopper by forcing said at least one cylindrical deformable rod into said channel such that said at least one cylindrical deformable rod deforms to accommodate said at least one ridge, said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is substantially coaxial with said channel and a sliding relationship between said at least one cylindrical deformable rod and said channel is prevented and wherein said thumb hold is used as leverage to release said at least one cylindrical deformable rod from said channel.
10. The fastening device of claim 9, wherein a ratio of said height of said ridge to said transverse cross-sectional area ranges from 0.66 to 8.
11. A fastening assembly for constructing a releasably engaged structure, said fastening assembly comprising:
- (a) at least one connecting block comprising at least one circular socket having an internal wall, a central axis, an opening, a diameter of said opening and at least one spline having a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross-sectional area, wherein said at least one circular socket is disposed in said at least one connecting block and said at least one spline is disposed on said internal wall, and the longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the central axis of said at least one circular socket; and
- (b) at least one cylindrical deformable rod having a central axis, two opposing ends, a second diameter and a transverse cross-sectional area;
- wherein said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is configured to be releasably engaged to said at least one connecting block by forcing one of said deformable ends into said at least one circular socket such that one of said deformable ends deforms to accommodate said at least one spline, said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is substantially coaxial with said at least one circular socket and rotational relationship between said at least one circular socket and said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is prevented.
12. The fastening assembly of claim 11, wherein a ratio of said second diameter to the diameter of said opening ranges from about 0.70 to 0.98.
13. The fastening assembly of claim 11, wherein said at least one connecting block is constructed from plastic.
14. The fastening assembly of claim 11, wherein said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is constructed from a material selected from a group consisting of wood and plastic.
15. The fastening assembly of claim 11, wherein said at least one connecting block is constructed from a material comprising a hardness ranging from Rockwell R 50-130 and said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is constructed from a material comprising a hardness ranging from 40-90 Durometer (Shore) D.
16. The fastening assembly of claim 11, further comprising a reamer including a spline cutter configured to be disposed within said at least one circular socket for removing said at least one spline from said at least one circular socket.
17. The fastening assembly of claim 11, wherein a ratio of a transverse cross-sectional area of said at least one spline to an area of said opening ranges from about 0.035 to 0.51.
18. A fastening assembly for constructing a releasably engaged structure, said assembly comprising:
- (a) at least one stopper having a channel, a thumb hold and at least one ridge having a transverse cross-sectional area, wherein said channel is defined by a lengthwise portion of a cylinder, said channel having a central axis, said at least one ridge is disposed along a arc in a plane substantially perpendicular to said central axis of said channel, said thumb hold is opposingly disposed from said channel; and
- (b) at least one cylindrical deformable rod having a central axis and a second diameter;
- wherein said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is configured to be releasably engaged to said at least one stopper by forcing said at least one cylindrical deformable rod into said channel such that said at least one cylindrical deformable rod deforms to accommodate said at least one ridge, said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is substantially coaxial with said channel and sliding relationship between said at least one cylindrical deformable rod and said channel is prevented and said thumb hold is used as leverage to release said first component from said second component.
19. The fastening assembly of claim 18, wherein said at least one stopper is constructed from plastic.
20. The fastening assembly of claim 18, wherein said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is constructed from a material selected from a group consisting of wood and plastic.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 3, 2011
Publication Date: Dec 6, 2012
Inventor: Darren Coon (Brockport, NY)
Application Number: 13/152,773
International Classification: A63H 33/08 (20060101);