U.S. patent application number 15/404517 was filed with the patent office on 2017-07-20 for rotating device module for a toy.
The applicant listed for this patent is Bruder Spielwaren GmbH + Co. KG. Invention is credited to Paul Heinz BRUDER.
Application Number | 20170203222 15/404517 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57539115 |
Filed Date | 2017-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170203222 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BRUDER; Paul Heinz |
July 20, 2017 |
ROTATING DEVICE MODULE FOR A TOY
Abstract
A rotating device module for a toy has an axle component, which
provides a rotation axis of the rotating device module. A hub part
is connected to the axle component. A disc part can be screwed by
means of a threaded connection to the hub part, said connection
being torque proof. The hub part has an external thread of the
threaded connection. The disc part has an internal thread of the
threaded connection complementary to the external thread. The
result is a removable rotating device module which is designed to
increase play value and can be made at low cost and assembled with
little effort.
Inventors: |
BRUDER; Paul Heinz; (Furth,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bruder Spielwaren GmbH + Co. KG |
Furth |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
57539115 |
Appl. No.: |
15/404517 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60B 37/10 20130101;
A63H 17/262 20130101; A63H 17/05 20130101; A63H 17/12 20130101;
B60B 3/001 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 17/26 20060101
A63H017/26; A63H 17/12 20060101 A63H017/12; A63H 17/05 20060101
A63H017/05 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 14, 2016 |
DE |
10 2016 200 354.2 |
Claims
1. A rotating device module for a toy, with an axle component,
which provides a rotation axis of the rotating device module, with
a hub part, which is connected to the axle component, with a disc
part, which can be screwed on by means of a threaded connection to
the hub part, said connection being torque proof, wherein the hub
part has an external thread of the threaded connection, wherein the
disc part has an internal thread of the threaded connection
complementary to an external thread, wherein the internal thread
has no more than one thread turn.
2. A rotating device module according to claim 1, wherein the hub
part has at least one contact face as an abutment against the
screwed disc part.
3. A rotating device module according to claim 1, wherein the hub
part is connected to the axle component) to rotate.
4. A rotating device module according to claim 1, wherein the
threaded connection is designed as a left-hand thread.
5. A rotating device module according to claim 1, wherein the
external thread is designed as a plurality of thread segments
arranged around the rotation axis with gaps between one another in
a circumferential direction.
6. A rotating device module according to claim 2, wherein the
contact face has a plurality of contact face segments arranged
around the rotation axis with gaps between one another in a
circumferential direction.
7. A toy with a rotating device module for a toy, with an axle
component, which provides a rotation axis of the rotating device
module, with a hub part, which is connected to the axle component,
with a disc part, which can be screwed on by means of a threaded
connection to the hub part, said connection being torque proof,
wherein the hub part has an external thread of the threaded
connection, wherein the disc part has an internal thread of the
threaded connection complementary to an external thread, wherein
the internal thread has no more than one thread turn.
8. An assembly module with a rotating device module for a toy, with
an axle component, which provides a rotation axis of the rotating
device module, with a hub part, which is connected to the axle
component, with a disc part, which can be screwed on by means of a
threaded connection to the hub part, said connection being torque
proof, wherein the hub part has an external thread of the threaded
connection, wherein the disc part has an internal thread of the
threaded connection complementary to an external thread, wherein
the internal thread has no more than one thread turn, and with a
plug-in tool, which has a plug-in tool circumferential contour,
which is designed to be complementary to a socket contour of the
hub part.
9. A plug-in tool for an assembly module with a rotating device
module for a toy, with an axle component, which provides a rotation
axis of the rotating device module, with a hub part, which is
connected to the axle component, with a disc part, which can be
screwed on by means of a threaded connection to the hub part, said
connection being torque proof, wherein the hub part has an external
thread of the threaded connection, wherein the disc part has an
internal thread of the threaded connection complementary to an
external thread, wherein the internal thread has no more than one
thread turn, the plug-in tool having a plug-in tool circumferential
contour, which is designed to be complementary to a socket contour
of the hub part.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of German Patent
Application, Serial No. 10 2016 200 354.2, filed Jan. 14, 2016,
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), the content of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set
forth herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention concerns a rotating device module for a
toy.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Rotating device modules for toys are known by the market as,
for example, wheels, rollers or other rotors. U.S. Pat. No.
2,634,168 describes a wheel of an aeroplane model with a rotatable
hub and a rim screwed to it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention has an object of designing a removable
rotating device module of this type to increase play value wherein
this is to be derived at low cost and effort in producing and
assembling the rotating device module.
[0005] This object is resolved according to the invention by a
rotating device module for a toy, [0006] with an axle component,
which provides a rotation axis of the rotating device module,
[0007] with a hub part, which is connected to the axle component,
[0008] with a disc part, which can be screwed on by means of a
threaded connection to the hub part, said connection being torque
proof, [0009] wherein the hub part has an external thread of the
threaded connection, [0010] wherein the disc part has an internal
thread of the threaded connection complementary to an external
thread, [0011] wherein the internal thread has no more than one
thread turn.
[0012] The disc part can take the form, for example, of a wheel
rim, a roller, a cable pulley, or another rotating part. According
to the invention, the torque proof screw connection of the hub part
to the disc part is feasible without an additional fastening
element, in particular not needing an additional nut. The internal
thread can be formed on the disc part. The external thread can be
formed on the hub part. The internal thread has no more than one
thread turn. This type of internal thread has a circumferential
groove of no more than 360.degree.. With this type of design, it is
possible to make the disc part as an injection moulded part easily
removable from the mould. The circumferential groove of the
internal thread can be less than 360.degree. and can be
350.degree., for example.
[0013] A contact face, in which the hub part has at least one
contact face as an abutment against the screwed disc part, can
serve as an aid to positioning when placing the disc part on the
hub part during assembly. This makes assembly easier for children
in particular.
[0014] By providing a rotatable connection between of the hub part
and the axle component, the hub part can be rotated relative to the
axle component.
[0015] Also, where the axle is fixed, it is possible for the hub
part to be rotated to attach or release the disc part. In the case
of a hub part of a vehicle hub, this also produces a desirable
differential effect.
[0016] In one embodiment of the thread connection as a left-hand
thread, when screwing on, the inner hub part can be rotated
relative to the stationary outer disc part, wherein the left-hand
thread allows the hub part to be screwed on to the disc part by
intuitively turning the hub part clockwise.
[0017] A plurality of thread segments, in which the external thread
is designed as a plurality of thread segments arranged around the
rotation axis with gaps between one another in a circumferential
direction, makes it easier to screw on the thread components of the
threaded connection.
[0018] A contact face having a plurality of contact face segments
arranged around the rotation axis with gaps between one another in
a circumferential direction saves material. In addition, the
contact face segments can be arranged in the circumferential
direction where there are gaps in the thread segments of the
external thread. This enables the hub part to be designed as an
injection moulded part easily removable from the mould.
[0019] The advantages of a toy with a rotating device module
according to the invention correspond to those that have been
explained above in reference to the rotating device module. The toy
can involve a toy vehicle.
[0020] An assembly module with a rotating device module according
to the invention and with a plug-in tool, which has a plug-in tool
circumferential contour, which is designed to be complementary to a
socket contour of the hub part, has corresponding advantages. By
using the plug-in tool, it is possible to design the hub part
without a rotary actuating element so that the hub part can be
designed to be realistic, approximating to a real life example.
Alternatively, a wing projection can be formed on the hub part, for
example, to perform the rotation. In this case, a plug-in tool can
be dispensed with.
[0021] A plug-in tool for an assembly module according to the
invention provides the advantages that have been explained above in
reference to the assembly module.
[0022] Embodiment examples of the invention are explained in more
detail below with the aid of the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an assembly module with a
rotating device module for a toy and with a plug-in tool to
assemble the rotating device module;
[0024] FIG. 2 shows an illustration similar to FIG. 1 of another
design of an assembly module with a rotating device module for a
toy and a plug-in tool;
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a perspective section through another
embodiment of a rotating device module for a toy, wherein a hub
part is connected to a non-rotating disc part designed as a wheel
rim; and
[0026] FIG. 4 shows the rotating device module according to FIG. 3,
wherein the hub part is released from the disc part and wherein the
disc part is shown in a section of the axle and a side view of the
hub part is provided.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] An assembly module 1 illustrated in its entirety in FIG. 1
is a component part of a toy, for example, of a toy vehicle. The
assembly module 1 has a rotating device module 2 and a plug-in tool
3.
[0028] The rotating device module 2 has an axle component 3a which
provides a rotating axle of the rotating device module 2. In
addition, the rotating device module 2 has a hub part 5, which is
connected to the axle component 3a, and a disc part 6. The disc
part 6 can involve, for example, a wheel rim, which is explained
below in more detail with particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, or
can involve another rotatable toy component, for example, a rotor
element or a roller element, for example the rolling part of a
cable pulley. The disc part 6 can be screwed in a torque proof
manner to the hub part 5 by means of a threaded connection.
[0029] This threaded connection comprises an external thread 7
which is a component part of the hub part 5. The external thread 7
is designed as a plurality of thread segments 8 around the rotation
axis 4 with gaps between one another in a circumferential
direction. Furthermore, the threaded connection has an internal
thread 9 complementary to the external thread 7, which is a
component part of the disc part 6. The external thread 7 is formed
on the hub part 5. The internal thread 9 is formed on the disc part
6.
[0030] The internal thread 9 has just one thread turn extending no
more than 360.degree. around the rotation axis 4. In the embodiment
according to FIG. 1, this circumferential groove of the internal
thread 9 is less than 360.degree., due to which the disc part 6 can
be made entirely as an injection-moulded part easily removable from
the mould.
[0031] Furthermore, the hub part 5 has a contact face 10 as an
abutment against the screwed disc part 6. In the case where the
disc part 6 is not screwed, the contact face 10 serves to position
the disc part 6 on hub part 5.
[0032] The contact face 10 comprises a plurality of contact face
segments 11 around the rotation axis 4 with gaps between one
another in a circumferential direction. The contact face segments
11 are arranged in the circumferential direction where there are
gaps between the thread segments 8. This makes it easier to remove
the hub part 5 from the mould when it is made as an
injection-moulded part.
[0033] The threaded connection with the external thread 7 and the
internal thread 9 complementary to it are designed as a left-hand
thread.
[0034] The plug-in tool 3 has a circumferential contour 12 which is
made to be complementary to a socket contour 13 of the hub part 5.
In addition, the plug-in tool circumferential contour 12 has a
plurality of bulges which are designed to be complementary to
mock-up nuts 14 formed on hub part 5.
[0035] To fit the rotating device module, the disc part 6 is placed
on the hub part 5 so that the internal thread 9 of the disc part 6
enters the thread segments 8 of the external thread 7 of the hub
part 5. During this, the contact face segments 11, which are now in
contact with the rear side of the disc part 6, help in positioning.
Next, the plug-in tool 3 is placed on the hub part 5, wherein the
plug-in tool circumferential contour 12 engages positively with the
socket contour 13 of the hub part 5. The plug-in tool 3 is now
rotated clockwise, wherein an actuating wing 15 of the plug-in tool
3 is grasped by the operating person between thumb and index
finger. In rotating the plug-in tool 3 in this manner, the hub part
5 is rotated clockwise relative to the stationary disc part 6. The
left-handed design of the threaded connection ensures that the
external thread 7 of the hub part 5 engages with the internal
thread 9 of the disc part 6. Once the threaded connection 7, 9 is
screwed on, the disc part 6 is clamped positively between the
thread segments 8 and the contact face segments 11 respectively.
Thus, this has produced a reliable and non-rotational connection
between the hub part 5 and the disc part 6. The plug-in tool 3 can
now be withdrawn. An additional fastening nut is unnecessary.
[0036] With the aid of FIG. 2, a further embodiment of an assembly
module 16 is now explained. Components and functions corresponding
to those used already and explained when referring to FIG. 1 have
the same reference symbols and will not be discussed again in
detail.
[0037] The assembly module 16 again has a hub part 5 and a disc
part 6.
[0038] In the assembly module 16, the hub part 5 is connected to an
axle component 17 so that it rotates, wherein said axle can be
designed as a rigid axle. This rotatable connection of the axle
component 17 to the hub part 5 of the rotating device module 2
according to FIG. 2 is made as a press fit inside the axle
component 17 in the hub part 5. This rotatable connection is
enabled by the axial profiling 18 of the axle component 17 which is
designed as a saw tooth profile. FIG. 2 shows this profiling 18 for
a second hub part 5, which is designed to be identical to the hub
part 5 and is inserted otherwise into the axle component 17 from
the other side as part of another rotating device module. Due to
the profiling 18, the particular hub part 15 can rotate about the
rotation axis 4 relative to the axle component 17.
[0039] With the rotating device module 2 according to FIG. 2, the
contact face 10 is designed as a component part of a cover wall of
a hub pot 19 of the hub part 5.
[0040] With the aid of FIGS. 3 and 4, a further embodiment of a
rotating device module 20 will be explained. Components and
functions corresponding to those used already and explained when
referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 have the same reference symbols and will
not be discussed again in detail.
[0041] In the case of the rotating device module 20, the disc part
is designed as a wheel rim 21 of a toy vehicle wheel 22.
[0042] A plug-in tool can be inserted based on the type of plug-in
tool 3 for rotating device module 20 also.
[0043] The toy, of which the toy vehicle wheel 22 is a component
part, can involve a tractor, a lorry, a crane vehicle or some other
vehicle, such as a trailer.
[0044] The entire assembly module 1, 16 as well as the rotating
device module 2, 20 can be made exclusively from plastic
components.
* * * * *