Connector For Connecting Toy Parts Together

Abstract

A resilient, plastic connector for connecting toy parts together includes a barbed portion adapted to be press fit into a first counterbore in one toy part and a plastic spring portion adapted to frictionally, removably engage a second counterbore in another toy part.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

The background of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

1. Field of the Invention

The invention pertains generally to the field of toys of the type which include a plurality of separate parts having a shape and exterior contour simulating a portion of a complete predetermined figure and more particularly to a new and useful connector for connecting the separate parts together.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 1,322,713 is one prior art example of a toy including a plurality of separate parts having a shape and exterior contour simulating a portion of a complete predetermined figure. The parts may be connected together by pins projecting from one of the two surfaces to be fitted together and adapted to enter corresponding sockets in the other surface. The ends of the pins are split to hold better in the sockets.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved connector for connecting toy parts together.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and useful connector of the type described including a first end having teeth or barbs provided thereon for fixedly engaging a counterbore in one toy part and a second end having a resilient, plastic spring for removably engaging a counterbore provided in a second toy part adapted to be connected to the first toy part.

According to the present invention, a toy including a plurality of separate parts having a shape and exterior contour simulating a portion of a complete predetermined figure is provided with improved connector means for connecting the parts together.

The connector means includes a circular intermediate portion having top and bottom surfaces, a barbed member extending from one of the surfaces and a spring member extending from the other surface.

The barbed member has at least two barb-carrying webs or plates disposed at right angles to each other and the spring member includes a plate portion having one end affixed to the intermediate portion and a free end which carries a circular head. At least one plastic finger extends from the circular head toward the intermediate portion alongside of, and spaced from, the plate portion of the spring member. The free end of the plastic finger is provided with a suitable radius facilitating insertion and removal of the spring member into and from a counterbore provided in one of the toy parts. The barbed member is adapted to fixedly engage a counterbore provided in another of the toy parts.

The spring member is also provided with a suitable gusset connecting the plastic finger to the plate portion in such a manner that the pivot point about which the plastic finger flexes is moved away from the end of the finger which is connected to the circular head.

The connector means is especially designed so that it may be molded from a suitable plastic material, such as polypropropylene, for example, without using cores or slides.

The circular head portion of the spring member is provided with a 45.degree. lead-in chamfer facilitating insertion of the spring member into a counterbore provided therefor.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularlity in the appended claims. The present invention, both to its organization and manner of use, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational veiw of a toy utilizing an improved connector of the present invention, which is shown in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of one of the connectors shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view showing two of the toy parts of FIG. 1 in position to be connected together by the connector of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the parts after they have been connected together; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring again to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1, a toy constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10, includes a plurality of separate parts 12, 14 and 16 each having a shape and exterior contour simulating a portion of a complete predetermined figure, such as a rabbit.

Toy 10 also includes a connector 18 which may be used to connect the separate parts 12, 14 and 16 together. For example, a first connector 18A may be used to connect the toy part 12 to the toy part 14 and a second connector 18B may be used to connect the toy part 14 to the toy part 16.

Each connector 18 is especially designed to be injection molded in a two-piece mold without using cores or slides and is preferably molded from a tough, resilient plastic, such as polypropylene.

Each connector 18 includes a circular intermediate portion 20 having a first surface 22 and a second surface 24. A barbed member 26 extends from the first surface 22 and includes four barb-carrying plates or webs, 28, 30, 32 and 34 placed at right angles to each other and including a plurality of individual barbs 36.

Each connector 18 also includes a spring member 38 extending from the second surface 24 of the intermediate portion 20 and including a plate portion 40 having a first end 42 affixed to the intermediate portion 20 and a free end 44. A circular head or button 46 is carried by free end 44 and is provided with a suitable chamfer 48 which may be about 45.degree. for forming a lead-in to facilitate inserting spring member 38 into a suitable counterbore, like the one shown at 50 for the toy part 16. A pair of plastic fingers 52, 54 extend from head 46 toward intermediate portion 20 alongside of, and spaced from, the plastic portion 40. The fingers 52, 54 each includes a first end 56, which may be formed intergally with head 46, an intermediate portion 58 and a free end 60. A suitable gusset plate 62 connects an associated one of the fingers 52, 54 to button 46 and plate portion 40 and extends from button 46 to the intermediate portion 58 for moving the bending or pivot point of its associated finger from the narrow end 56 thereof to the thicker, intermediate portion 58.

The free end 60 of each finger 52, 54 is provided with a suitable radius 64 facilitating insertion of spring member 38 into, and removal from, counterbore 50. The radius 64 is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as comprising the major portion of a circle. This simplifies the tooling of the molds for connector 18.

It is to be noted that the free ends 60 of fingers 52, 54 lie in suitable planes outside the major diameter of head 46 so that fingers 52, 54 must flex inwardly when inserted into a counterbore 50 having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of button 46. Thus, spring member 38 engages counterbore 50 with a friction fit so that the toy part which contains counterbore 50 may be readily installed on, and removed from, connector 18.

The barbed member 26, on the other hand, is adapted to engage a suitable counterbore, like the one shown at 66 for toy part 14, with a press fit so that connector 18 will remain in position during removal of a toy part from spring member 38. The barbs 36 are provided on webs 28, 30, 32 and 34 instead of being formed on a cylinderical member, for example, to facilitate molding connector 18 from a simple two-part mold without using cores or slides.

While the particular connector herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for connecting together toy parts having counterbores, comprising:

a circular intermediate portion having top and bottom surfaces;

a barbed member extending from one of said surfaces, said barbed member having at least two barb-carrying webs disposed at right angles to each other and having barbs at their outer edges; and

a spring member extending from the other of said faces, said spring member including a diametrically arranged plate portion having one end affixed to said intermediate portion and a free end, a circular head on said free end of said plate portion, a pair of plastic fingers extending from said head toward said intermediate portion on opposite sides of, and spaced outwardly from, said plate portion, and a gusset web of less length and width than said fingers extending from each finger to said plate portion adjacent said circular head.

2. A connector as stated in claim 1 wherein said fingers each includes a round, free end adapted to frictionally engage one of said counterbores.

3. A connector for connecting together toy parts having counterbores, comprising:

an intermediate portion having top and bottom surfaces; a first member having means for press fitting said first member into one of said counterbores; and

a spring member extending from the other of said faces, said spring member including a diametrically arranged plate portion having one end affixed to said intermediate portion and a free end, a circular head on said free end of said plate portion, at least on plastic finger extending from said head toward said intermediate portion, spaced outwardly from said plate portion for frictionally engaging the other of said counterbores, and a gusset web of less length and width than said finger extending from said finger to said plate portion adjacent said circular head.