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US3626690A - Article of manufacture - Google Patents

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Publication number
US3626690A
US3626690A US44330A US3626690DA US3626690A US 3626690 A US3626690 A US 3626690A US 44330 A US44330 A US 44330A US 3626690D A US3626690D A US 3626690DA US 3626690 A US3626690 A US 3626690A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
link element
connecting rod
chain
portions
slot
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US44330A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Arthur Fischer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3626690A publication Critical patent/US3626690A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16G—BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
    • F16G13/00—Chains
    • F16G13/02—Driving-chains
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16G—BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
    • F16G13/00—Chains
    • F16G13/02—Driving-chains
    • F16G13/06—Driving-chains with links connected by parallel driving-pins with or without rollers so called open links
    • F16G13/07—Driving-chains with links connected by parallel driving-pins with or without rollers so called open links the links being of identical shape, e.g. cranked

Definitions

  • a chain link element has two elongated side walls each having a first portion and a longitudinally adjacent second portion which is inwardly offset with reference to the first portion.
  • a first and a second connecting rod connects the portions together.
  • a slot is provided in the second connecting rod having a general plane inclined to that of the link element and extending lengthwise in the second connecting rod.
  • the link element is connectable to make a chain with another similar link element by positioning its second portions between the first portions of the other link element and introducing the first connecting rod of the other link element through the slot.
  • the present invention relates generally to a novel article of manufacture, and more particularly to a chain link element. Especially the invention relates to a chain link element for making chains in toys such as in toy assembly kits and the like.
  • toy assembly kits permitting a child to assemble various structures or items, such as cranes, vehicles and the like, resembling real-life counterparts is gaining ever more popularity. The reason for this is not only the play value of such assembly kits, but also the educational value.
  • One of the components which are frequently needed in kits of this type is a chain, for instance for motion-transmitting purposes, for suspension purposes, and the like. Because of the great variety of different structures which can be erected with these kits it is not practical to simply supply the kit with a single chain, it being evident that the requirements for the length of the chain vary from case to case-Le. from structure to structure-so that the length of the chain must be readily adjustable.
  • the known link elements of this type are provided with two side walls each having a first portion defining with a corresponding first portion of the other side wall a certain transverse distance and being connected by a connecting rod, and a second portion defining with the corresponding second portion of the other side wall a larger distance.
  • the juxtaposed surfaces of the second portions are provided with short projections whereas the outwardly oppositely directed surfaces of the first portions are provided with the corresponding depressions or recesses.
  • novel chain link element according to the present invention is to be connectable with other similar chain link elements without danger of undesired separation even when significant forces act upon the thus-assembled chain in direction lengthwise thereof.
  • chain link element according to the present invention is also to be disconnectable from others which have been connected with it.
  • chain link element according to the present invention is to be simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
  • a link element for assembly of chains which comprises two elongated side walls each having a first portion and a longitudinally adjacent second portion inwardly offset with reference to the first portion.
  • the first portions are transversely spaced by a first distance and the second portions are transversely spaced by a smaller second distance.
  • a first connecting rod connects the first portions and a second connecting rod connects the second portions with a bore extending lengthwise through the second connecting rod and being dimensioned to accommodate the first connecting rod.
  • a slot is provided in the second connecting rod and has a general plane inclined to that of the link element.
  • This slot extends lengthwise in the second connecting rod 1n communication with the bore and the link element is connectable with another link element to form a chain simply by positioning the second portions of the link element between the first portions of the other llnk element and introducing the first connecting rod of the other link element through the slot into the bore.
  • the provision of the two connecting rods serves to rigidly connect the two side walls with one another so that the link element is rigid in itself. Undesired yieldability and concomitant unintended separation are therefore avoided.
  • each link element assures that a means for engaging the thus-assembled chain is provided at both ends of the chain, assuming that the latter has been assembled to be finite.
  • the chain can be utilized for lifting purposes by connecting a load to be lifted to one of the terminal link elements and securing the other of its terminal link elements to a model load-lifting device, for instance a crane or the like, always in most advantageous manner via one of the connecting rods.
  • the exemplary link elements illustrated therein comprises two side walls 1 which are transversely spaced with reference to one another and which are both elongated. Substantially midway between their respective ends these side walls are inwardly offset, that is each side wall has one portion defining with the corresponding portion of the other side wall a first transverse distance, and an inwardly offset second portion defining with the corresponding portion of the other side wall a transverse second distance which is smaller than the first distance.
  • These side walls may thus be thought of as being stepped.
  • the offsetting is such that the narrower part of the link element is receivable in the wider part of a similarly configurated additional link element.
  • the side walls 1 are connected rigidly with one another by means of a first connecting rod 2 extending across the first larger transverse distance and a second connecting rod 3 extending across the second smaller transverse distance, as illustrated.
  • the connecting rod 2 is of circular cross-section and the connecting rod 3 is provided, in accordance with the present invention, with a longitudinally extending bore 4 which also extends through the associated wall portions and terminates at the outwardly directed surfaces of the latter, again as illustrated.
  • the cross-sectional configuration of the bore 4 is such that the latter can accommodate the connecting rod 3 therein.
  • the connecting rod 3 is further provided with a longitudinally extending slot 5 which extends to and into communication with the bore 4 from the outer circumference of the connecting rod 3 and which also extends to the outwardly directed surfaces of the associated wall portions.
  • the elongation of slot 5 is identical with that of the bore 4.
  • the slot 5 has extensions where it penetrates the associated wall portions, and these extensions terminate in the edge faces 6 of these wall portions.
  • the width of the slot 5 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the first connecting rod 2 and of the bore 4 so that when a similar link element is to be connected with the one illustrated, its connecting rod 2 must be inserted through the slot 5 with a snap-action into the bore 4 of the illustrated link element.
  • the general plane of the slot 5 is inc lined with reference to the general plane of the illustrated link element.
  • the link element according to the present invention consist of syn- 4 thetic plastic material. If that is the case it can again advantageously be produced in one piece by known injection molding techniques. However, some or all of the components of the link element can of course be made of other material.
  • the illustrated embodiment is exemplary only and that other possibilities are clearly within the scope of the invention.
  • the general plane of the slot 5 may be inclined in the direction towards the connecting rod 2 of the respective link element, an arrangement which reliably prevents undesired separation of connected link elements even if a thus-assembled chain is positioned in or moves in a strongly curved path and the slot 5 faces the inner side of the curvature. This measure will not, however, affect the ease with which such link elements can be connected and disconnected.
  • the slot 5 may also have a general plane which makes a right angle with the general plane of the link element and enters into the bore 4 in such a manner that the wall portion of the second connecting rod located closest to the first connecting rod merges tangentially into the bore 4.
  • a link element for chains comprising two elongated side walls each having a first portion and a longitudinally adjacent second portion inwardly offset with reference to said first portion, said first portions being transversely spaced by a first distance and said second portions being transversely spaced by a smaller second distance; a first connecting rod connecting said first portions, and a second connecting rod connecting said second portions; a bore extending lengthwise through said second connecting rod and through said second portions, said bore being dimensioned to accommodate said first connecting rod; and a slot in said second connecting rod having a general plane inclined to that of said link element and extending lengthwise in said second connecting rod in communication with said bore, whereby said link element is connectable to form a chain with an other link element by positioning said second portions between the first portions of the other link element and introducing the first connecting rod of the other link element through said slot into said bore.
  • said first connecting rod having a predetermined crosssectional dimension
  • said bore having a cross-sectional dimension at least equal to said predetermined dimension
  • said slot having a width slightly smaller than said predetermined dimension

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Table Equipment (AREA)
  • Chain Conveyers (AREA)
  • Shafts, Cranks, Connecting Bars, And Related Bearings (AREA)
US44330A 1969-07-18 1970-06-08 Article of manufacture Expired - Lifetime US3626690A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19691936754 DE1936754A1 (de) 1969-07-18 1969-07-18 Spielzeug-Kettenglied

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3626690A true US3626690A (en) 1971-12-14

Family

ID=5740275

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US44330A Expired - Lifetime US3626690A (en) 1969-07-18 1970-06-08 Article of manufacture

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US3626690A (de)
AT (1) AT321794B (de)
BE (1) BE753559A (de)
CH (1) CH521144A (de)
DE (1) DE1936754A1 (de)
DK (1) DK121016B (de)
ES (1) ES188326Y (de)
FR (1) FR2051839B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1289195A (de)
IL (1) IL34946A (de)
NL (1) NL7010642A (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0812231A1 (de) 1994-02-10 1997-12-17 Connector Set Limited Partnership Kettenantrieb für spielzeugkonstruktionssystem
US6138820A (en) * 1998-05-15 2000-10-31 Westar Mfg. Corp. Conveyor chain link

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0812231A1 (de) 1994-02-10 1997-12-17 Connector Set Limited Partnership Kettenantrieb für spielzeugkonstruktionssystem
US6138820A (en) * 1998-05-15 2000-10-31 Westar Mfg. Corp. Conveyor chain link

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL7010642A (de) 1971-01-20
DE1936754A1 (de) 1971-02-04
FR2051839B1 (de) 1973-04-27
DK121016B (da) 1971-08-16
IL34946A0 (en) 1970-09-17
FR2051839A1 (de) 1971-04-09
AT321794B (de) 1975-04-25
ES188326U (es) 1974-02-01
ES188326Y (es) 1974-09-16
GB1289195A (de) 1972-09-13
BE753559A (fr) 1970-12-31
IL34946A (en) 1974-06-30
CH521144A (de) 1972-04-15

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