Toy actuation system
AssigneeInterlego A.G.
InventorsPeter Bolli, Werner Tanner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
For simulating hydromechanical actuation of components in a toy model such as a toy excavator having legs and a shovel, means for exclusively mechanical power transmission are provided. These means include actuating units comprising each a cylinder casing and a piston rod slidably arranged therein and displaceable by a threaded spindle in engagement with the piston rod. Rotary motion is transmitted to the threaded spindle by a flexible shaft having plug-in connectors at both ends secured to a core and a protective hose of the flexible shaft. Each flexible shaft is connected with a driving unit installed in the toy model and releasably connected with a rotary power source such as handwheel or an electric motor.
Claims13
A toy actuation system for construction sets and especially for toy models, comprising a driving unit having a casing adapted to be connected to a rotary power source, a flexible transmission shaft having an inner core and an outer protective hose, said shaft being adapted to be connected by one end thereof with said driving unit, and an actuating unit having a casing adapted to be connected with the other end of said shaft, said actuating unit including means for supplying rotational or translational actuating power, said connections of said flexible transmission shaft with said driving unit and said actuating unit being achieved in a releaseable manner by means of respective plug-in couplings, said core and said protective hose of said flexible shaft comprising each at each end of said flexible shaft respective first and second plug-in elements,
- wherein said first plug-in element provided on said core of said flexible shaft at each end thereof is a pin of cruciform cross-section secured to said core,
- wherein said second plug-in element provided on said protective hose of said flexible shaft at both ends thereof is a sleeve secured to said hose an outer end portion of said sleeve projecting beyond said hose and being provided with a resilient bead and with axially extending slits, and wherein said driving unit and said actuating unit each comprise a cylindrical coupling element supported in said respective casing for rotational motion, said coupling element being provided at least at one end thereof with a connecting bore having a cruciform cross-section corresponding to and for receiving said first plug-in element provided on said core of said flexible shaft, and said casings of said driving unit and said actuating unit each have at least at one end thereof a connecting socket comprising an annular groove for receiving said annular bead of said second plug-in element provided on said protective hose of said flexible shaft, thereby releasably retaining said second plug-in element in said connecting socket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.