US4057886A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy construction system having reusable distensible joining members
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1977-01-03
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Granted: 1977-11-15
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Expires: 1997-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A child's toy construction system, similar in purpose to "Erector" sets, is provided having reusable, distensible "rivets" instead of nuts and bolts, and a rivet "gun" to provide a feeling of authenticity in use. The system includes plates and bars to be joined together to create different structures. They are joined by use of the rivets passing through aligned holes in the plates and bars. The rivets are formed of bullet-shaped, soft distensible rubber pieces having a bore passing lengthwise through the rivet, but being closed at the leading end. The rivets have an outside diameter greater than the diameter of the holes, when the rivets are in their relaxed, undistended condition, and will, therefore, when not distended, expand to fill the holes and secure the pieces together. Their diameter is less than that of the holes when they are longitudinally distended. The base of the rivets is larger than the holes and includes an undercut gripping shoulder. Accordingly, the rivets may be inserted into and removed from the holes when distended. A "rivet gun" is provided for that purpose, having means to grip the shoulder and insert a stiff wire into the bore to distend (stretch) the rivet for insertion or removal. It may have a trigger linkage to "fire," releasing the rivet and so adding greater authenticity.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Brass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:58
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/56; B29C65/60; B29C65/601; B29C65/602; A; A63; A63H; A63H33/00; A63H33/04; A63H33/10; A63H33/12; B29C66/00; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/816; B29C66/8161; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B29C66/84; B29C66/861; F; F16; F16B; F16B19/00; F16B19/002; F16B19/004; F16B5/00; F16B5/06; F16B5/0607; F16B5/0621; F16B5/0642; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/904; Y10S411/907; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/4987; Y10T29/49872; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53657; Y10T29/53909; Y10T29/53943; Y10T29/53952
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A device for temporarily inserting and thereafter withdrawing elastomeric, bullet-shaped joinder units from holes in toy structural elements, said joinder units having a base and a body portion with a bore therein, said body portion having a relaxed outer diameter greater than the diameter of said holes and, when longitudinally stressed, less than the diameter of said holes, said device including jaws for gripping said base, a wire insertable in said bore to longitudinally stress said joinder unit, means for moving said wire longitudinally and in a relative direction away from said base, and a trigger in said device for controlling said wire-moving means, whereby said joinder unit may be longitudinally stressed to permit insertion or removal of said joinder units in or from the holes in said toy structural elements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A device for temporarily inserting and thereafter withdrawing elastomeric, bullet-shaped joinder units from holes in toy structural elements, said joinder units having a base and a body portion with a bore therein, said body portion having a relaxed outer diameter greater than the diameter of said holes and, when longitudinally stressed, less than the diameter of said holes, said device including jaws for gripping said base, a wire insertable in said bore to longitudinally stress said joinder unit, means for moving said wire longitudinally and in a relative direction away from said base, and a trigger in said device for controlling said wire-moving means, whereby said joinder unit may be longitudinally stressed to permit insertion or removal of said joinder units in or from the holes in said toy structural elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said jaws are adapted to open and close about said base and including a linkage between said jaws and said wire coacting to open said jaws when said wire is retracted and to maintain said jaws closed when said wire is moving longitudinally away from said base.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
154 words
A device for temporarily inserting and thereafter withdrawing elastomeric, bullet-shaped joinder units from holes in toy structural elements, said joinder units having a base and a body portion with a bore therein, said body portion having a relaxed outer diameter greater than the diameter of said holes and, when longitudinally stressed, less than the diameter of said holes, said device including a frame, opposing jaws mounted on said frame for opening and closing movement, a wire mounted on said frame for movement between said jaws, means for moving said wire longitudinally and in a direction toward and away from said frame, and control means for controlling the movement of said jaws and said wire, whereby said joinder unit may be held by said jaws and said wire inserted in its bore to longitudinally stress said unit to permit insertion of said joinder units into, or removal from, the holes in said toy structural elements.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
154 words
A device for temporarily inserting and thereafter withdrawing elastomeric, bullet-shaped joinder units from holes in toy structural elements, said joinder units having a base and a body portion with a bore therein, said body portion having a relaxed outer diameter greater than the diameter of said holes and, when longitudinally stressed, less than the diameter of said holes, said device including a frame, opposing jaws mounted on said frame for opening and closing movement, a wire mounted on said frame for movement between said jaws, means for moving said wire longitudinally and in a direction toward and away from said frame, and control means for controlling the movement of said jaws and said wire, whereby said joinder unit may be held by said jaws and said wire inserted in its bore to longitudinally stress said unit to permit insertion of said joinder units into, or removal from, the holes in said toy structural elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 including a linkage between said jaws and said wire coacting to extend said wire longitudinally away from said jaws when said jaws are closed about the base of said joinder unit and to retract said wire toward said jaws when said jaws are open.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
195 words
A toy device for inserting and withdrawing rivet elements from the holes in the structural elements in a toy construction system of the type including structural elements having preformd alignable holes through which reusable rivet elements are fitted to join the structural elements together, said reusable rivet elements being formed of distendable material and having an elongated body with a relaxed diameter greater than the diameter of the holes in the structural elements and a diameter, when distended longitudinally, less than the diameter of said holes, and an enlarged base at one end for receiving a longitudinal distending force to the rivet element, said device including: closable jaw means for engaging the base of said rivet element, an elongate wire positionable in a bore of said rivet element against its opposite closed end, means for moving the jaw means and wire relative to one another to distend the rivet element longitudinally to reduce the diameter of its body for insertion into or withdrawal from said holes, and means for moving the jaw means and wire together to relax the rivet element when in said holes to increase its diameter for fastening the structural elements together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
195 words
A toy device for inserting and withdrawing rivet elements from the holes in the structural elements in a toy construction system of the type including structural elements having preformd alignable holes through which reusable rivet elements are fitted to join the structural elements together, said reusable rivet elements being formed of distendable material and having an elongated body with a relaxed diameter greater than the diameter of the holes in the structural elements and a diameter, when distended longitudinally, less than the diameter of said holes, and an enlarged base at one end for receiving a longitudinal distending force to the rivet element, said device including: closable jaw means for engaging the base of said rivet element, an elongate wire positionable in a bore of said rivet element against its opposite closed end, means for moving the jaw means and wire relative to one another to distend the rivet element longitudinally to reduce the diameter of its body for insertion into or withdrawal from said holes, and means for moving the jaw means and wire together to relax the rivet element when in said holes to increase its diameter for fastening the structural elements together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A toy device as set forth in claim 5 in which said closable jaw means is a pair of opposing jaws, the parts of said pair being movable relative to one another to effect opening and closing of said jaw means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A toy device as set forth in claim 5 including a trigger associated with said jaw means and said elongate wire for actuating same.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
152 words
A toy rivet gun for use in toy construction systems having distensible rivets with a bore therein, said rivets being closed at one end and having a flange about their other end, said rivet gun including a housing, a pair of rivet grasping jaws mounted at one end of said housing for longitudinal movement into and out of said housing so that longitudinal movement towards said housing closes said jaws, an insertion wire sized to fit within said bore as positioned in said housing between said jaws, actuating means associated with said housing for drawing said jaws towards said housing and thereby closing said jaws whereby operation of said actuating means when the flange of one said rivet is within said jaws causes said jaws to close about said flanges and to draw said rivet towards said housing, causing said insertion wire to enter the bore of said rivet and distend same.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
152 words
A toy rivet gun for use in toy construction systems having distensible rivets with a bore therein, said rivets being closed at one end and having a flange about their other end, said rivet gun including a housing, a pair of rivet grasping jaws mounted at one end of said housing for longitudinal movement into and out of said housing so that longitudinal movement towards said housing closes said jaws, an insertion wire sized to fit within said bore as positioned in said housing between said jaws, actuating means associated with said housing for drawing said jaws towards said housing and thereby closing said jaws whereby operation of said actuating means when the flange of one said rivet is within said jaws causes said jaws to close about said flanges and to draw said rivet towards said housing, causing said insertion wire to enter the bore of said rivet and distend same.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A toy rivet gun for use in toy construction systems as set forth in claim 8, including a spring pressing said jaws outwardly and a latch on said housing adapted to engage said jaws and hold them in their inner position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-11-14 | 1981-05-16 | 1981-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-14 | 1985-05-16 | 1985-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-14 | 1989-05-16 | 1989-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |