PL196852B1 - Toy article with handle and coupling piece for connection with a second toy article - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a toy article which is, among other things, suitable as a collector's item and/or for use in games which toy article comprises a handle and a coupling piece for effecting a connection with a second toy article, which coupling piece is attached to said handle via a connecting element, which gives way when a predetermined force or torque is exerted thereon.

Description

REPUBLIC

POLAND

Polish Patent Office (12) Patent (19) ⁽²¹⁾ zgłoszema number: 36 ² 377 ⁽²²⁾ Date of oszema ^{D: 1} 9.0 00 ^{7 2} · ¹ (86) Date and number of the international application:

2001-07-19, PCT / NL01 / 00556 (87) Date and publication number of the international application:

2003-01-30, WO03 / 008062 PCT Gazette No. 05/03 (11) 196852 (13) B1 (51) IntCII.

A63H 37/00 (2006.01) (54)

Toy article

(73) The right holder of the patent: BREAKEY B.V., Castricum, NL (43) Application was announced: 18.10.2004 BUP 21/04 (72) Inventor (s): Ronald Van Teunenbroek, Amsterdam, NL Robertus Maria Sluijs, Castricum, NL (45) The grant of the patent was announced: 29 February 2008 WUP 02/08 (74) Representative: Lichańska-Dreszer Hanna, DRESZER GRENDA I WSPOLNICY sp.j., Patent and Legal Office

(57) 1.A toy article constituting a collector's item and / or for use in games, comprising a handle, characterized by having an intermediate element (6, 36) for connecting to a second toy article (2, 31), the intermediate element being (6, 36) is connected to the handle (3, 32) by a fastener (10, 37), preferably a pin (10, 37), broken off by a force or torque exerted thereon.

B1

PL 196 852 B1

Description of the invention

The present invention relates to a toy article for collectors and / or for use in games, the toy article having a handle.

Toy articles of this kind are known per se and are, for example, added to corn flake boxes or to crispbags. A well-known example of this type of toy article is a toy labeled on the market with the name "flippo". It consists of a circular disc, e.g. made of laminated cardboard or made of plastic, on which a picture is printed, the toy being is a collector's item for children, it is also used to play games.

Also known from US-A-3,792,858 is a split playing apparatus with a central member and a multiplicity of suitably long arms released safely with respect to the central member. Each of the players clenches one of the arms and tries to manipulate the device in such a way that the central member positions itself on the arm chosen by him, and the arms selected by the other player or players are disconnected from the central member.

The object of the present invention is to provide a toy article belonging to the group of toys defined in the introduction, which offers additional possibilities of its use, in particular related to playing games.

To achieve this aim, a toy article provided with a handle according to the present invention is characterized in that it has an intermediate piece for connecting to a second toy article, the intermediate piece being connected to the toy holder by a fastener, preferably a pin, which then yields. when a certain force or moment is exerted on it.

A toy article made according to the invention is capable of being coupled by a user to a second toy article which may be identical to the first toy article. In such an embodiment, one or both of the users can exert a force or moment (on the articles) as long as the fastener in one of the two connected toy articles is not deformed. Thus, it becomes possible to play a game or competition in which the user of the toy article who holds the intermediate element becomes the winner.

In a preferred embodiment, the fastener should undergo deformation by breaking off and disengaging from the toy when a predetermined force or moment is applied thereto. The toy article from which the fastener breaks off then becomes visibly damaged and can no longer be played. In addition, the breakaway piece and / or the handle can be a trophy for the winner of the game.

When the portion of the intermediate piece intended to be joined to the second toy article has a shape adapted to be joined to another intermediate piece of identical shape to the second toy article, then all the toy articles of the set described may have an identical shape. This is an important advantage from a manufacturing point of view as only one mold or set of molds is required in this case. Moreover, any owner of such a toy article will be able to play games or competitions with any other owner of the toy.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, that portion of the adapter which is intended to be connected to the second toy article comprises a projection and a recess adapted to the projection. It is clear that with this configuration, the two toy articles can easily be connected to each other and that it is possible to exert a sufficient force or torque on the fastener or fasteners. If, furthermore, the projection is wedge-shaped, when the connection is made, the adapters will lock so that the adapter of one toy article will remain attached to the other toy article, after which each fastener will break away and may be released therefrom at a later stage.

It is recommended that the adapter be connected to the handle or to the fastener by means of a one-time snap connection. Such a snap connection can be easily realized and can only be broken by visible and permanent damage to at least one of the parts involved in the connection.

In one preferred embodiment of the toy article of the present invention, the adapter is a cylindrical portion for mounting, respectively, in the cylindrical chamber of the holder. In such an embodiment, the generated torque can be transferred efficiently to the fastener. In another embodiment of the toy article according to the invention, the cylindrical part may have a handle, whereby the fixation of the intermediate piece in the cylindrical chamber is obtained.

PL 196 852 B1

In another embodiment of the toy article, a fastener, preferably a pin, may be attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical chamber.

Moreover, it is advantageous to have some play between the adapter and the fastener, also the pin. Since said play allows a certain freedom of movement between adjacent or surrounding parts, it is advisable to check that the toy article has not undergone any changes before the start of the game or competition, for example by gluing an adapter and a holder.

It is preferred that the toy article of the present invention be marked on the handle and / or on the adapter, preferably in the form of letters or pictograms, which indicia may be made invisible until the fastener is damaged.

Toy articles made in accordance with the present invention can form collections aimed at a certain number of consumers of consumer products, also for use by participants in games or demonstrations.

The present invention will be explained in detail in two embodiments, shown in the drawing, where Fig. 1 shows two identical break-off keys made according to the present invention just before they are joined, Fig. 2 shows a detail of the break-off keys of Fig. 1 after their connection has been broken. Fig. 3A is a top view of the second breakaway key in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 3B is a side view of the breakaway key of Fig. 3A, and Fig. 3C is a front view of the breakaway key of Fig. 3A.

The first break-off key 1 and the second break-off key 2 shown in Fig. 1 are identical. Break-off keys 1, 2 include a handle 3, in this case key-shaped, for venting the central heating system. The upper side of the handle 3 of the breakaway key 1 is flat and thin, but its thickness increases downwards (to the right in Fig. 1) where it forms a hollow cylindrical portion 4 that defines a cylindrical chamber 5. The intermediate piece 6 is housed in a cylindrical chamber 5 The intermediate element 6, which can be called a coupling, has a cylindrical part 7, the outer diameter of which is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical chamber 5. The central axis of symmetry of the cylindrical part 7 of the intermediate element 6 coincides substantially with the central axis of the cylindrical chamber 5.

The underside of the adapter 6 is intended to be connected to an adapter 6 'of a second break-off key 2. Both intermediate members 6, 6' have a projection 9, 9 'and a corresponding recess 8, 8', respectively. Break-off key 1 can easily be connected to break-off key 2 by inserting the projection 9 into the recess 8 ', the projection 9' being simultaneously plugged into the recess 8.

In addition, the break-off key 1 has a fastener or breakout pin 10 which is attached to the bottom of the cylindrical chamber 5. The breakaway pin 10 comprises a wedge bead 11, at its end facing outward from the bottom of the cylindrical chamber 5 having a right-angled edge. Moreover, the intermediate piece 6 is provided with a recess 12 on its upper side for receiving a breakout pin 10. The recess 12 has a right-angled edge 13 which engages with the right-angled edge of the wedge bead 11, thus forming a snap fit. The formation of the above-mentioned snap-fit connection can be facilitated by providing the recess 12 with a sloping wall 14.

Figure 2 shows the cylindrical chambers 5, 5 'and the intermediates 6, 6' in a bonded state and a torque is applied to the connection between the intermediates 6, 6 'with one or both of the lugs 3, 3' shown in Figure 1. This moment produced a force at the root of the breakout pin 10 'higher than that of the pin 10' at this point. As a result, the pin 10 'was sheared off and the break-off key 2 was permanently visibly damaged.

Since the projections 9, 9 'are wedge-shaped, the intermediate piece 6' of the second break-off key 2 remained clamped in the intermediate piece 6 of the first break-off key 1, so that the intermediate piece 6 'can be removed from the cylindrical chamber 5' by pulling the break-off keys 1 apart. and 2 in the direction of their previously mentioned axes of symmetry.

The strength of the pins 10 and 10 'can be varied in several ways. For example, the radial distance of breakout pin 10 may define the degree of conversion of the exerted torsional moment into a shear force at the root of breakout pin 10. The closer to the axis of symmetry.

In the cylindrical chamber 5 the pin 10 is placed, the greater the shear force at the root of the pin 10 resulting from the applied moment will be, and the faster the pin 10 will "yield".

The breaking strength of the pin can be further adjusted by changing its thickness or by adding to the key's breakable material which changes or increases the strength properties of the material. Moreover, in practice it turned out that break-off keys produced in an identical manner and from identical materials showed significant differences in strength. These differences were probably due to the performance tolerances.

Figures 3A-3C show a second embodiment of a toy article according to the present invention, i.e. a second type of breakaway key 31 having a disk handle 32. The disk holder 32 includes an opening 33 with which a user can attach one or more breakaway keys 31 to a string. or a keychain. In such an embodiment, the handle 32 has a relatively large surface that can be used to contain pictures or text.

Break-off key 31 also includes a hollow cylindrical portion 34 which has a cylindrical chamber 35. Within the cylindrical chamber 35 there is an adapter 36 adapted to engage an identical adapter, for example a second break-away spanner (not shown) which is identical to the first. a breakaway key 31. The intermediate element 36 is connected by a snap connection to a breakout pin 37 which is provided at the bottom of the cylindrical chamber 35. A notch 38 is provided in the wall of the hollow cylindrical part 34 at the location of the location of the breakout pin 37. A design of this type makes it possible to make a breakaway pin 37. key 31 in a simple and precise manner, since the thickness of the shear pin 37 can be easily adjusted in the mold by means of the movable part of the mold in which the break-off key 31 is made. Depending on the degree of recess of this movable part, for example during an injection molding operation, the result is the pin will be thicker or thinner, and therefore stronger or weaker.

The toy articles of the present invention can be made of various materials, with the use of polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyester or polyolefins being preferred. It is also conceivable to apply an edible material such as sugar to one or more parts thereof.

The toy article of the present invention can be manufactured in various forms and / or colors, which can, for example, serve as an indication of the force or moment at which the connecting element forming part of the toy article will deform.

In view of the foregoing, it is evident that the toy article of the present invention allows for a wide variety of games and professions. Thus, one may consider an event where the toy article is, for example, distributed nationwide, for example by adding the toy article to crispbags or corn flake boxes, in which competition, on a designated date, anyone who believes that has a very strong specimen, can participate in the finals.

In addition, the holder and / or the intermediate piece of the toy article in question can function as a collector's item, in particular if it is made in a particular color or provided with pictures or text. Furthermore, the toy article, or a particular part thereof, may function as a kind of coupon, where, for example, ten pieces may be replaced with a bottle of mineral drink or a tube of toothpaste.

The handle and / or the adapter may also be provided with a symbol, such as a letter or pictogram. Thus, the owner of several toy articles, each with a letter whose letters together form the word "BACKPACK", for example, could be able to exchange these toy articles for an actual backpack. It is preferred that the symbols are invisible until the fastener is damaged.

Combinations of colors and pictures could be used to give the handles a meaning to the elements of a board game to which the toy merchandise distributor could supply the boards.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawing, and may differ therefrom in several ways which do not depart from the scope of the invention, the protection of which is provided by the claims.

Thus, the present toy article may be added to packages of crisps, corn flakes, chewing gum, washing powder or other goods. It is also possible to fit the adapter inside a closure (cap or cap) of a beverage bottle, the bottle closure being able to function as a holder for the toy article. Of course, it is also possible to sell the toy article in question itself separately.

Claims (12)

Patent claims 1.A toy item, constituting a collector's item and / or for use in games, containing a handle, characterized by the fact that the pnśrkOoi element (6, 36) is pnśrkOoi (6, 36). the handle (3, 32) pnpraea the ałącaoy element (10, 37), the onrayotia (10, 37), exfoliating under the influence of drilled syphilis or narntnweg moth. 2. Art zaCawko-ski wweOuu zacktr. /, zznmieenn this, żccaś elemeetu ppSreeoieeg (6, 33) prayotnonwcoc On pnłącaeoic a Orugim crtyOułem acacwOcroOim (2, 31), mc Ooatcłt prayktnonwcoy On łącaeoic a acocOoicanre, 36 3. Arty ^ i zaCawko-sOi wkeOub z-krz. 3, with znmieenn that ccaś / lemmeki epSreeoieeg (Q, 366 On pnłącaeoic a Orugim crtyOułem acacwOcroOim (2, 31) pnoic 4. Artwork acacwOcroO and service acotra. The method of claim 3, wherein the protrusion (9 ') mc Ooatcłt Olioc. 5. A toy article according to the 1, in that at least a portion of the element (10, 37) is complete (10, 37). 6. ArtikolzaCawkorsOiwkełub ζ — Οιζ. 3, changed. ż 3PSrseoi (6, 336 j osOppłącanoy and elemeot ałącaoym (10, 37) ac pnmnca jeOonrcanwegn pnłącaeo actracoOnwegn. 7. The article of toys weełuu zantts. The method of claim 1, characterized in that elemere ροΙ ^ Ιοι (Q, 36) has a part cylioOiycaoą (7), Olc acmncnwcoic in the cylioOrycaoej Onmnrae (5, 35) of the handle (3, 32). 8. ArtykołzaCawko-sOiwkełubzantrz. 1, changed. ccaęś eclineOyycoą (7), Olc acmncnwcoic in the cylioOrycaoej Onmnrae (5, 35) of the pnśreOoiegn element (6, 36). 9. ArtykoU praktko-sOi weełuu zantts. 1, variable in that elt ^ r ^^ r ^ t ζ- £ ^ ο ^^ - ^ οι ((0, 37) josk acmncnwcny On the inner row of the figure of Onmnry (5, 35). 10. ArtykołzaCawko-sOiwkełub ζ — Οζ. 3, changed. 3Pmięoelemekt epOrekOim (6, 36) and ałać element (10, 37) iotnie lua. 11. Article Cawko-s0iwkub 3— ^. 3, changed. 3ż 3bywkk / (, 33) j / iuu 3lemekt / pśreOni (6, 36) mc ncnieoinne nanccaenie, Onrayotka liternwe lua piOtngrcm. 12. Arrykt.b toy-sOi wekO-iu zantts. 11, characterized by the fact that the ubiquitous unconvention of the moment uoaOaenic an alliance element (10, 37).