Gearbox device for a toy as well as toy with such a gearbox device

Description

[0001] This patent application claims priority from German patent application DE 10 2023 202 136.6, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The invention relates to a gear device for a toy for holding a platform component, which defines a platform plane, on a frame device supported on the floor, which defines a support plane.

[0003] Gear mechanisms that support a platform component relative to a frame are known, for example, from forklift toy vehicles, e.g., from EP 4 023 313 A1. DE 10 2010 001 390 B3 discloses a telescopic support for a toy assembly and a toy assembly with such a telescopic support. DE 10 2012 201 191 A1 discloses a boom arm assembly for a toy loading crane. DE 10 2020 200 276 B3 discloses a rotary / lifting deflection gear for a toy vehicle.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to further develop a gear device for a toy of the type mentioned at the outset, so that play that is as realistic as possible is possible.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by a transmission device having the features specified in claim 1.

[0006] According to the invention, it was recognized that coordinated angular gears make it possible to create an angle between the platform plane and the support plane independent of a pivot angle of a pivoting movement of the transmission unit. The platform plane then remains stable in its position relative to the support plane regardless of pivoting of the transmission unit and also regardless of a telescopic position of the transmission unit. The telescopic design of the transmission unit allows not only one pivoting degree of freedom but also a further telescopic degree of freedom when positioning the platform component. The frame component can also be designed to be rotatable about a vertical axis relative to a main frame, which leads to a further rotational degree of freedom of the platform component. The platform component can be designed in particular as a work platform for a toy, in particular a toy vehicle.

[0007] The gear mechanism can be made entirely of plastic. The components of the gear mechanism can be manufactured by injection molding.

[0008] The angle between the platform plane and the support plane is independent of the swivel angle of the respective swivel movement if it does not deviate from a specified angle between the platform plane and the support plane by more than a tolerance value. This specified angle between the platform plane and the support plane can be 0°, but can in principle also have a different value if, for example, the support plane is inclined to the horizontal, e.g. for work on slopes, whereas the platform plane is to be kept horizontal. The tolerance value can be so large that in particular the approximation of small angles is met, and can therefore be 7° or 10°, for example. The tolerance value can in principle also have a different value in the range up to a maximum of 10°, which can, for example, also be less than 7°.

[0009] In particular, the gear device can be used to implement a parallelogram guide of the platform component in relation to the frame device.

[0010] Actuating elements according to claims 2 and 3 lead to an enhanced gaming experience. The telescopic actuating element and / or the pivoting actuating element can interact with an associated spur gear.

[0011] Bevel gears according to claim 4 have proven themselves.

[0012] A bevel gear transmission ratio not equal to 1 according to claim 5 can be designed such that the bevel gear of the respective transmission-side gear element is smaller than the corresponding bevel gear of the platform-side and / or frame-side gear element. The transmission unit with its associated transmission-side gear elements can then be designed comparatively compactly, resulting in an overall slim, realistic transmission unit. The bevel gear transmission ratio of the two bevel gears can have the same value.

[0013] A design of the transmission unit according to claim 6 can be manufactured cost-effectively as a plastic component, particularly by injection molding. The transmission element can be fixed to the gear element of the respective bevel gear by molding, e.g., by injection molding. The respective transmission-side gear element is then molded onto the respective transmission element. The linear guide enables the transmission elements to be telescopically adjusted relative to each other. Due to the anti-twist nature of the linear guide, the functionality of both bevel gears is maintained despite the telescopic adjustment.

[0014] A linear guide according to claim 7 can be realized with comparatively little effort.

[0015] This applies in particular to a linear guide according to claim 8.

[0016] An overload protection device according to claim 9 prevents damage to the transmission device in the event of an overload occurring in particular on the platform component or on the transmission unit.

[0017] An overload protection device according to claim 10 is structurally simple to implement. When an overload occurs, the preload force of the preload spring is overcome, so that the two gear elements are released from each other for as long as the overload is present, thus no longer meshing with each other.

[0018] The advantages of a toy according to claim 11 correspond to those explained above with reference to the transmission device. The toy can be a toy vehicle. The toy can be a toy crane. The transmission unit can then be designed as a lifting arm, and the platform component can then be designed as a work platform.

[0019] The toy may be made entirely of plastic. The components may be injection-molded.

[0020] An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a toy vehicle with a gear mechanism for holding a platform component in the form of a work platform on a frame device in the form of the vehicle frame, which is supported on the ground, wherein the platform component is shown in a lowered position, wherein a transmission unit between two angle gears of the gear mechanism is shown in a retracted, telescopic position; Fig. 2 shows, again in perspective, the gear mechanism according to claim 1, wherein partially invisible internal details, in particular of the transmission unit between the two angle gears of the gear mechanism are visible; Fig. 3 shows a Fig. 2similar representation of the gear device with in comparison to the Figures 1 and 2 raised platform component; Fig. 4 in one of the Figures 2 and 3 similar representation a detailed representation of the gear device in the area of ​​a first, frame-side angle gear; Fig. 5 in a Figures 2 and 3 similar representation a detailed representation of the gear device in the area of ​​a second, platform-side angle gear; and Fig. 6 in a Fig. 3 similar representation of the transmission device with telescopically extended transmission unit.

[0021] A toy in the form of a toy vehicle 1 is designed as a toy crane with a platform component 2 in the form of a work platform. When the toy vehicle 1 is parked flat, the work platform provides a horizontal platform level 3, which Fig. 1 is indicated.

[0022] The platform component 2 is mounted on a frame device 4 of a crane assembly of the toy vehicle 1, which in turn is designed to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the vehicle frame of the toy vehicle 1. The frame device 4 is supported on the ground via the vehicle frame, so that a support plane 5 is defined via the frame device 4.

[0023] A gear device 6 is used to hold the platform component 2 to the frame device 4.

[0024] The transmission device 6 has a first, frame-side angular gear 7 (see Figures 2ff.). This serves to transmit a pivoting movement between a frame component 8 of the frame device 4, designed as a fork support, and a transmission unit 9 of the transmission device 6, designed as a lifting arm. The transmission unit 9 is arranged between the frame component 8 and the platform component 2.

[0025] Furthermore, the transmission device 6 has a second, platform-side angular gear 10 (see Figures 2ff.). The latter serves to transmit a pivoting movement between the transmission unit 9 and the platform component 2.

[0026] The two angular gears 7, 10 are coordinated such that the angle between the platform level 3 and the support level 5 is independent of the swivel angle α, β of the respective swivel movement. This angle between the two levels 3, 5, which run horizontally when the toy vehicle 1 is standing on a level surface, is 0°. This (default) angle between the two levels 3, 5 can also have a value other than 0°, e.g., 10° or another value, which is then also independent of the swivel angle α, β of the respective swivel movement.

[0027] The angle between planes 3 and 5 is independent of the swivel angle α, β of the respective swivel movement if it deviates from the (specified) angle between the planes by no more than one tolerance value. The tolerance value can be, for example, 7° or 10°.

[0028] Due to this coordination between the frame component 8 and the platform component 2, the two angular gears 7, 10 create a parallelogram guide.

[0029] The transmission unit 9 is arranged between the two angle gears 7, 10 and is designed to be telescopic.

[0030] The gear device 6 has a telescopic actuating element 11 for specifying a length of the transmission unit 9 between the two angular gears 7, 10 and thus for specifying a distance between the two angular gears 7, 10. The telescopic actuating element 11 is designed as a knurled wheel with spur gearing that can be actuated by a player for interaction with an outer transmission element 12 of the transmission unit 9.

[0031] Furthermore, the transmission device has a pivoting actuating element 13 for specifying the pivoting angle α between the transmission unit 9 and the frame component 8 and thus for specifying an angle between a longitudinal axis 14 of the transmission unit 9 and the support plane 5.

[0032] The pivoting actuating element 13 is in turn designed as a knurled wheel that can be actuated by a playing person and that interacts with a spur gear, which in turn engages an outer transmission element 15 of a pivoting unit 16 of the gear device 1, which in turn is designed to be telescopic.

[0033] The two angular gears 7, 10 are each designed as bevel gears. A bevel gear ratio of the two angular gears between a transmission-side gear element 17, 18 on the one hand and a platform-side gear element 19 and a frame-side gear element 20 on the other hand is not equal to 1. This bevel gear ratio of the two angular gears 7, 10 is always the same. This results in the angle between the planes 3, 5 being independent of the pivot angles α, β.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the gear ratio of the spur gears 7 and 10 is 1:2. The number of teeth of the platform-side gear unit 19 and the frame-side gear unit 20 is exactly half the number of teeth of the transmission-side gear elements 17 and 18.

[0035] The bevel gear ratio of the two angular gears 7, 10 can also be equal to 1 in an alternative design of the gear device.

[0036] The telescopic actuating element 11 interacts with a complementary toothed rack, which is firmly connected to the outer transmission element 12. In addition to the outer transmission element 12, on which the transmission-side gear element 18 of the platform-side angular gear 10 is mounted or fixed, the transmission unit 9 also has an inner transmission element 21 (see in particular Fig. 6), to which the transmission-side gear element 17 of the frame-side bevel gear 7 is fixed. The gear element 18 is injection-molded onto the outer transmission element 12. The gear element 17 is injection-molded onto the inner transmission element 21.

[0037] The two transmission elements 12, 21 of the transmission unit 9 are connected in a rotationally secure manner to one another along a connecting axis between the two angular gears 7, 10, i.e. along the longitudinal axis 14, via a linear guide 22 (cf. Fig. 6 ) stored.

[0038] The linear guide 22 is formed by an outer contour of the inner transmission element 21 that deviates from rotational symmetry about the connecting axis 14 and by a complementary inner contour of the outer transmission element 12 that again deviates from rotational symmetry about the connecting axis 14. The outer contour of the inner transmission element 21 on the one hand and the inner contour of the outer transmission element 12 on the other hand are each rectangular and, in the illustrated embodiment, square.

[0039] The platform-side angular gear 10 is equipped with an overload protection device 23 (cf. Fig. 5 ). The latter has a preload spring 24, which presses the platform-side gear element 19 against the transmission-side gear element 18 in the direction of the force arrow 25 in the Fig. 5When an overload occurs, this preload force 25 of the preload spring 24 is overcome in the opposite direction (force arrow 26), so that the two gear elements 18, 19 are released from each other, i.e., they no longer mesh with each other, as long as the overload is present.

[0040] During play, the respective swivel angle α can be specified by actuating the swivel actuating element 13. Regardless of this swivel angle α, the platform plane 3 remains parallel to the support plane 5, thus also remaining horizontal when the support plane 5 is horizontal, regardless of the swivel angle α.

[0041] In addition, the distance between the two angular gears 7, 10, i.e. a crane arm length of the work platform boom or lifting arm formed by the transmission unit 9, can be specified via the telescopic actuating element 11.

[0042] Due to the additional pivoting possibility of the frame component 8 around the vertical axis, the work platform 2 can be freely positioned within a specific working area around the frame of the toy vehicle 1.

Claims

1. Transmission device (6) for a toy for holding a platform component (2), which defines a platform plane (3), on a frame device (4) supported on the floor and defining a support plane (5), - comprising a first, frame-side angular transmission (7) for transmitting a swivel movement between a frame component (8) of the frame device (4) and a transmission unit (9) between the frame component (8) and the platform component (2), - comprising a second, platform-side angular transmission (10) for transmitting a swivel movement between the transmission unit (9) and the platform component (2), - wherein the two angular transmissions (7, 10) are mutually coordinated in such a way that an angle between the platform plane (3) and the support plane (5) is independent of a swivel angle (α, β) of the associated swivel movement, - wherein the transmission unit (9) is arranged between the two angular transmissions (7, 10) and is designed telescopic.

2. Transmission device according to claim 1, characterised by a telescopic actuating element (11) for specifying a length of the transmission unit (9) and thus a distance between the two angular transmissions (7, 10).

3. Transmission device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised by a swivel actuating element (13) for specifying an angle between the transmission unit (9) and the support plane (5).

4. Transmission device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the two angular transmissions (7, 10) are each designed as a bevel transmission.

5. Transmission device according to claim 4, characterised in that a bevel gear transmission ratio of the two angular transmissions (7, 10), in each case between a transmission-side transmission element (17, 18) on the one hand and a platform-side transmission element (19) and a frame-side transmission element (20) on the other hand, is not equal to 1.

6. Transmission device according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the transmission unit (9) - has an inner transmission element (21) fixed on a transmission element (17) of one of the two angular transmissions (7), and - has an outer transmission element (12) fixed on a transmission element (18) of the other of the two angular transmissions (10), - the transmission elements (21, 12) for telescoping the transmission unit (9) being mounted torque-proof relative to one another along a connecting axis (14) between the two angular transmissions (7, 10), via a linear guide (22).

7. Transmission device according to claim 6, characterised in that the linear guide (26) is formed by - an outer contour of the inner transmission element (21) which deviates from rotational symmetry about the connecting axis (14) and - an inner contour of the outer transmission element (12), complementary to this outer contour, which deviates from rotational symmetry (14).

8. Transmission device according to claim 7, characterised in that the outer contour and the inner contour are rectangular.

9. Transmission device according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that at least one of the angular transmissions (7, 10) is designed with an overload protection device (23).

10. Transmission device according to claim 9, characterised in that the overload protection device (23) has a bias spring (24) which biases the platform-side transmission element (19) and / or the frame-side transmission element (20) against the transmission-side transmission element (17, 18).

11. Toy (1) comprising a transmission device according to any of claims 1 to 10.