A toy gearbox

Abstract

A cam element (1) comprising a central axle hub (2) defining an axis of rotation (3) and a cam (4) extending at least partially about axle hub (2) and the axis of rotation (3) and where the axle hub (2) extends between opposite ends (5, 6) each having a spline hole (7, 8) with internal spline or splines 9 adapted for insertion of a spline shaft with complementary splines, and wherein the spline holes (7, 9) are coaxial and angular offset with respect to each other so that the spline or splines (9) inside one spline hole (7) are not aligned with the spline or splines (9) inside the other spline hole (8).

Description

[0001] Title:

[0002] A toy gearbox

[0003] The prior art:

[0004] The present invention relates to a toy construction set with a cam element, the cam element comprising a central axle hub defining an axis of rotation and a cam extending at least partially about axle hub and the axis of rotation and where the axle hub extends between opposite ends each having a spline hole with internal spline or splines adapted for insertion of a spline shaft with complementary splines.

[0005] Toy construction sets with cam elements of this type is known from US patent application no. 2020 / 0330893.

[0006] This document discloses such a cam element used in a toy gearbox comprising a gear support construction having gear shaft rotatably supported by the gear support construction and having at least one spline and a gear wheel rotatably arranged on the gear shaft, and where the gear wheel is connected to a first clutch member rotatably arranged on the gear shaft, and a second clutch member comprising a driving ring being fixed against rotation about and slidably arranged on the gear shaft and comprising a guide member and at least one claw clutch for selectively engaging or disengaging with the first clutch member and thereby engaging or disengaging the gear wheel from rotating along with the gear shaft, and where a gear shifter is used engaging with the guide member of the axially slidable driving ring and being configured for axially sliding the second clutch member on the gear shaft.

[0007] Especially in use with toy construction sets the use of gear elements are used for the purpose of enabling the user to construct different designs of gearboxes and to employ such gear boxes in different construction, such as vehicles of different types.

[0008] Another example of such a gearbox is known from US patent no. 5687610 that discloses such a gear box having a gearshifter mechanism arranged for the purpose of giving the user the option of building a stickshift transmission for eg. a toy vehicle.

[0009] The object of the invention:

[0010] On this background it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a cam element giving the user even more different options for building constructions, such as toy gearboxes with different functionality.

[0011] This is obtained by the invention according to claim 1 defining that the spline holes are coaxial and angular offset with respect to each other so that the spline or splines inside one spline hole are not aligned with the spline or splines inside the other spline hole.

[0012] Thereby the cam element provides a different functionality in dependence of its orientation in a construction.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment the spline holes each have four splines each spline being arranged equidistantly with respect to neighboring splines.

[0014] The spline or splines of one spline hole are preferably offset with an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the spline or splines of the other spline hole. In one embodiment the cam forms an axial cam comprising an outer casing with an annular cam groove extending equidistantly and with a varying axial inclination with respect to the axis of rotation.

[0015] In this relation the cam groove preferably extends continuously around the axle hub.

[0016] The cam element is advantageously employed in a toy gearbox comprising at least one such cam element, and where the toy gearbox further comprises: a gear support construction; at least one gear shaft rotatably supported by the gear support construction and having at least one spline; at least one gear wheel rotatably arranged on the gear shaft; a first clutch half being attached to the gear wheel and rotatably arranged on the gear shaft; a second clutch half comprising a driving ring being fixed against rotation about and slidably arranged on the gear shaft, and comprising a guide member and at least one claw clutch for selectively engaging or disengaging with the first clutch half and thereby engaging or disengaging the gear wheel from rotating along with the gear shaft; a gear shifter axle with a spline end, the gear shifter axle being rotatably mounted in the gear support construction about the axis of rotation, wherein the spline end of the gear shifter axle extend into one of the spline holes on the cam element, and the guide member on the axially slidable driving ring is connected with the cam on the cam element, so that rotation of the gear shifter axle causes the cam to rotate and thereby the driving ring and the second clutch half to slide axially on the gear shaft.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the guide member comprises an annular guide groove, and the cam forms an axial cam comprising an outer casing with an annular cam groove extending equidistantly and with a varying axial inclination with respect to the axis of rotation, and where the cam is connected to the annular guide groove via a cam follower.

[0018] The cam follower may advantageously comprise a shifting fork having two fork legs extending into the annular guide groove on opposite sides of the driving ring.

[0019] In this relation, the cam follower may advantageously be slidably mounted on a cam follower axle extending parallel with the gear shifter axle.

[0020] It is apparent to the skilled person that the present invention provides the option of constructing various different designs of gearboxes. As an example a toy gearbox advantageously only comprising only two identical cam elements may provide four different designs with the two cam elements arranged to rotate about the axis of rotation, and where the two identical cam elements are mutually interconnected via a connection axle having one spline end connected to one and another spline end connected to the other of the two identical cam elements, where the spline on the ends of the connection axle are aligned with each other.

[0021] Preferably the toy gearbox further comprises a two way ratchet mechanism with an indexing element having a number of teeth extending from a central hub being attached against rotation with respect to the gear shifter axle, and where the two way ratchet mechanism further comprises a gear selector mechanism adapted for causing the indexing element to rotate about the axis of rotation in increments corresponding to the number of teeth.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment the teeth on the indexing element extend radially from the central hub.

[0023] In an especially simple embodiment suitable for toys the gear shifter axle and the spline holes each have four splines (such as cross axles that are generally used in prior art construction sets), and where the indexing element have eight teeth.

[0024] The drawing:

[0025] In the following one or more embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail and with reference to the drawing, where:

[0026] Fig. 1 : Is a perspective view of a cam element according to the prior art.

[0027] Fig. 2: Is a perspective view of a cam element according to the present invention.

[0028] Fig. 3: Is a cross section through the cam element shown in figure 2.

[0029] Fig. 4: Is a perspective view of an assembly comprising two identical cam elements as shown in figure 2 and 3.

[0030] Fig. 5 Is a principle drawing showing a perspective view of an gearbox assembly with two identical cam elements as shown in figure 2 and 3. Fig. 6: Is a principle drawing showing more details of the gearbox as shown in figure 5.

[0031] Fig. 7: Is a principle drawing showing an embodiment of an indexing element with a gear selector mechanism.

[0032] Description of exemplary embodiments:

[0033] Figure 1 shows a cam element 1 according to the prior art. The cam element 1 is used as a construction element in prior art toy construction sets and it comprises a central axle hub 2 defining an axis of rotation 3 and an outer casing 10 with a cam 4 extending about the axle hub 2 and the axis of rotation 3 and where the axle hub extends between opposite ends 5, 6 (only one end 5 is visible in the figure) and spline holes 7, 8 extend from each opposite end 5, 6 and forms a through hole extending all the way between the opposite ends 5, 6 The spline holes 7, 8 are both provided with four splines 9 adapted for insertion of a spline shaft, such as a cross axle provided with four complementary splines so that it can be extended all through the axle hub 2.

[0034] Figure 2 and 3 shows a cam element 1 in an embodiment according to the present invention. Very similar to the prior art cam element shown in figure 1 this cam element 1 comprises a central axle hub 2 defining an axis of rotation 3 and a cam 4 extending as a continuous annular groove in the outer casing 10 and about the axle hub 2 and the axis of rotation 3. The axle hub extends between opposite ends 5, 6. According to the invention, however, the first spline hole 7 has four splines and extend into the end 6 and the second spline hole 8 also have four splines and extend into the opposite end 5. The spline holes 7, 8 are mutually coaxial and angular offset with respect to each other so that the splines 9 inside one spline hole 5 are not aligned with the splines 9 inside the other spline hole 6. In this embodiment the spline holes 7, 8 each have four splines 9 each spline 9 being arranged equidistantly with respect to its neighboring splines, and the splines 9 in one spline hole 7, are arranged offset with an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the splines 9 in the other spline hole 8.

[0035] By using two of the cam elements 1 as shown in figure 2 and 3 the user can e.g. construct a number of different gear shifting drums such as the one shown in figure 4 where the two cam elements each are provided with a gear shifter axle 11 and interconnected via a connection axle 12. In this embodiment, the two cam elements are oriented opposite to each other and this gear shifting drum can thereby be used for shifting gears in a suitably designed gearbox.

[0036] The cam elements may also be oriented the same way such as shown in figure 5 and 6, where the gear shifter drum is employed in a gearbox assembly where the gear axle 13 rotatably mounted in a support construction 15 (The gear support construction is in this figure illustrated only with punctured lines, and without the gear shifter axle and the connection axle shown in figure 4).

[0037] The gear shaft 13 is provided with a set of gear wheels 14 each being rotatably arranged on the gear shaft 13, and a first clutch half 16 being attached to the gear wheel 14 and rotatably arranged on the gear shaft 13.

[0038] Next to the gear wheel 14 is arranged a second clutch half 17 comprising a driving ring 18 being fixed against rotation about and slidably arranged on the gear shaft 13 and comprising a guide member 19 and at least one claw clutch for selectively engaging or disengaging with the first clutch half 16 and thereby engaging or disengaging the gear wheel 14 from rotating along with the gear shaft 13. The gearbox further comprises a cam follower 20 with a projection 22 connected with the cam groove on the cam element 1 , and the cam follower 20 is slidably arranged on a cam follower axle 23 and as it further comprises a shifting fork 21 with two fork legs that engages with the annular guide groove 19 then rotation of the gear shifter axle will cause the cam to rotate and thereby the driving ring and the second clutch half to slide axially on the gear shaft.

[0039] Figure 6 shows the same gearbox construction as shown in figure 5 but without axles and the supporting structure. In this figure the cam elements 1 are, however, rotated so that the first clutch half 16 and the second clutch half 17 are moved into an interlocking engagement with each other so that the gear wheel 14 is forced to rotate with the gear shaft 13

[0040] Figure 7 discloses a two-way ratchet mechanism with an indexing element 24 having eight teeth 25 extending radially from a central hub 26 that can be mounted in the gearbox shown in figure 5 and 6. The indexing element 24 can be mounted on either the gear shifter axle 11 or the connection axle 12 so that it is forced to rotate along with the gear shifter axle. The two way ratchet mechanism further comprises a gear selector mechanism 27 adapted for causing the indexing element 24 to rotate about the axis of rotation in increments corresponding to the number of teeth 25.

[0041] It will be apparent to the skilled person that the present invention provides the option for the user to build many different constructions, such as gearboxes, by using two or more identical cam elements. Furthermore the skilled person will recognize that the size and shape of the cam 4 may be designed different from the one disclosed above. As an example of this the principle of having offset splines in the axle hub 2 may also be implemented in the prior art cam element shown in figure 1 .

Claims

Claims:1 . A toy construction set comprising a cam element, the cam element comprising a central axle hub defining an axis of rotation and a cam extending at least partially about axle hub and the axis of rotation and where the axle hub extends between opposite ends each having a spline hole with internal spline or splines adapted for insertion of a spline shaft with complementary splines, and wherein the spline holes are coaxial and angular offset with respect to each other so that the spline or splines inside one spline hole are not aligned with the spline or splines inside the other spline hole.

2. A toy construction set according to claim 1 , wherein the spline holes each have four splines each spline being arranged equidistantly with respect to neighboring splines.

3. A toy construction set according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spline or splines of one spline hole are offset with an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the spline or splines of the other spline hole.

4. A toy construction set according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, where the cam forms an axial cam comprising an outer casing with an annular cam groove extending equidistantly and with a varying axial inclination with respect to the axis of rotation.

5. A toy construction set according to claim 4, wherein the cam groove extends continuously around the axle hub.

6. A toy construction set according to one or more of the preceding claims, the toy construction set further comprising a toy gearbox with:a gear support construction; at least one gear shaft rotatably supported by the gear support construction and having at least one spline; at least one gear wheel rotatably arranged on the gear shaft; a first clutch half being attached to the gear wheel and rotatably arranged on the gear shaft; a second clutch half comprising a driving ring being fixed against rotation about and slidably arranged on the gear shaft and comprising a guide member and at least one claw clutch for selectively engaging or disengaging with the first clutch half and thereby engaging or disengaging the gear wheel from rotating along with the gear shaft; a gear shifter axle with a spline end, the gear shifter axle being rotatable mounted about the axis of rotation in the gear support construction, and extending parallel with the gear shaft, wherein the spline end of the gear shifter axle extend into one of the spline holes on the cam element, and the guide member on the axially slidable driving ring is connected with the cam on the cam element, so that rotation of the gear shifter axle causes the cam to rotate and thereby the driving ring and the second clutch half to slide axially on the gear shaft.

7. A toy construction set according to claim 5, wherein the guide member comprises an annular guide groove, and the cam forms an axial camcomprising an outer casing with an annular cam groove extending equidistantly and with a varying axial inclination with respect to the axis of rotation, and where the cam is connected to the annular guide groove via a cam follower.

8. A toy construction set according to claim 7, wherein the cam follower comprises a shifting fork having two fork legs extending into the annular guide groove on opposite sides of the driving ring.

9. A toy construction set according to claim 8, wherein the cam follower is slidably mounted on a cam follower axle extending parallel with the gear shifter axle.

10. A toy construction set according to one or more of the claims 6 through 9, wherein the toy gearbox comprises two identical cam elements arranged to rotate about the axis of rotation, and where the two identical cam elements are mutually interconnected via a connection axle having one spline end connected to one and another spline end connected to the other of the two identical cam elements, where the spline on the ends of the connection axle are aligned with each other.11 .A toy construction set according to one or more of the claim 6 through 10, wherein the toy gearbox further comprises a two way ratchet mechanism with an indexing element having a number of teeth extending from a central hub being attached against rotation with respect to the gear shifter axle, and where the two way ratchet mechanism further comprises a gear selector mechanism adapted for causing the indexing element to rotate about the axis of rotation in increments corresponding to the number of teeth.

12. A toy construction set according to claim 11 , wherein the teeth on the indexing element extend radially from the central hub.

13. A toy construction set according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the gear shifter axle and the spline holes each have four splines, and where the indexing element have eight teeth.

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