GB1588995A

GB1588995A - Retention of particles on a sheet

Info

Publication number: GB1588995A
Application number: GB25825/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Mettoy Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mettoy Co Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-31
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-05-07
Also published as: IT1120927B; HK3882A; IT7923125A0; FR2427505A1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE RETENTION OF ARTICLES ON A SHEET (71) We, THE METTOY COMPANY LIMITED, a British Company, of 14 Harles tone Road, Northampton NN5 7AF, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the fol lowing statement: This invention relates to the retention of articles on a sheet and is particularly, but not exclusively applicable to retaining toy models for packaging.

Previously, toy models, for example toy vehicles, have been packaged in cartons which comprise a flat base sheet of card board and a plastics cover which shrouds the model and is secured to the base sheet. Dif ficulty has, however, been experienced in positioning the models on the sheet while the plastic cover is located and attached to the sheet, and in retaining the models, par ticularly relatively heavy models, in the finished cartons.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an assembly of an article retained on a sheet, comprising holding means securing said article on an upper sur face of the sheet and having depending legs which extend through corresponding aper tures in the sheet and in a body portion of a retaining means, the body portion being located on - the lower side of the sheet, wherein said legs have respective transverse projections which project over and lie adja cent the lower surface of the body portion to hold the article on the sheet.

The article may be a toy motor cycle, in which case the legs and projections may be provided by a stand or support of the cycle.

Alternatively, the projections may be formed on a holding member having a main portion which embraces the article and out wardly directed end portions which consti tute said projections.

Two forms of assembly in accordance with the invention of an article retained on a sheet will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompany ing drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view of one form of assembly in which the article is a toy motor cycle, Figure 2 is an enlarged, exploded view of the assembly of Figure 1, but with parts omitted and cut away for clarity, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of part of the other form of assembly in which the article is a toy car.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the motor cycle has a stand 1 having legs 2 which extend downwardly from the motor cycle and elongate projections or feet 3 which extend transversely to the legs 2. The stand 1 is normally pivotable about a transverse axis of the cycle to enable the stand to be moved upwardly out of its illustrated position.

The projections 3 are inserted through complementary elongate apertures 4 in the sheet 5, which forms the base of a package or box for the motor cycle, and the wheels 6 of the motor cycle engage the upper surface of the sheet. A locating aperture 7 in the sheet joins the apertures 4.

A retainer 8 of plastics material has a main body portion 9 in the form of a disc, the portion 9 having a central locating boss 10 extending from the top surface thereof and a grippable part 11 upstanding from the opposite, lower surface thereof. Diametrically opposed apertures 12 are formed in the body portion 9, each aperture having a circumferentially extend portion or slot 13 and an elongate, radially extending portion 14 through which a projection 3 can pass.

To retain the motor cycle on the sheet the retainer 8 is positioned so that the boss 10 engages in locating aperture 7 in the sheet and the stand projections 3 are aligned respectively with the radial portions 14 of the apertures 12. The disc part is then pushed into engagement with the lower surface of sheet 5 with the projeeflons 3 protruding through the apertures 12. In this position the legs 2 of the stand 1 are circumferentially aligned respectively with the slots 13 of apertures 12 and rotation of the retainer 8 in the direction of arrow X (Figure 2) causes the legs 2 to ride in the slots 13, the feet 3 engaging the bottom surface of the body portion 9 to hold the motor cycle on the sheet.

If desired the sides of the radial aperture portions 14 may be chamfered to provide a ramp which assists in the passage of the projections 3 when the retainer is rotated.

Figure 3 illustrates how other articles, for example a toy car; may be retained on a sheet using one or more holding clips 16.

The sheet and retainer are not illustrated in Figure 3, but are substantially the same as those described above.

Each clip 16 serves the same function as the stand 1 of the motorcycle described above and comprises a body portion 17, downwardly depending legs 18 and outwardly extending projections 19 the body portion 17 is so shaped to embrace the article and hold it in place.

In use the projections 18 co-operate with apertures in the sheet and the retainer in the same way as the projections 3 of the above described assembly and further description is not needed here.

WHAT WE CLAIM.IS: 1. An assembly of an article retained on a sheet, comprising holding means securing said article on an upper surface of the sheet and having depending legs which extend through corresponding apertures in the sheet and in a body portion of a retaining means, the body portion being located on the lower side of the sheet, wherein said legs have respective transverse projections which project over and lie adjacent the lower surface of the body portion to hold the article on the sheet.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body portion has opposed aperture portions through which said projections can pass during assembly and circumferentially extending aperture portions along which the legs can ride, upon rotation of said retaining means, to bring the legs out of alignment with said opposed aperture portions and into positions adjacent the lower surface of the body portion.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the opposed aperture portions in the body portion of the retaining means are of a shape complementary to the projections.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the opposed aperture portions are located respectively at the ends of the circumferentially extending portions and extend radially outwardly therefrom.

5. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining means has a locating boss on its upper surface which co-operates with a complementary shaped aperture in the sheet to properly locate the retaining means relative to the sheet.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the aperture in the sheet which receives the boss interconnects the apertures through which the legs extend.

7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining means has a grippable portion extending from the lower surface of the body portion.

8. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the apertures in the sheet through which the legs extend are of a shape complementary to the projections.

9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the article is a toy motor cycle and the holding means comprise a stand of the motorcycle.

10. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the holding means comprise a clip having a portion which embraces the article and which interconnects the legs.

11. An assembly of an article retained on a sheet, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3 of the accompanving drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of the body portion 9 to hold the motor cycle on the sheet. If desired the sides of the radial aperture portions 14 may be chamfered to provide a ramp which assists in the passage of the projections 3 when the retainer is rotated. Figure 3 illustrates how other articles, for example a toy car; may be retained on a sheet using one or more holding clips 16. The sheet and retainer are not illustrated in Figure 3, but are substantially the same as those described above. Each clip 16 serves the same function as the stand 1 of the motorcycle described above and comprises a body portion 17, downwardly depending legs 18 and outwardly extending projections 19 the body portion 17 is so shaped to embrace the article and hold it in place. In use the projections 18 co-operate with apertures in the sheet and the retainer in the same way as the projections 3 of the above described assembly and further description is not needed here. WHAT WE CLAIM.IS:

1. An assembly of an article retained on a sheet, comprising holding means securing said article on an upper surface of the sheet and having depending legs which extend through corresponding apertures in the sheet and in a body portion of a retaining means, the body portion being located on the lower side of the sheet, wherein said legs have respective transverse projections which project over and lie adjacent the lower surface of the body portion to hold the article on the sheet.