US3389495A - Plastic axle keepers for use on toy vehicles - Google Patents

Plastic axle keepers for use on toy vehicles Download PDF

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US3389495A
US3389495A US516958A US51695865A US3389495A US 3389495 A US3389495 A US 3389495A US 516958 A US516958 A US 516958A US 51695865 A US51695865 A US 51695865A US 3389495 A US3389495 A US 3389495A
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keeper
axle
support
slot
bearing
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US516958A
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Robert L Cremer
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King Seeley Thermos Co
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King Seeley Thermos Co
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63HTOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H17/00Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor
    • A63H17/26Details; Accessories
    • A63H17/262Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis

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  • This invention relates to plastic axle keepers for use on toy vehicles, the principal advantages derived therefrom being, first of all, greater economy and greater durability, and secondly, saving in cost of assembling from the standpoint that these keepers make possible and practical the preliminary assembly of the wheels on the axles before the axles are assembled in the slots provided there for in the chassis.
  • the axle has bearing contact in half-round bearing recesses provided therefor in coaxially aligned relation in the flanges on opposite sides of the chassis, the recesses being at the inner ends of the vertical slots that are provided in the lower edge portions of the flanges, so that the only function for the plastic keepers is to hold the axle in place in the recess and to deaden the sound when the toy vehicle is banged on the floor, these keepers being adapted to be assembled on the chassis in any one of four ways:
  • the keeper which preferably has abutment with the inner side of the flange on the chassis, fastened to the flange suitably by means of integral studs provided on and projecting from the opposite ends of the keeper and adapted to be forced through registering holes in the flange and retained against displacement by means of heads provided on the outer ends thereof, which project from the outer side of the flange, the middle portion of the keeper having a half-round hearing portion provided thereon at the lower end of a vertical slot, so that the axle can be entered in the keeper through the slot and the bearing thereon can engage in a vertical slot provided therefor in the bottom portion of the flange under the axle bearing;
  • Another way is to have a one-piece keeper that is vertically grooved on the periphery at both ends to receive portions of the flange on opposite sides of the vertical slot in the lower portion of the flange, the slot having notches provided therein on opposite sides of the entrance portion into which laterally projecting lugs defined in the grooves in the keeper are arranged to be engaged to retain the keeper on the flange holding the axle in its half-round bearing recess provided in the flange at the inner end of r the slot;
  • the third way is to have the one-piece keeper slotted vertically at the middle to accommodate the axle and hold the same in its half-round bearing recess in the flange, there being a half-round bearing portion provided on the keeper to bear against the lower half of the axle and be received in a vertical slot provided therefor in the lower portion of the flange, the keeper having inwardly and upwardly projecting hook-shaped lugs on its opposite ends to receive the lower edge portion of the flange on opposite sides of the slot while other lugs projecting at right angles from the upper portion of the keeper and arranged to be forced through slots provided in the flange serve to lock the keeper firmly in place against displacement, and
  • a fourth way is to provide a one-piece substantially square sheet form of keeper adapted to be wrapped around the lower edge portion of the flange, the same being slotted inwardly from opposed edges to accommodate the axle and arranged to be locked to the flange by proice jecting studs provided on one half that engage through holes in the flange and through holes in the other half to lock the keeper firmly in place in a manner similarly as in the first and third forms.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a toy vehicle chassis looking at the bottom thereof and illustrating how an axle is retained by a one-piece plastic keeper made in accordance with my invention and engaging the axle from below to hold the axle firmly in place while providing bearing contact with the lower half thereof, the keeper being secured to the flange by means of headed studs provided on the keeper and pressed through holes provided in the flange on opposite sides of the slot in which the half-round bearing is provided for the upper half of the axle;
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the keeper
  • FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are, respectively, a side view, an end view, and a bottom view showing the axle keeper installed;
  • FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another axle keeper like that illustrated in side elevation in FIG. 7;
  • FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 are, respectively, a side View, an end view, and a bottom view showing the keeper of FIG. 7 installed;
  • FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 6, showing another one-piece keeper
  • FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 are, respectively, a side view, an end view, and a bottom view showing the keeper of FIG. 11 installed;
  • FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIGS. 1, 6, and 11, showing still another one-piece keeper like that illustrated in side elevation and end elevation in FIGS. 16 and 17, respectively, and
  • FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 are, respectively, a side view, an end view, and a bottom view showing the keeper of FIGS. 16 and 17 installed.
  • the reference numeral 21 designates the sheet metal chassis of a toy vehicle having longitudinally extending flanges 22 in spaced parallel relation along its opposite sides, in which generally U-shaped slots 23 are provided to accommodate the plastic axle keepers 24 of my invention to retain the axles 25 in the half-round bearing recesses 26 defined at the inner ends of the slots 23, the axles 25 having their wheels 27 mounted thereon before they reach the assembly line.
  • the axle keepers 24 are preferably of flexible resilient polyethylene, although certain rubbers or any other similar resilient flexible plastic material may be used, it being important that the keepers be expansible and compressible radially, that being necessary to enable forcing the head ends 28 of studs 29 through holes 30 in the flanges 22 and have them expand to normal size when they emerge from the holes in the fastening of the keepers 24 to the inner sides of the flanges after the half-round bearing portions 31 on the keepers have been entered in the slots 23 in engagement with the underside of the axle 25 to hold the axle in place in the half-round bearing recesses 26 at the inner ends of the slots 23.
  • the keepers 24 are slotted vertically at the middle, as indicated at 32, down to the bearing portions 31 to enable assembly over the underside of the axle 25.
  • the axles 25 come to the assembly line with the wheels 27 assembled thereon, and, in mounting the same on the chassis, the operator first places the axle in the bearing recesses 26 and then applies a keeper 24 to each of the side flanges 22 with the axle 25 passing through the slot 32 to engage in the bearing portion 31 as seen in FIG. 3, the two studs 29 on each keeper being thereafter forced through the holes 30 in the flange 22 to secure the keepers 24 in place on the inner sides of the flanges.
  • the head ends 28 of the studs expand immediately upon emerging from the holes 30 as seen in FIG. so that there is no danger of the keeper ever becoming displaced from its assembled position.
  • keepers 24a are also made of the same plastic material as the keepers 24, and the same general effect is obtained as with the plastic keepers 24.
  • keepers 24a are made generally U-shaped and are designed to be snapped into place in the notches 33 provided at the inner ends of the vertical slots 23a in flanges 22a on the chassis 21a, the notches 33 being next to the bearing recesses 26a in which the axle is engaged and the keepers 24a having lugs 34 defined on the opposite ends of the cross-portion of the T-shaped portion 35 of the body thereof, arranged to be compressed by forcing the same into the flared rounded ends 36 of the slot 23a to snap into place in the notches 33 when the keeper gets all the way in with its half-round bearing portion 31a in engagement with the underside of the axle 25.
  • the axle is entered in the keeper through the vertical slot 32a leading to the bearing portion 31a.
  • the keeper is grooved peripherally on its opposite ends, as indicated at 37, to receive the portions of flange 22a on opposite sides of the slot 23a, so that the keeper 24a is positively held against axial displacement from its assembled position on the chassis.
  • the one-piece plastic axle keepers 24b are closely similar to the keepers 24a just described, and also resemble the keepers 24 first described in so far as the bearing portions 31b on the keepers 24b are concerned, these engaging the underside of the axle 25 and serving to hold the same in the bearing recesses 26b on the flanges 22b of chassis 21b when the keepers are finally secured to the flanges.
  • Each keeper has two upwardly facing hooked-shaped lugs 38 provided on the lower edge portion thereof on opposite sides of the bearing portion 31b to receive the lower edge portion of the flange 22b, and there are also two headed horizontal lugs or studs 39 provided on the upper edge portion on opposite sides of the slot 32b arranged to be forced through slots 40 provided in the flange 22b to anchor the keeper firmly in place when the enlarged head portions 41 of the lugs 39 emerge from the slots 40.
  • FIGS. 15 to 20 The flat sheet form of wrap-around keepers 24c illustit) trated in FIGS. 15 to 20 are also of one-piece plastic construction and designed for a wrap-around assembly under the flanges 220 on chassis 21c after the axle 25 has been entered in its bearing recess 260 in the inner end of the slot 230, each keeper 240 being molded in the flat sheet form as seen in FIGS. 16 and 17 with longitudinally extending grooves 42 provided in the outer side lengthwise of the middle portion to make for easier folding along the middle portion over the longitudinal bottom edge portion of the flange 22c.
  • the slots 320 at the middle of both sides of the body of the keeper terminate in the half-round bearing portions 310 that engage the axle 25 on the lower side when the keeper is ready for anchoring to the flange by forcing the headed studs 29c that are provided on one half of the keeper through holes 30c in the flange 22c and through registering holes 43 provided in the other half of the keeper, the enlarged heads 28c on these studs being compressed to pass through the registering holes and expanding immediately upon emerging from the holes to give a very secure fastening. It is preferred to extend the studs 29c outwardly from the inner side of the flanges, as that is the more practical way, and the wheels 27 on opposite ends of the axle interfere to the smallest extent. The same results, generally speaking, are obtainable with this construction as with the other three first described.
  • An axle keeper construction for axles on toy vehicles comprising, in combination, a bearing support having a generally rectangular slot provided therein with an entrance at one edge of said support for entry of an axle therein in transverse relationship to said support, said support having a substantially semi-circular metallic bearing provided therein at the inner end of said slot to receive said axle, an axle keeper of non-metallic bearing material having a slot opening therein from one edge to a substantially semi-circular bearing portion at the inner end of said slot last named permitting application of said keeper over said axle for engagement of the axle in the bearing portion thereof, and means for securing said keeper to said support keeping said axle in place in the first mentioned bearing while preventing displacement of said keeper from assembled relationship to said support.
  • the keeper comprises an elongated body having a semi-cylindrical projection on one side thereof at the approximate middle portion in which is defined the substantially semi-circular bearing portion, said semi-cylindrical projection being received in the slot in said support next to the semi-circular bearing, the means for securing said keeper to said support being provided at opposite ends of said elongated body and comprising studs of compressible resilient material projecting at right angles from said body and adapted to be forced into holes provided therefor in said support on opposite sides of said bearing recess.
  • the keeper comprises an elongated body having a semi-cylindrical projection on one side thereof at the approximate middle portion in which is defined the substantially semi-circular bearing portion, said semicylindrical projection being received in the slot in said support next to the semicircular bearing, the means for securing said keeper to said support being provided at opposite ends of said elongated body and comprising studs of compressible resilient material projecting at right angles from said body and adapted to be forced into holes provided therefor in said support on opposite sides of said bearing recess, said studs having heads on the outer ends thereof which emerge from the holes in said support to anchor the keeper on said support.
  • the keeper comprises a generally rectangular body having a substantially semi-cylindrical projection provided on one side thereof in which is defined the substantially semi-circular bearing portion for said axle, the slot in said body being wide enough to permit entry of said semicylindrical projection therein next to the substantially semicircular bearing on said support, said support being thin in relation to the diameter of said axle, and the means for securing said keeper to said support comprises hookshaped lugs provided on said keeper on opposite sides of said semi-cylindrical projection in which an edge portion of said support on opposite sides of said slot is received for partially securing said keeper body to said support, and there being additional means for securing said keeper body to said support preventing disengagement of said support from said hook-shaped lugs.
  • the keeper comprises a generally rectangular body having a substantially semi-cylindrical projection provided on one side thereof in which is defined the substantially semi-circular bearing portion for said axle, the slot in said body being wide enough to permit entry of said semi-cylindrical projection therein next to the substantially semi-circular bearing on said support, said support being thin in relation to the diameter of said axle, and the means for securing said keeper to said support comprises hook-shaped lugs provided on said keeper on opposite sides of said semi-cylindrical projection in which an edge portion of said support on opposite sides of said slot is received for partially securing said keeper body to said support, and there being additional means for securing said keeper body to said support preventing disengagement of said support from said hook-shaped lug, said ad ditional means comprising studs of compressible material projecting at right angles from said body on opposite sides of the slot therein adapted to be forced into holes provided therefor in said support.
  • the keeper comprises a generally rectangular body having a substantially semi-cylindrical projection provided on one side thereof in which is defined the substantially semi-circular bearing portion for said axle, the slot in said body being wide enough to permit entry of said semi-cylindrical projection therein next to the substantially semi-circular bearing on said support, said support being thin in relation to the diameter of said axle, and the means for securing said keeper to said support comprises hook-shaped lugs provided on said keeper on opposite sides of said semi-cylindrical projection in which an edge portion of said support on opposite sides of said slot is received for partially securing said keeper body to said support, and there being additional means for securing said keeper body to said support preventing disengagement of said support from said hook-shaped lug, said additional means comprising studs of compressible material projecting at right angles from said body on opposite sides of the slot therein adapted to be forced into holes provided therefor in said support, said studs having heads on the outer ends
  • said keeper comprises a generally rectangular body of flexible sheet material adapted to be wrapped around an edge portion of said support closing the entrance to the slot therein, there being slots provided in said keeper body at the approximate middle of opposite sides thereof to receive said axle therein, the bearing portion on said keeper body being at the inner ends of said slots, the means for securing said keeper to said support serving to secure the opposite ends of said folded body to opposite sides of said support with the keeper in abutment with the edge portion of said support, the keeper body having a longitudinally extending groove provided therein at the middle in right angle relationship to said slots to facilitate folding of said middle portion over the edge portion of said support.

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Description

June 25, 1968 R. L. CREMER 3,339,495
PLASTIC AXLE KEEPERS FOR USE ON TOY VEHICLES Filed Dec. 28, 1965 2 sheets-sheet 1 I l I A "Ill/1 J/Wsx/m 205527 A. Caz-W59 R. L. CREMER 3,389,495
PLASTIC AXLE KEEPERS FOR USE ON TOY VEHICLES June 25, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1965 JW/a/rwe United States Patent 3,389,495 PLASTIC AXLE KEEPERS FOR USE ON TOY VEHICLES Robert L. Cremer, Freeport, lll., assignor to King-Seeley Thermos C0,, Ann Arbor, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 516,953
13 Claims. (Cl. 46221) This invention relates to plastic axle keepers for use on toy vehicles, the principal advantages derived therefrom being, first of all, greater economy and greater durability, and secondly, saving in cost of assembling from the standpoint that these keepers make possible and practical the preliminary assembly of the wheels on the axles before the axles are assembled in the slots provided there for in the chassis.
In accordance with my invention, the axle has bearing contact in half-round bearing recesses provided therefor in coaxially aligned relation in the flanges on opposite sides of the chassis, the recesses being at the inner ends of the vertical slots that are provided in the lower edge portions of the flanges, so that the only function for the plastic keepers is to hold the axle in place in the recess and to deaden the sound when the toy vehicle is banged on the floor, these keepers being adapted to be assembled on the chassis in any one of four ways:
(1) One way is to have the keeper, which preferably has abutment with the inner side of the flange on the chassis, fastened to the flange suitably by means of integral studs provided on and projecting from the opposite ends of the keeper and adapted to be forced through registering holes in the flange and retained against displacement by means of heads provided on the outer ends thereof, which project from the outer side of the flange, the middle portion of the keeper having a half-round hearing portion provided thereon at the lower end of a vertical slot, so that the axle can be entered in the keeper through the slot and the bearing thereon can engage in a vertical slot provided therefor in the bottom portion of the flange under the axle bearing;
(2) Another way is to have a one-piece keeper that is vertically grooved on the periphery at both ends to receive portions of the flange on opposite sides of the vertical slot in the lower portion of the flange, the slot having notches provided therein on opposite sides of the entrance portion into which laterally projecting lugs defined in the grooves in the keeper are arranged to be engaged to retain the keeper on the flange holding the axle in its half-round bearing recess provided in the flange at the inner end of r the slot;
(3) The third way is to have the one-piece keeper slotted vertically at the middle to accommodate the axle and hold the same in its half-round bearing recess in the flange, there being a half-round bearing portion provided on the keeper to bear against the lower half of the axle and be received in a vertical slot provided therefor in the lower portion of the flange, the keeper having inwardly and upwardly projecting hook-shaped lugs on its opposite ends to receive the lower edge portion of the flange on opposite sides of the slot while other lugs projecting at right angles from the upper portion of the keeper and arranged to be forced through slots provided in the flange serve to lock the keeper firmly in place against displacement, and
(4) A fourth way is to provide a one-piece substantially square sheet form of keeper adapted to be wrapped around the lower edge portion of the flange, the same being slotted inwardly from opposed edges to accommodate the axle and arranged to be locked to the flange by proice jecting studs provided on one half that engage through holes in the flange and through holes in the other half to lock the keeper firmly in place in a manner similarly as in the first and third forms.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a toy vehicle chassis looking at the bottom thereof and illustrating how an axle is retained by a one-piece plastic keeper made in accordance with my invention and engaging the axle from below to hold the axle firmly in place while providing bearing contact with the lower half thereof, the keeper being secured to the flange by means of headed studs provided on the keeper and pressed through holes provided in the flange on opposite sides of the slot in which the half-round bearing is provided for the upper half of the axle;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the keeper;
FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are, respectively, a side view, an end view, and a bottom view showing the axle keeper installed;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another axle keeper like that illustrated in side elevation in FIG. 7;
FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 are, respectively, a side View, an end view, and a bottom view showing the keeper of FIG. 7 installed;
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 6, showing another one-piece keeper;
FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 are, respectively, a side view, an end view, and a bottom view showing the keeper of FIG. 11 installed;
FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIGS. 1, 6, and 11, showing still another one-piece keeper like that illustrated in side elevation and end elevation in FIGS. 16 and 17, respectively, and
FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 are, respectively, a side view, an end view, and a bottom view showing the keeper of FIGS. 16 and 17 installed.
Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.
Referring to the drawings, and first to FIGS. 1 to 5, the reference numeral 21 designates the sheet metal chassis of a toy vehicle having longitudinally extending flanges 22 in spaced parallel relation along its opposite sides, in which generally U-shaped slots 23 are provided to accommodate the plastic axle keepers 24 of my invention to retain the axles 25 in the half-round bearing recesses 26 defined at the inner ends of the slots 23, the axles 25 having their wheels 27 mounted thereon before they reach the assembly line. An appreciable saving in cost of production is thereby realized and a far better grade product is also made possible in this way, as distinguished from prior constructions where the axles had to be assembled on the chassis first before the wheels could be applied to the opposite ends, or at least one end; The plastic keepers 24 are relatively cheap but they actually upgrade the final toy vehicle considerably by virtue of the sound deadening action they give, whereby to reduce if not eliminate the tinny or metallic sounds given by other toys when the wheels thereof are banged onto the floor.
The axle keepers 24 are preferably of flexible resilient polyethylene, although certain rubbers or any other similar resilient flexible plastic material may be used, it being important that the keepers be expansible and compressible radially, that being necessary to enable forcing the head ends 28 of studs 29 through holes 30 in the flanges 22 and have them expand to normal size when they emerge from the holes in the fastening of the keepers 24 to the inner sides of the flanges after the half-round bearing portions 31 on the keepers have been entered in the slots 23 in engagement with the underside of the axle 25 to hold the axle in place in the half-round bearing recesses 26 at the inner ends of the slots 23. The keepers 24 are slotted vertically at the middle, as indicated at 32, down to the bearing portions 31 to enable assembly over the underside of the axle 25.
In operation, the axles 25 come to the assembly line with the wheels 27 assembled thereon, and, in mounting the same on the chassis, the operator first places the axle in the bearing recesses 26 and then applies a keeper 24 to each of the side flanges 22 with the axle 25 passing through the slot 32 to engage in the bearing portion 31 as seen in FIG. 3, the two studs 29 on each keeper being thereafter forced through the holes 30 in the flange 22 to secure the keepers 24 in place on the inner sides of the flanges. The head ends 28 of the studs expand immediately upon emerging from the holes 30 as seen in FIG. so that there is no danger of the keeper ever becoming displaced from its assembled position. There is enough sound deadening effect obtained with these plastic axle keepers to be quite noticeable and give a welcome change from the amount of tinny or metallic sounds previously given by even the more expensive toys. The fastening of the keepers with the studs 29 is secure enough to discourage a child from trying to remove the keepers, so they remain a permanent part of the toy assembly.
In the construction shown in FIGS. 6 through the keepers 24a are also made of the same plastic material as the keepers 24, and the same general effect is obtained as with the plastic keepers 24. However, keepers 24a are made generally U-shaped and are designed to be snapped into place in the notches 33 provided at the inner ends of the vertical slots 23a in flanges 22a on the chassis 21a, the notches 33 being next to the bearing recesses 26a in which the axle is engaged and the keepers 24a having lugs 34 defined on the opposite ends of the cross-portion of the T-shaped portion 35 of the body thereof, arranged to be compressed by forcing the same into the flared rounded ends 36 of the slot 23a to snap into place in the notches 33 when the keeper gets all the way in with its half-round bearing portion 31a in engagement with the underside of the axle 25. The axle is entered in the keeper through the vertical slot 32a leading to the bearing portion 31a. The keeper is grooved peripherally on its opposite ends, as indicated at 37, to receive the portions of flange 22a on opposite sides of the slot 23a, so that the keeper 24a is positively held against axial displacement from its assembled position on the chassis. The same results are obtainable, generally speaking, with this construction as with that of FIGS. 1 to 5, namely, the sound deadening effect, and the assurance that a child cannot, without great difficulty, remove any of these keepers from the toy, so that there is every assurance of the keepers remaining permanent parts of the assembly.
Referring next to FIGS. 11 to 14, the one-piece plastic axle keepers 24b are closely similar to the keepers 24a just described, and also resemble the keepers 24 first described in so far as the bearing portions 31b on the keepers 24b are concerned, these engaging the underside of the axle 25 and serving to hold the same in the bearing recesses 26b on the flanges 22b of chassis 21b when the keepers are finally secured to the flanges. Each keeper has two upwardly facing hooked-shaped lugs 38 provided on the lower edge portion thereof on opposite sides of the bearing portion 31b to receive the lower edge portion of the flange 22b, and there are also two headed horizontal lugs or studs 39 provided on the upper edge portion on opposite sides of the slot 32b arranged to be forced through slots 40 provided in the flange 22b to anchor the keeper firmly in place when the enlarged head portions 41 of the lugs 39 emerge from the slots 40. The same results, generally speaking, are obtainable with this construction as with the other two constructions previously described.
The flat sheet form of wrap-around keepers 24c illustit) trated in FIGS. 15 to 20 are also of one-piece plastic construction and designed for a wrap-around assembly under the flanges 220 on chassis 21c after the axle 25 has been entered in its bearing recess 260 in the inner end of the slot 230, each keeper 240 being molded in the flat sheet form as seen in FIGS. 16 and 17 with longitudinally extending grooves 42 provided in the outer side lengthwise of the middle portion to make for easier folding along the middle portion over the longitudinal bottom edge portion of the flange 22c. The slots 320 at the middle of both sides of the body of the keeper terminate in the half-round bearing portions 310 that engage the axle 25 on the lower side when the keeper is ready for anchoring to the flange by forcing the headed studs 29c that are provided on one half of the keeper through holes 30c in the flange 22c and through registering holes 43 provided in the other half of the keeper, the enlarged heads 28c on these studs being compressed to pass through the registering holes and expanding immediately upon emerging from the holes to give a very secure fastening. It is preferred to extend the studs 29c outwardly from the inner side of the flanges, as that is the more practical way, and the wheels 27 on opposite ends of the axle interfere to the smallest extent. The same results, generally speaking, are obtainable with this construction as with the other three first described.
It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.
I claim:
1. An axle keeper construction for axles on toy vehicles comprising, in combination, a bearing support having a generally rectangular slot provided therein with an entrance at one edge of said support for entry of an axle therein in transverse relationship to said support, said support having a substantially semi-circular metallic bearing provided therein at the inner end of said slot to receive said axle, an axle keeper of non-metallic bearing material having a slot opening therein from one edge to a substantially semi-circular bearing portion at the inner end of said slot last named permitting application of said keeper over said axle for engagement of the axle in the bearing portion thereof, and means for securing said keeper to said support keeping said axle in place in the first mentioned bearing while preventing displacement of said keeper from assembled relationship to said support.
2. An axle keeper construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the keeper comprises an elongated body having a semi-cylindrical projection on one side thereof at the approximate middle portion in which is defined the substantially semi-circular bearing portion, said semicylindrical projecton being received in the slot in said support next to the semi-circular bearing, the means for securing said keeper to said support being provided at opposite ends of said elongated body.
3. An axle keeper construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the keeper comprises an elongated body having a semi-cylindrical projection on one side thereof at the approximate middle portion in which is defined the substantially semi-circular bearing portion, said semi-cylindrical projection being received in the slot in said support next to the semi-circular bearing, the means for securing said keeper to said support being provided at opposite ends of said elongated body and comprising studs of compressible resilient material projecting at right angles from said body and adapted to be forced into holes provided therefor in said support on opposite sides of said bearing recess.
4. An axle keeper construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the keeper comprises an elongated body having a semi-cylindrical projection on one side thereof at the approximate middle portion in which is defined the substantially semi-circular bearing portion, said semicylindrical projection being received in the slot in said support next to the semicircular bearing, the means for securing said keeper to said support being provided at opposite ends of said elongated body and comprising studs of compressible resilient material projecting at right angles from said body and adapted to be forced into holes provided therefor in said support on opposite sides of said bearing recess, said studs having heads on the outer ends thereof which emerge from the holes in said support to anchor the keeper on said support.
5. An axle keeper construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support has notches provided therein on opposite sides of said slots, the keeper being of generally U-shaped construction, the means for securing said keeper to said support comprising lugs provided on opposite sides of said keeper of compressible resilient material arranged and adapted to be forced into said notches -t secure said keeper onto said support.
6. An axle keeper construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support has notches provided therein on opposite sides of said slot, the keeper being of generally U-sh-aped construction, the means for securing said keeper to said support comprising lugs provided on opposite sides of said keeper of compressible resilient material arranged and adapted to be forced into said notches to secure said keeper onto said support, the support being thinner than said keeper and said keeper having grooves provided in the periphery thereof on opposite sides of the U in which the aforesaid lugs for entry in said notches are defined, the grooves receiving portions of said support on opposite sides of said slot to hold said keeper against axial displacement from assembled position on said support.
7. An axle keeper construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support has notches provided therein on opposite sides of said slots, the keeper being of generally U-shaped construction, the means for securing said keeper to said support comprising lugs provided on opposite sides of said keeper of compressible resilient material arranged and adapted to be forced into said notches to secure said keeper onto said support, the support being thinner than said keeper and said keeper having grooves provided in the periphery thereof on opposite sides of the U in which the aforesaid lugs for entry in said notches are defined, the grooves receiving portions of said support on opposite sides of said slot to hold said keeper against axial displacement from assembled position on said sup-port, the entrance end of the slot in said support being flared outwardly to facilitate entry and compression of said lugs in entering the keeper in the slot in said support to the point where the lugs snap into said notches.
8. An axle keeper construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the keeper comprises a generally rectangular body having a substantially semi-cylindrical projection provided on one side thereof in which is defined the substantially semi-circular bearing portion for said axle, the slot in said body being wide enough to permit entry of said semicylindrical projection therein next to the substantially semicircular bearing on said support, said support being thin in relation to the diameter of said axle, and the means for securing said keeper to said support comprises hookshaped lugs provided on said keeper on opposite sides of said semi-cylindrical projection in which an edge portion of said support on opposite sides of said slot is received for partially securing said keeper body to said support, and there being additional means for securing said keeper body to said support preventing disengagement of said support from said hook-shaped lugs.
9. An axle keeper construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the keeper comprises a generally rectangular body having a substantially semi-cylindrical projection provided on one side thereof in which is defined the substantially semi-circular bearing portion for said axle, the slot in said body being wide enough to permit entry of said semi-cylindrical projection therein next to the substantially semi-circular bearing on said support, said support being thin in relation to the diameter of said axle, and the means for securing said keeper to said support comprises hook-shaped lugs provided on said keeper on opposite sides of said semi-cylindrical projection in which an edge portion of said support on opposite sides of said slot is received for partially securing said keeper body to said support, and there being additional means for securing said keeper body to said support preventing disengagement of said support from said hook-shaped lug, said ad ditional means comprising studs of compressible material projecting at right angles from said body on opposite sides of the slot therein adapted to be forced into holes provided therefor in said support.
10. An axle keeper construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the keeper comprises a generally rectangular body having a substantially semi-cylindrical projection provided on one side thereof in which is defined the substantially semi-circular bearing portion for said axle, the slot in said body being wide enough to permit entry of said semi-cylindrical projection therein next to the substantially semi-circular bearing on said support, said support being thin in relation to the diameter of said axle, and the means for securing said keeper to said support comprises hook-shaped lugs provided on said keeper on opposite sides of said semi-cylindrical projection in which an edge portion of said support on opposite sides of said slot is received for partially securing said keeper body to said support, and there being additional means for securing said keeper body to said support preventing disengagement of said support from said hook-shaped lug, said additional means comprising studs of compressible material projecting at right angles from said body on opposite sides of the slot therein adapted to be forced into holes provided therefor in said support, said studs having heads on the outer ends thereof which, upon emerging from said support, anchor said keeper thereto.
11. An axle keeper construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said keeper comprises a generally rectangular body of flexible sheet material adapted "to be wrapped around an edge portion of said support closing the entrance to the slot therein, there being slots provided in said keeper body at the approximate middle of opposite sides thereof to receive said axle therein, the bearing portion on said keeper body being at the inner ends of said slots, the means for securing said keeper to said support serving to secure the opposite ends of said folded body to opposite sides of said support with the keeper in abutment with the edge portion of said support.
12. An axle keeper construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said keeper comprises a generally rectangular body of flexible sheet material adapted to be wrapped around an edge portion of said support closing the entrance to the slot therein, there being slots provided in said keeper body at the approximate middle of opposite sides thereof to receive said axle therein, the bearing portion on said keeper body being at the inner ends of said slots, the means for securing said keeper to said support serving to secure the opposite ends of said folded body to opposite sides of said support with the keeper in abutment with the edge portion of said support, the keeper body having a longitudinally extending groove provided therein at the middle in right angle relationship to said slots to facilitate folding of said middle portion over the edge portion of said support.
13. An axle keeper construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said keeper comprises a generally rectangular body of flexible sheet material adapted to be wrapped around an edge portion of said support closing the extrance to the slot therein, there being slots provided in said keeper body at the approximate middle of opposite sides thereof to receive said axle therein, the bearing portion on said keeper body being at the inner ends of said slots, the means for securing said keeper to said support serving to secure the opposite ends of said folded body to opposite sides of said support with the keeper in abutment with the edge portion of said support, the securing means comprising headed studs of compressible resilient material on one half of said body adapted to be forced through holes provided in said support and through registering holes provided in the other half of said body, the heads upon emerging from the last mentioned holes expanding to anchor said keeper body in assembled relation to said support.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1963 Balthazor 4622l 3/1967 Cremer 46222

Claims (1)

1. AN AXLE KEEPER CONSTRUCTION FOR AXLES ON TOY VEHICLES COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BEARING SUPPORT HAVING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SLOT PROVIDED THEREIN WITH AN ENTRANCE AT ONE EDGE OF SAID SUPPORT FOR ENTRY OF AN AXLE THEREIN IN TRANSVERSE RELATIONSHIP TO SAID SUPPORT, SAID SUPPORT HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR METALLIC BEARING PROVIDED THEREIN AT THE INNER END OF SAID SLOT TO RECEIVE SAID AXLE, AN AXLE KEEPER OF NON-METALLIC BEARING MATERIAL HAVING A SLOT OPENING THEREIN FROM ONE EDGE TO A SUBSTANTIALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR BEARING PORTION AT THE INNER END OF SAID SLOT LAST NAMED PERMITTING APPLICATION OF SAID KEEPER OVER SAID AXLE FOR ENGAGEMENT OF THE AXLE IN THE BEARING PORTION THEREOF, AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID KEEPER TO SAID SUPPORT KEEPING SAID AXLE IN PLACE IN THE FIRST MENTIONED BEARING WHILE PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT OF SAID KEEPER FROM ASSEMBLED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID SUPPORT.
US516958A 1965-12-28 1965-12-28 Plastic axle keepers for use on toy vehicles Expired - Lifetime US3389495A (en)

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040077263A1 (en) * 2001-10-16 2004-04-22 New Bright Industrial Co., Ltd. Drive shaft assembly for toy vehicles
US20040077262A1 (en) * 2001-10-16 2004-04-22 New Bright Industrial Co., Ltd. Propeller shaft assembly for toy watercraft
US20050045408A1 (en) * 2001-10-16 2005-03-03 New Bright Industrial Co.,Ltd. Drive shaft assembly for toy vehicles

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3083500A (en) * 1961-05-22 1963-04-02 Buddy Corp L Toy vehicle with spring-mounted axle
US3307291A (en) * 1965-03-30 1967-03-07 King Seeley Thermos Co Plastic axle bearing for use on toys

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3083500A (en) * 1961-05-22 1963-04-02 Buddy Corp L Toy vehicle with spring-mounted axle
US3307291A (en) * 1965-03-30 1967-03-07 King Seeley Thermos Co Plastic axle bearing for use on toys

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040077263A1 (en) * 2001-10-16 2004-04-22 New Bright Industrial Co., Ltd. Drive shaft assembly for toy vehicles
US20040077262A1 (en) * 2001-10-16 2004-04-22 New Bright Industrial Co., Ltd. Propeller shaft assembly for toy watercraft
US20050045408A1 (en) * 2001-10-16 2005-03-03 New Bright Industrial Co.,Ltd. Drive shaft assembly for toy vehicles
US6942540B2 (en) * 2001-10-16 2005-09-13 New Bright Industrial Co., Ltd. Drive shaft assembly for toy vehicles
US7364490B2 (en) 2001-10-16 2008-04-29 New Bright Industrial Co., Ltd. Drive shaft assembly for toy vehicles

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