REINFORCED PIVOT PIN RECEPTACLE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a reinforced pivot pin receptacle, specifically made of plastic or other non-metal material and a method for adhering planar element to a cardboard surface, specifically wherein the planar element is made of plastic.

Claims

1. A pivot pin receptacle for a cardboard unit, comprising: a hollow member with an elongated bore defining a longitudinal axis and configured to receive a pivot; and at least one planar element extending laterally from a portion of an outer face of the hollow member for association with a cardboard face of the unit or between two cardboard layers of the unit.

2. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 1, wherein the member is generally tubular shaped.

3. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 1, wherein the at least one planar element is integrally formed with the hollow member.

4. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 1, wherein the plane defined by the at least one planar element is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

5. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 4, wherein the portion has a length substantially equal to that of the bore.

6. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 1, wherein the at least one planar element has a dimension extending laterally longer than the length of the portion.

7. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 1, for pivotally coupling two members of a cardboard bicycle's steering mechanism.

8. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 7, for inclusion in the bicycle's fork and pivotally coupling to a front end of the bicycle's body.

9. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 1, wherein the plane defined by the at least one planar element is normal to the longitudinal axis.

10. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 9, wherein the planar element includes a plurality of radially extending portions.

11. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 9, for pivotally coupling a wheel to a body of a wheeled device.

12. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 11, wherein the wheel is made of two or more layers and the planar element is sandwiched in between two layers.

13. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 12, wherein the two layers sandwiching the planar element are made of cardboard.

14. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 1, including two or more planar elements.

15. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 14, wherein each of the two or more planar elements extends from the outer face to a different lateral direction.

16. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 15, including one or more pairs of oppositely extending planar elements.

17. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one planar element has thickness less than the wall of the hollow member.

18. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 17, wherein the planar element's thickness is at least 5 folds less than the wall of the hollow member.

19. (canceled)

20. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 1, wherein the planar element is perforated.

21. The pivot pin receptacle of claim 1, for pivotally coupling two or more cardboard members.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (cancelled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1A shows an example of the device according to one embodiment of this disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 1B shows an example of the device according to another embodiment of this disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 1C shows another example of the device according to a different embodiment of this disclosure

[0034] FIG. 1D shows an example of the device according to the embodiment of FIG. 1A with a perforated planar element.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows an example of a use of the device in a steering mechanism of a bicycle.

[0036] FIG. 3 exemplifies the manner by which a planar element may be fixed to a cardboard surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0037] One aspect of the present disclosure is a pivot pin receptacle. FIG. 1A shows a schematic example of a device for use as a pivot pin receptacle 100, that is constituted by hollow member 102 having a tubular shape with circumferential wall 104 enclosing a longitudinal bore 106. The tubular hollow member 102 extend along a longitudinal axis 108. The circumferential wall 104 has a thickness defined between an inner circumferential face 110 and an outer circumferential face 112. The bore 106 is configured for receiving a pivot pin 114, such as a pivot pin in a steering mechanism of a bicycle.

[0038] Two planar elements 116A and 116B extend laterally from the outer circumferential face 112, such that each of the two planar elements 116A,116B lies on a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis 108, and extend to opposite lateral directions 118A,118B with respect to longitudinal axis 108. The planar elements 116A,116B typically have a thickness that is at least 5-folds smaller than the thickness of circumferential wall 104.

[0039] As noted above, other arrangements of the planar elements with respect to the tubular member are contemplated. For example, FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective view of another device according to an embodiment of this disclosure. In the embodiment of FIG. 1B the planes defined by planar elements 116A and 116B are normal to the longitudinal axis of tubular member 102.

[0040] In another example, shown in FIG. 1C, the planar element 116C extends from the circumferential face 112 in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis 108. Planar element 116C is configured as a circumferential disk-like element that is formed with a plurality of laterally extending segments 119 (defined in the plane of the planar element 116C). In such a configuration, the planar element may be inserted between two parallel cardboard sheets in the plane defined by the cardboard sheets, with the hollow member being normal to the cardboard sheets. This may be used, for example, to articulate a cardboard wheel (e.g. of the kind described in WO 2015/104701) to a frame of a wheeled device, such that the hollow member 102 serves to accommodate the wheel's axel.

[0041] Shown in FIG. 1D are the planar elements 116A,116B formed with a plurality of perforations 120 for the purpose of fixing the device 100 to a cardboard surface with an adhesive as will be described below in connection with FIG. 3.

[0042] In FIG. 2 a use of the pivot pin receptacle 100 is exemplified. The pivot pin receptacle 100 is inserted into the frame of a bicycle's steering mechanism 120. In the exemplified embodiment, two pivot pin receptacles 100 are positioned in a coaxial manner at two different locations of the steering mechanism 120 to receive pivot pin 114. As can clearly be seen, the pivot pin receptacles 100 are enveloped by the material from which the frame of the steering mechanism 120 is made (for example a folded cardboard sheet) and are fixed thereto by adhering the planar elements between layers of the folded cardboard. The pivot pin 114 is inserted through the bores of the pivot pin receptacles 100. By their relatively large contacting surface areas, the planar elements stabilize the pivot pin receptacle and increase the strength of the binding between the device and the encasing cardboard frame, enabling the pivot, which may be in many cases the weakest link of such a steering mechanism, to withstand a significant higher dynamic load (i.e. increasing its fatigue resistance).

[0043] FIG. 3 schematically demonstrates the application of adhesive onto a perforated planar element according to the Fixation Aspect. In FIG. 3 a planar element 300 is provided. The planar element 300 usually made of plastic but may be made of other composite materials. The planar element 300 is perforated at a section thereof by a plurality of perforations 302. Once adhesive is applied onto the perforated section and/or on the cardboard surface to which the planar element 300 is to be attached, and the planar element is brought into contact with the cardboard surface, at least a portion of the adhesive 304 passes through at least some of the perforations 302. Subsequent to curing, the adhesive 304 forms a substantially continuous mass that holds the planar element tightly against the cardboard surface.

[0044] When the formation of a laminate is desired, or when the planar element is to be at least partially encased between two cardboard layers, the adhesive may be applied on the two opposing surfaces of the planar element and a cardboard surface may be brought into contact with each side. Adhesive may also be applied onto at least one of the cardboard surfaces. Alternatively, the adhesive may be applied only on the cardboard surfaces and the planar element may be first adhered to a first cardboard surface and then the second cardboard surface may be attached to the opposite surface of the planar element.

[0045] The cardboard may be a single cardboard sheet that is folded over the planar element to encase it. Alternatively, each layer of cardboard may be a separate sheet of cardboard.