EP1834681A1

EP1834681A1 - Mist ejecting toy and mist producing unit

Info

Publication number: EP1834681A1
Application number: EP05822679A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kimitaka c/o TOMY COMPANY LTD. WATANABE; Hitoshi c/o TOMY COMPANY LTD. ITAKURA; Hiroshi c/o TOMY COMPANY LTD. SHINOHARA; Yosuke c/o TOMY COMPANY LTD. YONEDA; Tomohisa c/o TOMY COMPANY LTD. UENO
Original assignee: Tomy Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tomy Co Ltd
Priority date: 2004-12-28
Filing date: 2005-12-27
Publication date: 2007-09-19
Also published as: KR20070098832A; CN101090761B; WO2006070786A1; JP2006181171A; JP3744931B1; US20080085657A1; EP1834681A4; AU2005320613A1; CN101090761A

Abstract

A mist ejecting toy includes: a liquid retaining member fixed to a toy body; a jet cylinder provided in the toy body; an ultrasound generating element having a vibrating plate fixed to a piezoelectric vibrator; and a controller to drive and control the ultrasound generating element, wherein a vibrating section of the vibrating plate is abutted against the liquid retaining member, the controller vibrates the vibrating section to generate mist particles, the mist particles are ejected from the jet cylinder, and the vibrating plate is placed at a position where a liquid drop produced by adhesion of the mist particles to the jet cylinder does not fall onto the vibrating section, so that the mist particles can be generated and ejected effectively.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mist ejecting toy and a mist generating unit.

Background Art

There is known a smoking toy in which a plate-like piezoelectric ceramic is formed with electrodes opposed to each other with the plate-like piezoelectric ceramic interposed therebetween. The smoking toy has a piezoelectric vibrator having an atomizing application surface on which one of the electrodes is formed, and a porous or mesh thin plate which is at least partially opposed to the atomizing application surface with a fine gap interposed therebetween. Liquid is supplied to the fine gap between the atomizing application surface and the porous or mesh thin plate is atomized by a ultrasound atomizer which atomize liquid using ultrasound vibration of the piezoelectric vibrator and the atomized liquid is discharged (e.g., patent document 1).
Patent document 1: Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open Publication No.H5-70592

Disclosure of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In the smoking toy in the patent document 1, however, since it is necessary to dispose the porous or mesh thin plate such that it at least partially opposed to the atomizing application surface with the fine gap interposed therebetween, there is a problem that it is difficult to adjust to dispose the thin plate. Even if the adjustment is made, there is a problem that if the gap size is varied due to vibration of the toy itself or other reason, the mist particles are not generated easily.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of such problems, and it is an object of the invention to provide a mist ejecting toy and a mist generating unit capable of effectively generating and ejecting mist particles.

Means for Solving the Problems

According to a first invention, there is provided a mist ejecting toy comprising a liquid retaining member fixed to a toy body, a jet cylinder provided in the toy body, an ultrasound generating element having a vibrating plate to a piezoelectric vibrator, and a controller for driving and controlling the ultrasound generating element, wherein a vibrating section of the vibrating plate is abutted against the liquid retaining member, the controller vibrates the vibrating section to generate mist particles, the mist particles are ejected from the jet cylinder, and the vibrating plate is placed at a position where liquid drop produced by adhesion of the mist particles to the jet cylinder does not fall onto the vibrating section. According to the ultrasound generating element in this case, the vibrating plate may be fixed to one of end surfaces of the piezoelectric vibrator, or the vibrating plate may be sandwiched between two piezoelectric vibrators and the outer surfaces (opposite from the sandwiching surfaces) of the two piezoelectric vibrators may be electrodes.
According to a second invention, in the mist ejecting toy of the first invention, when a silhouette of an introducing port of the jet cylinder standing on the toy body projected directly below is conceived, the vibrating plate of the jet cylinder is disposed away from the silhouette.
According to a third invention, in the mist ejecting toy of the first or second invention, the vibrating plate is disposed in such a direction that the vibrating plate can introduce the mist particles generated in the vibrating section into the introducing port of the jet cylinder from a diagonally lower location.
According to a fourth invention, in the mist ejecting toy of any one of the first to third inventions, illuminating means which illuminates the mist particles is disposed in the toy body.
According to a fifth invention, in the mist ejecting toy of any one of the first to third inventions, illuminating means for illuminating the ejecting mist particles from inside of the jet cylinder is disposed in the toy body.
According to a sixth invention, in the mist ejecting toy of the fourth or fifth invention, the toy body is provided with a speaker which outputs a voice, and the controller controls the illuminating means and the speaker in association with ejection of the mist particles so that the illuminating means illuminates the mist particles and the speaker outputs a voice or changes a voice.
According to a seventh invention, in the mist ejecting toy of any one of the first to sixth inventions, the toy further comprises a movable member on which the ultrasound generating element is mounted, the movable member is operated by gravity acting on the movable member to bring the vibrating section of the vibrating plate into abutment against the liquid retaining member, the liquid retaining member is mounted on a base frame, the liquid retaining member is fixed to the toy body through the base frame, and the movable member is mounted on the base frame.
According to an eighth invention, in the mist ejecting toy of the seventh invention, the movable member is mounted on the base frame through a hinge.
A ninth invention provides a mist generating unit comprising a base frame on which a liquid retaining member is mounted and which can be mounted on a toy body, and a movable member on which an ultrasound generating element constituted by fixing a vibrating plate to one of two end surfaces of the piezoelectric vibrator having electrodes on the two end surfaces is mounted, and which is relatively operated with respect to the base frame to bring a vibrating section of the vibrating plate into abutment against the liquid retaining member.
According to a tenth invention, the mist generating unit of the ninth invention further comprises a spring, and the vibrating section of the vibrating plate is brought into abutment against the liquid retaining member by a force of the spring acting on the movable member.
According to the mist ejecting toy of the first to eighth inventions, since the liquid retaining member and the vibrating section are abutted against each other to generate the mist particles, the mist particles can stably be generated. Since the liquid drop produced by adhesion of the mist particles is prevented from falling onto the vibrating section, the generation of the mist particles is not hindered by the falling of the liquid drop.
According to the mist ejecting toy of the second invention, since the liquid drop produced by adhesion of the mist particles is prevented from falling onto the vibrating section, the generation of the mist particles is not hindered by the falling of the liquid drop.
According to the mist ejecting toy of the third invention, since the mist particles generated in the vibrating section are introduced into the introducing port of the jet cylinder from the diagonally lower location, it is possible to prevent liquid drop from falling, and the jet cylinder can be used for another purpose.
According to the mist ejecting toy of the fourth and fifth inventions, since the mist particles are illuminated with light and colored, it is possible to realize a succulent mist ejecting toy.
According to the mist ejecting toy of the sixth invention, the ejection of the mist particles, illumination of the mist particles, output of voice or change of voice of the mist particles are carried out in synchronization with each other, it is possible to visually enjoy the decorated mist particles, and to auditorily enjoy by means of a voice. The illumination may be changed (in color or in brightness) in synchronization with ejection of the mist particles.
According to the mist ejecting toy of the seventh and eighth inventions, since the liquid retaining member and the vibrating section are abutted against each other by the gravity to generate the mist particles. Therefore, the liquid retaining member and the vibrating section are reliably abutted against each other, and it is possible to stably generate the mist particles. Further, the liquid retaining member and the movable member are mounted on the base frame, and the ultrasound generating element is mounted on the movable member. Therefore, the liquid retaining member and the ultrasound generating element can be mounted on the toy body only by mounting the base frame to the toy body, and the assembling operation of the mist ejecting toy becomes easy.
According to the mist generating unit of the ninth and tenth inventions, the liquid retaining member and the movable member are mounted on the base frame, and the ultrasound generating element is mounted on the movable member. Therefore, the liquid retaining member and the ultrasound generating element can be mounted on the toy body only by mounting the base frame to the toy body, and the assembling operation of the mist ejecting toy becomes easy.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a side view of a mist ejecting toy of an embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the mist ejecting toy as viewed from side;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the mist ejecting toy as viewed from front;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mist generating unit in the mist ejecting toy;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the mist generating unit;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the mist generating unit as viewed from side;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory perspective view of a mounting structure of a ultrasound generating element to the mist generating unit;
FIG. 8 is an explanatory side view of a structure of the ultrasound generating element in the mist ejecting toy;
FIG. 9 is an explanatory sectional view of a structure of a vibrating plate of the ultrasound generating element;
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram in the mist ejecting toy; and
FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion of the circuit diagram.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a mist ejecting toy 1 is copied from a traction engine of a steam locomotive. A motor 3 (see FIG. 10) is mounted in a toy body 2 of the mist ejecting toy 1. The motor 3 drives wheels 4 and the mist ejecting toy 1 runs. The mist ejecting toy 1 can run manually also. The toy body 2 has a speaker 5 (see FIG. 10). A pseudo steam generating sound is output from the speaker 5. The toy body 2 has a mist generating unit 6 as shown in FIG. 2. The mist generating unit 6 atomizes particle (mist particles) 40 and the mist particles is ejected from a chimney (jet cylinder) 7. The mist particles 40 eject the mist particles in synchronization with the output of the pseudo steam generating sound. The mist particles 40 ejected from the chimney 7 is illuminated with light from inside of the chimney 7. The mist particles 40 are illuminated with light in synchronization with the ejection of the mist particles 40. As shown in FIG. 10, the mist ejecting toy 1 is provided with a battery 30 and switches 21, 22 and 23. Details of the mist ejecting toy 1 will be explained below.
First, the mist generating unit 6 will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the mist generating unit 6 includes a movable member 13, and a base frame 9 which can be mounted on the toy body 2. A liquid retaining member 8 is mounted on the base frame 9. A piezoelectric vibrator 10 is provided at its opposite end surfaces with electrodes 10a and 10b, a vibrating plate 11 is fixed to one end surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 10, thereby constituting an ultrasound generating element 12 attached on the movable member. The movable member 13 is operated with respect to the base frame 9, thereby bringing a vibrating section 11a of the vibrating plate 11 into abutment against the liquid retaining member 8.
As shown in FIG. 8, the piezoelectric vibrator 10 has a rectangular piezoelectric ceramic 10c. The piezoelectric vibrator 10 as a piezoelectric ceramic 10c, the piezoelectric ceramic 10c is formed at its opposite end surfaces with Au electrodes 10a and 10b, and terminals 10d and 10e are mounted on the Au electrodes 10a and 10b. The vibrating plate 11 is mounted such that a portion thereof is superposed on one end surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 10. A portion of the vibrating plate 11 which projects from the piezoelectric vibrator 10 constitutes the vibrating section 11a. As shown in FIG. 9, the vibrating section 11a is formed with a large number of fine holes 11b such as to penetrate the vibrating section 11a in its thickness direction. Each hole 11b is tapered toward the ejection side of the mist particles 40. A sponge is used as the liquid retaining member 8 for example.
The base frame 9 is mounted on the toy body 2 through a screw (not shown) which passes through a through hole 9a. The liquid retaining member 8 is fitted and mounted to the base frame 9 from below (opposite side from the movable member 13) in FIG. 6. A portion of the liquid retaining member 8 is led out to the upper side of the base frame 9. In this case, it is not always necessary to mount the entire liquid retaining member 8 to be used on the base frame 9 only if a minimum portion is mounted on the base frame 9. For example, only a portion of the liquid retaining member 8 which is abutted against the vibrating section 11a may be mounted on the base frame 9. In this case, since the liquid retaining amount is reduced, it is preferable that another liquid retaining member 8 is provided on a lower side of the base frame 9. The liquid retaining member 8 is replenished with water or the like using a dropping syringe for example. The replenish using the dropping syringe is not especially limited, but the liquid retaining member 8 is replenished with water through a dropping syringe inserting hole formed in the toy body 2. When another liquid retaining member that is different from the liquid retaining member 8 which corresponds to the portion abutting against the vibrating section 11a is provided, a liquid retaining member container for accommodating this other liquid retaining member is detachably attached to the toy body 2, the liquid retaining member is moistened with water and then, the liquid retaining member is mounted from below the toy body 2 and brought into abutment against the liquid retaining member 8, and the liquid retaining member may be replenished with water. A tank may be provided, and water used for moisten the liquid retaining member 8 corresponding to the portion abutting against the vibrating section 11a may be stored. When the tank is provided, if the mist ejecting toy 1 is inclined, it should be noted that liquid may leak.
The movable member 13 is mounted on the base frame 9 through a hinge 14. That is, the mist ejecting toy 1 is mounted on the base frame 9 so that the movable member 13 can turn around a shaft 14a. An ultrasound generating element 12 is mounted on a tip end of the movable member 13. That is, the movable member 13 is provided at its tip end with an accommodating recess 13a of the rectangular piezoelectric vibrator 10 whose upper side and tip end are opened. A lower side of the piezoelectric vibrator 10 is fitted into the accommodating recess 13a. In this case, if the entire surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 10 comes into contact with a bottom surface of the accommodating recess 13a, there is a danger that the piezoelectric vibrator 10 does not vibrate. Hence, a plurality of abutting portions 13b which come into contact only with a portion of a side peripheral of the one of the surfaces of the piezoelectric vibrator 10 are provided on the bottom surface of the accommodating recess 13a. The movable member 13 is provided at its tip end with a lid body 13c for covering the accommodating recess 13a from above. The lid body 13c is also provided with abutting portions 13d which come into contact only with portions of the side periphery of the other surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 10. Screws (not shown) passing through the through holes 13e are threadedly engaged with the screw holes 13f, respectively, thereby mounting the lid body 13c on the movable member 13.
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the vibrating section 11a of the vibrating plate 11 projects from the tip end of the movable member 13 when the ultrasound generating element 12 is mounted on the movable member 13. When the movable member 13 is closed with respect to the base frame 9, the vibrating section 11a abuts against the liquid retaining member 8. In this case, the movable member 13 may be constituted such that it automatically closes with respect to the base frame 9 by gravity acting on the movable member 13. Further, the movable member 13 may be constituted such that a spring is mounted between the movable member 13 and the base frame 9, and the movable member 13 is biased in its closing direction with respect to the base frame 9 by the spring force.
The mist generating unit 6 having the above-described structure is placed at a position where liquid produced by adhesion of the mist particles does not drop onto the vibrating section 11a. As shown in FIG. 2 for example, when a silhouette of an introducing port of the chimney 7 for the mist particles 40 standing on the toy body 2 projected directly below is conceived, the mist generating unit 6 is disposed such that the vibrating plate 11 is located away from the silhouette. The mist generating unit 6 is disposed such that mist particles 40 generated by the vibrating section 11a can effectively be introduced into the introducing port of the chimney 7. As shown in FIG. 2 for example, the mist generating unit 6 is disposed in such a direction that the vibrating plate 11 can introduce the mist particles 40 into the introducing port of the chimney 7 from diagonally lower location.
Illuminating means 16 for illuminating the mist particles 40 is disposed in the toy body 2. The illuminating means 16 illuminate the ejecting mist particles 40 from inside of the chimney 7. The illuminating means 16 is not especially limited, but a light-emitting diode 16a is used. When a silhouette of the introducing port of the chimney 7 for the mist particles 40 projected directly below is conceived, if the light-emitting diode 16a is disposed in the silhouette, a transparent waterproofing cover is put on the chimney 7 so that liquid does not drop from the chimney 7. In the case of the embodiment, since the toy is the traction engine in the steam locomotive, a red light-emitting diode is used as the light-emitting diode 16a. In the case of the red light-emitting diode, since the inside of the chimney 7 and lower sides of the ejected mist particles 40 are colored with red, the red light-emitting diode create such an image that an internal combustion engine is operated in the toy body 2. A red filter, a red transparent cover or a red mirror may be used instead of using the red light-emitting diode. The inside of the chimney 7 and the ejecting mist particles 40 may be illuminated with another color of course. In such a case, a fantastic image can be created. An electric bulb may be used instead of the light-emitting diode 16a.
FIG. 10 shows an example of a circuit applied to the mist ejecting toy 1 of the embodiment.
In the drawing, a symbol 20 represents a control IC, and symbols 21, 22 and 23 represent the switches.
The switch 21 is a mode switch 21. The mode switch 21 is provided in the toy body 2 and is artificially operated. As shown in FIG. 11, the self-excited circuit 21 can assume three positions from a position 1 to a position 3. In the position 1, both the motor 3 and a self-excited circuit 21 can be operated. In the position 2, the motor 3 can not be operated and the self-excited circuit 21 can be operated. The self-excited circuit 21 assumes the position 2 when the mist ejecting toy 1 runs manually. In the position 3, both the motor 3 and self-excited circuit 21 can not be operated. The self-excited circuit 21 assumes the position 3 when a power supply is turned OFF.
The switch 22 is operated when the wheels 4 of the mist ejecting toy 1 rotate. The switch 22 is operated by cams provided on rotation shafts of the wheels 4 and cams integrally provided on the wheels 4. The switch 22 is thrown whenever the wheel 4 rotates once. When the switch 22 is thrown, a self-excited excitation circuit 24 is driven by the control IC20, the vibrating plate 11 of the ultrasound generating element 12 vibrates and the mist particles 40 are generated. With this, the light-emitting diode 16a which is the 116 is lit by the control IC20, and steam generating sound is output from the speaker 5. The switch 23 is thrown by a manual operation. When the switch 23 is thrown, sound other than the steam generating sound is output from the speaker 5. The switch 23 is thrown temporarily. That is, if a person pushes a button for throwing the switch 23 with his or her hand and moves the hand off the button, the switch 23 returns to its original position.
Along them, the self-excited excitation circuit 24 will be explained. The self-excited excitation circuit 24 has a current feedback transformer. If the self-excited excitation circuit is employed, an adjusting element such as a tuned circuit is unnecessary, and a driving circuit having both oscillation and drive can simply be constituted. The self-excited excitation circuit 24 is driven when a driving transistor (e.g., NPN transistor) 25 is turned ON. The driving IC 25 is turned ON when the s22 is thrown. In this case, whenever the switch 22 is thrown, the driving transistor 25 may be driven by the control IC20 for predetermined time, or the whenever the number of throwing times of the switch 22 reaches predetermined times, the driving transistor 25 may be driven for predetermined time by the control IC20. When the switches 22 and 23 are thrown at the same timing or close timing, a sound based on the throwing of the switch 23 is output with high priority. In this case, the light-emitting diode 16a is not lit by the control IC20.
The total operation of the circuit having the above-described structure will be explained. When the mode switch 21 assumes the position 1, the motor 3 is driven and the mist ejecting toy 1 automatically runs. At that time, as the wheels 4 rotate, the driving transistor 25 is turned ON and with this, the ultrasound generating element 12 is driven and the mist particles 40 are generated. A pseudo steam generating sound is output from the speaker 5 based on sound data stored in the control IC20, and the light-emitting diode 16a is lit.
When the mode switch 21 assumes the position 2, the mist ejecting toy 1 runs manually, the driving transistor 25 is turned ON as the wheels 4 rotate and with this, the ultrasound generating element 12 is driven and the mist particles 40 are generated. At that time, a pseudo steam generating sound is output from the speaker 5 based on the sound data stored in the control IC20, and the light-emitting diode 16a is lit.
If the switch 23 is thrown in the position 1 and the position 2, the toy speaks for predetermined time. For example, a sound "I am a locomotive OOOO (name)" or "I am now passing through 00 (name of place)" is output. When the switch 23 is thrown, the toy speaks with precedence over the pseudo steam generating sound.
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been explained above, the invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications can be made within a range not departing from the subject matter.
For example, a core can be placed in the jet cylinder and the mist particles 40 can be ejected in a form of a ring. In the case of the embodiment, a guide plate for introducing the mist particles 40 also to a lower portion of the vehicle body may be provided and the mist particles 40 may be ejected from the lower side of the vehicle body. A smoke reservoir may be provided, and if this is intermittently pushed out by a piston or the like, the mist particles 40 can be ejected intermittently.
Although the invention is applied to the traction engine of the steam locomotive in this embodiment, the invention can also be applied to other toys such as an automobile toy. In the case of the automobile toy, a tractor toy or a ship toy, if the mist particles 40 are ejected from an exhaust cylinder, the toy can be close to a real one. In the case of a fountain, if the mist particles are ejected fro a jet cylinder which looks like a nozzle, an image that a fountain is actually operating can be created.
According to the embodiment, the ultrasound generating element 12 has such a structure that the vibrating plate 11 is fixed to one of the end surfaces of the piezoelectric vibrator 10, the vibrating plate may be sandwiched between two piezoelectric vibrators, and outer surfaces (opposite from the sandwiching surfaces) of the two piezoelectric vibrators may be formed as electrodes.

Industrial Applicability

The invention of the present Application can preferably be utilized for a mist ejecting toy and a mist generating unit capable of generating and ejecting mist particles.

Claims

A mist ejecting toy comprising: a liquid retaining member fixed to a toy body; a jet cylinder provided in the toy body; an ultrasound generating element having a vibrating plate fixed to a piezoelectric vibrator; and a controller to drive and control the ultrasound generating element, wherein
a vibrating section of the vibrating plate is abutted against the liquid retaining member, the controller vibrates the vibrating section to generate mist particles, the mist particles are ejected from the jet cylinder, and the vibrating plate is placed at a position where a liquid drop produced by adhesion of the mist particles to the jet cylinder does not fall onto the vibrating section.
The mist ejecting toy according to claim 1, wherein when a silhouette of an introducing port of the jet cylinder standing on the toy body projected directly below is conceived, the vibrating plate is disposed away from the silhouette.
The mist ejecting toy according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vibrating plate is disposed in such a direction that the vibrating plate can introduce the mist particles generated in the vibrating section into the introducing port of the jet cylinder from a diagonally lower location.
The mist ejecting toy according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein illuminating means to illuminate the mist particles is disposed in the toy body.
The mist ejecting toy according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein illuminating means to illuminate the ejected mist particles from inside of the jet cylinder is disposed in the toy body.
The mist ejecting toy according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the toy body is provided with a speaker to output a voice, and
the controller controls the illuminating means and the speaker so that the illuminating means illuminates the mist particles and the speaker outputs a voice or changes a voice in association with ejection of the mist particles.
The mist ejecting toy according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a movable member on which the ultrasound generating element is mounted, wherein
the movable member is operated by gravity acting on the movable member to bring the vibrating section of the vibrating plate into abutment against the liquid retaining member, and
the liquid retaining member is mounted on a base frame, the liquid retaining member is fixed to the toy body through the base frame, and the movable member is mounted on the base frame.
The mist ejecting toy according to claim 7, wherein the movable member is mounted on the base frame through a hinge.
A mist generating unit comprising a base frame on which a liquid retaining member is mounted and which is mountable on a toy body, and a movable member on which an ultrasound generating element constituted by fixing a vibrating plate to one of two end surfaces of the piezoelectric vibrator having electrodes on the two end surfaces is mounted, and which relatively moves with respect to the base frame to bring a vibrating section of the vibrating plate into abutment against the liquid retaining member.
The mist generating unit according to claim 9, further comprising a spring, wherein the vibrating section of the vibrating plate is brought into abutment against the liquid retaining member by a force of the spring acting on the movable member.