GB2271942A - Configured toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A configured toy is provided with a body having a rotatable drum 2. The drum 2 has an internal space for receiving a small object 3 therein. A tunnel 40 is provided in the body which is adapted to receive the small object 3 therein. A stopper (41c fig. 5) normally protrudes into the tunnel 40 for holding the small object 3 at the position of the stopper (41c fig. 5). A stopper operating part 4 is provided for moving the stopper 41c out of its normal position to permit the small object to pass through the tunnel. The small object may have the same general configuration as the configured toy. The drum may be rotated by hand or by the operating part 4 being pushed downwardly. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION CONFIGURED TOY The present invention relates to a configured toy and, more particularly, to a configured toy which can be played with in various ways.

Known configured toys have included various types such as an animal toy in the form of a popular animal, a toy depicting a hero or a heroine appearing in a TV drama, a magazine, motion picture or the like, a robot toy, a vehicle toy in the form of an airplane or a ship, and a structured toy modeled after a famous architectural work.

Most of the conventional configured toys are unchangeable in configuration. Certain toys which are changeable in configuration, for example, those configured toys for little children, only have moveable arms, legs and a head, capable of simple movement. Children become easily bored with such toys. Some robot toys are designed to fire bullets from their fingers. These toys, however, are dangerous to little children. Moreover, these conventional configured toys generally are complete by themselves and are difficult to be used with another toy. In addition, because of the limited ways of playing with these toys, children easily become tired of them.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a configured toy capable of presenting various ways of playing with the toy and therefore arousing a little child's interest.

According to the present invention a configured toy is provided having a rotatable drum capable of receiving a small object or body in an internal space, a rotating means for rotating the drum, a tunnel forming a passage for the small object or body, a topper normally protruding into the tunnel passage, and a stopper operating part for moving the stopper out of the passage. The small object may have the same general shape as the configured toy.

When the configured toy of the present invention is moved by hand, the rotatable drum is turned by the rotating means, and causes movement of the small object within the drum. The small object, rotating irregularly, gives a viewer a variety of images. The small object when inserted in the tunnel can be moved to another part in the toy. In this case, the small object may be a separate toy. The small body may have a shape similar to that of the configured toy. For example, if the shape of the toy and the small object are both that of an animal, it can look to a viewer as if a little animal is playing with a parent. Also, a flying saucer toy can give a viewer an image that a small flying saucer appears form a mother ship.

The present invention will now be further described by way of example with references to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the outside appearance of an embodiment of a configured toy according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the parts of the configured toy of Fig.

1; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the tunnel portion of the configured toy; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a sound producing mechanism of the configured toy; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a trunk tip operating mechanism of the configured toy; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a clutch mechanism of the configured toy; Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a mechanism for driving the rotatable drum of the configured toy; and Fig. 8 is a view showing another sound producing mechanism of the configured toy.

The configured toy 1 has the shape of an elephant as shown in Fig. 1. The configured toy 1 is provided with right and left front wheels 11, 11 and a sub or rear wheel 12 and is so constituted as to be run by hand. As the elephant runs, it ears 5, 5 rotate.

The back part of the configured toy 1 includes a rotatable drum 2. The drum 2 is capable of receiving a small object or body 3 shaped like a little elephant (hereinafter termed the "little elephant").

Furthermore, rotatable drum 2 is designed to rotate when a cap 4 (stopper operating part) is pushed downwardly into a body 10 or when moved by hand, thereby rolling the little elephant 3 when it is present in the internal space of the drum. The rolling behaviour of this little elephant 3 can be seen through a group of small lenses 24 in the rotatable drum 2, the little elephant being displayed in each of the small lenses 24.

The configured toy 1 also has a tunnel 40 extending from an opening 40a of the cap 4 through the body 10, to an opening in a trunk 40b such that a little elephant 3 inserted into the cap opening 40a will come out of the trunk opening 40b through the tunnel 40. The little elephant 3, when first inserted into the tunnel 40, will not come out of the trunk opening 40b. The cap 4 must be pushed downwardly into the body 10 to roll the little elephant 3 out of the trunk opening 40b. When the cap 4 is pushed downwardly into the body 10, the trunk 6 of the configured toy 1 initially raiss a short distance and then lowers to discharge the little elephant out of the trunk opening.

Hereinafter the parts of the configurated toy 1 will be explained in detail by referring mainly to Fig. 2.

A running mechanism includes the right and left wheels 11, 11 mounted by pins 13, 13 on right and left frames 10a, 10a which form the body 10. The sub or rear wheel 12 is supported by a shaft on the right and left frames 10a, 10a. Rear Wheel 12 is a rubber roller made of a core material covered with an endless rubber belt. The configured toy 1 is designed to roll when moved forward or backward with the right and left wheels 11, 11 and the rear wheel 12 held in contact with the ground. It should be noted, however, that the configured toy may be operated by means of a spring or an electric motor, not by hand.

Rotatable drum 2 is a transparent drum comprised of a left part and a right part. A left drum member 20a rotatable in the direction of movement is provided with an opening 21 in the center of its end face for inserting an object or body and also is provided with a coaxial engaging groove 22 on the outer side of the opening 21. The drum member 20a has a toothed belt 23 formed on the entire circumference of its outer peripheral surface. Right drum member 20b, rotatable in the direction of movement, is provided with a number of small lenses 24 in the center of its end face. Furthermore, on the outer side of the small lenses forming part of drum member 20b is formed an engaging groove (not illustrated) similar to the engaging groove 22. The drum members 20a and 20b are coupled with each other by screws (not illustrated).

In this case, sleeves 26 into which the screws are inserted extend into the internal space of the rotatable drum 2, so that when the drum 2 rotates, the little elephant 3 is flicked by the sleeves 26, thus moving as if dancing in the drum 2.

The drum 2 is rotatably supported on the body 10.

Inside the right and left frames 10a, 10a are installed a plurality of shafts 27, on each of which is mounted a guide roller 28. The location of each guide roller 28 is set at a point where all the guide rollers 28 of the right and left frames 10a, 10a simultaneously fit in the engaging groove 22 of the rotating drum 3. Then, with the guide rollers 28 of the right and left frames 10a, 10a fitted in the engaging groove 22 of the rotating drum 3, the right and left frames 10a, 10a are connected by screws (not illustrated), thereby rotatably mounting the drum 3 in the body 10.

The tunnel 40, as shown in Fig. 3, comprises an upper tube 41 forming the cap 4, a middle or intermediate tube 42 in which the upper tube 41 is fitted, and a lower tube 43 forming the trunk 6.

The upper tube 41 is separable into two frames, front and rear, of which the rear frame 41b has a longer skirt than the front frame 41a. The rear frame 41b is provided with a stopper 41c inside, and has a rack 41d extending vertically, a key-shaped projection 44, and a spring retainer 45 outside as shown in Fig.

4. Furthermore, the rear frame 41b has a slit 46 extending vertically. In the front frame 41a is formed a cutout part 47, and cam part 48 is located in the vicinity of cutout part 47. The rear frame 41b and front frame 41a are connected to each other by screws, to form the upper tube 41. The upper part of the upper tube 41 forms a crown of the cap 4, and on the outside of this part is fitted a trimming 7 whose upper end is fitted with a decorative ring-shaped top 8.

The middle tube 42 is comprised of left and right frames. The left frame 42a and the right frame 42b are symmetrically formed and connected by screws. On the outside of the middle tube 42 is mounted a Vshaped stopper 49. Below the mounting part of this stopper 49 is formed an opening 42e where a stop member 49a at the forward end of the stopper 49 can move in and out as shown in Fig. 5. Also, middle tube 42 has a bottom, immediately above which an opening 42c is provided. On the edge of this opening 42c is provided a mounting part 42d for mounting the lower tube 43.

Over the upper end of the middle tube 42 is positioned the upper tube 41. In the back of middle tube 42 is formed a slit 42f in which stopper 41c of the upper tube 41 can be inserted. Furthermore, on the back of middle tube 42 is fitted a spring retainer 42g as shown in Fig. 4. This spring retainer 42g protrudes out from the slit 46 of the upper tube 41. Between this spring retainer 42g and the spring retainer 45 is installed a spring 50, by which the upper tube 41 is pressed upwardly.

The lower tube 43 is comprised of a left frame and a right frame. The left frame 43a and the right frame 43b of the lower tube 43 are symmetrical. Lower tube 43 is formed by connecting the left frame 43a to the right frame 43b by screws. Lower tube 43 is rotatably mounted on the center of a shaft 43c supported on the mounting part 42d of the middle tube 42. A pin 43f provided on the base end part of lower tube 43 fits from inside in the arc-shaped long hole 42h in the mounting part 42d of the middle tube 42.

Between the forward end of the pin 43f protruding outwardly from the long hole 42h and a pin 42i provided on the side of the middle tube 42 is installed a spring 81 as showing in Fig. 4. When the upper tube 41 is pushed downwardly over the middle tube 42, the base end of the lower tube 43 is pulled downwardly by the spring 81, thereby raising the forward end of the lower tube 43. On the forward end of the lower tube 43 is fitted a ring-shaped head 43e as a decoration.

In tunnel 40, the little elephant 3, when inserted, is initially stopped by the stopper 41c of the upper tube 41. In this state, when the upper tube 41 is pushed downwardly against the force of the spring 60, the base end of the lower tube 43 is pulled downwardly by the spring 81 and accordingly the lower tube 43 rotates on the center of the shaft 43c, with the tip of the trunk being raised. Also when the upper tube 41 is pushed downwardly, the stopper 41c moves to the vicinity of the bottom of the middle tube 42, thus moving the little elephant 3 as far as the opening part 42c of the middle tube 42. The little elephant 3, therefore, falls from the stopper 41c onto the base end of the lower tube 43. At this time, as the tip of the trunk is raised, the little elephant 3 will not come out of the opening of the trunk tip.

Next, the upper tube 41, when released, is moved back to the original position by the spring 60 and at the same time the stopper 41c is raised by the action of the spring 81 to allow the lower tube 43 to reset to its original position and accordingly the little elephant 3 comes out of the opening 40b at the trunk tip. When two little elephants have entered the tunnel 40, the upper little elephant 3 is stopped by the stop member 49a of the stopper 49 which enters the tunnel 40 with the downward movement of the upper tube 41 as shown in Fig. 5. Therefore, the two little elephants will not come out at the same time but rather will come out separately.

The mounting construction and driving mechanism of the ears 5 will now be described. Ears 5, 5 attached to the body 10 are designed to rotate with the rotation of the front wheels 11, 11. As shown in Fig. 2, toothed belts lla, 11a are formed on the front wheels 11, 11 respectively. With these toothed belts are engaged intermediate gears 51, 51. The turning force transmitted from the wheel 11, 11 to be the intermediate gears 51, 51 is transmitted to the ears 5, 5 through gears 52 and 53. Between each gear 53 and each ear 5 is mounted a clutch 54 as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The base shaft 5a of each ear 5 fits in a socket 55 as shown in Fig. 2, which is provided with a clutch piece 54a. On the side face of the gear 53 is provided a clutch piece 54b in engagement with the clutch piece 54a.The clutch piece 54b of the gear 53 is pressed by a spring 56 against the clutch piece 54a. When an ear 5 is turned by hand, clutch 54 prevents breaking of the driving mechanism of the ear 5.

The driving mechanism of rotatable drum 2 will now be described. The drum 2 is rotated by pushing a cap 4 downwardly or by directly turning the drum 2.

On the back side of the upper tube 41 which forms a cap 4 is formed a rack 41d. As the rack 41d moves with the downward movement of the upper tube 41, gear 61 in mesh with the rack 41d is rotated. The rotation of gear 61 is transmitted to the drum 2 through a gear 62 and a roller 63 wrapped around with an endless rubber belt 63a as shown in Fig. 7, to turn the drum 2. The gears 61 and 62 and the roller 63 are mounted within a mechanism box 64. The roller 63 is supported by an arch-shaped long hole 64a on the mechanism box 64, and when the rack 41d is pushed in, the shaft of the roller 63 is moved within the long hole 64a by the rotation of the gear 61. The roller 63 rotates while being pressed against the toothed belt 23 of the drum 2, thus turning the drum 2.In the meantime, when the rack 41d rises, the shaft of the roller 63 is moved within the long hole 64a by the rotation of the gear 61 to move the roller 63 away from engagement with the drum 2, and therefore the drum 2 is not driven.

The sound producing mechanism of the present invention will now be discussed. The configured toy 1 has two sound producing mechanisms. Of these sound producing mechanisms, one mechanism 70 shown in Fig. 8 produces sound when the ear 5 turns, and consists of one gear 53 constituting the driving mechanism for driving the ear 5 and an elastic sound producing plate 71. The forward end of sound producing plate 71 whose base end is fixed inside of the body 10 is in contact with gear 53. The sound producing plate 71 produces a sound when flicked by the rotation of gear 53. The other sound producing mechanism 80 is designed to produce a sound at a mouthpiece 82 communicating with the tray 81 with the vertical movement of the operating member 83.This operating member 83 is provided with a vertically long hole 83a, in which the projection 44 of the upper tube 41 engages, so that the sound will be produced by the vertical movement of the upper tube 44.

The configured toy 1 of the present invention has many advantages. The little elephant 3, when present in the rotatable drum 2, rolls within the drum 2 when the drum 2 rotates. This rolling motion is done irregularly, presenting various images of the little elephant 3 to a viewer. The little elephant 3 inserted into the tunnel 40 can be caused to come out of the opening 40a at the tip of the trunk, giving pleasing surprises to a viewer.

Furthermore, the configured toy 1, provided with a little elephant 3 having a similar configuration, is able to give a viewer an image that the little elephant is playing with its parent.

Although one embodiment of the configured toy 1 according to the present invention has heretofore been illustrated and described, it is to be expressly understood that the present invention is not limited thereto, but various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

For example, the embodiment of the configured toy 1 is an animal toy shaped like an elephant, but is not to be limited only to an elephant or other animal configuration. It is also applicable to various other toys such as doll toys, robot toys, vehicle toys and structural toys.

Furthermore, the rotatable drum 2 is designed to be turned directly or indirectly, but may be turned by rotating wheels.

The configured toy of the present invention is capable of being moved on wheels and has a rotating drum with an inner space for receiving a small object.

In addition, a tunnel is formed through the inside of the body. The small object may also be placed into the tunnel and passed therethrough. Therefore, the toy can be played with in various ways and results in a moveable configured toy with which little children can play with interest.

Claims (18)

1 A configured toy comprising: a body; a small object formed separately from the body; a rotatable drum mounted in the body and having an internal space for receiving the small object; drive means for rotating the drum; a tunnel extending through the body capable of receiving the small object therein; a first stopper having a normal position protruding into a portion of the tunnel; and means for moving the first stopper out of and into its formal position.

2 A configured toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the small object has the same general configuration as the configured toy.

3 A configured toy as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tunnel is comprised of a plurality of connected tubes.

4 A configured toy as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of tubes includes at least an upper tube, an intermediate tube and a lower tube.

5 A configured toy as claimed in claim 4, wherein the upper tube is slidable with respect to the intermediate tube.

6 A configured toy as claimed in claim 5, which further includes spring means connected to the intermediate tube and the upper tube to normally bias the upper tube to an upper position.

7 A configured toy as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the first stopper is mounted to the upper tube whereby downward movement of the upper tube moves the first stopper out of its normal position to permit the small object to pass through the tunnel.

8 A configured toy as claimed in claim 5,6 or 7, which further includes spring means connected between the intermediate tube and the lower tube whereby downward movement of the upper tube raises the lower tube.

9 A configured toy as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the drive means comprises a rack mounted on the upper tube for engaging teeth on the drum whereby downward movement of the upper tube causes the drum to rotate.

10 A configured toy as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 9, which further includes a second stopper normally positioned outside of the tunnel but which is moveable to a position protruding into the tunnel upon downward movement of the upper tube.

11 A configured toy as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the drum is transparent.

12 A configured toy as claimed in claim 11, wherein the drum has a plurality of lenses in an end face thereof.

13 A configured toy as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which further includes wheels supporting the toy.

14 A configured toy as claimed in claim 13, wherein the toy is in the configuration of an animal having moveable ears and which further includes means connecting at least one of the wheels to the ears whereby movement of the wheels causes movement of the ears.

15 A configured toy as claimed in claim 14, wherein said means connecting at least one of the wheels to the ears includes a clutch mechanism.

16 A configured toy as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which further includes a sound mechanism for producing a sound upon movement of the toy.

17 A configured toy as claimed in any one of the preceding claim wherein the toy is in the configuration of an elephant.

18 A configured toy as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.