GB2378909A

GB2378909A - toy animal on wheels with movable upper body.

Info

Publication number: GB2378909A
Application number: GB0217054A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daisuke Tomita
Original assignee: Tomy Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tomy Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-08-08
Filing date: 2002-07-23
Publication date: 2003-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-07-23
Also published as: FR2828413B1; CN1404895A; FR2828413A1; GB0217054D0; JP2003053049A; GB2378909B

Abstract

A toy animal, e.g. a dog, comprises a pedestal 10 provided with at least a first pair of wheels 12, an upper body 20 rotatable about a horizontal axis provided in the pedestal and a lead 27 attached to the upper body. The upper body is arranged to take upward (Fig. 2A) and downward (Fig. 2B) positions, one of which is adopted ordinarily, the other position being adopted by pulling the lead in a predetermined direction. The upper body may ordinarily be in the downward position, e.g. due to gravity, and is turned to the upward position by pulling the lead in a horizontal direction. Alternatively the upper body may be ordinarily in the upward position and is turned into the downward position by pulling the lead in an obliquely upward direction. A brake mechanism may also be provided which is on when the upper body is in the downward position and released when in the upward position. A voice generating mechanism may also be provided which produces a different sound when in the upward and downward positions.

Description

1 2378909

TOY ANIMAL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toy animal such as a toy dog.

Description of Related Art

Conventionally, a toy animal such as a toy dog, which has right and left fore wheels and right and left hind wheels, and a lead wound around the neck portion thereof, so that the fore and hind wheels can be rotated by pulling the lead, to run the toy animal, has been known.

The form of such a conventional toy animal is not changed at rest nor during running, except rotation of the wheels. There is also a toy dog with a mechanism of voice production to generate barking. However, the barking of such a toy dog does not change at rest nor during running, while the power is on.

As described above, conventional toy animals have the problems that have poor variety and little charm and are apt to lose its popularity soon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was developed in view of the above-described problems.

An object of the present invention is to provide a toy animal which has charm and the form of which can be changed, for example, at rest and during running.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the toy animal comprises: a pedestal (base); at least a first pair of rotatable wheels which is attached the pedestal) an upper body which can be reciprocally rotated around a first axis which is provided in the pedestal approximately horizontally, to take a downward position and an upward position; and a lead attached to the upper body of the toy animal; wherein the upper body is in one of the downward position and the upward position ordinarily, and is allowed to turn into the other by pulling the lead in a predetermined direction.

According to the toy animal having such a construction, it is possible to change the position of the toy animal such as toy dog, i.e., the downward position or the upward position, by changing the direction of pulling the lead. Therefore, it is possible to provide a toy animal such as a toy dog which has charm and the form of which can be changed.

Preferably, the toy animal further comprises a brake mechanism which is actuated to at least one of the first pair of rotatable wheels when the upper body is in the downward position, and which release the at least one of

the first pair when the upper body is changed from the downward position to the upward position.

The upper body may be in the downward position ordinarily and may be allowed to turn into the upward position by pulling the lead in an approximately horizontal direction. According to the toy animal having such a construction, when pulling the lead in an obliquely upward direction, because the upper body of the toy animal such as a toy dog is in the downward position, and the brake is actuated to at least one of the first pair of rotatable wheels to stop, it looks like an animal such as a dog unwilling to go forward. Therefore, it is possible to provide an extremely pretty toy dog or the like.

On the other hand, when pulling the lead in an approximately horizontal direction, the position of the upper body of the toy dog or the like varies from the downward position to the upward position, while the brake is released to free the first pair of rotatable. As a result, it looks as if the toy dog or the like is taking a favorite walk.

The upper body may also be in the upward position ordinarily and may be allowed to turn into the downward position by pulling the lead in an obliquely upward direction. The toy animal may further comprises a second pair of wheels rotatable around a second axis which is provided in the pedestal approximately horizontally.

The second axis of the second pair of wheels may be

eccentric. According to the toy animal having such a construction, it is possible to provide a toy animal such as a toy dog which comes to run with making the tail move up and down when the second pair of wheels move by rolling. The upper body may take the downward position by self-weight ordinarily.

The brake mechanism may comprise: a rotary member that allows the at least one of the first pair of rotatable wheels to receive a braking force, by stopping rotation thereof; and a lever which is engaged with the rotary member to stop the rotation thereof or disengaged from the rotary member to release stopping, according to a reciprocal rotation of the upper body around the first axis.

Preferably, the rotary member comprises a plurality of teeth and the lever comprises a claw which is engaged with or disengaged from one of the teeth of the rotary member so that the rotary member is allowed to rotate only in one direction.

The rotary member may comprise: a firs. rotary plate to which at least one of the first pair of rotatable wheels is attached, and a second rotary plate having the plurality of teeth on the periphery which are engageable with the claw of the lever, wherein the first rotary plate and the second rotary plate form a clutch which allows facing surfaces of the first rotary plate and the second rotary plate to engage with or disengage from each other.

Preferably, the toy animal further comprises a voice generation mechanism for generating a sound

like an animal voice in the downward position or in the upward position, wherein the sound like an animal voice in the downward position is different from one in the upward position.

According to the toy animal having such a construction, it is possible to realize a toy animal which has charm and the animal voice of which can be changed, for example, at rest and during running.

The voice generation mechanism may comprise: two switches for detecting the downward position or upward position, a control circuit, an amplifier, and a speaker.

Preferably, the toy animal is a toy dog.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understand from the detailed description given hereinafter

and the accompanying drawing which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention, and wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a toy dog according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 2A and 2B are side views showing different states of the toy dog shown in FIG. 1; FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing different states of the inside of the fore leg portion of the toy dog shown

in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a side view showing a part of an embodiment of the braking mechanism of the toy dog shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views explaining an embodiment of the mechanism of voice production of the toy dog shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the toy dog shown in FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the toy animal such as a toy dog, according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawing, as follows.

EXTERNAL CONSTRUCTION OF TOY DOG

FIG. 1 a perspective view showing a toy dog which is an embodiment of the toy animal according to the present invention. The toy dog 100 has, although it is not limited, a pedestal (base) 10 with a shape like a box and an upper body 20.

On right and left side surfaces of the pedestal 10, right and left fore leg portions 11 and 11 are provided at forward positions, respectively.

To each of the right and left fore leg portions, a fore wheel 12 is attached. On the peripheral

surface of each fore wheel 12, a caterpillar tread-

shaped rubber ring 13 is attached. The pedestal 10 has a battery containing chamber formed inside, with a cover (not shown), to set in or exchange batteries by opening the cover. On right and left side surfaces of the pedestal 10, right and left hind wheels 14 and 14 which are rotatable on the same shaft 15 (although not limited) are provided at backward positions, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The right and left hind wheels 14 and 14 are provided on the shaft 15 eccentrically. As a result, when the right and left hind wheels 14 and ld move by rolling, the toy dog 100 comes to run with making the tail move up and down.

The upper body 20 is provided to cover the pedestal 10, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Upper body 20 can be swung centered on a horizontal shaft 21. That is, the upper body 20 can be reciprocally rotated centered on a horizontal shaft 21 which is at a joint position of each fore leg portion 11, so that the toy dog can take a downward position, as shown in FIG. 2A, and an upward position, as shown in FIG. 2B. At the downward position shown in FIG. 2A, the upper body 20 is brought into contact with the shaft 15 from the upper side. On the other hand, at the downward position shown, in FIG. 2B, the armpit portion 20a of the upper body 20 is brought into contact with the abutment portion lla which is provided at a position in an inner side of the fore

leg portion 11 from the upper side, as shown in FIG. 1. Ordinarily, the upper body 20 takes a downward position by its self-weight (biased force), as shown in FIG. 2A.

At each of right and left side positions on the head portion 22, an ear portion 23 is provided to swing, i.e., to rotate reciprocally backward and forward centered on a shaft 24, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. A collar 26 is provided around the neck portion 25 of the upper body 20. To the collar 26, a lead 27 is attached. The toy dog 100 has a construction so that when pulling the lead 27 in an obliquely upper direction, as shown in FIG. 2A, the toy dog 100 takes the downward position, and when pulling the lead 27 in approximately the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 2B, the toy dog 100 takes the upward position. On the breast portion 28, a sound-discharging member 29 is provided. At a position near the sounddischarging member 29 in the upper body 20, a speaker SP which will be explained later is installed.

INTERNAL CONSTRUCTION OF TOY DOG

(1) Braking Mechanism: The braking mechanism 30 has a rod 31, a lever 32 and a rotary body 33, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

The rod 31 extends upward and downward to be able to move upward and downward. The lever 32 has a first arm 32a and a second arm 32b, and can be sv ung like

a seesaw centered on a shaft 34 which is provided between the first and second arms 32a and 32b. The free end of the second arm 32b is engaged with the lower end of the rod 31. Under the second arm 32b, a pushing spring 35 is provided to push the lower surface of the second arm 32b upward and thereby to bias the rod 31 upward also. On the free end of the first arm 32a, a claw 36 is provided to be able to engage with the rotary body 33, as shown in FIG. 3A.

The rotary body 33 includes two rotary plates 33a and 33b, as shown in FIG. 4.

One 33a of the two rotary plates and a shaft 40 to which a fore wheel 12 is fixed are formed as a body. On the surface of the rotary plate 33a, which faces to the rotary plate 33b, two projections 37 are formed along the periphery thereof. The shaft 40 has a large diameter portion 40a and a small diameter portion Job. The other 33b of the two rotary plates has a ring shape and the large diameter portion 40a of the shaft 40 is inserted into the inner hole of the ring-shaped rotary plate 33b. On the surface of the rotary plate 33b which faces to the rotary plate 33a, a plurality of teeth which can engage with the projections 37 of the rotary plate 33a are formed. The rotary plate 33b is ordinarily pressed against the rotary plate 33a by a pushing spring 39. Accordingly, the rotary plates 33a and 33b form a face-to-face clutch. In the periphery of rotary plate 33b, four teeth 41

which can be engaged with the claw 36 are formed, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. When the claw 36 engages with one of the four teeth 41 of the rotary plate 33b, the rotary plate 33b is allowed to rotate only in one direction. The small diameter portion 40b of the shaft 40 projects in the direction of the outer side of fore leg portion 11. To the top end of each small diameter portion 40b, the fore wheel 12 is fixed by using a screw.

(2) Voice Generation Mechanism: The voice generation mechanism 50 of toy dog 100 has a control circuit 51, e.g., an IC or the like, an amplifier 52, a speaker SP, and two switches SW1 and SW2, e.g., leaf switches, as shown in FIG. 6. The two switches SW1 and SW2 are used for detecting the positions of the toy dog 100, that is, downward position or upward position. The switch SW1 is turned on when the toy dog 100 is in a downward position, as shown in FIG. 5B, and the switch SW2 is turned on when the toy dog 100 is in an upward position, as shown in FIG. 5A. When switch SW1 or SW2 is turned on, a predetermined type of voice is generated for a predetermined time of period according as which switch is turned on.

ACTION

The toy dog 100 having the above-described construction maintains the downward position by its

self-weight of the upper body 20 in a condition that the lead 27 is not pulled. When pulling the lead 27 in an obliquely upward direction from this state, as shown in FIG. 2A, the toy dog 100 does not move on forward. That is, because the armpit portion 20a of the upper body 20 is apart from the rod 31, the second arm 32b of the lever 32 is pushed up by the pushing spring 35 and thereby the claw 36 of the first arm 32a is engaged with one of the teeth 41 of the rotary plate 33b, as shown in FIG. 3A. As a result, the mechanism acts as a brake for the fore wheel 12 and the toy dog 100 cannot move on forward.

In the case, the toy dog 100 may whine, for example.

When pulling the lead 27 in an approximately horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 2B, the toy dog 100 moves on forward. That is, because the armpit portion 20a of the upper body 20 pushes the rod 31 downward, the second arm 32b of the lever 32 is pushed down against the biased force of the pushing spring 35 and thereby the claw 36 of the first arm 32a is disengaged from the teeth 41 of the rotary plate 33b, as shown in FIG. 3B. As a result, the brake for the fore wheel 12 is released and then the toy dog 100 can move on forward. In the case, the toy dog 100 may bowwow livelily, for example.

When starting to pull the lead 27 in an approximately horizontal direction, the upper body 20 can be rotated around the shaft 21 easily because the brake for the fore wheel 12 is actuated.

Although the present invention has been explained according to the abovedescribed embodiment, it should also be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment as the above described and various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the gist thereof.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the shaft 21 which is the rotational axis of the upper body 20 is disposed in the fore side of the toy dog loo, and the toy dog 100 has a structure to take the downward position ordinarily. However, the toy dog 100 also has another construction in which the shaft 21 which is the rotational axis of the upper body 20 is disposed in the hind side of the toy dog 100, and the toy dog 100 has a structure to take the upward position ordinarily, thereby the toy dog lOO takes a downward position when pulling the lead 27 in an obliquely upward direction.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, although the toy dog 100 takes the downward position by its self-

weight of the upper body 20, it is also possible to have the upper body 20 take the downward position or the upward position by using a biased force of spring or the like.

Although only a toy dog is explained as an toy animal in the abovedescribed embodiment, the present invention can be applied to other toy animal, e.g., a toy horse, a toy lion, a toy duck, a toy fur seal or the like.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application

No. Tokugan 2001-240767 filed on August 8, 2001 including specification, claims, drawings and summary are

incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A toy animal comprising: a pedestal; at least a first pair of rotatable wheels which is attached the pedestal; an upper body which can be reciprocally rotated around a first axis which is provided in the pedestal approximately horizontally, to take a downward position and an upward position; and a lead attached to the upper body of the toy animal; wherein the upper body is in one of the downward position and the upward position ordinarily, and is allowed to turn into the other by pulling the lead in a predetermined direction.

2. The toy animal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a brake mechanism which is actuated to at least one of the first pair of rotatable wheels when the upper body is in the downward position, and which release the at least one of the first pair when the upper body is changed from the downward position to the upward position.

3. The toy animal as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper body is in the downward position ordinarily and is allowed to turn into the upward position by pulling the lead in an approximately horizontal direction. 9. The toy animal as claimed in claim 1 or 2,

wherein the upper body is in the upward position ordinarily and is allowed to turn into the downward position by pulling the lead in an obliquely upward direction.

5. The toy animal as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, further comprising a second pair of wheels rotatable around a second axis which is provided in the pedestal approximately horizontally.

6. The toy animal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second axis of the second pair of wheels is eccentric.

7. The toy animal as claimed in claim 3, wherein the upper body takes the downward position by self-weight ordinarily. 8. The toy animal as claimed in claim 2, wherein the brake mechanism comprises: a rotary member that allows the at least one of the first pair of rotatable wheels to receive a braking force, by stopping rotation thereof; and a lever which is engaged with the rotary member to stop the rotation thereof or disengaged from the rotary member to release stopping, according to a reciprocal rotation of the upper body around the first axis.

9. The toy animal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rotary member comprises a plurality of teeth and the lever comprises a claw which is engaged with or disengaged from one of the teeth of the rotary member so that the

rotary member is allowed to rotate only in one direction. 10. The toy animal as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rotary member comprises: a first rotary plate to which at least one of the first pair of rotatable wheels is attached, and a second rotary plate having the plurality of teeth on the periphery which are engageable with the claw of the lever, wherein the first rotary plate and the second rotary plate form a clutch which allows facing surfaces of the first rotary plate and the second rotary plate to engage with or disengage from each other.

11. The toy animal as claimed in any one of preceding claims, further comprising a voice generation mechanism for generating a sound like an animal voice in the downward position or in the upward position, wherein the sound like an animal voice in the downward position is different from one in the upward position. 12. The toy animal as claimed in claim 11, wherein the voice generation mechanism comprises: two switches for detecting the downward position or upward position, a control circuit, an amplifier, and a speaker.

13. The toy animal as claimed in any one of preceding claims, wherein the animal is a dog.

14. The toy animal, substantially as herein described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1 A toy animal comprising: a pedestal; at least a first Fair of rotatable wheels which is attached the pedestal; an upper body which can be reciprocally rotated around a first axis which is provided in the pedestal approximately horizontally, to take a downward position and an upward position; a brake mechanism which is actuated to at least one of the first tapir of rotatable wheels when the upper body is in the downward position, and which release the at least one of the first pair when the upper body is changed from the downward position to the upward position; and a lead attached to the upper body of the toy animal; wherein the upper body is in one of the downward position and the upward position ordinarily, and is allowed to turn into the other by pulling the lead in a predetermined direction.

2. A toy animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper body is in the downward position ordinarily and is allowed to turn into the upward position by pulling the lead in an approximately horizontal direction.

3. A toy animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper body is in the upward position ordinarily and is allowed to turn into the downward position by pulling the

lead in an obliquely upward direction.

4. A toy animal as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a second pair of wheels rotatable around a second axis which is provided in the pedestal approximately horizontally 5. A toy animal as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second axis of the second pair of wheels is eccentric.

6. A toy animal as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper body takes the downward -position by self-weight ordinarily. 7. A toy animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brake mechanism comprises: a rotary member that allows the at least one of the first pair of rotatable wheels to receive a braking force, by stopping rotation thereof; and a lever which is engaged with the rotary member to stop the rotation thereof or disengaged from the rotary member to release stopping, according to a reciprocal rotation of the upper body around the first axis.

8.- A toy animal as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rotary member comprises a plurality of teeth and the lever comprises a claw which is engaged with or disengaged from one of the teeth of the rotary member so that the rotary member is allowed to rotate only in one direction.

Who 9. A toy animal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rotary member comprises: a first rotary plate to which at least one of the first pair of rotatable wheels is attached, and a second rotary plate having the plurality of teeth on the periphery which are engageable with the claw of the lever, wherein the first rotary plate and the second rotary plate form a clutch which allows facing surfaces of the first rotary plate and the second rotary plate to engage with or disengage from each other.

10. A toy animal as claimed in any one of preceding claims, further comprising a voice generation mechanism for generating a sound like an animal voice in the downward position or in the upward position, wherein the sound like an animal voice in the downward position is different from one in the upward position.

11 A toy animal as claimed in claim 10, wherein the voice generation mechanism comprises: two switches for detecting the downward position or upward position, a control circuit, an amplifier, and a speaker. 12. A toy animal as claimed in any one of preceding claims, wherein the animal is a dog.

13. A toy animal, substantially as herein described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.