JP2009005865A - Toy - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toy allowing a user to increasingly enjoy watering plants. <P>SOLUTION: The toy is provided with a water tank part (31) having an inlet (32) on the top and an outlet (33) on the bottom, a float (34) disposed inside the tank part (31) to move up/down according to the volume of water storage, a rod (35) joined to the float (34), guide parts (36 and 37) for guiding movement of the rod (35), at least one of first decorative members (21 and 22) rotatably supported by a support part and an engagement part (38) for engaging the rod (35) and a part of the first decorative members (21 and 22) to link a movement of the rod (35) to the first decorative members (21 and 22). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a water-supplying toy, and more particularly to a toy that enjoys movements caused by water.

A toy has been proposed in which water is applied to a plant model in a flower pot so that the plant moves in response to the water. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a swinging toy in which water drops are dropped from a tank to a swinging mechanism when a flower pot is fed with water, and a model leaf or flower swings.
JP 2007-20853 A

However, in the above-described flower pot toy, the model leaves only repeat swinging similarly to the solar toy whose leaves swing by the solar cell, and the operation is monotonous. Also, it does not actually water the plants.
Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide the toy which can enjoy watering to a plant more.

  In order to achieve the above object, the aspect of the toy of the present invention includes a water tank part having a water receiving port in the upper part and a drain port in the lower part, a float that is arranged in the water tank part and moves according to the amount of stored water, and the float A rod to be connected, a guide part for guiding the movement of the rod, at least one first decorative member rotatably supported by the support part, the rod and a part of the first decorative member; And an engaging portion that interlocks the first decorative member with the movement of the rod. The position of the support portion is appropriately determined according to the engagement position between the rod in the toy and the first decorative member.

  By setting it as this structure, when water is given to this toy from the upper part, water will accumulate in a water tank part from a water receiving port, and the water level of a water tank part will rise. Along with this, the float in the water tank portion gradually rises, and the rod connected to the float rises. As the rod rises, the first decorative member engaged with the rod moves (rotates) in one direction. Moreover, the water level in a water tank part falls gradually by the outflow of the water from a drain outlet, and a float falls. Along with this, the rod descends, and the first decorative member engaged with the rod moves (rotates) in the reverse direction. For example, by providing a plurality of first decorative members, it is possible to realize an operation of opening / closing a plurality of decorative members, a reciprocating operation, a shaking operation, and the like. As will be described later, if the first decorative member is, for example, a model of a plant leaf or cocoon, the toy operates so that the leaf or cocoon opens and closes (or fluctuates) when water is applied.

  Furthermore, a second decorative member can be provided on a part of the rod, and this can be moved (moved up and down) together with the rod. For example, the second decorative member imitates a plant flower, and when the leaf opens, it can appear that the flower stem extends out from the open leaf (first decorative member). In addition, when the leaves are closed, the flower stems can shrink and appear to fit within the leaves.

  It is desirable that the drain port is formed sufficiently smaller than the water receiving port. As a result, water accumulates in the water tank from the water receiving port in a short time by water supply (watering), and gradually comes out from the drain port, so that the operation of opening the leaf relatively quickly and closing the leaf gently is realized. .

  Preferably, the first decorative member includes a weight for adjusting a rotational force (moment) generated by its own weight on the support portion. By canceling the rotational force with the weight, the rod and the decorative members can be moved even if the float has a small buoyancy.

  As described above, for example, the first decorative member is a plant leaf model, and the second decorative member is a plant flower (flower stem) model, but is not limited thereto.

  Preferably, the water tank part, the rod part, the support part, and the engaging part of the toy are housed in a substantially spherical or egg-shaped housing. The water dripped from the drain outlet at the bottom of the water tank is drained to the outside through a hole provided at the bottom of the casing. Since this toy is substantially spherical or oval, it can be easily placed on a planted pot.

  Thereby, when watering an actual plant (not a toy) in a flower pot, this toy also operates under watering. Enjoying the operation of the water supply toy is advantageous because it encourages watering the plants.

  Preferably, a guide for collecting water is provided around the upper outer periphery of the water tank so as to efficiently take the water into the water tank.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a water supply toy of the present invention is applied to a simulated plant toy will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a state of a toy before watering. FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining the state of the toy after watering. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the toy in a state before watering. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the state after watering. Corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the water supply toy 1 has a substantially spherical or egg-shaped housing 11. The size of the shape is not particularly limited, but it is desirable that the size of the shape is good in the root of the plant planted in the flower pot. The casing 11 is configured in a substantially spherical shape or an oval shape by combining two hemispherical lids by screws or fittings (not shown). Three or four legs 12 are formed in the lower part of the housing 11 to prevent the toy 1 from falling. Although not shown, a drainage hole for discharging drainage from a water tank 31 described later to the outside is formed in the lower center of the housing 11.

  A part of the upper portion of the housing 11 is opened, and two leaf models 21 and 22 as first decorative members protrude from the opening to the outside. The leaf models 21 and 22 are arranged to face each other.

  In the state shown in FIG. 1, the leaf models 21 and 22 are in a closed state. In the state shown in FIG. 2, the leaf model is in an open state. In a state where the leaf model is closed, a flower stem model 23 as a second decorative member is located inside the leaf models 21 and 22 so as to be covered. In a state where the leaf models 21 and 22 are opened, the flower stem model 23 rises from the position when it is closed. The opening and closing operations of the leaf models 21 and 22 are generated by supplying water to the toy 1.

  3 and 4 illustrate the operation of the leaf model 21 and the flower stem model 23. FIG. In both figures, for convenience of explanation, only the leaf model 21 is shown and the leaf model 22 is not shown, but the leaf model 22 has the same structure as the leaf model 21 and operates in the same manner.

  Inside the housing 11, a water tank 31 for storing water sprayed on the plant is arranged. A plurality of water receiving ports 32 are provided in the upper part of the water layer 31, and water sprinkled by a watering can, a jug or the like (not shown) is poured into the water tank 31. A drain port 33 is provided at the center of the lower part (bottom part) of the water tank. The drain port 33 is set to be sufficiently narrow (for example, a diameter of 1 to 3 mm) compared to the water receiving port 32 (for example, a diameter of 1 to 2 cm). Thereby, the sprayed running water is quickly taken into the water tank 31 and the water level of the water tank 31 is lowered slowly. A plurality of drain ports 33 can be provided depending on the volume of the water tank.

  A float 34 is disposed in the water tank 31. A rod 35 extending in the vertical direction is attached to the float 34 so as to penetrate the float 34. The lower portion of the rod 35 is movable in a guide hole 36 formed in the center of the bottom of the water tank 31. Further, the upper side of the float 34 of the rod 35 passes through a guide hole 37 in the upper part of the water tank 31 and is coupled to the flower stem model 23. An engaging portion 38 between the rod 35 and the leaf model 21 is provided at a position above the guide hole 37 of the rod 35. The engaging portion 38 includes a stopper 39 provided on the rod 35 and the end portion 25 of the leaf model 21.

  The leaf model 21 is supported so as to be rotatable (movable) on the base side of the leaf on a rotation shaft 41 as a support portion provided on a frame 40 attached to the upper part of the water tank 31. A weight 24 is provided at the base of the leaf. The weight 24 adjusts (decreases) the rotational force (moment) due to the weight of the leaf model 21 generated around the rotation axis, and generates an appropriate rotational force in the clockwise direction on the leaf model 21. With this rotational force, the end portion 25 of the leaf model 21 is engaged with the stopper 39. Further, by adjusting the weight, the float 34 can be reduced in size by reducing the required driving force to the leaf model 21 by the float 34.

  The casing 11, the leaf models 21 and 22, the flower stem model 23, the water tank 31, and the rod 35 described above can be made of plastic, and the float 34 can be made of hollow plastic or polystyrene foam. The rotating shaft 41 can be made of metal or plastic. Moreover, it is possible to use things other than these suitably.

  Next, a case where water is stored in the water tank 31 by watering will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, when watering the plant with a watering can or the like, water also enters the toy and water 51 is stored in the water tank 31. Thereby, buoyancy is generated in the float 34. The float 34 rises until it hits the upper structure provided with the water receiving port 32 of the water tank, and the rod 35 also rises along the guide holes 36 and 37 in conjunction with it. As the rod 35 rises, the flower stem model 23 rises. Further, as the stop position of the stopper 38 of the rod 35 rises, the leaf model 21 rotates in the clockwise direction around the rotation shaft 41, and the position of the leaf model 21 changes from a closed state to an open state. . Although not shown in FIG. 4, the position of the leaf model 22 is similarly changed to an open state.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, an operation is realized in which the leaves 21 and 22 of the water supply toy 1 open to the left and right and the flower 23 appears while extending from the leaves.

  Next, when the watering to the plant ends or is temporarily stopped, the water supply to the aquarium 31 is cut off, and the water level of the water 51 in the aquarium 31 is gradually (gradually) by the drainage from the narrow drainage port 33. )Decrease. Thereby, the float 34 and the rod 35 are gradually lowered. As the rod 35 descends, the flower stem model 23 gradually descends. Further, the end portion 25 of the leaf model 21 is pushed down by the stopper 38 of the rod 35 by the lowering of the rod 35, and the leaf model 21 rotates counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 41, and the leaf model 21. The position changes gradually between open and closed. Similarly, the position of the leaf model 22 gradually changes from an open state to a closed state.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, an operation is realized in which the leaves 21 and 22 of the water supply toy 1 are gently closed and the flowers 23 are hidden in the leaves 21 and 22.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when water is supplied to the water supply toy, the leaves open, the flowers appear from the inside, and the leaves move slowly, which is interesting. And you can enjoy watering the plants.

  In addition, by supplying water to the plant via this water supply toy, it is possible to roughly grasp the amount of water replenished as the amount of water stored in the aquarium × the number of times of opening and closing the leaves (the number of times of watering).

  FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In the same figure, parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 3 and 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

  In this embodiment, the engaging portion 38 is constituted by a pin 51 provided on the rod 35 and a long hole 52 provided at an end portion on the base side of the leaf model 21 and engaged with the pin 51. Even with such a configuration, when the rod 35 moves up and down, the pin 51 presses the end of the leaf model 21 along the elongated hole, and the operation of opening and closing the leaf model 21 is realized.

  Contrary to the above, the pin 51 of the rod 35 is passed through the round hole (not shown) at the end of the leaf model 21 so that the rotating shaft 41 slides in the elongated hole (not shown). Also good. An operation of opening and closing the leaf model 21 is realized by a similar movement.

  In this embodiment, a basin guide 53 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper part of the water tank 31, and it is devised so that watering can be collected in the water tank more efficiently.

  Further, in this embodiment, a plurality of drain outlets 33 are provided at the bottom of the water tank 31, so that the opening and closing of the leaves can be enjoyed in a shorter cycle in response to watering multiple times.

  In addition, if the water supply is stopped once the leaf has changed from the closed state to the open state and water is supplied again when the leaf is closed, the number of opening and closing of the leaf and the amount of water supply ((volume of the water tank- Since the volume of the float) × the number of times of watering is approximately proportional, it can be used as a measure of the amount of water supplied to the plant.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the operation such that the leaves open and the flowers bloom (appear) at the time of watering the plant can be enjoyed. Moreover, it becomes possible to know the outline of the water supply amount by watering the plant through this toy with the number of times of opening and closing the leaves as a guide.

It is a perspective view explaining the Example (closed state) of this invention. It is a perspective view explaining the Example (opened state) of this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining the closed state of the Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining the open state of the Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining the other Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water supply toy, 11 Case, 12 Leg part, 21 and 22 Leaf model, 23 Flower stem model, 24 Weight, 31 Water tank, 32 Receiving port 32, 33 Drain port, 34 Float, 35 Rod, 36, 37 Guide hole , 38 Engagement part, 39 Stopper, 41 Rotating shaft, 53 Drain guide

Claims (5)

A water tank portion having a water receiving port at the top and a drain port at the bottom;
A float that is arranged in the water tank and moves according to the amount of stored water;
A rod connected to the float;
A guide for guiding the movement of the rod;
At least one first decorative member rotatably supported by the support portion;
An engagement portion for engaging the rod and a part of the first decorative member, and interlocking the first decorative member with the movement of the rod;
A toy with   The toy according to claim 1, further comprising a second decorative member provided on a part of the rod and moving together with the rod.   The toy according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drain port is formed smaller than the water receiving port.   The toy according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first decorative member includes a weight for adjusting a rotational force generated by its own weight in the support portion.   The toy according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first decorative member is a plant leaf model, and the second decorative member is a plant flower model.