US20140106641A1 - Backspin toy - Google Patents
Backspin toy Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140106641A1 US20140106641A1 US13/845,315 US201313845315A US2014106641A1 US 20140106641 A1 US20140106641 A1 US 20140106641A1 US 201313845315 A US201313845315 A US 201313845315A US 2014106641 A1 US2014106641 A1 US 2014106641A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- running body
- flywheel
- torque
- rack
- backspin
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H29/00—Drive mechanisms for toys in general
- A63H29/24—Details or accessories for drive mechanisms, e.g. means for winding-up or starting toy engines
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H17/00—Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor
- A63H17/008—Launching devices for motorless toy vehicles
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H29/00—Drive mechanisms for toys in general
- A63H29/20—Flywheel driving mechanisms
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a backspin toy.
- Patent Document 1 Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. sho 52-9586
- Patent Document 1 Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. sho 52-9586
- a running toy including a flywheel to give inertial torque to a wheel of a running body, which slides down an inclined running surface, so as to make the running body run as far as possible.
- Patent Document 2 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. sho 62-298389
- Patent Document 2 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. sho 62-298389
- a starting device for a toy car the starting device in which a starting unit is operated after torque is accumulated in a flywheel-type drive mechanism connected to a drive wheel of the toy car, so as to start the toy car by drive of the drive wheel by the torque released from the drive mechanism, and accordingly the velocity of the toy car does not rapidly decrease.
- Patent Documents 1 to 3 All the technologies disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are to start a toy vehicle at a high initial velocity by utilizing driving force of a flywheel so as to make the vehicle run as far as possible, but make the vehicle run only in one direction. Hence, the movement itself is monotonous.
- the present invention is made in view of the circumstances, and objects of the present invention include providing a backspin toy which makes unexpected movement.
- FIG. 2A is an exploded plan view of a running body
- FIG. 2B is an exploded lateral view of the running body viewed from the left side;
- FIG. 3B is a lateral view of the running body viewed from the left side;
- FIG. 3D is a lateral view of the running body viewed from the right side;
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a meshing relationship between a pinion and a rack belt viewed from a lateral side;
- FIG. 5A is a plan view of a starting base
- FIG. 5B is a plan view of the starting base with the upper part thereof removed;
- FIG. 5D is a lateral view of the starting base viewed from the right side;
- FIG. 6A is a lateral view showing a configuration of a right wall of the starting base
- FIG. 7A is an exploded perspective view of a stating unit
- FIG. 7B is a lateral view of the stating unit viewed from the left side;
- FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body housed in the starting base is about to start.
- FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body has started from the starting base
- FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body catches a target
- FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body, which has caught the target, travels backward;
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a backspin toy in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 12B is a front view of the running body
- FIG. 13 is a plan view of a connecting mechanism of the backspin toy shown in FIG. 11 ;
- FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting mechanism of the backspin toy shown in FIG. 11 .
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a backspin toy 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
- the backspin toy 100 includes a starting base 10 , a running body 30 , a rack belt 50 and targets 70 .
- the words “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” with respect to the running body 30 respectively indicate the “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” in a forward direction of the running body 30 , the forward direction in which the running 30 normally travels.
- the words “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” with respect to the starting base 10 respectively indicate the “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” in a direction from the center of the starting base 10 to an entrance/exit thereof.
- FIG. 2A is an exploded plan view of the running body 30
- FIG. 2B is an exploded lateral view of the running body 30 viewed from the left side
- FIG. 3A is a plan view of the running body 30
- FIG. 3B is a lateral view of the running body 30 viewed from the left side
- FIG. 3C is a front view of the running body 30
- FIG. 3D is a lateral view of the running body 30 viewed from the right side.
- the running body 30 includes a core body 32 , a first holder 33 and a second holder 34 .
- a flywheel 31 which constitutes a main wheel having a large diameter, is attached to the core body 32 .
- the first holder 33 is detachably attached to the front part of the core body 32 .
- the second holder 34 is detachably attached to the back part of the core body 32 .
- the running body 30 is constituted of the core body 32 , the first holder 33 and the second holder 34 .
- the core body 32 , the first holder 33 and the second holder 34 may be configured as one component.
- the core body 32 and the first holder 33 or the second holder 34 may be configured as one component.
- the core body 32 includes first swelling parts 35 on the right side and the left side (a right first swelling part 35 and a left first swelling part 35 ).
- Each first swelling part 35 is in the shape of a trapezoid in a planar view and in the shape of a rectangle in a lateral view.
- a right second swelling part 36 is disposed above the right first swelling part 35 .
- a left second swelling part 36 is disposed on the left first swelling part 35 .
- Each second swelling part 36 is in the shape of a trapezoid in a planar view.
- the second swelling parts 36 are smaller than the first swelling parts 35 in a planar view.
- the flywheel 31 is attached to the center of the core body 32 in a planer view.
- the flywheel 31 is attached to the core body 32 in such a way that the right end face and the left end face, which are flat, of the flywheel 31 face the left side and the right side, respectively.
- a right shaft 31 a and a left shaft 31 a are attached to the right end face and the left end face of the flywheel 31 , respectively.
- the right shaft 31 a and the left shaft 31 a are supported by the core body 32 .
- a pinion (an input gear) 38 is fixed to the right shaft 31 a at a point corresponding to the rack belt insertion part 37 .
- the pinion 38 rotates with the right shaft 31 a .
- the edge of the pinion 38 slightly comes out from the upper face of the right first swelling part 35 so that teeth 38 a of the pinion 38 mesh with teeth 52 a of the rack belt 50 at the rack belt insertion part 37 .
- the first holder 33 holds a tape T1, which is one of a loop tape and a hook tape constituting a hook-and-loop fastener. As shown in FIG. 2A , the first holder 33 is configured in such a way that protrusions 33 b face each other. The protrusions 33 b extend in the up-down direction along a right wall and a left wall of the first holder 33 , respectively. The right wall and the left wall are formed at the back end of the first holder 33 , and define a notch part 33 a . Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2B , recesses 32 a are formed on the right side and the left side of the core body 32 , respectively.
- the recesses 32 a extend in the up-down direction so that the protrusions 33 b of the first holder 33 engage with the recesses 32 a one-to-one. (In FIG. 2B , only the recess 32 a on the left side is shown.)
- the recesses 32 a of the core body 32 and the protrusions 33 b of the first holder 33 are aligned on the lower side of the core body 32 , and the first holder 33 is moved upward toward the core body 32 , so that the recesses 32 a and the protrusions 33 b engage with each other.
- the first holder 33 is attached to the core body 32 .
- the first holder 33 is detached from the core body 32 in the reverse procedure.
- the first holder 33 attachable to and detachable from the core body 32 , the following can be done.
- first holders 33 having tapes T1 different in size and being exchangeable are prepared, so that adhesiveness of the backspin toy 100 changes by exchanging the first holders 33 to be attached to the core body 32 . Accordingly, variety can be given to the play with the backspin toy 100 .
- the configuration for the attachment of the second holder 34 to the core body 32 is not limited to the configuration described above.
- the second holder 34 may be attached to or detached from the core body 32 in such a way that one of a recess part and a protrusion part is formed on the front face of the second holder 34 and the other thereof is formed on the back face of the core body 32 , and the front face of the second holder 34 is moved close to or away from the back face of the core body 32 so that the recess part engages with or disengages from the protrusion part.
- the second holder 34 may be attached to or detached from the core body 32 by using magnetic force.
- the second holder 34 attachable to and detachable from the core body 32 , the following can be done.
- a plurality of second holders 34 having auxiliary wheels 40 different in width and being exchangeable are prepared, so that straight traveling stability of the backspin toy 100 changes by exchanging the second holders 34 to be attached to the core body 32 . Accordingly, variety can be given to the play with the backspin toy 100 .
- FIG. 5A is a plan view of the starting base 10
- FIG. 5B is a plan view of the starting base 10 with the upper part thereof removed
- FIG. 5C is a front view of the starting base 10
- FIG. 5D is a lateral view of the starting base 10 views from the right side.
- the right intermediate wall 13 is provided with a semicircular notch part 13 a .
- the notch part 13 a supports a right bearing 31 b for the right shaft 31 a of the running body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11 from the lower side.
- the notch part 13 a is formed at the upper edge of the right intermediate wall 13 .
- the left intermediate wall 13 is provided with a semicircular notch part 13 b .
- the notch part 13 b supports a left bearing 31 b for the left shaft 31 a of the running body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11 from the lower side.
- the notch part 13 b is formed at the lower edge of a notch part 13 c of the left intermediate wall 13 .
- the notch 13 c is open toward the front side of the starting base 10 .
- the right intermediate wall 13 and the left intermediate wall 13 support the right bearing 31 b and the left bearing 31 b from the lower side when the running body 30 enters the running body housing part 11 , whereby the right intermediate wall 13 and the left intermediate wall 13 guide the right bearing 31 b and the left bearing 31 b to the notch part 13 a and the notch part 13 b .
- the flywheel 31 of the running body 30 does not touch the floor of the starting base 10 , namely, is located a little above the floor of the starting base 10 .
- a slope 10 a is disposed on the floor of the starting base 10 .
- the slope 10 a ascends toward the back side of the running body housing part 11 .
- the right shaft 31 a and the left shaft 31 a or other components (or parts) may be supported by the notch part 13 a and the notch part 13 b or the like. What is important here is that the flywheel 31 of the running body 30 is freely rotatable.
- the right outer wall 14 and the left outer wall 14 constitute the right contour and the left contour of the starting base 10 , respectively.
- the starting base 10 is provided with a rack belt insertion opening 15 where the rack belt 50 is inserted.
- the rack belt insertion opening 15 is formed in the right wall of the starting base 10 extending to the back wall thereof.
- the rack belt insertion opening 15 is formed at the same level as the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11 .
- the rack belt insertion opening 15 communicates with the running body housing part 11 .
- the rack belt 50 can be inserted into the rack belt insertion opening 15 from the right side of the starting base 10 to the running body housing part 11 .
- the rack belt 50 inserted to the running body housing part 11 can be inserted to the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11 .
- the starting base 10 includes a starting unit 20 .
- the starting unit 20 includes a push lever 21 and a coil spring 22 .
- the push lever 21 is attached to the starting base 10 in such a way as to rotate on a shaft 21 a .
- the coil spring 22 gives force to move to an initial position to the push lever 21 .
- the push lever 21 catapults the running body 30 by using the law of the lever.
- the push lever 21 includes an operation part 21 b , which a player operates, and a hitting part 21 c , which hits the running body 30 .
- the upper face of the operation part 21 b is horizontal, and can be hit from the above.
- the hitting part 21 c lightly touches the back part of the running body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11 , or is located away from the back part of the running body 30 .
- the hitting part 21 c hits the back part of the running body 30 . Consequently, the right bearing 31 b and the left bearing 31 b of the running body 30 disengage from the notch part 13 a and the notch part 13 b , so that the running body 30 catapults.
- the starting base 10 is provided with a first stopper 23 a and a second stopper 23 b .
- the first stopper 23 a keeps the push lever 21 , to which the force is given by the coil spring 22 , at the initial position.
- the second stopper 23 b controls a moving range of the operation part 21 b by touching a touching part 210 b disposed under the operation part 21 b of the push lever 21 so that the operation part 21 b does not move more than necessary when a player operates the operation part 21 b.
- a torsion spring wound around the shaft 21 a the torsion spring having one end fixed to the push lever 21 and the other end fixed a fixation part of the starting base 10 , may be used.
- the coil spring 22 may be simply removed. In this case, a player manually returns the push lever 21 to the initial position.
- the rack belt 50 includes a handle (a belt operation part) 51 and a belt main body 52 .
- the rack belt 50 is attachable to the running body 30 in a state in which a teeth wide direction of rack teeth 52 a and a shaft line direction of the shaft 31 a for the pinion 38 are approximately parallel to each other. Consequently, it is unnecessary to insert the rack belt 50 into the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 from the top end of the rack belt 50 . Accordingly, the rack belt 50 can be easily attached to the running body 30 .
- the rack belt 50 and the pinion 38 constitute a torque giving unit.
- the belt main body 52 is in the shape of a belt.
- the rack teeth 52 a are disposed on the lower face of the belt main body 52 .
- the belt main body 52 is provided with a no-rack-teeth part 52 b at a point closer to the handle 51 .
- the no-rack-teeth part 52 b makes it easy to insert the rack belt 50 into the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 .
- the gap constituting the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 has a size suitable to keep a state in which the rack belt 50 meshes with the pinion 38 , existence of the no-rack-teeth part 52 b makes the rack teeth 52 a of the rack belt 50 not touch the teeth 38 a of the pinion 38 from a lateral side (the right side, in the first embodiment) when the rack belt 50 is inserted into the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 from the lateral side, by disposing the no-rack-teeth part 52 b in such a way as to face the pinion 38 as shown in FIG. 4 . Accordingly, the rack belt 50 can be easily guided to above the pinion 38 . By pulling the rack belt 50 backward in this state, the rack teeth 52 a of the rack belt 50 can be easily meshed with the teeth 38 a of the pinion 38 in the middle of pulling the rack belt 50 .
- the targets 70 are configured as a component separate from the starting base 10 , in which the running body 30 and the rack belt 50 are disposed. As shown in FIG. 1 , each target 70 is in the shape of a disk. Each target 70 includes a circular plate 71 and a circumferential wall 72 , which is disposed on the circumference of the circular plate 71 and projects in the up-down direction from the circular plate 71 . A tape T2, which is the other of the loop tape and the hook tape constituting the hook-and-loop fastener, is attached to the outer face of the circumferential wall 72 . The shape of the target 70 is not limited to the shape of a disk.
- the tape T1 which is one of a loop tape and a hook tape constituting a hook-and-loop fastener
- the tape T2 which is the other of the loop tape and the hook tape constituting the hook-and-loop fastener
- an adhesive tape may be attached to at least one of the running body 30 and the target 70
- a permanent magnet may be included in one of the running body 30 and the target 70
- a magnetic substance may be included in the other of the running body 30 and the target 70 . What is important here is that a component to catch the target 70 is provided.
- a player houses the running body 30 in the running body housing part 11 of the starting base 10 .
- the player rotates the flywheel 31 of the running body 30 along the floor of the starting base 10 from the entrance/exit of the starting base 10 so as to house the running body 30 in the running body housing part 11 . Consequently, the flywheel 31 of the running body 30 climbs up the slope 10 a , and when the flywheel 31 crosses the slope 10 a , the right bearing 31 b and the left bearing 31 b of the running body 30 engage with the notch part 13 a and the notch part 13 b , whereby the flywheel 31 of the running body 30 is located a little above the floor of the starting base 10 .
- the player inserts the rack belt 50 into the rack belt insertion opening 15 of the starting base 10 so as to insert the rack belt 50 into the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11 .
- This state is shown in FIG. 8 .
- the rack belt 50 is attached to the running body 30 in such a way that the no-rack-teeth part 52 b faces the teeth 38 a of the pinion 38 .
- the running body 30 If the target 70 is located at a point which is the same as a limit point of the force to travel forward of the running body 30 or before the limit point, namely, closer to the starting base 10 , as shown in FIG. 10B , the running body 30 , which has catapulted, hits the target 70 , and the tape T1 sticks to the tape T2. Then, as shown in FIG. 10C , the running body 30 travels backward by the torque of the flywheel 31 when reaching the limit point of the force to travel forward, and returns to the starting base 10 with the target 70 caught. Then, the running body 30 is housed in the running body housing part 11 of the starting base 10 .
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a backspin toy 100 A in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
- the backspin toy 100 A includes, like the backspin toy 100 , the starting base 10 , the running body 30 , the rack belt 50 and the targets 70 .
- the backspin toy 100 A is the same as the backspin toy 100 in many aspects. Hence, the same reference numbers are used for the components (units, parts and the like) of the backspin toy 100 A corresponding to those of the backspin toy 100 . In the following, aspects different from the backspin toy 100 of the first embodiment are described.
- FIG. 12A is a plan view of the running body 30
- FIG. 12B is a front view of the running body 30
- FIG. 12C is a lateral view of the running body 30 viewed from the right side.
- the running body 30 does not have the right second swelling part 36 above the right first swelling part 35 . As shown in FIGS. 12B and 12C , the edge of the pinion 38 slightly comes out from the upper face of the right first swelling part 35 .
- the starting base 10 of the second embodiment is not configured in such a way that the rack belt 50 is inserted from the right side.
- the starting base 10 is provided with a belt/gear housing part 81 , which supports a part of the rack belt 50 and houses a gear mechanism (a connecting mechanism) 80 described below.
- the belt/gear housing part 81 is provided with openings 81 a (a front opening 81 a and a back opening 81 a ) for the rack belt 50 on the front side and the back side. In FIG. 11 , only the front opening 81 a is shown, and the back opening 81 a is not shown.
- the gear mechanism 80 , the rack belt 50 and the pinion (input gear) 38 constitute the torque giving unit.
- the gear mechanism 80 includes a gear 80 a , a shaft 80 b , an arm 80 c , a gear 80 d , a shaft 80 e and a gear 80 f .
- the gear 80 a is a sun gear having teeth which mesh with the rack teeth 52 a of the rack belt 50 .
- the arm 80 c is supported by the shaft 80 b , which is a shaft for the gear 80 a too, in such a way as to freely rotate.
- the gear 80 d is a planetary gear attached to the arm 80 c , and meshes with the gear 80 a , thereby rotating around the gear 80 a .
- the gear 80 f is supported by the shaft 80 e , which is a shaft for the gear 80 d too, thereby rotating with the gear 80 d .
- the gear 80 f meshes with the pinion 38 .
- the gear 80 a rotates in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow A
- the gear 80 d meshing with the gear 80 a rotates in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow B
- the arm 80 c rotates in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow C. Consequently, the gear 80 f separates from the pinion 38 .
- the gear 80 f rotates in the same direction as the gear 80 d , namely, a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow D, but the pinion 38 separating from the gear 80 f does not rotate.
- the arm 80 c is supported by the shaft 80 b , which is a shaft for the gear 80 a as the sun gear too, and the gear 80 d as the planetary gear is attached to the arm 80 c .
- the shaft 80 e for the gear 80 d may be supported by a long hole without the arm 80 c provided so that the gear 80 d rotates around the gear 80 a or separates from the gear 80 a depending on a rotation direction.
- the rack teeth 52 a of the rack belt 50 are connected to the teeth 38 a of the pinion 38 via the gear 80 f , which rotates with the gear 80 d as the planetary gear.
- the gear 80 d may be directly connected to the pinion 38 .
- force may be given to the gear 80 d as the planetary gear by a spring, the force to disconnect the rack teeth 52 a of the rack belt 50 from the teeth 38 a of the pinion 38 , so as to make sure that the rack teeth 52 a are disconnected from the teeth 38 a while the rack belt 50 is not in operation.
- one end of the spring is fixed to the arm 80 c or to a shaft for the gear 80 d if no the arm 80 c but the above-described long hole is provided.
- the rack belt 50 is provided with the rack teeth 52 a but not provided with the no-rack-teeth part 52 b .
- a horseshoe-shaped or semicircular preventer 55 is disposed at the top end of the rack belt 50 . Projecting parts 55 a of the back end part of the preventer 55 , the projecting parts 55 a which project to the right side and the left side from the belt main body 52 , touch the edge of the front opening 81 a of the belt/gear housing part 81 when the rack belt 50 is operated backward, thereby preventing the rack belt 50 from being out of the starting base 10 backward.
- the preventer 55 is detachably attached to the belt main body 52 by using a not-shown screw or by engaging with the belt main body 52 .
- the preventer 55 may be fixed to the belt main body 52 .
- the preventer 55 makes it easy to operate the rack belt 50 , but is not essential.
- the other aspects (components) of the backspin toy 100 A of the second embodiment are the same as those of the backspin toy 100 of the first embodiment.
- the rack belt 50 is disposed in the starting base 10 in such a way as not to be out of the starting base 10 , it is unnecessary to attach the rack belt 50 to the starting base 10 (and the running body 30 ) each time the running body 30 is started.
- the pinion 38 can be repeatedly rotated by operating the rack belt 50 to reciprocate in the front-back direction, the flywheel 31 can rotate at a high velocity.
- the torque is given to the flywheel 31 by the rack belt 50 , but may be given thereto by a motor built in the starting base 10 or the running body 30 .
- a gear mechanism connects the motor to the flywheel 31 .
- the torque may be given to the flywheel 31 by rotation of a handle disposed in the starting base 10 .
- a gear mechanism connects the handle to the flywheel 31 .
- the flywheel 31 constitutes a main wheel.
- the flywheel 31 may be connected to a main wheel.
- the rack belt insertion opening 15 of the backspin toy 100 of the first embodiment may be covered with (closed by) a door. Then, the door is opened when the rack belt 50 is attached to the starting base 10 , and the door is closed after the rack belt 50 is attached to the starting base 10 . Accordingly, the rack belt 50 can be prevented from being out of the rack belt insertion opening 15 .
- force to close the door may be given to the door by a spring or gravity, and the door may be opened by pressure to insert the rack belt 50 against the force by the spring or the gravity.
- the backspin toy 100 of the first embodiment may be provided with the preventer 55 of the backspin toy 100 A of the second embodiment at the top end of the belt main body 52 of the rack belt 50 and the gear mechanism 80 thereof without the right second swelling part 36 provided above the right first swelling part 35 so as to expose the pinion 38 of the running body 30 . Accordingly, the rack belt 50 can be operated to reciprocate multiple times each time the running body 30 is started.
- the torque is given to the flywheel 31 by using the rack belt 50 , but may be given thereto by pulling a string wound around a bobbin winder pulley so as to rotate the bobbin winder pulley, for example.
- the torque be given to the flywheel 31 via a clutch mechanism by pulling the string wound around the bobbin winder pulley against force of a spring of the bobbin winder pulley so as to rotate the bobbin winder pulley, and that, when a player releases the string from his/her hand, the bobbin winder pulley rotate backward by the force of the spring so that the string automatically winds around the bobbin winder pulley in a state in which the bobbin winder pulley is disconnected from the flywheel 31 by the clutch mechanism.
- a backspin toy including: a running body including a flywheel which constitutes or is connected to a wheel, and is supported by a shaft; a starting base which keeps the running body at a predetermined position in a state in which the flywheel freely rotates; a torque giving unit which gives torque to travel backward to the flywheel in a state in which the running body is kept on the starting base; and a stating unit included in the starting base, the starting unit which hits the running body so as to give force to travel forward to the running body in a state in which the torque is given to the flywheel by the torque giving unit, thereby catapulting the running body forward with backspin, wherein the running body including the flywheel, to which the torque is given by the torque giving unit, and being catapulted forward by the starting unit, travels backward by the torque given to the flywheel in response to reaching a limit point of the force to travel forward.
- the torque giving unit includes: a rack belt including a rack tooth, the rack belt which is operated forward and backward; an input gear included in the running body, and connected to the flywheel; and a gear mechanism disposed between the rack belt and the input gear, the gear mechanism which (i) connects the rack tooth to the input gear so as to give the torque to the flywheel via the input gear in response to the rack belt being operated backward, and (ii) disconnects the rack tooth from the input gear so as to idle the flywheel in response to the rack belt being operated forward.
- the rack belt includes a preventer at a top end of a belt main body, the preventer which touches a part of the starting base in response to the rack belt being operated backward so as to prevent the rack belt from being out of the starting base.
- the backspin toy further includes a target to which one of a loop tape and a hook tape constituting a hook-and-loop fastener is attached, wherein the other of the loop tape and the hook tape is attached to a front part of the running body so that the running body catches the target by using the loop tape and the hook tape bound together.
- the backspin toy further includes a target, wherein an adhesive tape is attached to at least one of the target and a front part of the running body so that the running body catches the target by using adhesiveness of the adhesive tape.
- the running body which has catapulted at a high rate of acceleration from the starting base, returns to the starting base by suddenly traveling backward after traveling forward for a predetermined distance. Consequently, a backspin toy which brings a sense of velocity and makes unexpected movement can be realized. Accordingly, the running body of the backspin toy can hit and catch the target and be received by the starting base when returning to the starting base by traveling backward.
- a backspin toy including: a running body including a flywheel which constitutes or is connected to a wheel, and is supported by a shaft; a stating base which keeps the running body at a predetermined position in a state in which the flywheel freely rotates; a torque giving unit which gives torque to travel backward to the flywheel in a state in which the running body is kept on the starting base; and a starting unit included in the starting base, the starting unit which hits the running body so as to give force to travel forward to the running body in a state in which the torque is given to the flywheel by the torque giving unit, thereby catapulting the running body forward with backspin, wherein (i) the running body including the flywheel, to which the torque is given by the torque giving unit, and being catapulted forward by the starting unit, travels backward by the torque given to the flywheel in response to reaching a limit point of the force to travel forward, (ii) the torque giving unit includes a
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Abstract
A backspin toy includes a running body including a flywheel, a starting base including a starting unit, and a torque giving unit. The torque giving unit gives torque to travel backward to the flywheel in a state in which the running body is kept on the starting base. The starting unit hits the running body so as to give force to travel forward to the running body in a state in which the torque is given to the flywheel, thereby catapulting the running body forward with backspin. The running body including the flywheel, to which the torque is given, and being catapulted forward, travels backward by the torque given to the flywheel in response to reaching a limit point of the force to travel forward.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a backspin toy.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. sho 52-9586 (Patent Document 1), there is known a running toy including a flywheel to give inertial torque to a wheel of a running body, which slides down an inclined running surface, so as to make the running body run as far as possible.
- Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. sho 62-298389 (Patent Document 2), there is known a starting device for a toy car, the starting device in which a starting unit is operated after torque is accumulated in a flywheel-type drive mechanism connected to a drive wheel of the toy car, so as to start the toy car by drive of the drive wheel by the torque released from the drive mechanism, and accordingly the velocity of the toy car does not rapidly decrease.
- Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. hei 8-5758 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,417; Patent Document 3), there is known a starting device for a running toy, the starting device which stably starts the running toy at a high initial velocity by using a flywheel as a drive wheel of the running toy.
- All the technologies disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are to start a toy vehicle at a high initial velocity by utilizing driving force of a flywheel so as to make the vehicle run as far as possible, but make the vehicle run only in one direction. Hence, the movement itself is monotonous.
- The present invention is made in view of the circumstances, and objects of the present invention include providing a backspin toy which makes unexpected movement.
- In order to achieve at least one of the objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a backspin toy including: a running body including a flywheel which constitutes or is connected to a wheel, and is supported by a shaft; a starting base which keeps the running body at a predetermined position in a state in which the flywheel freely rotates; a torque giving unit which gives torque to travel backward to the flywheel in a state in which the running body is kept on the starting base; and a stating unit included in the starting base, the starting unit which hits the running body so as to give force to travel forward to the running body in a state in which the torque is given to the flywheel by the torque giving unit, thereby catapulting the running body forward with backspin, wherein the running body including the flywheel, to which the torque is given by the torque giving unit, and being catapulted forward by the starting unit, travels backward by the torque given to the flywheel in response to reaching a limit point of the force to travel forward.
- The present invention is fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended to limit the present invention, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a backspin toy in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2A is an exploded plan view of a running body; -
FIG. 2B is an exploded lateral view of the running body viewed from the left side; -
FIG. 3A is a plan view of the running body; -
FIG. 3B is a lateral view of the running body viewed from the left side; -
FIG. 3C is a front view of the running body; -
FIG. 3D is a lateral view of the running body viewed from the right side; -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a meshing relationship between a pinion and a rack belt viewed from a lateral side; -
FIG. 5A is a plan view of a starting base; -
FIG. 5B is a plan view of the starting base with the upper part thereof removed; -
FIG. 5C is a front view of the starting base; -
FIG. 5D is a lateral view of the starting base viewed from the right side; -
FIG. 6A is a lateral view showing a configuration of a right wall of the starting base; -
FIG. 6B is a lateral view showing a configuration of a left wall of the starting base; -
FIG. 7A is an exploded perspective view of a stating unit; -
FIG. 7B is a lateral view of the stating unit viewed from the left side; -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body is housed in the starting base, and the rack belt is attached thereto; -
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body housed in the starting base is about to start; -
FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body has started from the starting base; -
FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body catches a target; -
FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body, which has caught the target, travels backward; -
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a backspin toy in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 12A is a plan view of a running body; -
FIG. 12B is a front view of the running body; -
FIG. 12C is a lateral view of the running body viewed from the right side; -
FIG. 13 is a plan view of a connecting mechanism of the backspin toy shown inFIG. 11 ; and -
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting mechanism of the backspin toy shown inFIG. 11 . - In the following, embodiments of the present invention are descried with reference to the drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of abackspin toy 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Thebackspin toy 100 includes a startingbase 10, a runningbody 30, arack belt 50 and targets 70. In the present specification, the words “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” with respect to the runningbody 30 respectively indicate the “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” in a forward direction of the runningbody 30, the forward direction in which the running 30 normally travels. In addition, the words “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” with respect to the startingbase 10 respectively indicate the “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” in a direction from the center of the startingbase 10 to an entrance/exit thereof. -
FIG. 2A is an exploded plan view of the runningbody 30, andFIG. 2B is an exploded lateral view of the runningbody 30 viewed from the left side.FIG. 3A is a plan view of the runningbody 30,FIG. 3B is a lateral view of the runningbody 30 viewed from the left side,FIG. 3C is a front view of the runningbody 30, andFIG. 3D is a lateral view of the runningbody 30 viewed from the right side. - The running
body 30 includes acore body 32, afirst holder 33 and asecond holder 34. Aflywheel 31, which constitutes a main wheel having a large diameter, is attached to thecore body 32. Thefirst holder 33 is detachably attached to the front part of thecore body 32. Thesecond holder 34 is detachably attached to the back part of thecore body 32. In the first embodiment, the runningbody 30 is constituted of thecore body 32, thefirst holder 33 and thesecond holder 34. However, thecore body 32, thefirst holder 33 and thesecond holder 34 may be configured as one component. Alternatively, thecore body 32 and thefirst holder 33 or thesecond holder 34 may be configured as one component. - The
core body 32 includes first swellingparts 35 on the right side and the left side (a right first swellingpart 35 and a left first swelling part 35). Each first swellingpart 35 is in the shape of a trapezoid in a planar view and in the shape of a rectangle in a lateral view. A right second swellingpart 36 is disposed above the right first swellingpart 35. A left second swellingpart 36 is disposed on the left first swellingpart 35. Each second swellingpart 36 is in the shape of a trapezoid in a planar view. Thesecond swelling parts 36 are smaller than thefirst swelling parts 35 in a planar view. - As shown in
FIGS. 3C and 4 , a gap is provided between the upper face of the right first swellingpart 35 and the lower face of the right second swellingpart 36. The gap constitutes a rackbelt insertion part 37, and therack belt 50 can be inserted into the rackbelt insertion part 37 from the right side of thecore body 32. On the other hand, no gap is provided between the upper face of the left first swellingpart 35 and the lower face of the left second swellingpart 36. That is, the left second swellingpart 36 is thicker than the right second swellingpart 36, and is disposed on the left first swellingpart 35. However, a gap may be provided between the upper face of the left first swellingpart 35 and the lower face of the left second swellingpart 36 by forming the left second swellingpart 36 in such a way as to have the same thickness as the right second swellingpart 36. - The
flywheel 31 is attached to the center of thecore body 32 in a planer view. Theflywheel 31 is attached to thecore body 32 in such a way that the right end face and the left end face, which are flat, of theflywheel 31 face the left side and the right side, respectively. Aright shaft 31 a and aleft shaft 31 a are attached to the right end face and the left end face of theflywheel 31, respectively. Theright shaft 31 a and theleft shaft 31 a are supported by thecore body 32. As shown inFIGS. 3C and 4 , a pinion (an input gear) 38 is fixed to theright shaft 31 a at a point corresponding to the rackbelt insertion part 37. Thepinion 38 rotates with theright shaft 31 a. The edge of thepinion 38 slightly comes out from the upper face of the right first swellingpart 35 so thatteeth 38 a of thepinion 38 mesh withteeth 52 a of therack belt 50 at the rackbelt insertion part 37. - The
first holder 33 holds a tape T1, which is one of a loop tape and a hook tape constituting a hook-and-loop fastener. As shown inFIG. 2A , thefirst holder 33 is configured in such a way that protrusions 33 b face each other. Theprotrusions 33 b extend in the up-down direction along a right wall and a left wall of thefirst holder 33, respectively. The right wall and the left wall are formed at the back end of thefirst holder 33, and define anotch part 33 a. Meanwhile, as shown inFIG. 2B , recesses 32 a are formed on the right side and the left side of thecore body 32, respectively. Therecesses 32 a extend in the up-down direction so that theprotrusions 33 b of thefirst holder 33 engage with therecesses 32 a one-to-one. (InFIG. 2B , only therecess 32 a on the left side is shown.) Therecesses 32 a of thecore body 32 and theprotrusions 33 b of thefirst holder 33 are aligned on the lower side of thecore body 32, and thefirst holder 33 is moved upward toward thecore body 32, so that therecesses 32 a and theprotrusions 33 b engage with each other. Thus, thefirst holder 33 is attached to thecore body 32. Thefirst holder 33 is detached from thecore body 32 in the reverse procedure. - The configuration for the attachment of the
first holder 33 to thecore body 32 is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, thefirst holder 33 may be attached to or detached from thecore body 32 in such a way that one of a recess part and a protrusion part is formed on the back face of thefirst holder 33 and the other thereof is formed on the front face of thecore body 32, and the back face of thefirst holder 33 is moved close to or away from the front face of thecore body 32 so that the recess part engages with or disengages from the protrusion part. Alternatively, thefirst holder 33 may be attached to or detached from thecore body 32 by using magnetic force. - By making the
first holder 33 attachable to and detachable from thecore body 32, the following can be done. - That is, a plurality of
first holders 33 having tapes T1 different in size and being exchangeable are prepared, so that adhesiveness of thebackspin toy 100 changes by exchanging thefirst holders 33 to be attached to thecore body 32. Accordingly, variety can be given to the play with thebackspin toy 100. - The
second holder 34 supports anauxiliary wheel 40. Thesecond holder 34 is approximately in the shape of “U” in a cross-section view. Thesecond holder 34 is detachably attached to thecore body 32 by sandwiching a sandwichedpart 32 b between aright wall 34 a and aleft wall 34 a from the right side and the left side. The sandwichedpart 32 b is disposed under a top plate of the back part of thecore body 32. In a state in which thesecond holder 34 is attached to thecore body 32, the upper end of thesecond holder 34 is covered with the top plate of the back part of thecore body 32. Thesecond holder 34 is detached from thecore body 32 in the reverse procedure. - The configuration for the attachment of the
second holder 34 to thecore body 32 is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, thesecond holder 34 may be attached to or detached from thecore body 32 in such a way that one of a recess part and a protrusion part is formed on the front face of thesecond holder 34 and the other thereof is formed on the back face of thecore body 32, and the front face of thesecond holder 34 is moved close to or away from the back face of thecore body 32 so that the recess part engages with or disengages from the protrusion part. Alternatively, thesecond holder 34 may be attached to or detached from thecore body 32 by using magnetic force. - By making the
second holder 34 attachable to and detachable from thecore body 32, the following can be done. - That is, a plurality of
second holders 34 havingauxiliary wheels 40 different in width and being exchangeable are prepared, so that straight traveling stability of thebackspin toy 100 changes by exchanging thesecond holders 34 to be attached to thecore body 32. Accordingly, variety can be given to the play with thebackspin toy 100. -
FIG. 5A is a plan view of the startingbase 10,FIG. 5B is a plan view of the startingbase 10 with the upper part thereof removed,FIG. 5C is a front view of the startingbase 10, andFIG. 5D is a lateral view of the startingbase 10 views from the right side. - The starting
base 10 includes a runningbody housing part 11, which houses the runningbody 30. As shown inFIG. 1 , each of a right wall and a left wall of the entrance/exit of the runningbody housing part 11 is constituted of aninner wall 12, anintermediate wall 13 and anouter wall 14. A path defined by the rightinner wall 12 and the leftinner wall 12 is wide on the entrance/exit side of the runningbody housing part 11, gradually narrower as being closer to the back side thereof, and uniform in width from the middle to the back side thereof. Some parts of the runningbody 30 slide along the rightinner wall 12 and the leftinner wall 12, whereby the rightinner wall 12 and the leftinner wall 12 guide the runningbody 30 to a predetermined point (predetermined position) of the runningbody housing part 11. - As shown in
FIG. 6A , the rightintermediate wall 13 is provided with asemicircular notch part 13 a. Thenotch part 13 a supports aright bearing 31 b for theright shaft 31 a of the runningbody 30 housed in the runningbody housing part 11 from the lower side. Thenotch part 13 a is formed at the upper edge of the rightintermediate wall 13. On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 6B , the leftintermediate wall 13 is provided with asemicircular notch part 13 b. Thenotch part 13 b supports aleft bearing 31 b for theleft shaft 31 a of the runningbody 30 housed in the runningbody housing part 11 from the lower side. Thenotch part 13 b is formed at the lower edge of anotch part 13 c of the leftintermediate wall 13. Thenotch 13 c is open toward the front side of the startingbase 10. The rightintermediate wall 13 and the leftintermediate wall 13 support the right bearing 31 b and theleft bearing 31 b from the lower side when the runningbody 30 enters the runningbody housing part 11, whereby the rightintermediate wall 13 and the leftintermediate wall 13 guide the right bearing 31 b and theleft bearing 31 b to thenotch part 13 a and thenotch part 13 b. In the state, in which the right bearing 31 b and theleft bearing 31 b of the runningbody 30 are supported by thenotch part 13 a and thenotch part 13 b, theflywheel 31 of the runningbody 30 does not touch the floor of the startingbase 10, namely, is located a little above the floor of the startingbase 10. In order to obtain this state, aslope 10 a is disposed on the floor of the startingbase 10. Theslope 10 a ascends toward the back side of the runningbody housing part 11. When theflywheel 31 climbs up theslope 10 a, the right bearing 31 b and theleft bearing 31 b are guided by the rightintermediate wall 13 and the leftintermediate wall 13 so that theflywheel 31 travels upward, and when theflywheel 31 crosses theslope 10 a, the right bearing 31 b and theleft bearing 31 b of the runningbody 30 are supported by thenotch part 13 a and thenotch part 13 b. Consequently, theflywheel 31 of the runningbody 30 is located a little above the floor of the startingbase 10. In the first embodiment, the right bearing 31 b and theleft bearing 31 b are supported by thenotch part 13 a and thenotch part 13 b. Alternatively, theright shaft 31 a and theleft shaft 31 a or other components (or parts) may be supported by thenotch part 13 a and thenotch part 13 b or the like. What is important here is that theflywheel 31 of the runningbody 30 is freely rotatable. - The right
outer wall 14 and the leftouter wall 14 constitute the right contour and the left contour of the startingbase 10, respectively. - As shown in
FIGS. 5C and 51D , the startingbase 10 is provided with a rackbelt insertion opening 15 where therack belt 50 is inserted. The rackbelt insertion opening 15 is formed in the right wall of the startingbase 10 extending to the back wall thereof. The rackbelt insertion opening 15 is formed at the same level as the rackbelt insertion part 37 of the runningbody 30 housed in the runningbody housing part 11. The rackbelt insertion opening 15 communicates with the runningbody housing part 11. Therack belt 50 can be inserted into the rack belt insertion opening 15 from the right side of the startingbase 10 to the runningbody housing part 11. Therack belt 50 inserted to the runningbody housing part 11 can be inserted to the rackbelt insertion part 37 of the runningbody 30 housed in the runningbody housing part 11. - The starting
base 10 includes a starting unit 20. As shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B , the starting unit 20 includes apush lever 21 and acoil spring 22. Thepush lever 21 is attached to the startingbase 10 in such a way as to rotate on ashaft 21 a. Thecoil spring 22 gives force to move to an initial position to thepush lever 21. Thepush lever 21 catapults the runningbody 30 by using the law of the lever. Thepush lever 21 includes anoperation part 21 b, which a player operates, and a hittingpart 21 c, which hits the runningbody 30. When thepush lever 21 is located at the initial position, the upper face of theoperation part 21 b is horizontal, and can be hit from the above. In addition, when thepush lever 21 is located at the initial position, the hittingpart 21 c lightly touches the back part of the runningbody 30 housed in the runningbody housing part 11, or is located away from the back part of the runningbody 30. When a player operates theoperation part 21 b, the hittingpart 21 c hits the back part of the runningbody 30. Consequently, the right bearing 31 b and theleft bearing 31 b of the runningbody 30 disengage from thenotch part 13 a and thenotch part 13 b, so that the runningbody 30 catapults. The startingbase 10 is provided with afirst stopper 23 a and a second stopper 23 b. Thefirst stopper 23 a keeps thepush lever 21, to which the force is given by thecoil spring 22, at the initial position. The second stopper 23 b controls a moving range of theoperation part 21 b by touching atouching part 210 b disposed under theoperation part 21 b of thepush lever 21 so that theoperation part 21 b does not move more than necessary when a player operates theoperation part 21 b. - Instead of the
coil spring 22, a torsion spring wound around theshaft 21 a, the torsion spring having one end fixed to thepush lever 21 and the other end fixed a fixation part of the startingbase 10, may be used. Alternatively, thecoil spring 22 may be simply removed. In this case, a player manually returns thepush lever 21 to the initial position. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , therack belt 50 includes a handle (a belt operation part) 51 and a beltmain body 52. Therack belt 50 is attachable to the runningbody 30 in a state in which a teeth wide direction ofrack teeth 52 a and a shaft line direction of theshaft 31 a for thepinion 38 are approximately parallel to each other. Consequently, it is unnecessary to insert therack belt 50 into the rackbelt insertion part 37 of the runningbody 30 from the top end of therack belt 50. Accordingly, therack belt 50 can be easily attached to the runningbody 30. Therack belt 50 and thepinion 38 constitute a torque giving unit. - The belt
main body 52 is in the shape of a belt. Therack teeth 52 a are disposed on the lower face of the beltmain body 52. The beltmain body 52 is provided with a no-rack-teeth part 52 b at a point closer to thehandle 51. The no-rack-teeth part 52 b makes it easy to insert therack belt 50 into the rackbelt insertion part 37 of the runningbody 30. That is, although the gap constituting the rackbelt insertion part 37 of the runningbody 30 has a size suitable to keep a state in which therack belt 50 meshes with thepinion 38, existence of the no-rack-teeth part 52 b makes therack teeth 52 a of therack belt 50 not touch theteeth 38 a of thepinion 38 from a lateral side (the right side, in the first embodiment) when therack belt 50 is inserted into the rackbelt insertion part 37 of the runningbody 30 from the lateral side, by disposing the no-rack-teeth part 52 b in such a way as to face thepinion 38 as shown inFIG. 4 . Accordingly, therack belt 50 can be easily guided to above thepinion 38. By pulling therack belt 50 backward in this state, therack teeth 52 a of therack belt 50 can be easily meshed with theteeth 38 a of thepinion 38 in the middle of pulling therack belt 50. - The
targets 70 are configured as a component separate from the startingbase 10, in which the runningbody 30 and therack belt 50 are disposed. As shown inFIG. 1 , eachtarget 70 is in the shape of a disk. Eachtarget 70 includes acircular plate 71 and acircumferential wall 72, which is disposed on the circumference of thecircular plate 71 and projects in the up-down direction from thecircular plate 71. A tape T2, which is the other of the loop tape and the hook tape constituting the hook-and-loop fastener, is attached to the outer face of thecircumferential wall 72. The shape of thetarget 70 is not limited to the shape of a disk. - In the first embodiment, the tape T1, which is one of a loop tape and a hook tape constituting a hook-and-loop fastener, is attached to the running
body 30, and the tape T2, which is the other of the loop tape and the hook tape constituting the hook-and-loop fastener, is attached to thetarget 70. Instead, an adhesive tape may be attached to at least one of the runningbody 30 and thetarget 70. Alternatively, instead of the hook-and-loop fastener, a permanent magnet may be included in one of the runningbody 30 and thetarget 70, and a magnetic substance may be included in the other of the runningbody 30 and thetarget 70. What is important here is that a component to catch thetarget 70 is provided. - Next, an example of how to play with the
backspin toy 100 is described. - First, a player houses the running
body 30 in the runningbody housing part 11 of the startingbase 10. The player rotates theflywheel 31 of the runningbody 30 along the floor of the startingbase 10 from the entrance/exit of the startingbase 10 so as to house the runningbody 30 in the runningbody housing part 11. Consequently, theflywheel 31 of the runningbody 30 climbs up theslope 10 a, and when theflywheel 31 crosses theslope 10 a, the right bearing 31 b and theleft bearing 31 b of the runningbody 30 engage with thenotch part 13 a and thenotch part 13 b, whereby theflywheel 31 of the runningbody 30 is located a little above the floor of the startingbase 10. - Next, the player inserts the
rack belt 50 into the rackbelt insertion opening 15 of the startingbase 10 so as to insert therack belt 50 into the rackbelt insertion part 37 of the runningbody 30 housed in the runningbody housing part 11. This state is shown inFIG. 8 . At the time, therack belt 50 is attached to the runningbody 30 in such a way that the no-rack-teeth part 52 b faces theteeth 38 a of thepinion 38. - Next, the player pulls the
rack belt 50 backward with great force so as to pull therack belt 50 out of the startingbase 10, fixing his/her fingers to thehandle 51 of therack belt 50. Consequently, therack teeth 52 a of therack belt 50 mesh with theteeth 38 a of thepinion 38 of the runningbody 30 in the middle of pulling therack belt 50, whereby thepinion 38, and theflywheel 31 by extension, rotates. - Next, as shown in
FIG. 9 , the player presses theoperation part 21 b of thepush lever 21 from the above. Consequently, the hittingpart 21 c of thepush lever 21 hits the back part of the runningbody 30 strong, and theright bearing 31 b and theleft bearing 31 b disengage from thenotch part 13 a and thenotch part 13 b, whereby, as shown inFIG. 10A , the runningbody 30 catapults toward thetarget 70 with backspin. At the time, theflywheel 31 rotates backward, namely, travels forward with backspin. - If the
target 70 is located at a point which is the same as a limit point of the force to travel forward of the runningbody 30 or before the limit point, namely, closer to the startingbase 10, as shown inFIG. 10B , the runningbody 30, which has catapulted, hits thetarget 70, and the tape T1 sticks to the tape T2. Then, as shown inFIG. 10C , the runningbody 30 travels backward by the torque of theflywheel 31 when reaching the limit point of the force to travel forward, and returns to the startingbase 10 with thetarget 70 caught. Then, the runningbody 30 is housed in the runningbody housing part 11 of the startingbase 10. -
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of abackspin toy 100A in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Thebackspin toy 100A includes, like thebackspin toy 100, the startingbase 10, the runningbody 30, therack belt 50 and thetargets 70. Thebackspin toy 100A is the same as thebackspin toy 100 in many aspects. Hence, the same reference numbers are used for the components (units, parts and the like) of thebackspin toy 100A corresponding to those of thebackspin toy 100. In the following, aspects different from thebackspin toy 100 of the first embodiment are described. -
FIG. 12A is a plan view of the runningbody 30,FIG. 12B is a front view of the runningbody 30, andFIG. 12C is a lateral view of the runningbody 30 viewed from the right side. - The running
body 30 does not have the right second swellingpart 36 above the right first swellingpart 35. As shown inFIGS. 12B and 12C , the edge of thepinion 38 slightly comes out from the upper face of the right first swellingpart 35. - Unlike the
backspin toy 100 of the first embodiment, the startingbase 10 of the second embodiment is not configured in such a way that therack belt 50 is inserted from the right side. Instead, the startingbase 10 is provided with a belt/gear housing part 81, which supports a part of therack belt 50 and houses a gear mechanism (a connecting mechanism) 80 described below. The belt/gear housing part 81 is provided withopenings 81 a (afront opening 81 a and aback opening 81 a) for therack belt 50 on the front side and the back side. InFIG. 11 , only thefront opening 81 a is shown, and theback opening 81 a is not shown. - The
gear mechanism 80, therack belt 50 and the pinion (input gear) 38 constitute the torque giving unit. Thegear mechanism 80 includes agear 80 a, ashaft 80 b, anarm 80 c, agear 80 d, ashaft 80 e and agear 80 f. Thegear 80 a is a sun gear having teeth which mesh with therack teeth 52 a of therack belt 50. Thearm 80 c is supported by theshaft 80 b, which is a shaft for thegear 80 a too, in such a way as to freely rotate. Thegear 80 d is a planetary gear attached to thearm 80 c, and meshes with thegear 80 a, thereby rotating around thegear 80 a. Thegear 80 f is supported by theshaft 80 e, which is a shaft for thegear 80 d too, thereby rotating with thegear 80 d. In addition, thegear 80 f meshes with thepinion 38. - When the
rack belt 50 is operated backward, thegear 80 a rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow A inFIG. 14 , thegear 80 d meshing with thegear 80 a rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow B, and thearm 80 c rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow C. Consequently, thegear 80 f meshes with thepinion 38. At the time, thegear 80 f rotates in the same direction as thegear 80 d, namely, in a direction indicated by an arrow D. Consequently, thepinion 38, which meshes with thegear 80 f, rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow E. On the other hand, when theback belt 50 is operated forward, thegear 80 a rotates in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow A, thegear 80 d meshing with thegear 80 a rotates in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow B, and thearm 80 c rotates in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow C. Consequently, thegear 80 f separates from thepinion 38. At the time, thegear 80 f rotates in the same direction as thegear 80 d, namely, a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow D, but thepinion 38 separating from thegear 80 f does not rotate. - In the second embodiment, the
arm 80 c is supported by theshaft 80 b, which is a shaft for thegear 80 a as the sun gear too, and thegear 80 d as the planetary gear is attached to thearm 80 c. However, theshaft 80 e for thegear 80 d may be supported by a long hole without thearm 80 c provided so that thegear 80 d rotates around thegear 80 a or separates from thegear 80 a depending on a rotation direction. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, therack teeth 52 a of therack belt 50 are connected to theteeth 38 a of thepinion 38 via thegear 80 f, which rotates with thegear 80 d as the planetary gear. However, thegear 80 d may be directly connected to thepinion 38. Furthermore, force may be given to thegear 80 d as the planetary gear by a spring, the force to disconnect therack teeth 52 a of therack belt 50 from theteeth 38 a of thepinion 38, so as to make sure that therack teeth 52 a are disconnected from theteeth 38 a while therack belt 50 is not in operation. In this case, one end of the spring is fixed to thearm 80 c or to a shaft for thegear 80 d if no thearm 80 c but the above-described long hole is provided. - Although the
rack teeth 52 a themselves are not shown inFIG. 11 , in the second embodiment, therack belt 50 is provided with therack teeth 52 a but not provided with the no-rack-teeth part 52 b. At the top end of therack belt 50, a horseshoe-shaped orsemicircular preventer 55 is disposed. Projectingparts 55 a of the back end part of thepreventer 55, the projectingparts 55 a which project to the right side and the left side from the beltmain body 52, touch the edge of thefront opening 81 a of the belt/gear housing part 81 when therack belt 50 is operated backward, thereby preventing therack belt 50 from being out of the startingbase 10 backward. Thepreventer 55 is detachably attached to the beltmain body 52 by using a not-shown screw or by engaging with the beltmain body 52. Thepreventer 55 may be fixed to the beltmain body 52. Thepreventer 55 makes it easy to operate therack belt 50, but is not essential. - The other aspects (components) of the
backspin toy 100A of the second embodiment are the same as those of thebackspin toy 100 of the first embodiment. - According to the
backspin toy 100A of the second embodiment, the following effect can be obtained. - That is, because the
rack belt 50 is disposed in the startingbase 10 in such a way as not to be out of the startingbase 10, it is unnecessary to attach therack belt 50 to the starting base 10 (and the running body 30) each time the runningbody 30 is started. In addition, because thepinion 38 can be repeatedly rotated by operating therack belt 50 to reciprocate in the front-back direction, theflywheel 31 can rotate at a high velocity. - In the above, the embodiments of the present invention are described. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and hence can be variously modified.
- For example, in the embodiments, the torque is given to the
flywheel 31 by therack belt 50, but may be given thereto by a motor built in the startingbase 10 or the runningbody 30. In this case, a gear mechanism connects the motor to theflywheel 31. - Alternatively, the torque may be given to the
flywheel 31 by rotation of a handle disposed in the startingbase 10. In this case, a gear mechanism connects the handle to theflywheel 31. - Furthermore, in the embodiments, the
flywheel 31 constitutes a main wheel. However, theflywheel 31 may be connected to a main wheel. - Furthermore, the rack
belt insertion opening 15 of thebackspin toy 100 of the first embodiment may be covered with (closed by) a door. Then, the door is opened when therack belt 50 is attached to the startingbase 10, and the door is closed after therack belt 50 is attached to the startingbase 10. Accordingly, therack belt 50 can be prevented from being out of the rackbelt insertion opening 15. In this case, force to close the door may be given to the door by a spring or gravity, and the door may be opened by pressure to insert therack belt 50 against the force by the spring or the gravity. Furthermore, thebackspin toy 100 of the first embodiment may be provided with thepreventer 55 of thebackspin toy 100A of the second embodiment at the top end of the beltmain body 52 of therack belt 50 and thegear mechanism 80 thereof without the right second swellingpart 36 provided above the right first swellingpart 35 so as to expose thepinion 38 of the runningbody 30. Accordingly, therack belt 50 can be operated to reciprocate multiple times each time the runningbody 30 is started. - Furthermore, in the embodiments, the torque is given to the
flywheel 31 by using therack belt 50, but may be given thereto by pulling a string wound around a bobbin winder pulley so as to rotate the bobbin winder pulley, for example. In this case, it is preferable that the torque be given to theflywheel 31 via a clutch mechanism by pulling the string wound around the bobbin winder pulley against force of a spring of the bobbin winder pulley so as to rotate the bobbin winder pulley, and that, when a player releases the string from his/her hand, the bobbin winder pulley rotate backward by the force of the spring so that the string automatically winds around the bobbin winder pulley in a state in which the bobbin winder pulley is disconnected from theflywheel 31 by the clutch mechanism. - According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a backspin toy including: a running body including a flywheel which constitutes or is connected to a wheel, and is supported by a shaft; a starting base which keeps the running body at a predetermined position in a state in which the flywheel freely rotates; a torque giving unit which gives torque to travel backward to the flywheel in a state in which the running body is kept on the starting base; and a stating unit included in the starting base, the starting unit which hits the running body so as to give force to travel forward to the running body in a state in which the torque is given to the flywheel by the torque giving unit, thereby catapulting the running body forward with backspin, wherein the running body including the flywheel, to which the torque is given by the torque giving unit, and being catapulted forward by the starting unit, travels backward by the torque given to the flywheel in response to reaching a limit point of the force to travel forward.
- Preferably, in the backspin toy, the torque giving unit includes: a rack belt including a rack tooth, the rack belt which is operated forward and backward; an input gear included in the running body, and connected to the flywheel; and a gear mechanism disposed between the rack belt and the input gear, the gear mechanism which (i) connects the rack tooth to the input gear so as to give the torque to the flywheel via the input gear in response to the rack belt being operated backward, and (ii) disconnects the rack tooth from the input gear so as to idle the flywheel in response to the rack belt being operated forward.
- Preferably, in the backspin toy, the rack belt includes a preventer at a top end of a belt main body, the preventer which touches a part of the starting base in response to the rack belt being operated backward so as to prevent the rack belt from being out of the starting base.
- Preferably, the backspin toy further includes a target to which one of a loop tape and a hook tape constituting a hook-and-loop fastener is attached, wherein the other of the loop tape and the hook tape is attached to a front part of the running body so that the running body catches the target by using the loop tape and the hook tape bound together.
- Preferably, the backspin toy further includes a target, wherein an adhesive tape is attached to at least one of the target and a front part of the running body so that the running body catches the target by using adhesiveness of the adhesive tape.
- According, the running body, which has catapulted at a high rate of acceleration from the starting base, returns to the starting base by suddenly traveling backward after traveling forward for a predetermined distance. Consequently, a backspin toy which brings a sense of velocity and makes unexpected movement can be realized. Accordingly, the running body of the backspin toy can hit and catch the target and be received by the starting base when returning to the starting base by traveling backward.
- According to another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a backspin toy including: a running body including a flywheel which constitutes or is connected to a wheel, and is supported by a shaft; a stating base which keeps the running body at a predetermined position in a state in which the flywheel freely rotates; a torque giving unit which gives torque to travel backward to the flywheel in a state in which the running body is kept on the starting base; and a starting unit included in the starting base, the starting unit which hits the running body so as to give force to travel forward to the running body in a state in which the torque is given to the flywheel by the torque giving unit, thereby catapulting the running body forward with backspin, wherein (i) the running body including the flywheel, to which the torque is given by the torque giving unit, and being catapulted forward by the starting unit, travels backward by the torque given to the flywheel in response to reaching a limit point of the force to travel forward, (ii) the torque giving unit includes a pinion connected to the flywheel and a rack belt attachable to the running body and including a rack tooth which meshes with a tooth of the pinion in response to the rack belt attached to the running body, and gives the torque to the flywheel via the pinion by the rack belt attached to the running body being pulled out of the running body, (iii) the rack belt is attachable to the running body in a state in which a teeth wide direction of the rack tooth and a shaft line direction of the shaft for the pinion are approximately parallel to each other, and further includes a belt operation part to operate the rack belt and a belt main body, (iv) the belt main body includes a rack teeth part where the rack tooth is disposed and a no-rack-teeth part next to the rack teeth part on a side closer to the belt operation part, and (v) the rack belt is attachable to the running body in such a way that the no-rack-teeth part faces the tooth of the pinion.
- Accordingly, attachment of the rack belt is easy.
- This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-226630 filed on Oct. 12, 2012, the entire disclosure of which, including the description, claims, drawings and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Claims (5)
1. A backspin toy comprising:
a running body including a flywheel which constitutes or is connected to a wheel, and is supported by a shaft;
a starting base which keeps the running body at a predetermined position in a state in which the flywheel freely rotates;
a torque giving unit which gives torque to travel backward to the flywheel in a state in which the running body is kept on the starting base; and
a stating unit included in the starting base, the starting unit which hits the running body so as to give force to travel forward to the running body in a state in which the torque is given to the flywheel by the torque giving unit, thereby catapulting the running body forward with backspin, wherein
the running body including the flywheel, to which the torque is given by the torque giving unit, and being catapulted forward by the starting unit, travels backward by the torque given to the flywheel in response to reaching a limit point of the force to travel forward.
2. The backspin toy according to claim 1 , wherein the torque giving unit includes:
a rack belt including a rack tooth, the rack belt which is operated forward and backward;
an input gear included in the running body, and connected to the flywheel; and
a gear mechanism disposed between the rack belt and the input gear, the gear mechanism which (i) connects the rack tooth to the input gear so as to give the torque to the flywheel via the input gear in response to the rack belt being operated backward, and (ii) disconnects the rack tooth from the input gear so as to idle the flywheel in response to the rack belt being operated forward.
3. The backspin toy according to claim 2 , wherein the rack belt includes a preventer at a top end of a belt main body, the preventer which touches a part of the starting base in response to the rack belt being operated backward so as to prevent the rack belt from being out of the starting base.
4. The backspin toy according to claim 1 further comprising a target to which one of a loop tape and a hook tape constituting a hook-and-loop fastener is attached, wherein
the other of the loop tape and the hook tape is attached to a front part of the running body so that the running body catches the target by using the loop tape and the hook tape bound together.
5. The backspin toy according to claim 1 further comprising a target, wherein
an adhesive tape is attached to at least one of the target and a front part of the running body so that the running body catches the target by using adhesiveness of the adhesive tape.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2012-226630 | 2012-10-12 | ||
JP2012226630A JP2014076232A (en) | 2012-10-12 | 2012-10-12 | Backspin toy |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20140106641A1 true US20140106641A1 (en) | 2014-04-17 |
Family
ID=48967176
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/845,315 Abandoned US20140106641A1 (en) | 2012-10-12 | 2013-03-18 | Backspin toy |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20140106641A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2014076232A (en) |
CN (1) | CN203139617U (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD825675S1 (en) * | 2017-02-28 | 2018-08-14 | Tomy Company, Ltd. | Winder for launching apparatus for spinning top toy |
USD825674S1 (en) * | 2017-02-07 | 2018-08-14 | Tomy Company, Ltd. | Winder for launching apparatus for spinning top toy |
USD908176S1 (en) * | 2019-08-30 | 2021-01-19 | Tomy Company, Ltd. | Launching apparatus for spinning top toy |
WO2024001270A1 (en) * | 2022-06-30 | 2024-01-04 | 广州灵动创想文化科技有限公司 | Driving device and spinning top accelerator |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN110548299A (en) * | 2019-10-14 | 2019-12-10 | 广州灵动创想文化科技有限公司 | Rotary toy |
CN110575673A (en) * | 2019-10-14 | 2019-12-17 | 广州灵动创想文化科技有限公司 | Ejection toy |
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US4526554A (en) * | 1981-02-12 | 1985-07-02 | Adolph E. Goldfarb | Toy motorcycle and launcher apparatus |
US4541813A (en) * | 1982-07-21 | 1985-09-17 | Tomy Kogyo Company, Incorporated | Device for controlling wheeled vehicles |
US4555237A (en) * | 1983-11-25 | 1985-11-26 | Tomy Kogyo Company, Incorporated | Walking and rolling toy |
US4959035A (en) * | 1988-03-10 | 1990-09-25 | Sega Enterprises, Ltd. | Miniature storage container for a manually propelled toy member |
US5823848A (en) * | 1997-05-16 | 1998-10-20 | Cummings; Charles | Toy auto racing power shifter and car |
US6517408B1 (en) * | 2000-12-22 | 2003-02-11 | Rehco, Llc | Flywheel powered bicycle with an articulated rider |
US6676476B1 (en) * | 2003-01-03 | 2004-01-13 | Lund And Company Invention, Llc | Gyroscope figures |
US20080070473A1 (en) * | 2006-09-20 | 2008-03-20 | Glenn Yu | Toy vehicle and launcher |
US8388405B2 (en) * | 2009-10-30 | 2013-03-05 | Hasbro, Inc. | Toy launcher and dual powered toy |
US8579674B2 (en) * | 2008-10-10 | 2013-11-12 | Jakks Pacific, Inc. | Mobile toy with displaceable flywheel |
-
2012
- 2012-10-12 JP JP2012226630A patent/JP2014076232A/en active Pending
-
2013
- 2013-03-18 US US13/845,315 patent/US20140106641A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2013-03-28 CN CN2013201656112U patent/CN203139617U/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (10)
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US4526554A (en) * | 1981-02-12 | 1985-07-02 | Adolph E. Goldfarb | Toy motorcycle and launcher apparatus |
US4541813A (en) * | 1982-07-21 | 1985-09-17 | Tomy Kogyo Company, Incorporated | Device for controlling wheeled vehicles |
US4555237A (en) * | 1983-11-25 | 1985-11-26 | Tomy Kogyo Company, Incorporated | Walking and rolling toy |
US4959035A (en) * | 1988-03-10 | 1990-09-25 | Sega Enterprises, Ltd. | Miniature storage container for a manually propelled toy member |
US5823848A (en) * | 1997-05-16 | 1998-10-20 | Cummings; Charles | Toy auto racing power shifter and car |
US6517408B1 (en) * | 2000-12-22 | 2003-02-11 | Rehco, Llc | Flywheel powered bicycle with an articulated rider |
US6676476B1 (en) * | 2003-01-03 | 2004-01-13 | Lund And Company Invention, Llc | Gyroscope figures |
US20080070473A1 (en) * | 2006-09-20 | 2008-03-20 | Glenn Yu | Toy vehicle and launcher |
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Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD825674S1 (en) * | 2017-02-07 | 2018-08-14 | Tomy Company, Ltd. | Winder for launching apparatus for spinning top toy |
USD825675S1 (en) * | 2017-02-28 | 2018-08-14 | Tomy Company, Ltd. | Winder for launching apparatus for spinning top toy |
USD908176S1 (en) * | 2019-08-30 | 2021-01-19 | Tomy Company, Ltd. | Launching apparatus for spinning top toy |
WO2024001270A1 (en) * | 2022-06-30 | 2024-01-04 | 广州灵动创想文化科技有限公司 | Driving device and spinning top accelerator |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2014076232A (en) | 2014-05-01 |
CN203139617U (en) | 2013-08-21 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TOMY COMPANY, LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ICHIKAWA, TAKASHI;REEL/FRAME:030373/0020 Effective date: 20130315 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |