U.S. patent application number 13/845315 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-17 for backspin toy.
This patent application is currently assigned to Tomy Company, Ltd. The applicant listed for this patent is TOMY COMPANY, LTD. Invention is credited to Takashi ICHIKAWA.
Application Number | 20140106641 13/845315 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48967176 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140106641 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ICHIKAWA; Takashi |
April 17, 2014 |
BACKSPIN TOY
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.
Inventors: |
ICHIKAWA; Takashi; (Tochigi,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOMY COMPANY, LTD |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Tomy Company, Ltd
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
48967176 |
Appl. No.: |
13/845315 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/236 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 29/24 20130101;
A63H 29/20 20130101; A63H 17/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/236 |
International
Class: |
A63H 29/24 20060101
A63H029/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 12, 2012 |
JP |
2012-226630 |
Claims
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.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a backspin toy.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0010] 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:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a backspin toy in accordance
with a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2A is an exploded plan view of a running body;
[0013] FIG. 2B is an exploded lateral view of the running body
viewed from the left side;
[0014] FIG. 3A is a plan view of the running body;
[0015] FIG. 3B is a lateral view of the running body viewed from
the left side;
[0016] FIG. 3C is a front view of the running body;
[0017] FIG. 3D is a lateral view of the running body viewed from
the right side;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a meshing
relationship between a pinion and a rack belt viewed from a lateral
side;
[0019] FIG. 5A is a plan view of a starting base;
[0020] FIG. 5B is a plan view of the starting base with the upper
part thereof removed;
[0021] FIG. 5C is a front view of the starting base;
[0022] FIG. 5D is a lateral view of the starting base viewed from
the right side;
[0023] FIG. 6A is a lateral view showing a configuration of a right
wall of the starting base;
[0024] FIG. 6B is a lateral view showing a configuration of a left
wall of the starting base;
[0025] FIG. 7A is an exploded perspective view of a stating
unit;
[0026] FIG. 7B is a lateral view of the stating unit viewed from
the left side;
[0027] 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;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the
running body housed in the starting base is about to start;
[0029] FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a state in which the
running body has started from the starting base;
[0030] FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing a state in which the
running body catches a target;
[0031] FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing a state in which the
running body, which has caught the target, travels backward;
[0032] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a backspin toy in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 12A is a plan view of a running body;
[0034] FIG. 12B is a front view of the running body;
[0035] FIG. 12C is a lateral view of the running body viewed from
the right side;
[0036] FIG. 13 is a plan view of a connecting mechanism of the
backspin toy shown in FIG. 11; and
[0037] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting
mechanism of the backspin toy shown in FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] In the following, embodiments of the present invention are
descried with reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment
[0039] 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. In the present specification, 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. In
addition, 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.
[0040] FIG. 2A is an exploded plan view of the running body 30, and
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, and FIG.
3D is a lateral view of the running body 30 viewed from the right
side.
[0041] 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. In the first embodiment, the running
body 30 is constituted of the core body 32, the first holder 33 and
the second holder 34. However, the core body 32, the first holder
33 and the second holder 34 may be configured as one component.
Alternatively, the core body 32 and the first holder 33 or the
second holder 34 may be configured as one component.
[0042] 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.
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 3C and 4, a gap is provided between the
upper face of the right first swelling part 35 and the lower face
of the right second swelling part 36. The gap constitutes a rack
belt insertion part 37, and the rack belt 50 can be inserted into
the rack belt insertion part 37 from the right side of the core
body 32. On the other hand, no gap is provided between the upper
face of the left first swelling part 35 and the lower face of the
left second swelling part 36. That is, the left second swelling
part 36 is thicker than the right second swelling part 36, and is
disposed on the left first swelling part 35. However, a gap may be
provided between the upper face of the left first swelling part 35
and the lower face of the left second swelling part 36 by forming
the left second swelling part 36 in such a way as to have the same
thickness as the right second swelling part 36.
[0044] 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 31a and a left shaft 31a are
attached to the right end face and the left end face of the
flywheel 31, respectively. The right shaft 31a and the left shaft
31a are supported by the core body 32. As shown in FIGS. 3C and 4,
a pinion (an input gear) 38 is fixed to the right shaft 31a at a
point corresponding to the rack belt insertion part 37. The pinion
38 rotates with the right shaft 31a. The edge of the pinion 38
slightly comes out from the upper face of the right first swelling
part 35 so that teeth 38a of the pinion 38 mesh with teeth 52a of
the rack belt 50 at the rack belt insertion part 37.
[0045] 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 33b face each other. The protrusions 33b 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 33a. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2B, recesses 32a are formed
on the right side and the left side of the core body 32,
respectively. The recesses 32a extend in the up-down direction so
that the protrusions 33b of the first holder 33 engage with the
recesses 32a one-to-one. (In FIG. 2B, only the recess 32a on the
left side is shown.) The recesses 32a of the core body 32 and the
protrusions 33b 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 32a and the
protrusions 33b engage with each other. Thus, 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.
[0046] The configuration for the attachment of the first holder 33
to the core body 32 is not limited to the configuration described
above. For example, the first holder 33 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 back face of the first
holder 33 and the other thereof is formed on the front face of the
core body 32, and the back face of the first holder 33 is moved
close to or away from the front face of the core body 32 so that
the recess part engages with or disengages from the protrusion
part. Alternatively, the first holder 33 may be attached to or
detached from the core body 32 by using magnetic force.
[0047] By making the first holder 33 attachable to and detachable
from the core body 32, the following can be done.
[0048] That is, a plurality of 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.
[0049] The second holder 34 supports an auxiliary wheel 40. The
second holder 34 is approximately in the shape of "U" in a
cross-section view. The second holder 34 is detachably attached to
the core body 32 by sandwiching a sandwiched part 32b between a
right wall 34a and a left wall 34a from the right side and the left
side. The sandwiched part 32b is disposed under a top plate of the
back part of the core body 32. In a state in which the second
holder 34 is attached to the core body 32, the upper end of the
second holder 34 is covered with the top plate of the back part of
the core body 32. The second holder 34 is detached from the core
body 32 in the reverse procedure.
[0050] The configuration for the attachment of the second holder 34
to the core body 32 is not limited to the configuration described
above. For example, 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. Alternatively, the second holder 34 may be attached to or
detached from the core body 32 by using magnetic force.
[0051] By making the second holder 34 attachable to and detachable
from the core body 32, the following can be done.
[0052] That is, 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.
[0053] 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, and FIG.
5D is a lateral view of the starting base 10 views from the right
side.
[0054] The starting base 10 includes a running body housing part
11, which houses the running body 30. As shown in FIG. 1, each of a
right wall and a left wall of the entrance/exit of the running body
housing part 11 is constituted of an inner wall 12, an intermediate
wall 13 and an outer wall 14. A path defined by the right inner
wall 12 and the left inner wall 12 is wide on the entrance/exit
side of the running body 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 running body
30 slide along the right inner wall 12 and the left inner wall 12,
whereby the right inner wall 12 and the left inner wall 12 guide
the running body 30 to a predetermined point (predetermined
position) of the running body housing part 11.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 6A, the right intermediate wall 13 is
provided with a semicircular notch part 13a. The notch part 13a
supports a right bearing 31b for the right shaft 31a of the running
body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11 from the lower
side. The notch part 13a is formed at the upper edge of the right
intermediate wall 13. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, the
left intermediate wall 13 is provided with a semicircular notch
part 13b. The notch part 13b supports a left bearing 31b for the
left shaft 31a of the running body 30 housed in the running body
housing part 11 from the lower side. The notch part 13b is formed
at the lower edge of a notch part 13c of the left intermediate wall
13. The notch 13c 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 31b and the left bearing 31b 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 31b and the left
bearing 31b to the notch part 13a and the notch part 13b. In the
state, in which the right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b of
the running body 30 are supported by the notch part 13a and the
notch part 13b, 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. In order to obtain
this state, a slope 10a is disposed on the floor of the starting
base 10. The slope 10a ascends toward the back side of the running
body housing part 11. When the flywheel 31 climbs up the slope 10a,
the right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b are guided by the
right intermediate wall 13 and the left intermediate wall 13 so
that the flywheel 31 travels upward, and when the flywheel 31
crosses the slope 10a, the right bearing 31b and the left bearing
31b of the running body 30 are supported by the notch part 13a and
the notch part 13b. Consequently, the flywheel 31 of the running
body 30 is located a little above the floor of the starting base
10. In the first embodiment, the right bearing 31b and the left
bearing 31b are supported by the notch part 13a and the notch part
13b. Alternatively, the right shaft 31a and the left shaft 31a or
other components (or parts) may be supported by the notch part 13a
and the notch part 13b or the like. What is important here is that
the flywheel 31 of the running body 30 is freely rotatable.
[0056] 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.
[0057] As shown in FIGS. 5C and 51D, 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.
[0058] The starting base 10 includes a starting unit 20. As shown
in FIGS. 7A and 7B, 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 21a. 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 21b, which
a player operates, and a hitting part 21c, which hits the running
body 30. When the push lever 21 is located at the initial position,
the upper face of the operation part 21b is horizontal, and can be
hit from the above. In addition, when the push lever 21 is located
at the initial position, the hitting part 21c 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. When a player operates the operation part 21b, the hitting part
21c hits the back part of the running body 30. Consequently, the
right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b of the running body 30
disengage from the notch part 13a and the notch part 13b, so that
the running body 30 catapults. The starting base 10 is provided
with a first stopper 23a and a second stopper 23b. The first
stopper 23a keeps the push lever 21, to which the force is given by
the coil spring 22, at the initial position. The second stopper 23b
controls a moving range of the operation part 21b by touching a
touching part 210b disposed under the operation part 21b of the
push lever 21 so that the operation part 21b does not move more
than necessary when a player operates the operation part 21b.
[0059] Instead of the coil spring 22, a torsion spring wound around
the shaft 21a, 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. Alternatively, the coil spring 22 may be
simply removed. In this case, a player manually returns the push
lever 21 to the initial position.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 1, 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 52a and a shaft line direction of the
shaft 31a 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.
[0061] The belt main body 52 is in the shape of a belt. The rack
teeth 52a 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 52b at
a point closer to the handle 51. The no-rack-teeth part 52b makes
it easy to insert the rack belt 50 into the rack belt insertion
part 37 of the running body 30. That is, although 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 52b
makes the rack teeth 52a of the rack belt 50 not touch the teeth
38a 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 52b 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 52a of the rack belt
50 can be easily meshed with the teeth 38a of the pinion 38 in the
middle of pulling the rack belt 50.
[0062] 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.
[0063] 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 the target 70. Instead, an
adhesive tape may be attached to at least one of the running body
30 and the target 70. Alternatively, instead of the hook-and-loop
fastener, a permanent magnet may be included in one of the running
body 30 and the target 70, and 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.
[0064] Next, an example of how to play with the backspin toy 100 is
described.
[0065] First, 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 10a, and when the flywheel 31 crosses the slope 10a, the
right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b of the running body 30
engage with the notch part 13a and the notch part 13b, whereby the
flywheel 31 of the running body 30 is located a little above the
floor of the starting base 10.
[0066] Next, 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. At the time, the rack belt 50 is attached to the
running body 30 in such a way that the no-rack-teeth part 52b faces
the teeth 38a of the pinion 38.
[0067] Next, the player pulls the rack belt 50 backward with great
force so as to pull the rack belt 50 out of the starting base 10,
fixing his/her fingers to the handle 51 of the rack belt 50.
Consequently, the rack teeth 52a of the rack belt 50 mesh with the
teeth 38a of the pinion 38 of the running body 30 in the middle of
pulling the rack belt 50, whereby the pinion 38, and the flywheel
31 by extension, rotates.
[0068] Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the player presses the operation
part 21b of the push lever 21 from the above. Consequently, the
hitting part 21c of the push lever 21 hits the back part of the
running body 30 strong, and the right bearing 31b and the left
bearing 31b disengage from the notch part 13a and the notch part
13b, whereby, as shown in FIG. 10A, the running body 30 catapults
toward the target 70 with backspin. At the time, the flywheel 31
rotates backward, namely, travels forward with backspin.
[0069] 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.
Second Embodiment
[0070] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a backspin toy 100A in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The
backspin toy 100A 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 100A 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 100A
corresponding to those of the backspin toy 100. In the following,
aspects different from the backspin toy 100 of the first embodiment
are described.
[0071] FIG. 12A is a plan view of the running body 30, FIG. 12B is
a front view of the running body 30, and FIG. 12C is a lateral view
of the running body 30 viewed from the right side.
[0072] 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.
[0073] Unlike the backspin toy 100 of the first embodiment, 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.
Instead, 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 81a (a front
opening 81a and a back opening 81a) for the rack belt 50 on the
front side and the back side. In FIG. 11, only the front opening
81a is shown, and the back opening 81a is not shown.
[0074] 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 80a, a shaft 80b, an arm 80c, a gear
80d, a shaft 80e and a gear 80f. The gear 80a is a sun gear having
teeth which mesh with the rack teeth 52a of the rack belt 50. The
arm 80c is supported by the shaft 80b, which is a shaft for the
gear 80a too, in such a way as to freely rotate. The gear 80d is a
planetary gear attached to the arm 80c, and meshes with the gear
80a, thereby rotating around the gear 80a. The gear 80f is
supported by the shaft 80e, which is a shaft for the gear 80d too,
thereby rotating with the gear 80d. In addition, the gear 80f
meshes with the pinion 38.
[0075] When the rack belt 50 is operated backward, the gear 80a
rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 14, the gear
80d meshing with the gear 80a rotates in a direction indicated by
an arrow B, and the arm 80c rotates in a direction indicated by an
arrow C. Consequently, the gear 80f meshes with the pinion 38. At
the time, the gear 80f rotates in the same direction as the gear
80d, namely, in a direction indicated by an arrow D. Consequently,
the pinion 38, which meshes with the gear 80f, rotates in a
direction indicated by an arrow E. On the other hand, when the back
belt 50 is operated forward, the gear 80a rotates in a direction
opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow A, the gear 80d
meshing with the gear 80a rotates in a direction opposite to the
direction indicated by the arrow B, and the arm 80c rotates in a
direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow C.
Consequently, the gear 80f separates from the pinion 38. At the
time, the gear 80f rotates in the same direction as the gear 80d,
namely, a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the
arrow D, but the pinion 38 separating from the gear 80f does not
rotate.
[0076] In the second embodiment, the arm 80c is supported by the
shaft 80b, which is a shaft for the gear 80a as the sun gear too,
and the gear 80d as the planetary gear is attached to the arm 80c.
However, the shaft 80e for the gear 80d may be supported by a long
hole without the arm 80c provided so that the gear 80d rotates
around the gear 80a or separates from the gear 80a depending on a
rotation direction. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the rack
teeth 52a of the rack belt 50 are connected to the teeth 38a of the
pinion 38 via the gear 80f, which rotates with the gear 80d as the
planetary gear. However, the gear 80d may be directly connected to
the pinion 38. Furthermore, force may be given to the gear 80d as
the planetary gear by a spring, the force to disconnect the rack
teeth 52a of the rack belt 50 from the teeth 38a of the pinion 38,
so as to make sure that the rack teeth 52a are disconnected from
the teeth 38a while the rack belt 50 is not in operation. In this
case, one end of the spring is fixed to the arm 80c or to a shaft
for the gear 80d if no the arm 80c but the above-described long
hole is provided.
[0077] Although the rack teeth 52a themselves are not shown in FIG.
11, in the second embodiment, the rack belt 50 is provided with the
rack teeth 52a but not provided with the no-rack-teeth part 52b. At
the top end of the rack belt 50, a horseshoe-shaped or semicircular
preventer 55 is disposed. Projecting parts 55a of the back end part
of the preventer 55, the projecting parts 55a which project to the
right side and the left side from the belt main body 52, touch the
edge of the front opening 81a 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.
[0078] The other aspects (components) of the backspin toy 100A of
the second embodiment are the same as those of the backspin toy 100
of the first embodiment.
[0079] According to the backspin toy 100A of the second embodiment,
the following effect can be obtained.
[0080] That is, because 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. In addition, because 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.
[0081] 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.
[0082] For example, in the embodiments, 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. In this
case, a gear mechanism connects the motor to the flywheel 31.
[0083] Alternatively, the torque may be given to the flywheel 31 by
rotation of a handle disposed in the starting base 10. In this
case, a gear mechanism connects the handle to the flywheel 31.
[0084] Furthermore, in the embodiments, the flywheel 31 constitutes
a main wheel. However, the flywheel 31 may be connected to a main
wheel.
[0085] Furthermore, 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. 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 the rack belt 50 against the force by
the spring or the gravity. Furthermore, the backspin toy 100 of the
first embodiment may be provided with the preventer 55 of the
backspin toy 100A 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.
[0086] Furthermore, in the embodiments, 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. In this case, it is
preferable that 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.
[0087] 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.
[0088] 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.
[0089] 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.
[0090] 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.
[0091] 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.
[0092] 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.
[0093] 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.
[0094] Accordingly, attachment of the rack belt is easy.
[0095] 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.
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