U.S. patent application number 15/729709 was filed with the patent office on 2018-04-19 for toy top.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOMY COMPANY, LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is TOMY COMPANY, LTD.. Invention is credited to Makoto MURAKI.
Application Number | 20180104602 15/729709 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60083880 |
Filed Date | 2018-04-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180104602 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MURAKI; Makoto |
April 19, 2018 |
TOY TOP
Abstract
A toy top includes three components. A first component has a
hole. A second component has an insertion unit which can be
inserted in the hole to a first depth position, and the second
component can be turned manually. A third component is prevented
from moving in a depth direction in the hole when attached to the
first component. A groove is provided with a guide section which
makes the protrusion slide against an inner surface of a groove
wall on one side to make the insertion unit rise to a second depth
position and which prevents the insertion unit from falling out.
The third component has a part which functions as a stopper that
prevents the insertion unit from moving to a first depth position
direction.
Inventors: |
MURAKI; Makoto; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOMY COMPANY, LTD. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
60083880 |
Appl. No.: |
15/729709 |
Filed: |
October 11, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 1/02 20130101; A63F
9/16 20130101; A63H 1/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 1/04 20060101
A63H001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 18, 2016 |
JP |
2016-204636 |
Claims
1. A toy top, comprising: a first component having a hole whose
opening is on a surface side; a second component having an
insertion unit which can be inserted in the hole to a first depth
position from the opening, the second component can be turned
manually; and a third component which is prevented from moving in a
depth direction in the hole in a state where the third component is
detachably attached to the first component, wherein a protrusion is
formed on one surface which is either an inner peripheral wall of
the hole of the first component or an outer peripheral wall of the
insertion unit of the second component and a groove in which the
protrusion enters is formed on the other surface which is either of
the inner peripheral wall of the hole or the outer peripheral wall
of the insertion unit that faces the one surface, the groove is
provided with a guide section which, with the insertion unit being
turned in a predetermined direction by a turning operation of the
second component which is in the state where it is inserted in the
hole to the first depth position, makes the protrusion slide
against an inner surface of a groove wall on one side to make the
insertion unit rise to a second depth position which is not as deep
as the first depth position and which prevents the insertion unit
from falling out by an inner surface of the groove wall on the
other side, and the third component has a part which functions as a
stopper that prevents the insertion unit from moving to a first
depth position direction by facing a part of the second component
which is at the second depth position in a depth direction of the
hole and by coming in contact with the part of the second component
when the third component is attached to the first component.
2. The toy top of claim 1, wherein the groove is provided with an
engaging unit which makes the groove wall and the protrusion engage
with each other at the second depth position to make the insertion
unit temporarily stay at the second depth position.
3. The toy top of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed on the
inner peripheral wall of the hole of the first component and the
groove is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the second
component.
4. The toy top of claim 1, wherein the part which functions as the
stopper comes in contact with the insertion unit from a bottom side
of the hole.
5. The toy top of claim 1, wherein the first component is a body of
the toy top, the hole is formed in an upper surface of the body,
the third component is a shaft unit of the toy top, and the shaft
unit includes the part which functions as the stopper.
6. The toy top of claim 5, wherein the hole is formed at a center
of the body.
7. The toy top of claim 1, further comprising a fourth component
between the first component and the second component, wherein the
fourth component has a through hole where the insertion unit can be
inserted.
8. A method of attaching toy top components described in claim 1,
comprising: inserting of the insertion unit of the second component
in the hole of the first component to the first depth position;
turning of the insertion unit in the predetermined direction by
turning the second component; guiding of the insertion unit to the
second depth position by making the protrusion slide against the
inner surface of the groove wall on one side of the guide section;
and attaching of the third component to the first component.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a toy top.
Description of Related Art
[0002] Traditionally, there is known a toy top which includes a
configuration where an upper layer member having a function to
attack the opponent's toy top, a middle layer member having a
function to determine the height of the toy top and a lower layer
member having a function to determine the moving manner of the toy
top are layered (for example, see Japanese Utility Model No.
3151700).
[0003] With respect to such toy top, a plurality of types of upper
layer member, middle layer member and lower layer member are
provided and a toy top is formed by assembling one upper layer
member, one middle layer member and one lower layer member each of
which is selected from the plurality of types thereof. Here, a
screw is used to connect the upper layer member and the middle
layer member.
[0004] However, especially in a toy top used for a battle game, the
following problems exist in a case where a screw type connecting
member (component) is used.
[0005] That is, the connecting member might become loose or come
off when an impact force is applied in the direction that makes the
connecting member become loose when the toy tops collide with each
other in a toy top battle. Specifically, in the case where the
connecting member is used at the center section of the body of the
toy top and if an impact force is applied to the body, a large
force is applied to the connecting member and it is easily
loosened. When the connecting member becomes loose, the toy top
loses its original attacking function. Further, when the connection
member falls out, the connecting member and other components will
fly away.
[0006] Here, although the connecting member which connects the
upper layer member and the middle layer member is described above,
the same problems also exist in the case where the components other
than the connecting member are assembled by using screw type
connecting members.
SUMMARY
[0007] The present invention is made in view of the above problems
and an object is to provide a toy top having a configuration that
can reliably prevent predetermined components from falling out.
[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a toy top, including: a first component having a hole
whose opening is on a surface side; a second component having an
insertion unit which can be inserted in the hole to a first depth
position from the opening, the second component can be turned
manually; and a third component which is prevented from moving in a
depth direction in the hole in a state where the third component is
detachably attached to the first component, wherein a protrusion is
formed on one surface which is either an inner peripheral wall of
the hole of the first component or an outer peripheral wall of the
insertion unit of the second component and a groove in which the
protrusion enters is formed on the other surface which is either of
the inner peripheral wall of the hole or the outer peripheral wall
of the insertion unit that faces the one surface, the groove is
provided with a guide section which, with the insertion unit being
turned in a predetermined direction by a turning operation of the
second component which is in the state where it is inserted in the
hole to the first depth position, makes the protrusion slide
against an inner surface of a groove wall on one side to make the
insertion unit rise to a second depth position which is not as deep
as the first depth position and which prevents the insertion unit
from falling out by an inner surface of the groove wall on the
other side, and the third component has a part which functions as a
stopper that prevents the insertion unit from moving to a first
depth position direction by facing a part of the second component
which is at the second depth position in a depth direction of the
hole and by coming in contact with the part of the second component
when the third component is attached to the first component.
[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of attaching toy top components, including:
inserting of the insertion unit of the second component in the hole
of the first component to the first depth position; turning of the
insertion unit in the predetermined direction by turning the second
component; guiding of the insertion unit to the second depth
position by making the protrusion slide against the inner surface
of the groove wall on one side of the guide section; and attaching
of the third component to the first component.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not intended as a definition of the limits of the present
invention, and wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates how to play with a toy top according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the toy top
according to the embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded cross sectional perspective view of
the toy top according to the embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a spinning shaft of a shaft unit
of the toy top;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pressing member of the toy
top;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a spinning shaft of an
identifying member of the toy top;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a development view of a groove of the toy top;
[0018] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D are diagrams used for describing an
attachment configuration of the identifying member according to the
embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are operation views illustrating the
engagement of a toy top main body, a body and a flywheel in the toy
top according to the embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an example of a launcher
for spinning the toy top according to the embodiment; and
[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a part of a
modification example of the toy top according to the
embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Hereinafter, a toy top according to the present invention
will be described on the basis of the embodiment illustrated in the
drawings.
General Configuration
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates how to play with a toy top of the present
invention according to the embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the toy top according to
the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an exploded cross sectional
perspective view of the toy top according to the embodiment. As
used herein, the terms up-down, right-left and front-rear represent
the respective directions as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
[0024] The toy top 1 of the embodiment is of a type that can be
used in a so-called "top battle game". Specifically, the toy top 1
can be used in a battle game in which a player wins the game when
an opponent toy top 1 is disassembled as illustrated in the right
part of FIG. 1 by the impact force of a collision between toy
tops.
[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the toy top 1 is
composed of a shaft unit 10 as the lower structure, the shaft unit
10 being a driver, and a performance changing ring 30 and a body 40
which are layered to form the upper structure.
Detailed Configuration
1. Shaft Unit 10
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft unit 10 includes a spinning
shaft 11 in the lower part, a flange 12 in the middle part in the
up-down direction and a cylinder 13 in the upper part.
[0027] Among the above, the flange 12 and the cylinder 13 are
formed integrally and the upper section of the shaft unit is
configured with the flange 12 and the cylinder 13. The flange 12
and the cylinder 13 are fixated to the lower section of the shaft
unit with screws 11c (see the bottom view illustrated in FIG.
4).
[0028] The lower section of the shaft unit has a shape where it
narrows gradually in steps as approaching the tip of the spinning
shaft 11 from the flange 12 and is formed in an approximately
reversed cone shape as a whole.
[0029] In each of the flange 12 and the cylinder 13, the two holes
14 are respectively formed at the positions that face each other in
the front-rear direction having the axis of the spinning shaft 11
therebetween. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4,
protruding pieces 11a that protrude toward outside in the diameter
direction are formed at the lower section of the shaft unit at the
positions corresponding to the holes 14 of the flange 12. The
protruding pieces 11a are disposed below the holes 14 of the flange
12. The upper surfaces of the protruding pieces 11a form the
after-mentioned seat units.
[0030] Further, on the cylinder 13, two protrusions 15 are
respectively formed at the positions facing each other in the
left-right direction having the axis of the spinning shaft 11
therebetween. The outer surfaces of the protrusions 15 are in flush
with the outer periphery of the flange 12. Further, at the lower
section of the shaft unit, protrusions 11b which protrude toward
outside in the diameter direction are formed at the positions
corresponding to the protrusions 15 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. At
the parts corresponding to the protrusions 15 and 11b, the flange
12 and the cylinder 13 are fixated to the lower section of the
shaft unit with screws 11c.
[0031] Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a cylindrical pillar 16 is
provided inside the cylinder 13 so as to stand. The base end of the
cylindrical pillar 16 is coupled with the lower section of the
shaft unit. Although it is not limitative in any way, the upper end
of the cylindrical pillar 16 is set to be higher than the upper end
of the cylinder 13. At the upper end section of the cylindrical
pillar 16, two hooks (the second hooks) 17 that protrude toward
outside in the diameter direction are respectively formed at the
positions that face each other in the front-rear direction having
the axis of the spinning shaft 11 therebetween.
[0032] The shaft unit 10 further includes a cylindrical pressing
member 18. Although the pressing member 18 is made of synthetic
resin here, it can be made of metal. The pressing member 18 is
provided inside the cylinder 13 so as to surround the outer
circumference of the cylindrical pillar 16.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 5, the pressing member 18 includes a
cylinder unit 18a, a ceiling 18b and legs 18c.
[0034] The ceiling 18b is provided at the upper end of the cylinder
unit 18a. The ceiling 18b includes a hole 18d formed in the shape
that corresponds to the upper end part of the cylindrical pillar
16.
[0035] Further, the legs 18c are formed at the lower end part on
the outer periphery of the cylinder unit 18a. Two legs 18c are
respectively formed at the positions that face each other in the
front-rear direction having the axis of the spinning shaft 11
therebetween. Each of the legs 18c is formed of a horizontal unit
180c which protrudes horizontally from the cylinder unit 18a and a
vertical unit 181c which extends downward in the vertical direction
from the tip of the horizontal unit 180c.
[0036] The pressing member 18 having the above configuration is
provided so that the legs 18c are inserted in the holes 14. The
holes 14 are formed so that their size in the up-down direction are
larger than the length of the legs 18c. Further, the pressing
member 18 is biased toward upward by a spring 20. With respect to
the pressing member 18, the legs 18c are restricted from moving
upward at the upper edge of the holes 14 and in the normal state,
the upper end of the pressing member 18 is at the same height as
the upper end of the cylinder 13.
[0037] On the upper surface of the ceiling 18b of the pressing
member 18, two ridges (protrusions) 21 which extend in the diameter
direction are respectively formed at the positions that face each
other in the left-right direction having the axis of the spinning
shaft 11 therebetween.
2. Performance Changing Ring 30
[0038] In the embodiment, the performance changing ring 30 is
constituted by a flywheel. The performance changing ring 30 has a
plate shape. On the bottom face of the performance changing ring
30, an annular step 31 is formed which can house the flange 12 of
the shaft unit 10 from the lower side. Further, on the upper face
of the performance changing ring 30, two protrusions 32 which
protrude upward are respectively formed at the positions that face
each other in the right-left direction having the axis of the
spinning shaft 11 therebetween. On the lower parts of the
protrusions 32, recesses 33 are respectively formed which can house
the protrusions 15 of the shaft unit 10 from the lower side.
Further, on the upper face of the performance changing ring 30,
tongues 34 are formed which extend upward along the outer side of
the respective protrusions 32. The tongues 34 protrude higher than
the protrusions 32.
[0039] Alternatively, the performance changing ring 30 may be
constituted by a member that includes a protrusion on the outer
peripheral face for facilitating an attack on an opponent toy top 1
or a member that includes a recess on the outer peripheral face for
averting an attack from the opponent toy top 1. Such a member may
be provided instead of or integrally with a flywheel.
3. Body 40
[0040] The body 40 has a disk shape. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the
body 40 includes a base 400 and a transparent cover 401 that has
approximately the same shape as the base 400 in the plan view and
is placed on the base 400.
[0041] In the outer periphery of the body 40, an uneven pattern 40a
is formed. Further, at the center of the base 400, a round hole 41
is formed. The transparent cover 401 covers the part excluding the
round hole 41 and the after-mentioned arc slits 46. In the bottom
face of the body 40, a circular recess 42 is formed which can house
the protrusions 32 of the performance changing ring 30 from the
lower side.
[0042] The circular recess 42 is defined by an inner peripheral
wall 43a, and two hooks (first hooks) 44 which protrude inward in
the radial directions are respectively disposed on the lower end of
the inner peripheral face of the inner peripheral wall 43a at the
positions that face each other in the front-rear direction having
the axis of the spinning shaft 11 therebetween.
[0043] Further, at the center section in the up-down direction on
the inner surface of the inner peripheral wall 43a, two protrusions
47 which protrude in the radial directions are respectively
disposed at the positions that face each other in the right-left
direction having the axis of the spinning shaft 11
therebetween.
[0044] Furthermore, on the lower end surface of the inner
peripheral wall 43a, two irregular units 45 which is formed by
concaves and recesses continuing in a line and which engage with
the ridges 21 are respectively disposed at the positions that face
each other in the right-left direction having the axis of the
spinning shaft 11 therebetween.
[0045] Further, the circular recess 42 of the body 40 is also
defined by a ceiling wall 43b, and arc slits 46 are formed in the
roof wall 43b, into which the tongues 34 of the performance
changing ring 30 can be inserted from the lower side. The arc slits
46 have such a length that allows the tongues 34 to move an
adequate distance.
4. Identifying Member 60
[0046] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the identifying
member 60. The identifying member 60 is attached to the round hole
41. The identifying member 60 is used for identifying the toy top 1
and the player.
[0047] Although it is not illustrated in the drawings, identifying
members 60 having different designs and/or colors from each other
are provided for identifying one another, and the one identifying
member 60 selected by a player is attached to the round hole
41.
[0048] The identifying member 60 is formed in an approximately
short cylindrical shape as a whole. The upper surface center
section of the identifying member 60 is concaved to form a mortar
shape, and decoration bumps 61 and operational recesses 62 are
formed on the edge that surrounds the concave, two operational
recesses 62 being respectively formed at the positions that face
each other having the axis of the spinning shaft 11 therebetween.
The flange 12 of the shaft unit 10 can be inserted in the
operational recesses 62, and the shaft unit 10 which is inserted in
the operational recesses 62 is moved so as to operate the
identifying member 60.
[0049] On the outer periphery of the identifying member 60, two
grooves 63 in which the protrusions 47 enters when the identifying
member 60 is inserted in the round hole 41 are respectively formed
at the positions that face each other having the axis of the
identifying member 60 therebetween. Each groove 63 includes an
introduction section 63a which extend in the axis direction of the
identifying member 60, a guide section 63b having a part that
inclines with respect to the introduction section 63a and connects
with the introduction section 63a, and an engaging section 63c
which extends in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the
identifying member 60. Among these sections, the introduction
section 63a guides the identifying member 60 to the first depth
position in the round hole 41 when the identifying member 60 is
inserted in the round hole 41. Further, the guide section 63b
guides the identifying member 60 which is at the first depth
position to the second depth position that is not as deep as the
first depth position by the protrusions 47 sliding along the groove
walls with the rotation. Furthermore, the engaging section 63c
prevents the identifying member 60 from falling out from the round
hole 41 due to the groove walls and the protrusions 47 engaging
with each other at the second depth position.
[0050] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D illustrate the attachment configuration
of the identifying member 60. The attachment of the identifying
member 60 is carried out as described below.
[0051] First, in the state where the protrusions 47 are matched
with the entrances of the introduction sections 63a in the up-down
direction (FIG. 8A), the identifying member 60 is inserted in the
round hole 41 from above (FIG. 8B). In such way, the identifying
member 60 reaches the first depth position in the round hole 41.
Next, the flange 12 of the shaft unit 10 is inserted in the
operational recesses 62 and the identifying member 60 is made to
turn in a predetermined direction. Then, the protrusions 47 slide
along the groove walls and enter the guide section 63b from the
introduction sections 63a. First, the identifying member 60 is made
to turn at the same depth position. Then, when the identifying
member 60 is further rotated, the protrusions 47 slide along the
inclined groove walls of the guide sections 63b. In such way, the
identifying member 60 gradually rises in the direction parting from
the round hole 41. Thereafter, when the protrusions 47 pass the
inclined groove walls, the identifying member 60 reaches the second
depth position and the protrusions 47 are guided to the back of the
engaging sections 63c. The second depth position is not as deep as
the first depth position. Then, the protrusions 47 engage with the
groove walls of the engaging sections 63c.
[0052] Next, the shaft unit 10 is attached to the body 40. In the
state where the shaft unit 10 is attached to the body 40, the upper
section of the cylindrical pillar 16 is inside the round hole 41
and the upper surface of the cylindrical pillar 16 abuts the lower
surface of the identifying member 60. In such way, the identifying
member 60 is fixated to the body 40.
[0053] Here, the identifying member 60 is detached from the body 40
in the reverse procedure of the above attachment procedure. In such
case, the protrusions 47 are pulled out from the grooves 63
following the reverse route of the route described in the above
attaching.
[0054] When the identifying member 60 is fixated to the body 40 as
described above, the following advantages can be obtained.
[0055] That is, although the identifying member 60 once need to be
moved in the direction going deeper in the round hole 41 in order
to detach the identifying member 60 from the round hole 41, moving
of the identifying member 60 can be prevented since the upper
surface of the cylindrical pillar 16 abuts the lower surface of the
identifying member 60. In such case, the cylindrical pillar 16
functions are a stopper. As a result, the identifying member 60 can
be reliably prevented from falling out from the round hole 41.
[0056] On the other hand, the identifying member 60 cannot be
attached in the state where the body 40 and the shaft unit 10 are
assembled. As a result, the toy top 1 can be prevented from
spinning in the state where the identifying member 60 is half way
attached.
Assembling Method
[0057] Next, an example of the assembling method of the toy top 1
will be described. Here, it is assumed that the shaft unit 10 is
already assembled. Further, it is also assumed that the identifying
member 60 is attached to the round hole 41.
[0058] First, the shaft unit 10 is fitted in the performance
changing ring 30 from the lower side such that the protrusions 15
of the shaft unit 10 mate with the recesses 33 of the performance
changing ring 30. Subsequently, the assembly is brought toward the
body 40 from the lower side. In this step, the tongues 34 of the
performance changing ring 30 of the assembly are set to
predetermined ends of the arc slits 46 of the body 40 (FIG. 9A). In
this state, the hooks 17 of the shaft unit 10 do not overlap the
hooks 44 of the body 40 in the vertical direction. This state is
referred to as a coupling releasable state. Thereafter, the shaft
unit 10 of the assembly is pushed toward the body 40. With this,
first, the performance changing ring 30 is pressed to the lower
face of the body 40. Further, the spring 20 shrinks and the hooks
17 of the shaft unit 10 are relatively pushed up higher than the
hooks 44 of the body 40. Subsequently, the shaft unit 10 together
with the performance changing ring 30 is turned with respect to the
body 40 until the tongues 34 reach the other ends of the
predetermined ends (FIG. 9B). This turn is a relative turn of the
assembly of the body 40 and the performance changing ring 30 with
respect to the shaft unit 10. FIG. 9B illustrates a state in which
the shaft unit 10 has been already turned relative to the body 40
and the performance changing ring 30. After this step, the hooks 17
of the shaft unit 10 are aligned with the hooks 44 of the body 40
in the vertical direction. When the shaft unit 10 is released, the
lower face of the hooks 17 of the shaft unit 10 abuts the upper
face of the hooks 44 of the body 40 by the action of the biasing
force of the spring 20.
[0059] The state where the lower surfaces of the hooks 17 of the
shaft unit 10 and the upper surfaces of the hooks 44 of the body 40
respectively abut is the coupled state. In such way, the shaft unit
10, the performance changing ring 30 and the body 40 are coupled
with one another. The toy top 1 is thus assembled.
How to Play
[0060] Next, an example of how to play the toy top 1 will be
described.
[0061] In this example, a player spins a toy top 1 to battle with
an opponent toy top 1.
[0062] In such cases, a launcher 50 as illustrated in FIG. 10 is
used to apply a rotary force to the toy top 1. The launcher 50
includes a disk (not shown) therein. The launcher 50 is configured
such that when a string (not shown) wound around the disk is pulled
by means of a handle 51 while a spiral spring biases the disk in a
certain rotational direction, the disk is rotated, and a top holder
53 is rotated accordingly. The rotation of the top holder 53 is
transmitted to the toy top 1 through forks 54 that protrude
downward, so that the toy top 1 is rotated. Here, the forks 54 are
inserted in the arc slits 46 of the body 40. Then, when the handle
51 of the launcher 50 is completely pulled, the disk and the top
holder 53 stop rotating while the toy top 1 continues rotating by
the action of its inertial force. Accordingly, the toy top 1 moves
away from the top holder 53 along the tilted faces 54a of the forks
54. In FIG. 5, the reference sign 52 denotes a rod that is
retractable into the top holder 53. When the toy top 1 is loaded in
the top holder 53, the rod 52 is pushed in the top holder 53 by the
upper face of the toy top 1. For example, the rod 52 is used for
detecting attachment/detachment of the toy top 1.
[0063] The toy top 1 thus launched is led to a predetermined field
where it spins. When the toy top 1 collides with an opponent toy
top 1, the impact or friction of the collision produces a force
that acts in the body 40 in the direction opposite to the spinning
direction of the shaft unit 10 and the performance changing ring
30, and the body 40 thereby relatively turns in the direction
opposite to the spinning direction of the shaft unit 10 and the
performance changing ring 30.
[0064] Then, the ridges 21 of the shaft unit 10 engage with the
irregular units 45 of the body 40. Here, since the biasing force of
the spring 20 acts on the ridges 21, if the shaft unit 10 reaches
the engagement release position by the shaft unit 10 relatively
turning with respect to the body 40 and changing the engaging
position every time the impact force of the collision occurs, the
hooks 44 of the body 40 are released from the hooks 17 of the shaft
unit 10 so that the body 40 separates from the shaft unit 10 by the
action of the biasing force of the spring 20. Accordingly, the toy
top 1 is disassembled as illustrated in the right part of FIG.
1.
Variations of the Present Invention
[0065] While an embodiment of the present invention is described,
the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various
changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the
present invention.
[0066] For example, in the above embodiment, the protrusions 47 are
formed on the round hole 41 side and the grooves 63 are formed on
the identifying member 60 side. However, as shown in FIG. 11, the
grooves 63 can be formed on the round hole 41 side and the
protrusions 47 can be formed on the identifying member 60 side in
the opposite manner.
[0067] Further, in the above embodiment, the upper surface of the
cylindrical pillar 16 abuts the lower surface of the identifying
member 60. However, the identifying member 60 can abut any part. It
is sufficient as long as the identifying member 60 can be supported
at the engaging position.
[0068] Moreover, in the above embodiment, the case where the
identifying member 60 is attached to the body 40 as an example of a
component is described. However, a performance changing member
which changes the weight and shape in order to vary the
characteristics of spinning and attacking can be attached instead
of the identifying member 60. Further, a decoration member for the
sole purpose of decoration can be attached instead of the
identifying member 60. Furthermore, although the identifying member
60 is formed in a cylindrical shape in the above embodiment, the
identifying member 60 can be formed in any shape as long as it
includes an insertion unit which can be inserted in the round hole
41.
[0069] Furthermore, a member having the same configuration as the
identifying member 60 can be used as a fastener of the toy top 1.
For example, the upper section of the fastener can be formed as a
head section having a large diameter and the lower section thereof
can be formed as a shaft section (insertion unit) having a small
diameter and the grooves 63 are formed on the shaft section. Then,
another component can be sandwiched between the head section and
the member to which the fastener is to be fixated so as to fixate
the other component. In such case, it is sufficient that a through
hole in which the shaft section of the fastener can be inserted is
formed in the other component. As for the other component, the
transparent cover 401 which covers the base 400 can be considered,
for example. In the embodiment, the transparent cover 401 is
fixated to the base 400 in advance. However, the transparent cover
401 can be attached by being sandwiched between the fastener and
the base 400. It is needless to say that a plurality of components
can be attached in a state sandwiched therebetween.
[0070] Further, in the above embodiment, the protrusions 47 are
formed on the inside of the round hole 41 and the grooves 63 are
formed on the outside of the identifying member 60. However, this
can be in the opposite manner.
[0071] Here, although the grooves 63 respectively include the
introduction sections 63a, the guide sections 63b and the engaging
sections 63c in the above embodiment, it is sufficient that the
guide sections 63b are formed as the grooves 63. The introduction
sections 63a are not needed if the identifying member 60 can be
inserted to the first depth position. Further, the engaging
sections 63c are not needed as long as the identifying member 60
can be prevented from falling out by the abutting of the
protrusions 47 to the wall surfaces of the guide sections 63b after
the identifying member 60 is guided to the second depth position by
turning and the shaft unit 10 is attached. However, the engaging
sections 63c act as members to temporarily attach the identifying
member 60 and the shaft unit 10 can be attached in the state where
the identifying member 60 is temporarily attached. Thus, the shaft
unit 10 can be attached easily.
[0072] Further, wall surfaces which function as the guide sections
63b and wall surfaces for preventing the identifying member 60 from
falling out or turning in a reverse direction can be formed instead
of the grooves 63. Moreover, wall surfaces which function as the
engaging sections 63c can be formed instead of or in addition to
the wall surfaces for preventing the identifying member 60 from
falling out or turning in a reverse direction.
[0073] Although various exemplary embodiments have been shown and
described, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown.
Therefore, the scope of the invention is intended to be limited
solely by the scope of the claims that follow and its
equivalents.
[0074] The present U.S. patent application claims priority under
the Paris Convention of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-204636
filed on Oct. 18, 2016 the entirety of which is incorporated herein
by reference.
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