U.S. patent application number 15/939438 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-18 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 Takeaki MAEDA, Makoto MURAKI.
Application Number | 20190111352 15/939438 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61837596 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-18 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190111352 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MURAKI; Makoto ; et
al. |
April 18, 2019 |
TOY TOP
Abstract
A toy top includes a shaft portion, an additional part and an
engaging part. The shaft portion includes a spinning shaft. The
additional part is attached to the shaft portion movably in an axis
direction of the spinning shaft. The engaging part engages the
additional part with the shaft portion at different positions in
the axis direction of the spinning shaft. An attachment position of
the additional part is changeable by changing engagement of the
additional part by the engaging part. A grounding state or a height
of the shaft portion is changeable according to change of the
attachment position of the additional part.
Inventors: |
MURAKI; Makoto; (Tokyo,
JP) ; MAEDA; Takeaki; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOMY COMPANY, LTD. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
61837596 |
Appl. No.: |
15/939438 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 9/16 20130101; A63H
31/06 20130101; A63H 1/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 1/02 20060101
A63H001/02; A63H 31/06 20060101 A63H031/06; A63F 9/16 20060101
A63F009/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 17, 2017 |
JP |
2017-201195 |
Claims
1. A toy top, comprising: a shaft portion including a spinning
shaft; an additional part attached to the shaft portion movably in
an axis direction of the spinning shaft; and an engaging part which
engages the additional part with the shaft portion at different
positions in the axis direction of the spinning shaft, wherein an
attachment position of the additional part is changeable by
changing engagement of the additional part by the engaging part,
and wherein a grounding state or a height of the shaft portion is
changeable according to change of the attachment position of the
additional part.
2. The toy top according to claim 1, wherein the additional part is
detachable from the shaft portion.
3. The toy top according to claim 1, wherein the additional part
comprises a ring to which the spinning shaft can be inserted from
an upper side so as to allow a bottom tip of the spinning shaft to
protrude downward and which is disposed to circumferentially
surround at least the bottom tip of the spinning shaft, and wherein
the ring changes a position of surrounding the spinning shaft
according to change of the attachment position of the additional
part so as to adjust a degree of protrusion of the bottom tip of
the spinning shaft, and the ring is configured to be able to
contact the ground depending on the degree of protrusion of the
bottom tip of the spinning shaft.
4. The toy top according to claim 1, wherein the additional part
comprises a covering part which covers the bottom tip of the
spinning shaft from a lower side to form a new spinning shaft, and
the additional part is capable of changing a height of the shaft
portion according to change of the attachment position of the
additional part.
5. The toy top according to claim 1, further comprising: a
supporting part which is movable in the axis direction of the
spinning shaft integrally with the additional part, wherein the
supporting part together with the additional part constitutes an
adjusting member, and wherein the engaging part includes: a recess
disposed in one of the shaft portion and the adjusting member; and
a projection disposed in another of the shaft portion and the
adjusting member and fittable in the recess.
6. The toy top according to claim 5, wherein one of the recess and
the projection is a plurality of recesses or projections that are
arranged in a circumferential direction of the spinning shaft of
the shaft portion at different positions in the axis direction, and
the other of the recess and the projection is disposed in the
adjusting member and selectively fittable in any of the plurality
of recesses or projections.
7. The toy top according to claim 1, wherein the additional part is
in any one of (i) a turnable state in which the additional part is
turnable around the spinning shaft and (ii) an engaged state in
which the additional part is engaged with any of the engaging part
of the shaft portion, and wherein the additional part includes a
biasing member which biases the additional part to maintain the
engaged state.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a toy top.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] A battle game using toy tops that has been known in the art
involves forcing toy tops to collide with each other so that a
resultant impact force stops the spinning of an opponent toy top or
knocks out or disassembles the opponent toy top (e.g. see Japanese
Utility Model No. 3149384, etc.).
[0003] Such toy tops include a body and a shaft portion, and hooks
of the shaft portion are engaged with hooks of the body when the
shaft portion is turned relative to the body in a certain
direction.
[0004] When an own toy top collides with an opponent toy top,
spinning of the body is temporality stopped while the shaft portion
remains spinning. This causes relative rotation of the shaft
portion and the body in mutually opposite directions to release the
engagement between the hooks of the shaft portion and the hooks of
the body. As a result, the shaft portion and the body are detached
from each other, and the toy top is thus disassembled.
[0005] It has been desired to devise such toy tops so that a user
can change the spinning characteristic of the toy tops according to
opponent toy tops and the like and thus enjoy battle games without
getting bored.
[0006] In this regard, for example, a toy top described in Japanese
Utility Model No. 3149384, which is composed of a plurality of
members, is adjustable in height by changing formation of the
members.
[0007] However, a problem with the toy top described in Japanese
Utility Model No. 3149384 is that it is necessary to detach the
parts that are fixed by screws or the like and to assemble the toy
top again every time the user wants to change the height of a shaft
portion.
[0008] This process is not only troublesome for the user and but
also causes problems of occasionally losing the parts such as
screws as well as difficulty in modifying the toy top.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention has been made in view of these
problems in the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a
toy top that has a spinning characteristic changeable by the
possible simplest method and can perform various attacks.
[0010] According to an aspect of the present invention, a toy top
includes:
[0011] a shaft portion including a spinning shaft;
[0012] an additional part attached to the shaft portion movably in
an axis direction of the spinning shaft; and
[0013] an engaging part which engages the additional part with the
shaft portion at different positions in the axis direction of the
spinning shaft,
[0014] wherein an attachment position of the additional part is
changeable by changing engagement of the additional part by the
engaging part, and
[0015] wherein a grounding engagement or a height of the shaft
portion is changeable according to change of the attachment
position of the additional part.
[0016] In this configuration, the attachment position in the axis
direction of the spinning shaft of the additional part is
changeable. The enables readily changing the manner of the spinning
shaft contacting the ground, the center of gravity of the toy top
and the like so as to change the spinning characteristic of the toy
top. Therefore, it is possible to enjoy various attacks and battle
games that are rich in variation with the same toy top.
[0017] Preferably, the additional part is detachable from the shaft
portion.
[0018] With this configuration, it is possible to provide different
additional parts so that a user can select an additional part that
is suitable for a desired spinning characteristic. Therefore, it is
possible to expand the variation of modification to be made in the
toy top only by exchanging the additional part. A toy top that can
perform various attacks can be achieved.
[0019] Further, when the additional part is broken by a collision
with an opponent toy top or the like, it is possible to remove only
the broken additional part to replace it with a new one. Therefore,
the body of the toy top can be used for a long time.
[0020] Preferably, the additional part includes a ring to which the
spinning shaft can be inserted from an upper side so as to allow a
bottom tip of the spinning shaft to protrude downward and which is
disposed to circumferentially surround at least the bottom tip of
the spinning shaft, and
[0021] the ring changes a position of surrounding the spinning
shaft according to change of the attachment position of the
additional part so as to adjust a degree of protrusion of the
bottom tip of the spinning shaft, and the ring is configured to be
able to contact the ground depending on the degree of protrusion of
the bottom tip of the spinning shaft.
[0022] In this configuration, it is possible to change the degree
of protrusion of the bottom tip of the spinning shaft only by
changing the attachment position of the additional part. Further,
since the additional part includes the ring circumferentially
surrounding at least the bottom tip of the spinning shaft, it is
possible to readily switch the grounding pattern according to the
degree of protrusion of the bottom tip of the spinning shaft
between (i) the engagement in which only the bottom tip of the
spinning shaft contacts the ground, (ii) the engagement in which
both the bottom tip of the spinning shaft and the ring contact the
ground, and (iii) the engagement in which only the ring contacts
the ground.
[0023] Since the ground contact area changes depending on the part
that contacts the ground, it is possible to change the movement
(spinning action) of the toy top.
[0024] Since the spinning characteristic of the toy top can be
changed in this way, the toy top can perform various attacks on an
opponent toy top.
[0025] Preferably, the additional part comprises a covering part
which covers the bottom tip of the spinning shaft from a lower side
to form a new spinning shaft, and the additional part is capable of
changing a height of the shaft portion according to change of the
attachment position of the additional part.
[0026] Since the additional part includes the covering part that
constitutes a new spinning shaft, it is possible to readily change
the height of the shaft portion only by changing the attachment
position of the additional part.
[0027] Changing the height of the shaft portion can change the
center of gravity of the toy top accordingly. Therefore, the toy
top can perform various attacks on an opponent toy top.
[0028] Preferably, the toy top further includes:
[0029] a supporting part which is movable in the axis direction of
the spinning shaft integrally with the additional part,
[0030] wherein the supporting part together with the additional
part constitutes an adjusting member, and
[0031] wherein the engaging part includes: [0032] a recess disposed
in one of the shaft portion and the adjusting member; and [0033] a
projection disposed in another of the shaft portion and the
adjusting member and fittable in the recess.
[0034] In this configuration, the engaging part for changing the
attachment position of the additional part is constituted by the
recess and the projection to be fit in the recess. The recess is
disposed in one of the additional part (or the supporting part that
is movable in the axis direction of the spinning shaft integrally
with the additional part) or the shaft portion, and the projection
is disposed in the other of the additional part or the shaft
portion.
[0035] This configuration enables readily changing the attachment
position of the additional part only so as to change the spinning
characteristic of the toy top only by changing the fitting position
between the recess and the projection. Therefore, everyone can
enjoy battle games that are rich in variation.
[0036] Preferably, one of the recess and the projection is a
plurality of recesses or projections that are arranged in a
circumferential direction of the spinning shaft of the shaft
portion at different positions in the axis direction, and the other
of the recess and the projection is disposed in the adjusting
member and selectively fittable in any of the plurality of recesses
or projections.
[0037] With this configuration, it is possible to change the
attachment position of the additional part only by moving the
adjusting member in the circumferential direction of the spinning
shaft, and everyone can enjoy battle games that are rich in
variation.
[0038] Preferably, the additional part is in any one of (i) a
turnable engagement in which the additional part is turnable around
the spinning shaft and (ii) an engaged engagement in which the
additional part is engaged with any of the engaging part of the
shaft portion, and
[0039] the additional part includes a biasing member which biases
the additional part to maintain the engaged engagement.
[0040] In this configuration, the additional part can be in the
engaged engagement in which it is engaged by the engaging part, and
the biasing member maintains the engaged engagement.
[0041] This can prevent the additional part from being deviated
from the attachment position or being released from the engaged
engagement during a game using the toy top.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] The advantages and features provided by one or more
embodiments of the 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:
[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates how to play a toy top according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the toy top
according to the embodiment;
[0045] FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional perspective view of
the toy top according to the embodiment;
[0046] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are exploded perspective views of a
shaft portion of the toy top according to the embodiment;
[0047] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an upper shaft
portion of the shaft portion of the toy top according to the
embodiment, illustrating an assembled engagement thereof;
[0048] FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C are perspective views of an example of an
additional part of the shaft portion of the toy top according to
the embodiment;
[0049] FIG. 6D is a perspective view of an example of an adjusting
member that is composed of the additional part in FIG. 6A to FIG.
6C and a supporting part attached thereto;
[0050] FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D are side views of a main part of the
adjusting member in FIG. 6 D engaged with a step forming
member;
[0051] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C are perspective views of a variation of
the additional part of the shaft portion of the toy top according
to the embodiment;
[0052] FIG. 8D is a perspective view of an example of the adjusting
member composed of the additional part in FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C and
the supporting part attached thereto;
[0053] FIG. 9A to FIG. 9D are side views of a main part of the
adjusting member in FIG. 8D engaged with the step forming member;
and
[0054] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an example of a launcher
for spinning the toy top of the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0055] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to the drawings. Though various technical
limitations which are preferable to perform the present invention
are included in the after-mentioned embodiment, the scope of the
invention is not limited to the following embodiment and the
illustrated examples.
Overall Configuration
[0056] FIG. 1 illustrates how to play a toy top according to an
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 a shaft
portion, a body and a performance changing ring of the toy top
according to the embodiment. As used herein, the terms up-down,
right-left and front-rear refer respectively to the directions as
illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
[0057] The toy top 1 of this embodiment can be used for so-called
battle games. Specifically, the toy top 1 can be used for a battle
game which a player wins when an opponent toy top 1 is disassembled
as illustrated in the right side of FIG. 1 by an impact force of a
collision between the toy tops.
[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the toy top 1 includes a shaft
portion 10 that constitutes a lower structure to serve as a driver,
a performance changing ring 30 and a body 40 that constitute an
upper structure as a layer.
Detailed Configuration
1. Shaft Portion 10
[0059] FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view from above of the
shaft portion according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4B is an
exploded perspective view from below of the shaft portion according
to the embodiment.
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4B, the shaft portion 10
includes a spinning shaft 11 at a lower end, a flange 12 at a
center part in the up-down direction, and a cylinder 13 at an upper
part.
[0061] The flange 12 and the cylinder 13 are integrally formed with
each other to constitute an upper shaft portion. Screw holes (not
shown) are formed in the flange 12 and the cylinder 13, and a
screws 10a (see FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B) are inserted in the screw
holes of the flange 12 and the cylinder 13 so as to fix the upper
shaft portion to a lower shaft portion.
[0062] First, the configuration of the upper shaft portion will be
described.
[0063] In each of the flange 12 and the cylinder 13, two holes 14
are mutually opposed in the right-left direction across the axis
(center axis) of the spinning shaft 11 (see FIG. 2 and FIG.
4A).
[0064] In the cylinder 13, two protrusions 15 are mutually opposed
in the front-rear direction across the axis of the spinning shaft
11. Outer faces of the protrusions 15 are flush with an outer
circumferential face of the flange 12.
[0065] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the upper
shaft portion, illustrating an assembled engagement thereof.
[0066] As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, a cylindrical pillar 16
stands inside the cylinder 13.
[0067] An upper end of the cylindrical pillar 16 is higher than an
upper end of the cylinder 13. However, the position is not
particularly limited. At the upper end of the cylindrical pillar
16, two hooks (engaging parts) 17 protrude outward in the radial
direction, which are mutually opposed in the right-left direction
across the axis of the spinning shaft 11.
[0068] At a lower end of the cylindrical pillar 16 corresponding to
the center axis of the spinning shaft 11, a hole 16a (see FIG. 4B)
is formed. The shape of the hole 16a corresponds to the shape of a
cylinder 514 of a step forming member 51 (described later), and the
cylinder 514 is inserted in the hole 16a when the lower shaft
portion is attached to the upper shaft portion.
[0069] At the lower end of the cylindrical pillar 16 corresponding
to the screw holes (not shown) of the flange 12 and the cylinder
13, holes 16c are formed. The above-described screws 10a are
inserted in the screw holes through through holes 513 of the step
forming member 51 (described below) and the holes 16c so as to fix
the lower shaft portion to the upper shaft portion.
[0070] The shaft portion 10 also includes a cylindrical pressing
member 18 around the cylindrical pillar 16 and inside the cylinder
13.
[0071] At a lower end of an outer circumference of the pressing
member 18, two legs 18c are mutually opposed in the right-left
direction across the axis of the spinning shaft 11 as illustrated
in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5. The pressing member 18 is biased upward by a
spring 20. The pressing member 18 is disposed so that upward
movement of the legs 18c is restricted by upper edges of the holes
14. In an ordinary engagement, the upper end of the pressing member
18 is located slightly higher than the upper end of the cylinder
13.
[0072] On a top upper face of the pressing member 18, two ridges
(protrusions) 21 extend in the radial direction, which are mutually
opposed in the front-rear direction across the spinning shaft
11.
[0073] Next, the configuration of the lower shaft portion will be
described.
[0074] The lower shaft portion includes the spinning shaft (see
FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B and FIG. 6D), the step forming member 51 (see FIG.
4A and FIG. 4B) and an adjusting member 52 (see FIG. 6D).
[0075] In the spinning shaft 11, a shaft main body 111 is disposed
at an axial center. The shaft main body 111 includes a shaft tip
112 at a lower tip. The embodiment illustrates an example in which
the shaft tip 112 has a conical shape (e.g. see FIG. 4B). However,
the shaft tip 112 may have any shape such as a simple rod or a
rounded tip.
[0076] The spinning shaft 11 further includes a flange 113 around
the shaft main body 111 near the shaft tip 112.
[0077] Around a circumference of shaft main body 111, a coil spring
110 is disposed as a biasing member.
[0078] In the embodiment, a groove 114 is formed in an upper face
of the flange 113 along the circumference of the shaft main body
111 as illustrated in FIG. 4A. An end of the coil spring 110 is
disposed in the groove 114.
[0079] An upper part of the shaft main body 111 penetrates a
supporting part 53 (described later) and is fixed on the step
forming member 51. The coil spring 110 as a biasing member is
disposed between the flange 113 of the spinning shaft 11 and an
upper inner face of the supporting part 53 to bias (press) the
supporting part 53 toward the step forming member 51.
[0080] The step forming member 51 includes a flat plate part 511
that is formed approximately in a disk shape, and an outer part 515
that is disposed along the outer circumferential edge of the flat
plate part 511.
[0081] Approximately at a center of the flat plate part 511, a
through hole 517 is formed. The through hole 517 is formed in the
shape that corresponds to the shape of the upper part of the shaft
main body 111 of the spinning shaft 11. The upper part of the shaft
main body 111 penetrates the supporting part 53 and is press-fitted
in the through hole 517 so that the spinning shaft 11 is fixed to
the step forming member 51. The manner of fixing the shaft main
body 111 of the spinning shaft 11 to the step forming member 51 is
not limited to press-fitting. For example, the spinning shaft may
be fixed by a screw or a bolt or by bonding.
[0082] In the flat plate part 511, two bumps 512 are mutually
opposed in the right-left direction across the through hole 517
corresponding to the protrusions 15 of the upper shaft portion.
[0083] In the bumps 512, through holes 513 are formed corresponding
to the screw holes of the upper shaft portion, in which screws 10a
are inserted.
[0084] The lower shaft portion including the step forming member 51
is fixed to the upper shaft portion by the screws 10a that are
inserted in the screw holes of the flange 12 and the cylinder 13
through the through hole 513.
[0085] On an upper face of the flat plate part 511, a cylinder 514
protrudes upward corresponding to the through hole 517. As
described above, the cylinder 514 is fitted in the hole 16a of the
cylindrical pillar 16 when the lower shaft portion is attached to
the upper shaft portion.
[0086] The outer part 515 of the step forming member 51 projects
both upward and downward from the flat plate part 511. At the lower
projection of the outer part 515, an engaging part is disposed to
engage the additional part 54 (described later) with the spinning
shaft 11 at different positions in the axis direction.
[0087] In the embodiment, the engaging part are constituted by a
plurality of recesses 516 (recesses 516a, 516b, 516c in FIG. 7)
with different depths in the axis direction of the spinning shaft
11. The recesses 516a, 516b, 516c are arranged around the axis of
the spinning shaft 11.
[0088] As described later, the recesses 516 (recesses 516a, 516b,
516c) as the engaging part engage with the additional part 54 (in
the embodiment, projections 534 of a supporting part 53 that is
movable in the axis direction of the spinning shaft 11 integrally
with the additional part 54 and that together with the adjusting
member 52 constitutes the additional part 54). Each of the recesses
516 has a width capable of engaging with the projections 534.
[0089] In the embodiment, two projections 534 are approximately
mutually opposed across the axis of the spinning shaft 11, and each
pair of recesses 516a, 516b, 516c are approximately mutually
opposed across the axis of the spinning shaft 11 corresponding to
the two projections 534.
[0090] In the embodiment, the projection 534 of the supporting part
53 is engaged with any pair of the recesses 516 (recesses 516a,
516b, 516c in FIG. 7) so that the attachment position in the axis
direction of the additional part 54 is changeable.
[0091] In the illustrated example, the recesses 516a are the
deepest in the axis direction of the spinning shaft 11, the
recesses 516c are the shallowest in the axis direction of the
spinning shaft 11, and the recesses 516b have an intermediate depth
between the recesses 516a and the recesses 516c.
[0092] The shape, the depth in the axis direction of the spinning
shaft 11, the number, the position and the like of the recesses 516
in the embodiment are merely an example and may be suitably
changed. The step forming member 51 may have any number (step) of
recesses with any shape that are located within the engageable
range of the projections 534 of the supporting part 53.
[0093] In the embodiment, the adjusting member 52 includes the
additional part and the supporting part 53 that is movable in the
axis direction of the spinning shaft 11 integrally with the
additional part.
[0094] It is preferred that the additional part is detachable from
the shaft portion 10.
[0095] When the additional part is detachable, it is preferred that
different types of exchangeable additional parts are provided so
that the user can freely choose one to be attached to the shaft
portion 10.
[0096] As described later, the attachment position in the axis
direction of the spinning shaft 11 (attachment position in the
height direction of the shaft portion 10) of the additional part of
the embodiment can be readily changed only by turning it around the
axis without detaching it from the shaft portion 10. Since the
grounding engagement and the height of the shaft portion 10 are
changeable according to change of the attachment position of the
additional part, it is possible to readily make various
modifications of the toy top. When different detachable additional
parts are provided so that the additional part is suitably
exchangeable, it is possible to make a wider variety of
modifications of the toy top 1.
[0097] The embodiment is an example in which two different
additional parts, an additional part 54 in FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D and
an additional part 57 in FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D are provided, which are
detachable from the shaft portion 10 and exchangeable from each
other.
[0098] In the embodiment, the additional part 54 and the additional
part 57 are different from each other only in their lower ends, and
FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate only an example in
which the additional part 54 is attached to the shaft portion
10.
[0099] It is not essential in the embodiment that the additional
part is detachable from the shaft portion 10. Further, even when
the additional part is detachable, it is not essential that
exchangeable different additional parts are provided. For example,
only one of the additional parts 54, 57 may be provided. When the
additional part 54 or 57 is broken by repetitive use in games or
the like, the broken additional part 54 or 57 may be detached and
replaced with a new additional part 54 or 57 of the same type.
[0100] In the embodiment, the additional part 54 is configured such
that the spinning shaft 11 can be inserted from the upper side, and
the shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11 can stick out downward.
Further, the additional part 54 includes a ring 541 which is
disposed to circumferentially surround at least the shaft tip 112
of the spinning shaft 11. The position of the ring 541 surrounding
the spinning shaft 11 is changed according to change of the
attachment position of the additional part 54. The projected length
of the shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11 is thus adjustable,
and the ring 541 can contact the ground depending on the degree of
projection of the shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11.
[0101] The configuration of the additional part 54 will be
described in detail referring to FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D.
[0102] FIG. 6A is a perspective view from obliquely side of the
additional part, FIG. 6B is a perspective view from obliquely above
of the additional part, and FIG. 6C is a perspective view from
obliquely below of the additional part. Further, FIG. 6D is a
perspective view from obliquely above of the adjusting member that
is composed of the additional part of FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C and the
supporting part attached thereto.
[0103] As illustrated in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B and FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C,
the additional part 54 is formed in an approximately bowl or
inverted conical overall shape. The additional part 54 is
configured such that the spinning shaft 11 can be inserted from the
upper side, and the shaft tip 112 or a bottom tip of the spinning
shaft 11 can stick out downward.
[0104] Specifically, the ring 541 is disposed at a lower end of the
additional part 54 to circumferentially surround at least the shaft
tip 112 or the bottom tip of the spinning shaft 11. At a center of
the ring 541, a through hole 542 is formed so that the shaft tip
112 of the spinning shaft 11 can be projected through the through
hole 542.
[0105] As described above, the outer diameter of the flange 113 of
the spinning shaft 11 is larger than the inner diameter of the
through hole 542. Since the flange 113 cannot go through the
through hole 542, the spinning shaft 11 is held inside the ring 541
so as not to come off from the additional part 54.
[0106] The position of the ring 541 surrounding the spinning shaft
11 is changed according to change of the attachment position of the
additional part 54, which makes the degree of projection of the
shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11 adjustable. Further, the
ring 541 can contact the ground depending on the degree of
projection of the shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11.
[0107] That is, as the attachment position of the additional part
54 ascends relative to the spinning shaft 11, the shaft tip 112 of
the spinning shaft 11 projects accordingly from the through hole
542 (e.g. see FIG. 7A and FIG. 7C). On the contrary, as the
attachment position of the additional part 54 to the spinning shaft
11 descends relative to the spinning shaft 11, the position of the
ring 541 surrounding the spinning shaft 11 descends (toward a
bottom tip of the spinning shaft 11) accordingly. When a lower end
of the ring 541 becomes equal to or lower than the shaft tip 112 of
the spinning shaft 11 (e.g. see FIG. 7D), the ring 541 contacts the
ground as well as or instead of the shaft tip 112 of the spinning
shaft 11.
[0108] FIG. 6A and the like illustrate an example in which the ring
541 is formed in a tapered shape in a side view, having an outer
diameter that decreases toward the bottom tip of the shaft portion
10. However, the shape of the ring 541 is not limited to the
illustrated example. By changing the outer shape of the ring 541,
it is possible to change the action of the toy top 1 when the ring
541 contacts the ground.
[0109] On a bottom of the additional part 54, a plurality of
engaging holes 543 surrounds the ring 541.
[0110] The engaging holes 543 receive and engage with engaging legs
533 (described later) of the supporting part 53 when the shaft
portion 10 is assembled. In the embodiment, four engaging holes 543
are formed at substantially the same intervals so as to be at
substantially the same distance in the front, rear, left and right
directions from ring 541 in accordance with the number and position
of the engaging legs 533 of the supporting part 53.
[0111] In the engaging holes 543, steps 543a are formed. When the
engaging legs 533 are inserted in the supporting part 53, hooks
533a at tips of the engaging legs 533 engage with the steps
543a.
[0112] When the engaging legs 533 of the supporting part 53 are
inserted in the engaging holes 543 so that the hooks 533a engage
with the steps 543a, the additional part 54 and the supporting part
53 engages and integrates with each other to form the adjusting
member 52.
[0113] The shape, number, position and the like of the engaging
holes 543 correspond to those of the engaging legs 533 of the
supporting part 53 but are not limited to the illustrated
example.
[0114] In a bottom of the additional part 54, a plurality of
engaging holes 544 are formed at a different position from the
engaging holes 543. In the embodiment, two engaging holes 544 are
approximately mutually opposed across the ring 541.
[0115] In the embodiment, the engagement between the additional
part 54 and the supporting part 53 is released by inserting nails
or jigs into the engaging holes 544 and pulling the additional part
54 downward. The additional part 54 can thus be detached from the
shaft portion 10.
[0116] The shape, number, position and the like of the engaging
holes 544 are not limited to the illustrated example.
[0117] The method of detaching the additional part 54 by releasing
the engagement between the additional part 54 and the supporting
part 53 is not limited to the above-described example, and other
jigs and methods may be used instead.
[0118] On the upper face of the additional part 54 of the
embodiment, protrusions 545 are formed corresponding to recesses
535 (described later) of the supporting part 53.
[0119] The embodiment illustrates an example in which two
protrusions 545 are approximately mutually opposed across the axis
of the spinning shaft 11. However, the shape, number, position and
the like of the protrusions 545 are not limited to the illustrated
example.
[0120] Next, the configuration of the additional part 57 will be
described in detail referring to FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D. Unlike FIG.
6D, the spinning shaft 11 is not shown in FIG. 8D.
[0121] FIG. 8A is a perspective view from obliquely side of the
additional part, FIG. 8B is a perspective view from obliquely above
of the additional part, and FIG. 8C is a perspective view from
obliquely below of the additional part. Further, FIG. 8D is a
perspective view from obliquely above of the adjusting member that
is composed of the additional part in FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C and the
supporting part attached thereto.
[0122] As illustrated in FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C, the additional part 57
is formed in a bowl or inverted conical overall shape as with the
additional part 54, and the spinning shaft 11 can be inserted
therein from the upper side.
[0123] Different from the additional part 54, the additional part
57 includes a covering part 571 at a lower end, which covers the
shaft tip 112 or the bottom tip of the spinning shaft 11 from the
lower side to form a new spinning shaft. The shaft tip 112 of the
spinning shaft 11 is disposed inside the covering part 571 and is
not exposed to the outside.
[0124] In the covering part 571, a recess 572 is formed to receive
the shaft tip 112 (see FIG. 8B).
[0125] The additional part 57 changes the height of the shaft
portion 10 according to change of the attachment position
thereof.
[0126] That is, when the additional part 57 is at the highest
attachment position to the spinning shaft 11, an inner face of the
covering part 571 (i.e. an inner face of the recess 572) is
completely or almost in contact with the shaft tip 112 of the
spinning shaft 11, and the covering part 571 and the shaft tip 112
are approximately at the same height (e.g. see FIG. 9A). As the
attachment position of the additional part 57 to the spinning shaft
11 descends, the inner face of the covering part 571 (inner face of
the recess 572) separates away from the shaft tip 112 of the
spinning shaft 11 so that the length in the axis direction of the
shaft portion 10 increases (see FIG. 9D). In this way, the overall
height of the toy top 1 is greater when the outer face of the
covering part 571 of the additional part 57 is in contact with the
ground than when the shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11 is in
contact with the ground. This allows changing the center of gravity
of the toy top 1 and thereby changing the action of the toy top
1.
[0127] FIG. 8A, FIG. 8C and the like illustrate an example in which
the covering part 571 has a tapered shape in a side view, having an
outer diameter that decreases toward the bottom tip of the shaft
portion 10. However, the shape of the covering part 571 is not
limited to the illustrated example. By changing the outer shape of
the covering part 571, it is possible to change the action of the
toy top 1 when the covering part 571 contacts the ground.
[0128] Since the other configuration of the additional part 57 is
the same as that of the additional part 54, the same reference
signs are denoted to the same parts, and the description thereof is
omitted.
[0129] The supporting part 53 includes an approximately disk-shaped
flat plate part 531, and a through hole 532 through which the
spinning shaft 11 is inserted is formed approximately at a center
of the flat plate part 531. The supporting part 53 is disposed on
the additional part 54 such that an upper part of the shaft main
body 111 of the spinning shaft 11 projects upward from the through
hole 532, and the flange 113 of the spinning shaft 11 is intervened
between the additional part 54 and the supporting part 53.
[0130] As described above, the supporting part 53 is biased
(pressed) upward (i.e. against the upper shaft portion and the step
forming member 51 fixed thereto) by the coil spring 110 that is
disposed around the spinning shaft 11.
[0131] In the circumferential face of the flat plate part 531 of
the supporting part 53, two recesses 535 are approximately mutually
opposed across the axis of the spinning shaft 11. The
above-described protrusions 545 on the upper face of the additional
part 54 are fitted in the recesses 535. This prevents the
supporting part 53 and the additional part 54 from moving relative
to each other in the spinning direction (circumferential direction
of the spinning axis).
[0132] The shape, number, position and the like of the recesses 535
correspond to the protrusions 545 of the additional part 54 but are
not limited to the illustrated example.
[0133] At a lower end of the flat plate part 531 of the supporting
part 53, the four engaging legs 533 stand vertically downward.
[0134] The engaging legs 533 are disposed corresponding to the
engaging holes 543 to engage with the above-descried engaging holes
543 of the additional part.
[0135] The engaging legs 533, which are rather elastic, include
respective hooks 533a that protrude toward the axis (center
axis).
[0136] To assemble the toy top 1, the engaging legs 533 are
inserted into the engaging holes 543 of the additional part 54 to
engage the hooks 533a with the steps 543a of the additional part
54. The engaging legs 533 thus hold the additional part 54 from
four directions. As a result, the additional part 54 and the
supporting part 53 are engaged with each other to work
integrally.
[0137] The shape, number, position and the like of the engaging
legs 533 correspond to those of the engaging holes 543 of the
additional part 54 but are not limited to the illustrated
example.
[0138] On an upper face of the flat plate part 531 of the
supporting part 53, projections 534 are provided as an engaging
part that can fit in the recesses 516 (recesses 516a, 516b, 516c)
of the shaft portion 10 (step forming member 51 in the
embodiment).
[0139] In the embodiment, each pair of recesses 516 (recesses 516a,
516b, 516c) are approximately mutually opposed across the axis of
the spinning shaft 11 as described above. Corresponding to a pair
of recesses 516a, 516b or 516c, two projections 534 are mutually
opposed across the axis of the spinning shaft 11.
[0140] The shape, number, position and the like of the projections
534 correspond to the recesses 516a, 516b, 516c but are not limited
to the illustrated example. For example, the recesses 516 (recesses
516a, 516b, 516c) may not be disposed as a pair that is mutually
opposed across the axis of the spinning shaft 11. When a recess 516
(recesses 516a, 516b, 516c) is disposed at either side in the
circumference of the step forming member 51, the projection 534 is
also disposed only at the same side in the circumference of the
supporting part 53.
2. Performance Changing Ring 30
[0141] In the embodiment, the performance changing ring 30 is
constituted by a flywheel. The performance changing ring 30 has a
plate shape. On a bottom face of the performance changing ring 30,
an annular step 31 is formed as illustrated in FIG. 3 so that the
flange 12 of the shaft portion 10 can be received therein from the
lower side. On an upper face of the performance changing ring 30,
two upward protrusions 32 are mutually opposed in the right-left
direction across the axis of the spinning shaft 11 as illustrated
in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In lower parts of the protrusions 32,
recesses 33 are formed so that the protrusions 15 of the shaft
portion 10 can be received therein from the lower side. On the
upper face of the performance changing ring 30, tongues 34 extend
upward along an outer side of the respective protrusions 32. The
tongues 34 protrude higher than the protrusions 32. Instead of or
integrally with the flywheel, the performance changing ring 30 may
include a protrusion for attacking an opponent toy top 1 or a
recess for averting an attack from an opponent toy top 1 on an
outer circumferential face.
3. Body 40
[0142] The body 40 has a disk shape. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the
body 40 includes a base 400 and a transparent cover 401 which has
approximately the same shape as the base 400 in a plan view and to
cover the body 400.
[0143] On an outer circumference of the body 40, an uneven portion
40a is formed. Further, at a center of the base 400, a round hole
41 is formed. The transparent cover 401 covers the base 400 except
for the round hole 41 and arc slits 46 (described later). On a
bottom face of the body 40, an annular recess 42 is formed so that
the protrusions of the performance changing ring 30 can be received
therein.
[0144] At a lower end of an inner circumferential face of an inner
circumferential wall 43a that defines the annular recess 42, two
hooks (engaging parts) 44 protrude inward in the radial direction,
which are mutually opposed in the front-rear direction across the
axis of the spinning shaft 11.
[0145] In a middle in the up-down direction of the inner
circumferential face of the inner circumferential wall 43a, two
protrusions 47 protrude inward in the radial direction, which are
mutually opposed in the right-left direction across the axis of the
spinning shaft 11.
[0146] On a lower end face of the inner circumferential wall 43a,
two uneven portions 45 are mutually opposed in the right-left
direction across the axis of the spinning shaft 11 in which ridges
are successively formed to mesh with the ribs 21.
[0147] On a top wall 43b that define the annular recess 42 of the
body 40, arc slits 46 are formed so that the tongues 34 of the
performance changing ring 30 can be inserted therein from the lower
side. The arc slits 46 have a length that allows the tongues 34 to
move sufficiently.
4. Identifier 60
[0148] An identifier 60 is attached in the round hole 41. The
identifier 60 is used to identify the toy top 1 or the player
thereof.
[0149] To achieve the identification, identifiers 60 with different
patterns and/or colors are provided in the embodiment, and the
player selects one identifier 60 therefrom and attach it to the
round hole 41 with grooves 60a and the protrusions 47 that serve as
screw threads.
Assembling Method
[0150] Next, the assembling method of the toy top 1 will be
described. The shaft portion 10 has been already assembled.
Further, the identifier 60 has been already attached in the round
hole 41.
[0151] First, the shaft portion 10 is fitted in the performance
changing ring 30 such that the protrusions 15 of the shaft portion
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 aligned with predetermined
ends of the arc slits 46 of the body 40 (see FIG. 3). In this
engagement, the hooks 17 of the shaft portion 10 do not overlap the
hooks 44 of the body 40 in the up-down direction. This engagement
is referred to as an engagement releasable engagement. Thereafter,
the shaft portion 10 of the assembly is pushed toward the body 40.
Then the performance changing ring 30 firstly abuts the bottom face
of the body 40. Then, the spring 20 is compressed, and the hooks 17
of the shaft portion 10 are relatively pushed up higher than the
hooks 44 of the body 40. Subsequently, the shaft portion 10
together with the performance changing ring 30 is turned relative
to the body 40 until the tongues 34 reach the other ends opposite
to the predetermined ends. This is a relative turn of the body 40
and the performance changing ring 30 with respect to the shaft
portion 10. Then, the hooks 17 of the shaft portion 10 are
vertically aligned with the hooks 44 of the body 40 as illustrated
in FIG. 5. When the hand is removed from the shaft portion 10, the
lower face of the hooks 17 of the shaft portion 10 abuts the upper
face of the hooks 44 of the body 40 by the action of the biasing
force of the spring 20.
[0152] This engagement, in which the bottom faces of the hooks 17
of the shaft portion 10 are in contact with the upper faces of the
hooks 44 of the body 40, is referred to as an engaged engagement.
In this way, the shaft portion is coupled with the performance
changing ring 30 and the body 40. The toy top 1 is thus
assembled.
How to Change Spinning Characteristic
[0153] Next, a method to change the spinning characteristic when
the additional part 54 is attached to the shaft portion 10 will be
described referring to FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D.
[0154] When the projections 534 of the supporting part 53 are
engaged with any pair of recesses 516 (e.g. recesses 516a), the
supporting part 53 is biased upward by the coil spring 110 so that
the projections 534 remain being fit in the recesses 516 and do not
move in an ordinary engagement.
[0155] As described above, the recesses 516a are the deepest in the
axis direction of the spinning shaft 11 in the embodiment. As
illustrated in FIG. 7A, when the projections 534 of the supporting
part 53 are engaged with the recesses 516a, the additional part 54
is at the highest attachment position in the axis direction, and
the shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11 protrudes the most from
the hole 542 of the ring 541.
[0156] In this engagement, only the shaft tip 112 of the spinning
shaft 11 contacts the ground when the toy top 1 spins vertically or
almost vertically with respect to the ground surface. Only when the
toy top 1 is largely inclined with respect to the ground surface,
the ring 541 contacts the ground along with or instead of the shaft
tip 112.
[0157] A user who wants to change the spinning characteristic of
the toy top 1 temporarily pulls the adjusting member 52 downward
(the direction indicated by the outlined arrow in FIG. 7B) as
illustrated in FIG. 7B. Then, while pulling the adjusting member 52
down to the height at which the projections 534 can cross over the
bumps 518 (518a) defining the recesses 516a, he/she turns the
adjusting member 52 around the axis (to the right in FIG. 7A to
FIG. 7D in the embodiment).
[0158] When the user releases his/her hand from the adjusting
member 52 after he/she turns the adjusting member 52 until the
projections 534 cross over the bumps 518 (518a) of the recesses
516a to reach another pair of recesses 516 (e.g. the recesses 516b
next to the recesses 516a at the right in FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D), the
adjusting member 52 including the supporting part 53 is pushed up
by the biasing force (pushing force) of the coil spring 110 so that
the projections 534 fit in the recesses 516b as illustrated in FIG.
7C.
[0159] When the protrusions 534 of the supporting part 53 are
engaged with the recesses 516 as illustrated in FIG. 7C, the
additional part 54 is at a slightly lower attachment position in
the axis direction by the difference of depth of the recesses 516b
since the recesses 516b are shallower in the axis direction of the
spinning shaft 11 than the recesses 516a. Accordingly, the shaft
tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11 protrudes slightly less from the
hole 542 of the ring 541.
[0160] In this engagement, when the toy top 1 spins vertically or
almost vertically with respect to the ground surface, only the
shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11 contacts the ground.
However, when the toy top 1 is even slightly inclined with respect
to the ground surface, the ring 541 contacts the ground along with
or instead of the shaft tip 112.
[0161] The user can further temporarily pulls the adjusting member
52 downward (the direction indicated by the outlined arrow in FIG.
7B) as illustrated in FIG. 7B, turns the adjusting member 52 around
the axis (to the right in FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D in the embodiment)
until the projections 534 cross over the bumps 518 (518b) defining
the recesses 516b to reach another pair of recesses 516 (e.g.
recesses 516c next to the recesses 516b at the right in FIG. 7A to
FIG. 7D), and releases his/her hand from the adjusting member 52.
Then, the adjusting member 52 including the supporting part 53 is
pulled up by the biasing force (pressing force) of the coil spring
110 so that the projections 534 fit in the recesses 516c as
illustrated in FIG. 7D.
[0162] The recesses 516c is further deeper in the axis direction of
the spinning shaft 11 than the recesses 516b. When the projections
534 are fitted in the recesses 516c, the additional part 54 is at a
slightly lower attachment position in the axis direction by the
difference of depth of the recesses 516c as illustrated in FIG. 7D.
Accordingly, the shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11 does not
protrude from the hole 542 of the ring 541.
[0163] In this engagement, only the ring 541 contacts the ground
regardless of the inclination of the spinning toy top 1.
[0164] When the user further wants to fit the projections 534 into
another pair of recesses 516 other than the recesses 516c, he/she
can turn the adjusting member 52 until the projections 534 cross
over the bumps 518 (518c) defining the recesses 516c to reach the
recesses 516a next to the recesses 516c at the right.
Alternatively, the user can turn the adjusting member 52 in the
opposite direction to the left until the projections 534 cross over
the bump 518 (518b) defining the recesses 516b to return to the
recesses 516b next to the recesses 516c at the left.
[0165] The toy top 1 spins stably when the shaft tip 112 having a
small contact area contacts the ground. However, when the ring 541
having a large contact area contacts the ground, the action becomes
irregular, such as an irregular change of the spinning angle and a
large movement of the toy top 1. This can result in an unexpected
attack or the like on an opponent toy top.
[0166] As illustrated in FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D, the embodiment
illustrates an example in which an adjustment can be made by
changing the position (type) of the recesses 516 that is engaged
with the projections 534 of the adjusting member 52, in which the
engagement can be selected from among three levels ranging from the
engagement in which the shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11
protrudes from the hole 542 of the ring 541 to the state in which
the shaft tip 112 does not protrude from the hole 542 of the ring
541. However, the adjustable levels are not limited to the
illustrated three levels.
[0167] For example, another pair of recesses 516 that is yet
shallower than the recesses 516c in FIG. 7D may be provided so that
the additional part 54 can be at a yet lower attachment position at
which the lower end of the ring 541 is lower than the shaft tip 112
of the spinning shaft 11.
[0168] In this configuration, it is possible to change the height
of the shaft portion 10 according to change of the attachment
position of the additional part 54 (i.e. to increase the length of
the shaft portion 10 compared to the state in which the shaft tip
112 of the spinning shaft 11 contacts the ground).
[0169] Next, a method to change the spinning characteristic when
the additional part 57 is attached to the shaft portion 10 will be
described referring to FIG. 9A to FIG. 9D.
[0170] In the case in which the additional part 57 is attached to
the shaft portion 10, the additional part 57 is at the highest
attachment position in the axis direction when the projections 534
of the supporting part 53 are engaged with the recesses 516a that
are deepest in the axis direction of the spinning shaft 11. In this
state, the shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11 is in contact
with an inner side of a lower end of the covering part 571 of the
additional part 57 as illustrated in FIG. 9A, and the length of the
shaft portion 10 of the toy top 1 is the shortest.
[0171] A user who wants to change the spinning characteristic of
the toy top 1 temporarily pulls the adjusting member 52 downward
(in the direction indicated by the outlined arrow in FIG. 9B) as
illustrated in FIG. 9B. Then, while pulling the adjusting member 52
down to the height at which the projections 534 can cross over the
bumps 518 (518a) defining the recesses 516a, he/she turns the
adjusting member 52 around the axis (to the right in FIG. 9A to
FIG. 9D in the embodiment).
[0172] When the user releases his/her hand from the adjusting
member 52 after he/she turns the adjusting member 52 until the
projections 534 cross over the bumps 518 (518a) of the recesses
516a to reach another pair of recesses 516 (e.g. the recesses 516b
next to the recesses 516a at the right in FIG. 9A to FIG. 9D), the
adjusting member 52 including the supporting part 53 is pushed up
by the biasing force (pushing force) of the coil spring 110 so that
the projections 534 fit in the recesses 516b as illustrated in FIG.
9C.
[0173] Since the recesses 516b are shallower in the axis direction
of the spinning shaft 11 than the recesses 516a, the additional
part 54 is at a slightly lower attachment position in the axis
direction by the difference of depth of the recesses 516b when the
protrusions 534 of the supporting part 53 are engaged with the
recesses 516b as illustrated in FIG. 9C. Accordingly, the lower end
of the covering part 571 is at a slightly lower position than the
shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11.
[0174] In this state, the shaft portion 10 of the toy top 1 is
longer, which changes the spinning characteristic of the toy top
1.
[0175] Further, when the user further performs the same process so
that the protrusions 534 fit in the recesses 516c, the additional
part 54 is at a lower attachment position in the axis direction by
the difference of depth of the recesses 516b when the protrusions
534 of the supporting part 53 are engaged with the recesses 516c as
illustrated in FIG. 9D, since the recesses 516c are the shallowest
in the axis direction of the spinning shaft 11. Accordingly, the
lower end of the covering part 571 is at a slightly lower position
than the shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11.
[0176] In this state, the shaft portion 10 of the toy top 1 is
further longer.
[0177] When the length of the shaft portion 10 is changed, the
spinning characteristic is also changed since the center of gravity
of the toy top 1 is changed. This can result in an unexpected
attack or the like on an opponent toy top.
How to Play
[0178] Next, an example of how to play the toy top 1 will be
described.
[0179] In this example, a player spins a toy top 1 and forces it to
battle with an opponent toy top 1.
[0180] In such cases, the launcher 90 as illustrated in FIG. is
used to apply a spinning force to the toy top 1. The launcher 90
includes a disk (not shown) therein that is biased in a certain
spinning direction by a spiral spring (not shown). The launcher 90
is configured such that when an operating member, such as a string
or rack of teeth (not shown) is pulled by a handle 91 while a
spiral spring (not shown) biases the disk in a certain rotational
direction, the disk is rotated, and a top holder 93 is rotated
accordingly. The rotation of the top holder 93 is transmitted to
the toy top 1 through a fork 94 that protrudes downward, so that
the toy top 1 is rotated. When the fork 94 is inserted in the arc
slits 46 (see FIG. 3) of the body 90, and when the handle 91 of the
launcher 90 is completely pulled out of the launcher 90, the disk
and the top holder 93 stop rotating while the toy top 1 continues
rotating by the action of its inertial force. As a result, the toy
top 1 descends from the top holder 93 following the inclined faces
94a of the fork 94. In FIG. 10, the reference sign 92 designates a
rod that is retractable into the top holder 93. When the toy top 1
is set to the top holder 93, the rod 92 is pushed by an upper face
of the toy top 1 and retracted into the top holder 93. For example,
the rod 92 is used to detect attachment/detachment of the toy top
1.
[0181] The toy top 1 thus launched spins in a predetermined battle
field. When the toy top 1 collides with an opponent toy top 1, the
impact or friction of the collision produces a force that acts on
the body 40 in the direction opposite to the spinning direction of
the shaft portion 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 portion 10 and the performance
changing ring 30.
[0182] Then, the ribs 21 mesh with the uneven portions 45 of the
body 40. Since the biasing force of the spring 20 acts on the ribs
21, every time an impact force of a collision is applied, the body
40 turns relative to the shaft portion 10 to change the mesh
position. When the ribs 21 eventually reach the engagement
releasing position, the hooks 44 of the body 40 are released from
the hooks 17 of the shaft portion 10 so that the body 40 separates
from the shaft portion 10 by the biasing force of the spring 20
that acts on the ridges 21. As a result, the toy top 1 is
disassembled as illustrated in the right side of FIG. 1.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE EMBODIMENT
[0183] As described above, the toy top 1 according to the
embodiment includes: the shaft portion 10; the additional part 54
which is attached to the shaft portion 10 movably in the axis
direction of the spinning shaft 11 of the shaft portion 10; and an
engaging part (the recesses 516 and the protrusions 534 in the
embodiment) which engages the additional part 54 with the spinning
shaft 11 at different positions in the axis direction, wherein the
attachment position of the additional part 54 is changeable by
changing the engagement of the additional part 54 by the engaging
part (recesses 516 and projections 534).
[0184] This enables readily switching the configuration of the
grounding part of the toy top 1 between multiple levels to change
the center of gravity or the spinning characteristic of the toy top
1. Therefore, it is possible to enjoy various attacks and battle
games that are rich in variation with the same toy top 1.
[0185] In the embodiment, the additional part 54 is detachable from
the shaft portion 10. Therefore, different additional parts (the
additional parts 54, 57 in the embodiment) can be provided so that
a user can select a suitable additional part for a desired spinning
characteristic. Since it is possible to replace the additional part
with another additional part having a different function (e.g. the
additional part 54 that can change the grounding state of the
bottom tip of the shaft portion 10 according to the attachment
position, and the additional part 57 that can change the height
(length) of the shaft portion 10 according to the attachment
position), it is possible to modify the same toy top 1 into various
toy tops that can perform different characteristic attacks, i.e. to
make a wide variation of modifications, in a simple process.
Therefore, a toy top that can perform various attacks on an
opponent toy top can be achieved.
[0186] Further, the additional parts 54, 57 may be separately
provided as consumable parts. For example, when the additional part
54 or 57 is broken by a collision with an opponent toy top or the
like, it is possible to remove only the broken additional part 54
or 57 to replace it with a new one. Therefore, the toy top 1 can be
used for a long time.
[0187] In the embodiment, the degree of protrusion of the shaft tip
112 of the spinning shaft 11 is adjustable only by changing the
attachment position of the additional part 54. Therefore, it is
possible to readily switch the grounding pattern according to the
degree of protrusion of the bottom tip of the spinning shaft
between (i) the state in which only the shaft tip 112 of the
spinning shaft 11 contacts the ground, (ii) the state in which both
the shaft tip 112 of the spinning shaft 11 and the ring 541 contact
the ground, and (iii) the state in which only the ring 541 contacts
the ground.
[0188] Since the ground contact area changes according to the part
that contacts the ground, it is possible to change the spinning
characteristic of the toy top 1 so as to perform various attacks on
an opponent toy top.
[0189] In the embodiment, the additional part 57 includes the
covering part 571 that forms a new spinning shaft. This enables
readily changing the height of the shaft portion 10 only by
changing the attachment position of the additional part 57.
[0190] Changing the height of the shaft portion 10 can change the
center of gravity of the toy top 1 accordingly. Therefore, the toy
top 1 that can perform various attacks on an opponent toy top can
be achieved.
[0191] In the embodiment, the engaging part for changing the
attachment position of the additional part 54 is constituted by the
recesses 516 and the protrusions 534 that fit in the recesses
516.
[0192] This enables readily changing the attachment position of the
additional part 54 only by changing the fitting position between
the recesses 516 and the protrusions 534 so as to change the
spinning characteristic of the toy top 1. Therefore, everyone can
readily enjoy battle games that are rich in variation.
[0193] Further, since the engagement is established by meshing the
recesses 516 with the protrusions 634, the position in the axis
direction of the additional part 54 relative to the spinning shaft
11 is not changed even when the toy top 1 spins or vigorously
collides with an opponent toy top, and the configuration preset by
a user before starting a game can be maintained.
[0194] In the embodiment, the recesses 516 are formed in the step
forming member 51 of the shaft portion 10 around the spinning shaft
11 at different positions in the axis direction, and the
protrusions 534 that can selectively fit in any pair of the
recesses 516 are formed in the supporting part 53 of the adjusting
member 52.
[0195] This enables readily changing the attachment position of the
additional part 54 by shifting the adjusting member 52 around the
spinning shaft 11. Therefore, everyone can readily enjoy battle
games that are rich in variation.
[0196] In the embodiment, the toy top 1 includes a coil spring 110
as a biasing member which applies a biasing force to maintain the
engagement of the additional part 54.
[0197] This can prevent the additional part 54 from being deviated
from the attachment position or being released from the engagement
even when the toy top 1 collides with another toy top during a
game.
ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0198] While an embodiment of the present invention is described,
the present invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiment, and it should be understood well that various changes
can be made without departing from the features of the present
invention.
[0199] For example, the embodiment illustrates an example in which
the engaging part is composed of recesses 516 that are formed in
the outer part 515 of the step forming member 51 and the
protrusions 534 of the supporting part to be fitted therein.
However, the engaging part is not limited to the recesses 516 and
the protrusions 534 but may be constituted by any part that allows
changing the attachment position in the axis direction of the
additional part 54.
[0200] For example, screw threads that can mutually fit may be
formed respectively in an outer circumferential face of the shaft
portion 10 and an inter circumferential face of the additional part
54 or 57 (or the adjusting member 52 including the additional
part), and the additional part 54 or 57 (or the adjusting member
including the additional part) may be screwed around the shaft
portion 10. In this configuration, the engagement position in the
axis direction of the adjusting member 52 including the additional
part 54 or 57 can be gradually changed according to the screwed
position (degree of being screwed).
[0201] Further, instead of the recesses, the changeable engagement
position of the engaging part can be achieved only by abutment of
the additional part 54 or 57, e.g. by a stepped part or the
like.
[0202] The embodiment illustrates an example in which the adjusting
member 52 including the additional part 54 is turned with respect
to the shaft portion 10 so that the protrusions 534 fit in the
recesses 516 (engaging part). However, the method to switch the
engaging part may not be turning the adjusting member 52.
[0203] Further, the engaging part is not limited to the combination
of the recesses 516 of the shaft portion 10 and the protrusions 534
of the adjusting member 52 including the additional part 54. For
example, a protrusion may be formed in the shaft portion 10 while
recesses may be formed in the adjusting member 52 including the
additional part 54 in contrast to the embodiment.
[0204] The engaging part may not have the configuration of fitting
a protrusion in recesses. For example, the adjusting member 52
including the additional part 54 or 57 may be engaged with the
shaft portion 10 by hooking a hook or the like to a recess or a
hole.
[0205] Alternatively, for example, stepped protrusions may formed
at different heights around the outer circumference of the shaft
portion 10, and the adjusting member 52 including the additional
part 54 or 57 may be pressed against the protrusions by a biasing
force of a biasing member such as a spring.
[0206] In the embodiment, the supporting part 53 that moves
integrally with the additional part 54 or 57 is provided in
addition to the additional part 54 or 57, and the attachment
position in the axis direction is changeable by changing engagement
of the adjusting member 52 composed of the additional parts 54 or
57 and the supporting part 53 with the shaft portion 10. However,
the engaging part may not be formed in the step forming member 51
and the supporting part 53, and the supporting part 53 is not an
essential component.
[0207] It is only necessary that the engaging part be formed in the
shaft portion 10 and the additional part 54 or 57 or the like that
is movable in the axis direction of the spinning shaft 11. For
example, a protrusion or the like may be formed in the additional
part 54 or 57 as the engaging part that engages with the engaging
part (e.g. recesses) of the shaft portion 10.
[0208] The entire disclosure of Japanese patent application No.
2017-201195, filed on Oct. 17, 2017, is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
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