The present invention relates to a transformable toy which is transformed from a robot toy of a certain figure to a robot toy of another figure.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-10442 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-28933 etc disclose conventional arrangements of transformable toys of which figure is transformed from a figure of a vehicle or an animal into a doll robot toy. Various kinds of transformable toys are sold in the market. In these conventional transformable toys, in order to transform the figure, a various kinds of joint structures are employed.
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10442/1997
Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 28933/1997
However, in the structure of conventional transformable toys, there resides such disadvantage that, when transforming a doll robot toy into a robot toy of another figure, the entire shape and dimensions are hardly compacted. In particular, in the case where the figure is transformed into a quite different figure, it is necessary to store a large part of the doll robot toy within a transformed external case. In this case, the doll robot toy has to be transformed into a compact shape so as to be received within the external case.
An object of the invention is to provide a transformable toy capable of transforming the doll robot toy into a compact figure.
Another object of the invention is to provide a transformable toy capable of transforming its figure between a marine mammal robot toy and a doll robot toy.
Further, another object of the invention is to provide a transformable toy in which a small number of component parts constitute the exterior of the marine mammal robot toy.
Still further, another object of the invention is to provide a transformable toy, in which a part of the exterior of the marine mammal robot toy can be utilized as a part of the doll robot toy; or, a shield or an arm.
Another object of the invention is to provide a transformable toy, in which a tail section of the marine mammal robot toy can be transformed compactly.
Another object of the invention is to provide a transformable toy of which figure is transformed between a bird-like robot toy such as a bird and the doll robot toy.
The object of the present invention is to improve a transformable toy of which a figure is transformed between a doll robot toy and a robot toy of another figure. In the present invention, the doll robot toy comprises a pair of leg sections, each of the leg sections comprising: a thigh section, a shin section and a foot section, a knee-position connecting mechanism for connecting the thigh section and the shin section, and an ankle-position connecting mechanism for connecting the shin section and the foot section. The knee-position connecting mechanism is constructed so as to allow a calf portion of the shin section to be placed adjacent to the rear side of the thigh section, and the ankle-position connecting mechanism is constructed so as to allow a sole portion of the foot section to be placed adjacent to a back side of the body section of the doll robot toy. By arranging as described above, the section lower than the knee of the leg section can be folded along a rear side of the thigh section and a back side of the body section of the doll robot toy. Owing to this, when transforming from the doll robot toy into the other robot toy, the long legs of the doll robot toy are not large obstacle for its transformation. Thus, the figure of the transformed robot toy can be compacted. In particular, even when the figure of the transformed robot toy has an exterior, and when at least a part of the doll robot toy has to be received inside the exterior, the figure of the transformed robot toy can be compacted.
The knee-position connecting mechanism may include a connecting link connected to the thigh section and the shin section respectively with turning pairs respectively (rotatably connecting to allow a rotation on an axle). In this case, a length of the connecting link is predetermined so as to allow a calf portion to be placed adjacent to the rear side of the thigh section. By employing the connecting link and the turning pair as described above, the shin section can be reliably placed adjacent to the rear side of the thigh section (including both of contact with and approximation to each other).
Also, the ankle-position connecting mechanism connects the shin section and the foot section with a turning pair and may be constructed so as to allow the foot section and the shin section to be aligned on a substantially straight line. By employing the above structure, the foot section also can be reliably placed adjacent to the back side of the body section of the doll robot toy (including both of contact with and approximation to each other).
The present invention is applicable to a transformable toy of which a figure is transformed between a marine mammal robot toy such as a whale and a doll robot toy. The marine mammal robot toy has a head section, a body section and a tail section. The doll robot toy has a head section, a body section, a pair of arm sections and a pair of leg sections. Each of the leg sections of the doll robot toy includes a thigh section, a shin section, a foot section, a knee-position connecting mechanism for connecting the thigh section and the shin section, and an ankle-position connecting mechanism for connecting the shin section and the foot section. The knee-position connecting mechanism is constructed so as to allow a calf portion of the shin section to be placed adjacent to the rear side of the thigh section, and the ankle-position connecting mechanism is constructed so as to allow a sole portion of the foot section to be placed adjacent to the back side of the body section of the doll robot toy. The pair of leg sections of the doll robot toy is received within the head section of the marine mammal robot toy in a state that the calf portion is placed adjacent to the rear side of the thigh section, and that the sole portion of the foot section is placed adjacent to the back side of the body section of the doll robot toy. The head section of the doll robot toy is received within the body section of the marine mammal robot toy. At least a part of the head section and the body section of the marine mammal robot toy is dividably constructed so that, when the marine mammal robot toy is transformed into the doll robot toy, the pair of leg sections and the head section of the doll robot toy received therein may be exposed to an outside. The tail section of the marine mammal robot toy is foldably constructed and mounted onto the back side of the body section of the doll robot toy.
By arranging as described above, the leg sections having a large shape can be received easily inside the marine mammal robot toy. Also, by arranging a part of the head section and body section of the marine mammal robot toy dividably, not only that the leg sections of the doll robot toy can be received easily but also taken out easily. Further, by arranging the tail section of the marine mammal robot toy foldably, the tail section can be utilized as a part for forming the part of the doll robot toy without removing the tail section.
By arranging so that a part of the body section and a part of the arm section of the doll robot toy to form a part of the body section of the marine mammal robot toy, the number of component parts necessary for forming the exterior of the marine mammal robot toy can be reduced.
A part of the body section of the marine mammal robot toy is constituted from a pair of body-section forming outer-shell members, the pair of body-section forming outer-shell members, and an outer-shell member connecting mechanism for connecting the pair of body section forming outer-shell members to the body section of the doll robot toy in such a manner that the pair of body-section forming outer-shell members are moved left and right respectively. When divided, the pair of body-section forming outer-shell members are separated right and left as viewed from the front, and adopted to constitute the part of the body section by moving the body-section forming outer shell members close to each other. By employing such arrangement that the pair of the body section outer shells is connected to the body section of the doll robot toy with the outer-shell member connecting mechanism, the pair of body section outer shells can be utilized as a guard means (shield, weapon or the like) for the doll robot toy.
Further, the head section of the marine mammal robot toy is constituted from a pair of head-section forming outer-shell members, and outer-shell member connecting mechanism for connecting the pair of head-section forming outer shell members to the body section of the doll robot toy in such a manner that the pair of head-section forming outer-shell members are moved left and right respectively. As described above, by employing such arrangement that the pair of head section forming outer shell member is connected to the body section of the doll robot toy with the outer-shell member connecting mechanism, the pair of head section forming outer shell member can be utilized as a guard means (shield, weapon or the like) for the doll robot toy.
The pair of head-section forming outer-shell members may be shaped so as to form an opening for exposing a part of the pair of leg sections. In this case, the head section of the marine mammal robot toy further includes a cover member for covering the opening. The cover member is preferably constructed so as to be used as a weapon or shield for the doll robot toy. As described above, by arranging the pair of head-section forming outer-shell members so as to form the opening, the pair of leg sections can be taken out and received through the opening. Thus, the transformation operation can be carried out more smoothly. In addition to that, by using the cover member for covering the opening as an weapon or shield, the parts necessary for forming the marine mammal robot toy can be utilized as accessories for the doll robot toy. Also, in the case where the marine mammal robot toy has a pair of detachable flipper sections, the pair of flipper sections is constructed so as to be used as a weapon for the doll robot toy. By arranging the parts as described above, the utilization ratio thereof can be increased.
Also, when the present invention is applied to a transformable toy of which a figure is transformed between a bird-like robot toy such as a bird and a doll robot toy, an effect of compaction can be obtained. In this case, the bird-like robot toy comprises a head section, a body section, a tail section and wing sections; and the doll robot toy comprises a head section, a body section, a pair of arm sections and a pair of leg sections. In this case also, each of the leg sections of the doll robot toy includes a thigh section, a shin section, a foot section, a knee-position connecting mechanism for connecting the thigh section and the shin section, and an ankle-position connecting mechanism for connecting the shin section and the foot section. The knee-position connecting mechanism is constructed so as to allow a calf portion of the shin section to be placed adjacent to a rear side of the thigh section, and the ankle-position connecting mechanism is constructed so as to allow a sole portion of the foot section to be placed adjacent to the back side of the body section of the doll robot toy. The pair of leg sections of the doll robot toy form the tail section of the bird-like robot toy in a state that the calf portion is placed adjacent to the rear side of the thigh section, and that the sole portion of the foot section is placed adjacent to the back side of the body section of the doll robot toy. A mounting structure of the head section of the doll robot toy is constructed so that the head section of the doll robot toy may be received within the body section of the bird-like robot toy. The wing sections of the bird-like robot toy are foldably constructed and mounted onto the back side of the body section of the doll robot toy.
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a transformable toy according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The doll robot toy 1 shown in
A pair of arm sections 7 and 9 of the doll robot toy 1 are mounted onto the shoulders of the body section 5 with a joint structure (not shown) respectively. Each of the arm sections 7 and 9 includes an upper arm section 7a, 9a, a lower arm section 7b, 9b and a hand section 7c, 9c. The joint structure (not shown) has a well-known structure, which allows the upper arm sections 7a and 9a to move backward and forward as well as rightward and leftward. Also, a joint structure (not shown) between the upper arm section 7a, 9a and the lower arm section 7b, 9b has a well-known structure, which allows the lower arm section 7b, 9b to move backward and forward with respect to the upper arm section 7a, 9a, or allows the lower arm section 7b, 9b to rotate backward and forward within a predetermined angular range on the lower end portion of the upper arm section 7a, 9a. In addition to the above, the joint structure has a well-known structure, which allows the lower arm section 7b, 9b to rotate within a predetermined angular range around the centerline which goes through the center of the upper arm section 7a, 9a, with respect to the upper arm section 7a, 9a. Arm guards 15 and 17 are provided outside the lower arm sections 7b and 9b. Provided in the arm guards 15 and 17 are attachments 14 and 16 for detachably attaching flipper sections 10 and 12 of the marine mammal robot toy 2.
Shoulder guards 19 and 21 are rotatably mounted onto the shoulders of the body section 5 of the doll robot toy 1. When the doll robot toy 1 is transformed into the marine mammal robot toy 2, each of the shoulder guards 19 and 21 is, from a state shown in
A pair of leg sections 11 and 13 have thigh sections 11a and 13a, which are mounted onto the body section 5 with a joint structure (not shown) respectively, shin sections 11b and 13b and foot sections 11c and 13c. The pair of leg sections 11 and 13 have knee-position connecting mechanisms 23 and 25 for connecting the thigh section and the shin section respectively, and ankle-position connecting mechanisms 27 and 29 for connecting the shin section 11b and the foot section 11c respectively. Since the structure of the pair of leg sections 11 and 13 is identical, the structure of the leg section 11 will be hereinafter described with reference to
The ankle-position connecting mechanism 27 is constructed so that the shin section 11b and the foot section 11c are connected to each other with a turning pair 31. Therefore, the foot section 11c rotates on the turning pair 31 within a predetermined angular range. The ankle-position connecting mechanism 27 is constructed so as to allow the foot section 11c and the shin section 11b to be aligned on a substantially straight line. To be more precise, as shown in
Mounted onto the body section 5 of the doll robot toy 1 movably rightward and leftward with turning pairs 24 and 26 constituting an outer-shell member connecting mechanism are a pair of head-section forming outer-shell members 20 and 22, which form a lower part 18 of a head section 8 of the marine mammal robot toy 2. As the doll robot toy 1 is viewed from the front, the pair of head-section forming outer-shell members 20 and 22 are separated apart right and left from each other; and when the both are brought closer to each other, a portion (lower part 18) of the head section 8 of the marine mammal robot toy 2 is formed. An upper part 38 of the head section 8 of the marine mammal robot toy 2, which will be described below, is constructed so as to be detachable as shown in
As viewed from the front, the body section 5 of the doll robot toy 1 is separated apart right and left. By bringing the both closer to each other, a pair of body-section forming outer-shell members 30 and 32, which form a portion (abdominal portion at the tail section side) 28 of the body section of the marine mammal robot toy 2, are connected to each other with outer-shell member connecting mechanisms 34 and 36. These outer-shell member connecting mechanisms 34 and 36 have the following structure: two pair of links 34a and 34b, 36a and 36b are rotatably connected to each other with turning pairs 34c and 36c. The outer ends of the links 34a and 36a are connected to the back portion of the body section 5 with a link 41 (
As shown in
Next, referring to
Then, as shown in
After extending the two leg sections 11 and 13, the pair of body-section forming outer-shell members 30 and 32, which constitute the section (abdominal section at the tail section side) 28 of the body section of the marine mammal robot toy 2, are opened rightward and leftward as shown in
In the doll robot toy 101 also, each of the leg sections 111 and 113 have a knee-position connecting mechanism 123, which connects thigh section 111a, 113a and shin section 111b, 113b, and an ankle-position connecting mechanism (127), which connects the shin section 111b, 113b and foot section 111c, 113c. The knee-position connecting mechanism 123 is constructed so as to allow a calf portion of the shin section 111b, 113b to be placed adjacent to the rear side of the shin section 111a, 113a. The ankle-position connecting mechanism 127 is constructed so as to allow a sole portion of the foot section 111c, 113c to be placed adjacent to the back side of the body section 105 of the doll robot toy 101. The pair of leg sections 111 and 113 of the doll robot toy 101 form a tail section of the bird-like robot toy 102 in a state that the calf portion is placed adjacent to the rear side of the thigh sections 111a and 113a, and the sole portion of the foot sections 111c and 113c is placed adjacent to the back side of the body section 105 of the doll robot toy 101.
Referring to
Then, as shown in
When transforming from the bird-like robot toy 102 into the doll robot toy 101, the above-described steps are carried out in reverse.
According to the present invention, when the doll robot toy is transformed into another robot toy, the long legs of the doll robot toy do not prevent the transformation. Therefore, the figure of the transformed robot toy can be compacted. In particular, according to the present invention, even when the figure of the transformed robot toy includes an exterior and at least a part of the doll robot toy has to be received inside the exterior, the figure of the transformed robot toy can be compacted.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2003-141208 | May 2003 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2004/006653 | 5/18/2004 | WO | 00 | 1/17/2006 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2004/101097 | 11/25/2004 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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D278643 | Ogawa | Apr 1985 | S |
D279592 | Ogawa | Jul 1985 | S |
4571203 | Murakami | Feb 1986 | A |
4578046 | Ohno | Mar 1986 | A |
4580993 | Ohno | Apr 1986 | A |
4586911 | Murakami | May 1986 | A |
4674990 | Ohno | Jun 1987 | A |
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6830497 | Lee et al. | Dec 2004 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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60-10697 | Jan 1985 | JP |
62-133692 | Aug 1987 | JP |
63-22986 | Feb 1988 | JP |
7-250972 | Oct 1995 | JP |
9-10442 | Jan 1997 | JP |
09010442 | Jan 1997 | JP |
09010442 | Jan 1997 | JP |
9-28933 | Feb 1997 | JP |
09028933 | Feb 1997 | JP |
09028933 | Feb 1997 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20060189251 A1 | Aug 2006 | US |