Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6488560
-
Patent Number
6,488,560
-
Date Filed
Friday, October 1, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 3, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Banks; Derris H.
- Cegielnik; Urszula M
Agents
- Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 446 352
- 446 353
- 446 355
- 446 356
- 446 431
- 446 374
- 446 373
- 446 383
- 446 382
- 446 380
- 446 377
- 446 376
- 446 390
- 446 368
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A walking apparatus having an appearance similar to a real insect and capable of taking movements similar to those of a real insect is provided. A walking apparatus comprises a body and at least two of leg portions provided in the left and the right sides of the body. A power source and a plurality of gear wheels rotated by the power source are provided inside the body. The leg portions have rear parts mounted in the body, which are mounted in the rotational centers of the gear wheels and are made to be rotated on their axes. The leg portions can be bent and are formed such that they can retain the bent posture.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a walking apparatus such as an insect toy.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A known conventional walking apparatus, such as an insect toy is swingably provided with a front leg stick, a middle leg stick and a rear leg stick under its body, which are swung to advance by sliding the body on a walking surface as described in the published Japanese utility model application sho62-26144.
The conventional walking apparatus, such as an insect toy, has a problem of being unrealistic because it is swingably provided with a front leg stick, a middle leg stick and a rear leg stick under its body, whereas an actual insect has legs extending from its body. In addition, there is a problem that the conventional walking apparatus, such as an insect toy, cannot overcome even a small gap and stops because of its sliding movement, hence its movement is entirely different from that of an actual insect that can overcome such a gap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the deficiencies in the known apparatus, it is the object of the present invention to provide a walking apparatus capable of taking motions similar to those of an actual insect.
In order to attain the above and other objects, a walking apparatus in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention comprises:
(a) a body and at least two leg portions provided in the left and the right sides of the body respectively;
(b) a power source provided inside the body;
(c) the leg portions made rotatable on their axes by the power source inside the body; and
(d) the leg portions that can be bent and is formed such that the bent posture can be retained.
In order to attain the above and other objects, a walking apparatus in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention comprises:
(a) a body and at least two leg portions provided in the left and the right sides of the body respectively;
(b) a power source and a plurality of gear wheels rotated by the power source that are provided inside the body;
(c) the leg portions depressed into the body in their rear parts, mounted in the rotational centers of the gear wheels and made rotatable on their axes; and
(d) the leg portions that can be bent and is formed such that the bent posture can be retained.
In order to attain the above and other objects, a walking apparatus in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention further comprises contacting members formed of materials with high friction resistance attached on the top ends of the leg portions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an overall exploded perspective view of a walking apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an assembled perspective view of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is an assembled plan view of
FIG. 1
partially omitted;
FIG. 4
is a front sectional view of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 5
is a side elevational view describing motions of a walking apparatus;
FIG. 6
is an assembled plan view describing other mechanisms of
FIG. 3
; and
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of an appearance of a walking apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A walking apparatus embodying the present invention is now described based on FIG.
1
through
FIG. 4. A
walking apparatus
1
in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention comprises a body
2
and at least two of leg portions
31
through
36
provided in the left and the right of the body
2
. A power source
6
is provided inside the body
2
. The leg portions
31
through
36
are made so as to rotate on their axes by the power source
6
inside the body
2
. The leg portions
31
through
36
can be bent and are formed such that they can retain the bent posture.
When the top parts of the leg portions
31
through
36
touching a walking surface are slightly bent and the leg portions
31
through
36
are rotated forward on their axes by driving the power source
6
, the walking apparatus
1
in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention can proceed forward with the top parts revolving forward in the up and down directions. On the other hand, when the leg portions
31
through
36
are rotated backward on their axes by driving the power source
6
, the walking apparatus
1
moves backward with the top parts revolving backward. Since the walking apparatus
1
moves with the top parts of the leg shafts
31
through
36
that contact the walking surface, the body
2
also moves up and down and the walking apparatus
1
can move in a rhythmic fashion.
A walking apparatus
1
in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention comprises a body
2
and at least two of leg portions
31
through
36
provided in the left and the right sides of the body
2
. A power source
6
and a plurality of gear wheels
51
through
56
that are rotated by the power source
6
are provided inside the body
2
. The leg portions
31
through
36
have rear mounting parts inserted within the body
2
, which are mounted in the rotational centers of the gear wheels
51
through
56
and are made to be rotated on their axes. The leg portions
31
through
36
can be bent and are formed such that they can retain the bent posture.
When the top parts of the leg portions
31
through
36
touching the walking surface are slightly bent and the plurality of gear wheels
51
through
56
are rotated by driving the power source
6
, the leg portions
31
through
36
rotate forward on their axes and the walking apparatus
1
in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention can proceed forward with the top parts of the leg portions
31
through
36
revolving forward in the up and down directions. On the other hand, when the plurality of gear wheels
51
through
56
are rotated backward by driving the power source
6
, the leg portions
31
through
36
rotates backward on their axes and the walking apparatus
1
proceeds backward with the top parts revolving backward in the up and down directions. Since the walking apparatus
1
moves with the top parts of the leg shafts
31
through
36
that contact the walking surface, the body
2
also moves up and down and the walking apparatus
1
can move in a rhythmic fashion.
A walking apparatus
1
in accordance with the first and the seconds aspects of the present invention can easily overcome somewhat uneven surfaces in its walking direction because it moves with the top parts of the leg portions
31
through
36
revolving forward in the up and down directions. When a plurality of walking apparatuses
1
are put in one box, they make moves that are similar to those of a real insect as a result of getting on each other's back, which is extremely realistic. Further, the direction of movement of all the leg portions
31
through
36
can be changed, and the movement of the entire walking apparatus can be unpredictably interesting because the directions of bending the leg portions
31
through
36
can be freely changed.
The leg portions
31
through
36
may be attached substantially in parallel with the body
2
, but when they are attached as inclining downward from the body
2
, the appearance of the walking apparatus
1
is more like a real insect, and the body
2
does not touch the walking surface when walking. Further, the power source
6
is not limited to a driving motor, but a power spring, a flywheel and so on can be adopted as a power source. The power source
6
also is not limited to only to a single device but may include plural discrete power sources.
A walking apparatus in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention is assured to move on the walking surface without slipping because contacting members
61
through
66
formed of materials with high friction resistance are attached.
The above-mentioned walking apparatus is now further described below. A walking apparatus
1
in the form of an insect has a body
2
. The body
2
consists of a lower body frame
3
and an upper body frame
5
, which is attached to the lower body frame
3
by a screw
12
and so on, and is provided with a front body part
2
a,
which has narrower width toward the front direction, a middle body part
2
b
with fixed width and a rear body part
2
c
with narrower width toward the rear direction. A driving motor
6
is fixedly attached to the lower body frame
3
. A worm gear wheel
7
is fixedly attached to a driving shaft of the driving motor
6
.
A pair of bearing members
10
and
11
are mounted substantially in the middle of the lower body frame
3
, and a first middle shaft
13
and a second middle shaft
15
are rotatably attached between the pair of bearing members
10
and
11
. A small gear wheel
17
meeting with the worm gear wheel
7
is provided on the first middle shaft
13
. A spur gear wheel
19
meeting with the small gear wheel
17
and a small gear wheel
20
forming one body with the spur gear wheel
19
are provided on the second middle shaft
15
.
A transmission shaft
23
is rotatably attached to both side walls
21
and
22
of the middle body part
2
b
of the lower body frame
3
. The transmission shaft
23
is fixedly attached substantially in the middle of a super gear wheel
25
meeting with the small gear wheel
20
and is fixed to small gear wheels
26
and
27
at both ends.
Leg shafts
31
and
32
are rotatably attached to both sides of the front body part
2
a
of the lower body frame
3
. Leg shafts
33
and
34
are rotatably attached to both sides of the middle body part
2
b
of the lower body frame
3
. Leg shafts
35
and
36
are rotatably attached to both sides of the rear body part
2
c
of the lower body frame
3
. The leg shafts
31
through
36
can be bent and are formed of materials that can retain the bent posture, such as wire and plastic wire, and fixed with their rear parts inserted in tubular members
41
through
46
in cylindrical shape. Dependent gear wheels
51
through
56
are solidly provided in the housings
41
through
46
. Contacting members
61
through
66
are tubular in shape with a bottom plate made of a material having high friction resistance, such as rubber, are insertedly attached to the top parts of the leg shafts
31
through
36
.
The leg shafts
31
and
32
have the tubular members
41
and
42
rotatably borne by bearing portions
71
and
72
formed on both side walls
29
and
30
of the front body part
2
a
of the lower body frame
3
and the rear end parts
81
and
82
of the leg shafts
31
and
32
protruding from the dependent gear wheels
51
and
52
rotatably borne by bearing chips
91
and
92
. Since the bearing position of the bearing chips
91
and
92
is set to be higher than the bearing portions
71
and
72
, the leg shafts
31
and
32
incline downward against the body
2
.
The leg shafts
33
and
34
have tubular members
43
and
44
rotatably born by bearing portions
73
and
74
formed in both side walls
21
and
22
of the middle body part
2
b
of the lower body frame
3
and rear end parts
83
and
84
of the leg shafts
33
and
34
protruding from the dependent gear wheels
53
and
54
rotatably borne by bearing chips
93
and
94
. Since the bearing position of the bearing chips
93
and
94
is set to be higher than the bearing portions
73
and
74
, the leg shafts
33
and
34
incline downward against the body
2
.
The leg shafts
35
and
36
have tubular members
45
and
46
rotatably born by bearing portions
75
and
76
formed in both side walls
38
and
39
of the middle body part
2
c
of the lower body frame
3
and rear end parts
85
and
86
of the leg shafts
35
and
36
protruding from the dependent gear wheels
55
and
56
rotatably borne by bearing chips
95
and
96
. Since the bearing position of the bearing chips
95
and
96
is set to be higher than the bearing portions
75
and
76
, the leg shafts
35
and
36
incline downward against the body
2
.
Since both the side walls
29
and
30
of the front body part
2
a
of the lower body frame
3
incline inwardly against both the side walls
21
and
22
of the middle body part
2
b,
the leg shafts
31
and
32
incline away from the leg shafts
33
and
34
toward their top ends. Further, since both the side walls
38
and
39
of the rear body part
2
c
of the lower body frame
3
incline inwardly against both the side walls
21
and
22
of the middle body part
2
b,
the leg shafts
35
and
36
incline away from the leg shafts
33
and
34
toward their top ends.
The dependent gear wheels
51
and
52
of the leg shafts
31
and
32
and the dependent gear wheels
53
and
54
of the leg shafts
33
and
34
meet with the small gear wheels
26
and
27
of the transmission shaft
23
. Further, the dependent gear wheels
53
and
54
of the leg shafts
33
and
34
and the dependent gear wheels
55
and
56
of the leg shafts
35
and
36
meet with middle small gear wheels
47
and
48
. Rotational shafts
49
and
50
of the middle small gear wheels
47
and
48
are rotatably attached to the side walls
21
and
22
of the middle body part
2
b
of the lower body frame
3
and bearing chips
57
and
58
.
The first middle shaft
13
, the second middle shaft
15
, the transmission shaft
23
, rear end parts
81
through
86
of the leg shafts
31
through
36
, the tubular members
41
through
46
and the rotational shafts
49
and
51
, all rotatably attached to the lower body frame
3
, are pressed by protrusions
97
and
98
mounted on the upper body frame
5
and surrounding wall
99
.
A battery box
8
housing a battery
4
is provided in the upper part of the upper body frame
5
, and the battery box
8
and the driving motor
6
are electrically connected through a switch
9
, but the battery
4
may be a button battery housed inside the body
2
.
In the above-described walking apparatus
1
in the form of an insect toy, the driving motor
6
is driven when the switch
9
is turned on, and the driving motor
6
is stopped when the switch
9
is turned off. The top ends of the leg shafts
31
through
36
touching the walking surface are slightly bent. When the switch
9
is turned on and the driving motor
6
is driven, the worm gear wheel
7
rotates. The rotation of the worm gear wheel
7
is transmitted to the transmission shaft
23
through the small gear wheel
17
, the spur gear wheel
19
, the small gear wheel
20
and the spur gear wheel
25
meeting with the worm gear wheel
7
and causes the small gear wheels
26
and
27
on both ends of the transmission shaft
23
to rotate.
The rotations of the small gear wheels
26
and
27
are transmitted to the leg shafts
31
and
32
through the dependent gear wheels
51
and
52
, the leg shafts
31
and
32
rotate forward on their axes and the top parts of the leg shafts
31
and
32
revolve forward in the up and down directions. Further, the rotations of the small gear wheels
26
and
27
are transmitted to the leg shafts
33
and
34
through the dependent gear wheels
53
and
54
, the leg shafts
33
and
34
rotate forward on their axes and the top parts of the leg shafts
33
and
34
revolve forward in the up and down directions.
Moreover, the rotations of the dependent gear wheels
53
and
54
are transmitted to the leg shafts
35
and
36
through the middle small gear wheels
47
and
48
and the dependent gear wheels
55
and
56
, the leg shafts
35
and
36
rotate forward on their axes and the top parts of the leg shafts
35
and
36
revolve forward in the up and down directions. Thus, when the leg shafts
31
through
36
are caused to rotate forward on their axes, the top parts of the leg shafts revolve forward in the up and down directions, and the walking apparatus
1
proceeds forward. Since the walking apparatus
1
moves with the top parts of the leg shafts
31
through
36
that contact the walking surface, the body
2
also moves up and down and the walking apparatus
1
can move rhythmically. Since the contacting members
61
through
66
formed of materials with high friction resistance are attached to the top ends of the leg shafts
31
through
36
, the walking apparatus
1
can move on the walking surface without slipping.
Since the walking apparatus
1
moves with the top parts of the leg shafts
31
through
36
revolving in the up and down directions, it can easily overcome a projected part
90
on its way as shown in FIG.
5
. When a plurality of walking apparatuses
1
are put in one box, they make moves that are similar to that of a real insect as a result of getting on each other's back, which is extremely realistic. Further, the directions of movements of all the leg portions
31
to
36
can be changed, and the movement of the entire walking apparatus can be unpredictably interesting because the directions of bending the leg portions
31
to
36
can be freely changed.
The leg shafts
31
through
36
of the walking apparatus
1
are attached as inclining downward from the body
2
, such that the appearance of the walking apparatus
1
is more like a real insect, and the body
2
does not touch the walking surface when walking. Further, the power source
6
is not limited to a driving motor, but a power spring, a flywheel and so on can be adopted as a power source.
Moreover, the power source
6
is not limited to only one but may be plural. For example, as shown in
FIG. 6
, middle small gear wheels
67
and
68
meeting with the dependent gear wheels
51
and
52
and the dependent gear wheels
53
and
54
are provided between the dependent gear wheels
51
and
52
of the leg shafts
31
and
32
and the dependent gear wheels
53
and
54
of the leg shafts
33
and
34
, and rotational shafts
69
and
70
of the middle small gear wheels
67
and
68
are rotatably attached to the side walls
21
and
22
of the middle body part
2
b
of the lower body frame and bearing chips
77
and
78
. One of the gear wheels of the left line of gear wheels, for example, the dependent gear wheel
56
is met with the driving small gear wheel
7
a
of the driving motor
6
a
fixedly attached to the lower body frame
3
. Further, one of the gear wheels of the right line of gear wheels, for example, the dependent gear wheel
51
, is met with the driving small gear wheel
7
b
of the driving motor
6
b
fixedly attached to the lower body frame
3
.
The walking apparatus
1
structured as above can simultaneously rotate the left leg shafts
32
,
34
and
36
by the one driving motor
6
a
and can simultaneously rotate the right leg shafts
31
,
33
and
35
by the other driving motor
6
b.
The walking apparatus
1
proceeds forward or backward in the same manner as described above when the driving motors
6
a
and
6
b
are rotated positively or reversibly in the same direction. Further, the walking apparatus
1
can change its direction because, when only the one driving motor
6
a
is driven, only the left leg shafts
32
,
34
and
36
simultaneously rotate and when only the other driving motor
6
b
is driven, the right leg shafts
31
,
33
and
35
simultaneously rotate. Moreover, the walking apparatus
1
instantly turns over because, when the one driving motor
6
a
and the other driving motor
6
b
are driven in different rotational direction, the rotational direction of the left leg shafts
32
,
34
and
36
and the rotational direction of the right leg shafts
31
,
33
and
35
are different. Thus, the walking apparatus
1
has a wider range of movements and can be closer to a real insect's motions when a plurality of driving motors are provided.
The shape of the body
2
of the walking apparatus
1
is not specifically limited, but various shapes may be adopted. For example, as shown in
FIG. 7
, the shape of a body
102
is formed in the shape of a beetle, a driving motor and a button battery are contained in the body
102
and leg shafts
111
through
116
rotated by the driving motor are provided in the lower side of the body
102
, which make the walking apparatus
101
in the shape of a beetle. The shape may be that of a grasshopper, a green caterpillar and so on.
The walking apparatus according to the first and second aspects of the present invention has the effect that it has a shape similar to a real insect because it is provided with leg portions extending from inside the body. It also has the effect that it can move rhythmically like a real insect because it moves with the top parts of the leg portions contacting the walking surface while the body moves up and down. Further, it can easily overcome uneven surfaces in its way because it walks with the top parts of the leg portions taking such motions as revolving in the up and down directions. When a plurality of walking apparatuses are put in one box, they make moves that are similar to that of a real insect as a result of getting on each other's back, which is extremely realistic. Moreover, the directions of movements of all the leg portions can be changed and the movement of the entire walking apparatus can be unpredictably interesting because the directions of bending the leg portions can be freely changed.
The walking apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention has the effect that it can move on the walking surface without slipping because contacting members formed of a material with high friction resistance are attached at the top of the leg portions.
Thus, it is seen that a walking apparatus is provided. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the preferred embodiments which are presented for the purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow:
Claims
- 1. A walking toy comprising:a body and at least two leg portions provided in the left and right sides of the body respectively; a power source provided inside said body; said leg portions made rotatable by the power source inside said body, each of said leg portions being coupled to a respective gear wheel having a respective axis of rotation, each of said leg portions and the respective gear wheel rotating around the respective axis of rotation; said leg portions are rotatably borne by bearing portions and bearing chips, wherein the bearing position of the bearing chips is set to be higher than the bearing portions so that the leg portions incline downward against the body.
- 2. A walking toy according to claim 1, wherein said leg portions are bendable and formed of a material that can retain a bent posture.
- 3. A walking toy comprising:a body and at least two leg portions provided in the left and right sides of the body respectively; a power source and a plurality of gear wheels rotated by the power source, the power source and a plurality of gear wheels provided inside the body; each of said leg portions having a bottom portion and top portion, the top portion mounted within said body on a respective one of said gear wheels at the rotational center of the gear wheel; said leg portions are rotatably borne by bearing portions and bearing chips, wherein the bearing position of the bearing chips is set to be higher than the bearing portions so that the leg portions incline downward against the body.
- 4. A walking toy according to claim 3, wherein said leg portions are bendable and formed of a material that can retain a bent posture.
- 5. A walking toy according to claim 1, wherein each of said leg portions includes a top end and further comprising contacting members formed of materials with high friction resistance attached on the top end of each of said leg portions.
- 6. A walking toy according to claim 2, wherein each of said leg portions includes a top end and further comprising contacting members formed of materials with high friction resistance attached on the top end of each of said leg portions.
- 7. A walking toy according to claim 3, wherein each of said leg portions includes a top end and further comprising contacting members formed of materials with high friction resistance attached on the top end of each of said leg portions.
- 8. A walking toy according to claim 4, wherein each of said leg portions includes a top end and further comprising contacting members formed of materials with high friction resistance attached on the top end of each of said leg portions.
- 9. A walking toy comprising:a body having a left side and a right side; at least two leg portions, each leg portion having a mounting portion, at least one said leg portion being in the left side of the body and at least one leg portion being in the right side of the body; and a power source provided inside said body and a plurality of gear wheels rotatably engaged by the power source provided inside said body, wherein the respective mounting portion of each leg portion is mounted in said body in the rotational center of a respective gear wheel and thereby made rotatable, and wherein said leg portions are rotatably borne by bearing portions and bearing chips, wherein the bearing position of the bearing chips is set to be higher than the bearing portions so that the leg portions incline downward against the body.
- 10. A walking toy according to claim 9, wherein said leg portions are bendable and formed of a material that can be retain a bent posture.
- 11. A walking toy of claim 1, wherein all of the leg portions are bent slightly and the walking toy crawls on the floor.
- 12. A walking toy of claim 2, wherein all of the leg portions are bent slightly and the walking toy crawls on the floor.
- 13. A walking toy of claim 3, wherein all of the leg portions are bent slightly and the walking toy crawls on the floor.
- 14. A walking toy of claim 4, wherein all of the leg portions are bent slightly and the walking toy crawls on the floor.
- 15. A walking toy of claim 9, wherein all of the leg portions are bent slightly and the walking toy crawls on the floor.
- 16. A walking toy of claim 10, wherein all of the leg portions are bent slightly and the walking toy crawls on the floor.
- 17. A walking toy of claim 1, wherein one set of the leg portions are bent deeply and other leg portions are bent slightly and the walking toy moves up and down in a rhythmic fashion.
- 18. A walking toy of claim 2, wherein one set of the leg portions are bent deeply and other leg portions are bent slightly and the walking toy moves up and down in a rhythmic fashion.
- 19. A walking toy of claim 3, wherein one set of the leg portions are bent deeply and other leg portions are bent-slightly and the walking toy moves up and down in a rhythmic fashion.
- 20. A walking toy of claim 4, wherein one set of the leg portions are bent deeply and other leg portions are bent slightly and the walking toy moves up and down in a rhythmic fashion.
- 21. A walking toy of claim 9, wherein one set of the leg portions are bent deeply and other leg portions are bent slightly and the walking toy moves up and down in a rhythmic fashion.
- 22. A walking toy of claim 10, wherein one set of the leg portions are bent deeply and other leg portions are bent slightly and the walking toy moves up and down in a rhythmic fashion.
- 23. A walking toy of claim 1, wherein the leg portions are bent at an angle that varies for each leg portion and the walking toy moves with unpredicted motion.
- 24. A walking toy of claim 2, wherein the leg portions are bent at an angle that varies for each leg portion and the walking toy moves with unpredicted motion.
- 25. A walking toy of claim 3, wherein the leg portions are bent at an angle that varies for each leg portion and the walking toy moves with unpredicted motion.
- 26. A walking toy of claim 4, wherein the leg portions are bent at an angle that varies for each leg portion and the walking toy moves with unpredicted motion.
- 27. A walking toy of claim 9, wherein the leg portions are bent at an angle that varies for each leg portion and the walking toy moves with unpredicted motion.
- 28. A walking toy of claim 10, wherein the leg portions are bent at an angle that varies for each leg portion and the walking toy moves with unpredicted motion.
Priority Claims (2)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
| 10-288210 |
Oct 1998 |
JP |
|
| 11-237081 |
Aug 1999 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (7)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 34-527 |
Jan 1959 |
JP |
| 50-8702 |
Mar 1975 |
JP |
| 58-8701 |
Mar 1975 |
JP |
| SHO62-26144 |
Jul 1987 |
JP |
| 3-49745 |
Oct 1991 |
JP |
| 5-86392 |
Nov 1993 |
JP |
| 3023614 |
Feb 1996 |
JP |
