Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6238264
-
Patent Number
6,238,264
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, November 16, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 29, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 446 353
- 446 356
- 446 368
- 446 377
- 446 390
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A walking apparatus 1 that is capable of making movements close to a real insect has an apparatus body 2 provided with a power source 35. The apparatus body 2 is provided with at least two of rotating members 75, 61, 45 and 61 in its left and right sides. Through holes 53, 71 and 83 to which leg portions 105, 106 and 107 are rotatably and slidably mounted are formed in the rotating members 45, 61 and 75. The through holes 53, 71 and 83 are provided obliquely with respect to rotational axial lines S1 of the rotating members 45, 61 and 75. Guiding grooves 103 for guiding rear end parts 121, 122 and 123 of the leg portions 105, 106 and 107 extending from inner openings 55, 72 and 85 of the rotating members 45, 61 and 75 by not allowing the leg portions 105, 106 and 107 to rotate on their axes are formed in the apparatus body 2. The rotating members 45, 61 and 75 are rotated by the power source 35.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a walking apparatus that is used for a toy such as an insect toy.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known a conventional insect toy that is swingably provided with a front leg stick, a middle leg stick and a rear leg stick under its body, which are swung to slidingly advance the body on a walking surface as described in Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. Sho 62-26144.
The conventional insect toy has a problem of lacking realism 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 a conventional insect toy can not overcome even a small gap and stops because it slidingly proceeds. Hence, its movement is entirely different from that of an actual insect that can overcome and proceed through such a gap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described drawbacks, and therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a walking apparatus having a shape similar to that of an actual insect and capable of making movements similar to those of an actual insect.
In order to attain the above-described object, a walking apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is comprised of: an apparatus body provided with a power source; at least two rotating members provided on each of the left and the right sides of the apparatus body; a through hole formed in the rotating member; the through hole being provided obliquely with respect to a rotational axial line of the rotating member, and being formed to connect an inner opening and an outer opening, the inner opening being formed toward the center of the inner side surface of the rotating member and the outer opening being formed toward the circumference of the outer side surface of the rotating member; a leg portion rotatably and slidably mounted to the through hole of the rotating member; a guiding groove for slidably guiding a rear end part of the leg portion protruding from the inner opening of the rotating member formed in the apparatus body thereby preventing the leg portion from turning on its axis; and the rotating member that rotates by the power source.
In order to attain the above-described object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in a walking apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the guiding groove is formed substantially parallel with the rotational axial line of the rotating member, and the leg portion includes a rear part protruding from the inner opening of the rotating member to be bent and a rear end part guided slidably into the guiding groove.
In order to attain the above-described object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in a walking apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus body includes a bottom wall and side walls provided in the left and the right of the bottom wall, each of the left and the right side walls includes at least two rotating members, and the guiding groove is formed in the bottom wall.
A walking apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention has two power sources described above, one of which rotates the rotating member in one of the side walls and the other power source rotates the rotating member in the other side wall. A walking apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention has a gear wheel as a rotating member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1
is an overall perspective view of a walking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view of
FIG. 1
partially omitted;
FIG. 3
is an exploded perspective view of the main part of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a front sectional view of
FIG. 1
;
FIGS.
5
(
a
) and (
b
) are principle explanatory views of a walking apparatus;
FIGS.
6
(
a
) and (
b
) are principle explanatory views of a walking apparatus;
FIGS.
7
(
a
) and (
b
) are principle explanatory views of a walking apparatus;
FIGS.
8
(
a
) and (
b
) are principle explanatory views of a walking apparatus; and
FIG. 9
is an overall perspective view of a toy to which a walking apparatus is applied.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A walking apparatus embodying the present invention is now described with reference to FIG.
1
through FIG.
4
.
FIG. 1
is an overall perspective view of a walking apparatus according to embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view of
FIG. 1
partially omitted.
FIG. 3
is an exploded perspective view of the main part of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a front sectional view of FIG.
1
.
A walking apparatus
1
according to a first aspect of the present invention has an apparatus body
2
provided with a power source
35
. At least two of rotating members
75
,
61
,
45
and
61
are provided on each of the left and the right sides of the apparatus body
2
. Through holes
53
,
71
and
83
are formed in the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
. The through holes
53
,
71
and
83
are provided obliquely with respect to rotational axial lines S
1
of the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
and are formed to connect inner openings
55
,
72
and
85
formed toward the center of inner surfaces
48
,
66
and
78
of the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
and outer openings
56
,
73
and
86
formed toward the circumference of outer surfaces
47
,
63
and
77
of the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
.
Leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
are rotatably and slidably mounted to the through holes
53
,
71
and
83
of the rotating member
45
,
61
and
75
. Guiding grooves
103
are formed in the apparatus body
2
for slidably guiding rear end parts
121
,
122
and
123
of the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
protruding from the inner opening
55
,
72
and
85
of the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
such that the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
do not rotate on its axis. The rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
are rotated by the power source
35
.
The walking apparatus
1
according to the first aspect of the present invention has the above-described structure and can change the direction of rotation of the through holes
53
,
71
and
83
of the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
with ease. In the embodiment, the direction of the through hole
83
of the rotating member
75
in the front portion on the left side and the direction of the through hole
71
of the rotating member
61
in the rear part on the right side are made in the same manner, the direction of the through hole
53
of the rotating member
45
in the front portion on the right side and the direction of the through holes
71
of the rotating member
61
in the rear part on the left side are made the same, and the direction of the through hole
83
of the rotating member
75
in the front portion on the left side and the direction of the through hole
53
of the rotating member
45
in the front portion on the right side, facing each other, are made opposite and the direction of the through hole
71
of the rotating member
61
in the rear part of the left side and the direction of the through hole
71
of the rotating member
61
in the rear part of the right side are made opposite.
In the walking apparatus
1
, when the power source
35
is activated, at least two of the rotating members
75
,
61
,
45
and
61
provided on the left and the right sides of the apparatus body
2
rotate. The leg portions
107
,
106
,
105
and
106
, supported with the through holes
83
,
71
,
53
and
71
, rotate about the rotational axial lines S
1
of the rotating members
75
,
61
,
45
and
61
by the rotation of the rotating members
75
,
61
,
45
and
61
. Front end parts
127
,
126
,
125
and
126
of the leg portions
107
,
106
,
105
and
106
rotate widely up and down because the through holes
83
,
71
,
53
and
71
are oblique with respect to the rotational axial lines S
1
of the rotating members
75
,
61
,
45
and
61
.
When the front end parts
127
and
126
of the leg portion
107
in the front portion on the left side and the leg portion
106
in the rear part on the right side touch a walking surface, the front end parts
125
and
126
of the leg portion
105
in the front portion on the right side and the leg portion
106
in the rear part on the left side move away from the walking surface, and when the front end parts
125
and
126
of the leg portion
105
in the front portion on the right side and the leg portion
106
in the rear part on the left side touch the walking surface, the front end parts
127
and
126
of the leg portion
107
in the front portion on the left side and the leg portion
106
in the rear part on the right side move away from the walking surface, thereby at least two legs touch the walking surface in turn and the apparatus walks. The front end parts
125
,
126
and
127
of the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
always face downward because the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
are made not to rotate on its axis by the guiding grooves
103
. Further, although two legs are herein explained as provided on each of the left and the right sides, it is preferable to provide three legs on each of the left and the right sides.
A walking apparatus
1
according to a second aspect of the present invention is formed such that the guiding grooves
103
are substantially parallel with the rotational axial lines S
1
of the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
. The rear parts
110
,
111
and
112
of the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
protrude from the inner openings
55
,
72
and
85
of the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
and are bent, and the rear end parts
121
,
122
and
123
are slidably guided into the guiding grooves
103
.
When the guiding grooves
103
are formed such that they are substantially parallel with the rotational axial lines S
1
of the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
, although properly changeable, the rear end parts
121
,
122
and
123
of the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
slide into the guiding grooves
103
smoothly because the rotational centers of the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
are always above the guiding grooves
103
.
A walking apparatus
1
according to a third aspect of the present invention has the apparatus body
2
comprising a bottom wall
3
and side walls
10
provided on the left and the right sides of the bottom wall
3
. At least two of the rotating members
75
,
61
,
45
and
61
are provided in each of the left and the right side walls
10
. The guiding grooves
103
are formed in the bottom wall
3
.
The walking apparatus
1
according to the third aspect of the present invention has a space
3
a
between the side walls
10
because the leg portions
107
,
106
,
105
and
106
are attached to the rotating members
75
,
61
,
45
and
61
of the left and the right side walls
10
, and the space
3
a can be utilized to incorporate electric parts such as batteries and circuit substrates.
A walking apparatus
1
according to a fourth aspect of the present invention has two power sources
35
, and the one power source
35
rotates the rotating members
75
and
61
of the one side wall
10
and the other power source
35
rotates the rotating members
45
and
61
of the other side wall
10
.
When both the power sources
35
are activated simultaneously to rotate regularly the rotating members
75
and
61
of the one side wall
10
and the rotating members
45
and
61
of the other side wall
10
to the same direction, a walking apparatus
1
according to the fourth aspect of the present invention walks forward, and when to rotate them reversedly to the same direction, the apparatus walks backward. Also, when both the power sources
35
are activated simultaneously to rotate the rotating members
75
and
61
of the one side wall
10
and the rotating members
45
and
61
of the other side wall
10
to the different directions, the apparatus turns over quickly in its position. Moreover, when the one power source
35
is activated to rotate only the rotating members
75
and
61
of the one side wall
10
, the apparatus rotates about the front end parts
125
and
126
of the leg portions
105
and
106
of the other side wall
10
.
A walking apparatus
1
according to a fifth aspect of the present invention has gear wheels
22
,
25
and
27
as the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
. The rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
may be anything that can be rotated by the power source
35
, and therefore they may be friction wheels or chain sprockets. However, power is efficiently transmitted from the power source to the rotating members if they are gear wheels
22
,
25
and
27
.
An embodiment of a walking apparatus according to the present invention is now further described in detail with reference to FIG.
1
through FIG.
9
.
FIG. 1
is an overall perspective view of a walking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view of
FIG. 1
partially omitted.
FIG. 3
is an exploded perspective view of the main part of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a front sectional view of FIG.
1
. FIGS.
5
(
a
) through
8
(
b
) are principle explanatory views of a walking apparatus.
FIG. 9
is an overall perspective view of a toy to which a walking apparatus is applied.
A walking apparatus
1
has an apparatus body
2
. The apparatus body
2
comprises a bottom wall
3
and side walls
10
provided on both of the left and the right sides of the bottom wall
3
. A side wall
10
consists of a frame member
11
in which a housing recess
12
is formed and a covering member
15
attached to the frame member
11
by a screw
13
, etc. such that the covering member
15
shuts up the housing recess
12
.
A driving gear wheel
21
, a first rotating gear wheel
22
for gearing with the driving gear wheel
21
, a first supporting gear wheel
23
for gearing with the first rotating gear wheel
22
, a second rotating gear wheel
25
for gearing with the first supporting gear wheel
23
, a second supporting gear wheel
26
for gearing with the second rotating gear wheel
25
and a third rotating gear wheel
27
for gearing with the second supporting gear wheel
26
are rotatably provided in the housing recess
12
.
The driving gear wheel
21
is provided with a rotational shaft (not shown) on one of its sides and a protrusion
32
in which a fitting groove
31
in a substantially cross shape is formed on the other side. The rotational shaft (not shown) of the driving gear wheel
21
is rotatably supported by a bearing hole
33
of the covering member
15
. A fitting protrusion
36
in a substantially cross shape attached to an outputting shaft of a driving motor
35
is detachably fitted with the fitting groove
31
of the driving gear wheel
21
.
The driving motor
35
is provided with a reduction gear
37
in its front part and a fitting protrusion
36
in an outputting shaft of the reduction gear
37
. A case
39
of the reduction gear
37
is protrudingly provided with attaching members
40
on both its sides. The driving motor
35
is fixed to the frame member
11
with the attaching members
40
being attached to attaching shafts
41
provided in the frame member
11
by screws
43
. The fitting protrusion
36
of the driving motor
35
passes through a hole
16
formed in the frame member
11
and fits with the fitting groove
31
of the driving gear wheel
21
as described above.
The first rotating gear wheel
22
comprises a rotating member
45
in conical shape and teeth
46
formed on the circumference of the rotating member
45
. The first rotating gear wheel
22
is rotatably mounted in the side wall
10
with an outer side surface
47
side of the rotating member
45
being rotatably supported by a first outer bearing hole
51
formed in the covering member
15
and an inner side surface
48
side of the rotating member
45
being rotatably supported by a first inner bearing hole
52
formed in the frame member
11
.
A through hole
53
is formed in the rotating member
45
. The through hole
53
is formed obliquely with respect to rotational axial line S
1
of the rotating member
45
and is formed to connect an inner opening
55
formed toward the center of the inner surface
48
of the rotating member
45
and an outer opening
56
formed toward the circumference of the outer surface
47
of the rotating member
45
.
The second rotating gear wheel
25
also comprises a rotating member
61
in conical shape and teeth
62
formed on the circumference of the rotating member
61
. The second rotating gear wheel
25
is rotatably mounted in the side wall
10
with an outer side surface
63
side of the rotating member
61
being rotatably supported by a second outer bearing hole
65
formed in the covering member
15
and an inner side surface
66
side of the rotating member
61
being rotatably supported by a second inner bearing hole
67
formed in the frame member
11
.
A through hole
71
is formed in the rotating member
61
. The through hole
71
is formed obliquely with respect to a rotational axial line S
1
of the rotating member
61
and is formed to connect an inner opening
72
formed toward the center of the inner surface
66
of the rotating member
61
and an outer opening
73
formed toward the circumference of the outer surface
63
of the rotating member
61
.
The third rotating gear wheel
27
comprises a rotating member
75
in conical shape and teeth
76
formed on the circumference surface of the rotating member
75
. The third rotating gear wheel
27
is rotatably mounted in the side wall
10
with an outer side surface
77
side of the rotating member
75
being rotatably supported by a third outer bearing hole
81
formed in the covering member
15
and an inner side surface
78
side of the rotating member
75
being rotatably supported by a third inner bearing hole
82
formed in the frame member
11
.
A through hole
83
is formed in the rotating member
75
. The through hole
83
is formed obliquely with respect to a rotational axial line S
1
of the rotating member
75
and is formed to connect an inner opening
85
formed toward the center of the inner surface
78
of the rotating member
75
and an outer opening
86
formed toward the circumference of the outer surface
77
of the rotating member
75
.
The first supporting gear wheel
23
is attached to a supporting shaft
87
and is rotatably mounted in the side wall
10
with the supporting shaft
87
being rotatably supported by a first bearing hole
88
formed in the covering member
15
and a second bearing hole
89
formed in the frame member
11
. The second supporting gear wheel
26
is also attached to a supporting shaft
90
and is rotatably mounted in the side wall
10
with the supporting shaft
90
being rotatably supported by a third bearing hole
91
formed in the covering member
15
and a fourth bearing hole
92
formed in the frame member
11
. Engaging protrusions
95
in rectangular shape are mounted with a predetermined interval at the lower end of the frame member
11
.
Engaging holes
96
in rectangular shape for engaging the engaging protrusions
95
of the side wall
10
are formed in the left and the right sides of the bottom wall
3
. The side wall
10
is positioned by engaging the engaging protrusions
95
in the engaging holes
96
of the bottom wall
3
and is fixed to the bottom wall
3
by a screw
97
. Further, the side walls
10
to be fixed to both sides of the bottom wall
3
are mounted such that a driving motor
35
is inside the walls and driving motors
35
are placed in the front and the rear of the bottom wall
3
.
Long holes
101
are formed on both sides of the bottom wall
3
and substantially the center between the engaging holes
96
, and guiding protrusions
102
in substantially the shape of a letter U are formed in the circumference of the long holes
101
toward the center of the bottom wall
3
. Guiding grooves
103
are formed by the guiding protrusions
102
and the long holes
101
. The guiding grooves
103
are substantially perpendicular with the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
and are formed substantially parallel with each other right below the rotational axial lines S
1
of the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
.
Leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
formed of wires are slidably and rotatably mounted in the through holes
53
,
71
and
83
of the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
. Rear parts
110
,
111
and
112
of the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
protrude from the inner openings
55
,
72
and
85
of the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
and are bent in substantially a right angle, and the rear end parts
121
,
122
and
123
are slidably guided to the guiding grooves
103
. The leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
protruding from the outer openings
56
,
73
and
86
of the rotating members
45
,
61
and
75
are bent substantially at their centers, and foot plates
115
,
116
and
117
in circular shape are attached to the front end parts
125
,
126
and
127
.
The walking apparatus
1
has the above-mentioned structure, and the direction of the through hole
53
of the first rotating gear wheel
22
and the direction of the through holes
83
of the third rotating gear wheel
27
are the same and the direction of the through hole
71
of the second rotating gear wheel
25
and the direction of the through hole
53
of the first rotating gear wheel
22
are made the opposite, and mounted in the side walls
10
. Further, the direction of the through hole
53
of the first rotating gear wheel
22
, the direction of the through hole
71
of the second rotating gear wheel
25
and the direction of the through hole
83
of the third rotating gear wheel
27
can be easily changed by changing the position where the teeth
46
,
62
and
76
are geared.
The direction of a through hole for gear wheels facing each other in the side walls
10
mounted on the left and the right sides of the walking apparatus
1
can be easily adjusted by driving one of the driving motors
35
. In this embodiment, The directions of through holes for gear wheels facing each other in the side walls
10
mounted on the left and the right sides of the walking apparatus
1
are made opposite by driving one of the driving motors
35
. That is to say, the direction of the through hole
53
of the first rotating gear wheel
22
on the right side and the direction of the through hole
83
of the third rotating gear wheel
27
on the left side are made opposite, the direction of the through hole
71
of the second rotating gear wheel
25
on the right side and the direction of the through hole
71
of the second rotating gear wheel
25
on the left side are made opposite and the direction of the through hole
83
of the third rotating gear wheel
27
on the right side and the direction of the through hole
53
of the first rotating gear wheel
22
on the left side are made opposite.
The driving motor
35
in the front and the driving motor
35
in the rear are driven simultaneously to the different directions. When the driving motor
35
in the front is driven regularly, the fitting protrusion
36
rotates regularly via the reduction gear
37
and the first rotating gear wheel
22
rotates reversedly via the fitting groove
31
and the driving gear wheel
21
. When the first rotating gear wheel
22
rotates reversedly, the second rotating gear wheel
25
rotates reversedly via the first supporting gear wheel
23
. When the second rotating gear wheel
25
rotates reversedly, the third rotating gear wheel
27
rotates reversedly via the second supporting gear wheel
26
.
Similarly, when the driving motor
35
in the rear is driven reversedly, the fitting protrusion
36
rotates reversedly via the reduction gear
37
and the first rotating gear wheel
22
rotates regularly via the fitting groove
31
and the driving gear wheel
21
. When the first rotating gear wheel
22
rotates regularly, the second rotating gear wheel
25
rotates regularly via the first supporting gear wheel
23
. When the second rotating gear wheel
25
rotates regularly, the third rotating gear wheel
27
rotates regularly via the second supporting gear wheel
26
.
Since the side walls
10
are mounted opposite each other, the first rotating gear wheel
22
on the right side and the third rotating gear wheel
27
on the left side, the second rotating gear wheel
25
on the right side and the second rotating gear wheel
25
on the left side, and the third rotating gear wheel
27
on the right side and the first rotating gear wheel
22
on the left side, facing each other respectively, rotate in the same direction.
When the first rotating gear wheel
22
rotates, the rotating member
45
and the through hole
53
rotate about the rotational axial line S
1
of the rotating member
45
. Therefore, the leg portion
105
mounted in the through hole
53
also rotates about the rotational axial line S
1
of the rotating member
45
. Since the leg portion
105
has the rear end part
121
of the bent rear part
110
that is slidably guided to the guiding groove
103
, it does not rotate on its axis but rotates with the foot plate
115
always in the lower side.
Movement of the leg portion
105
is now described with reference to the principle explanatory views of FIGS.
5
(
a
) through
8
(
b
). FIG.
5
(
a
) is a side sectional view of the leg portion
105
when it is in the top position, and FIG.
5
(
b
) is a plan sectional view showing the leg portion
105
in FIG.
5
(
a
) viewed from the above. Here, the foot plate
115
is in a state where it is most distant from the walking surface and the rear end part
121
of the rear part
110
is in the left side of the guiding groove
103
.
FIG.
6
(
a
) is a side sectional view of the leg portion
105
turned substantially 90 degrees to one direction from the position in FIG.
5
(
a
), and FIG.
6
(
b
) is a plan sectional view showing the leg portion
105
in FIG.
6
(
a
) viewed from the above. Here, the foot plate
115
is in a state where it is moved forward and the rear end part
121
of the rear part
110
is in substantially the middle of the guiding groove
103
.
FIG.
7
(
a
) is a side sectional view of the leg portion
105
turned substantially 90 degrees to one direction from the position in FIG.
6
(
a
), and FIG.
7
(
b
) is a plan sectional view showing the leg portion
105
in FIG.
7
(
a
) viewed from the above. Here, the foot plate
115
is in the state where it touches the walking surface and the rear end part
121
of the rear part
110
is in the right of the guiding groove
103
.
FIG.
8
(
a
) is a side sectional view of the leg portion
105
turned substantially 90 degrees to one direction from the position in FIG.
7
(
a
), and FIG.
8
(
b
) is a plan sectional view showing the leg portion
105
in FIG.
8
(
a
) viewed from the above. Here, the foot plate
115
is in the state where it is moved backward and the rear end part
121
of the rear part
110
is in substantially the middle of the guiding groove
103
.
The rotating members
61
and
75
rotate because the second rotating gear wheel
25
and the third rotating gear wheel
27
also rotate, and the through holes
71
and
83
rotate about the rotational axial lines S
1
of the rotating members
61
and
75
. Therefore, the leg portions
106
and
107
supported in the through holes
71
and
83
also rotate about the rotational axial lines S
1
of the rotating members
71
and
83
as the leg portion
105
rotates, as described above.
As mentioned above, the direction of rotation of the through hole
53
of the first rotating gear wheel
22
and the direction of the through hole
83
of the third rotating gear wheel
27
are the same. The direction of the through hole
71
of the second rotating gear wheel
25
and the direction of the through hole
53
of the first rotating gear wheel
22
are the opposite. The direction of the through hole
53
of the first rotating gear wheel
22
on the right side and the direction of the through hole
83
of the third rotating gear wheel
27
on the left side are the opposite. The direction of the through hole
71
of the second rotating gear wheel
25
on the right side and the direction of the through hole
71
of the second rotating gear wheel
25
on the left side are the opposite. The direction of the through hole
83
of the third rotating gear wheel
27
on the right side and the direction of the through hole
53
of the first rotating gear wheel
22
on the left side are the opposite.
Therefore, the leg portion
105
to be the right front leg, the leg portion
107
to be the right rear leg and the leg portion
106
to be the left middle leg touch the walking surface simultaneously, when the leg portion
107
to be the left front leg, the leg portion
105
to be the left rear leg and the leg portion
106
to be the right middle leg are away from the walking surface. When the leg portion
107
to be the left front leg, the leg portion
105
to be the left rear leg and the leg portion
106
to be the right middle leg touch the walking surface, the leg portion
105
to be the right front leg, the leg portion
107
to be the right rear leg and the leg portion
106
to be the left middle leg are removed from the walking surface.
When the driving motor
35
in the front is driven regularly and the driving motor
35
in the rear is driven reversedly, the walking apparatus
1
can be moved forward with the three legs being rotated in the same direction one after another as described above, and when the driving motor
35
in the front is driven reversedly and the driving motor
35
in the rear is driven regularly, the walking apparatus
1
can be moved backward with the three legs being rotated reversedly in the same direction one after another.
When the driving motor
35
in the front is driven regularly (reversedly) and the driving motor
35
in the rear is driven regularly (reversedly) as well, the direction of rotation of the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
on the right side and the direction of rotation of the leg portions
107
,
106
and
105
on the left side are different, and the walking apparatus
1
can be turned over quickly in its present position. Further, the two driving motors
35
do not need to be driven simultaneously, and when one of the driving motors
35
is driven, the walking apparatus
1
can change the direction freely because only the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
on one side rotate.
As described above, since the direction of rotation of the through hole
53
of the first rotating gear wheel
22
, the direction of the through hole
71
of the second rotating gear wheel
25
and the direction of the through hole
83
of the third rotating gear wheel
27
can be easily changed by changing the position where the teeth
46
,
62
and
76
gear each other, the walking form of the walking apparatus
1
is not limited to the above-described embodiment but can be changed freely.
The walking apparatus
1
can move rhythmically with up and down movements and can easily overcome uneven surfaces in its way because it walks with the foot plates
115
,
116
and
117
of the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
taking such motions as revolving in the up and down directions.
The walking apparatus
1
has the space
3
a
formed in the central part of the bottom wall
3
because the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
are mounted in the side walls
10
provided on both the left and the right sides of the bottom wall
3
, and can receive a circuit substrate having a control circuit for controlling the driving motor
35
in the space
3
a
. In addition, with a receiving circuit incorporated in the circuit substrate, the walking apparatus
1
can conduct driving control of the driving motors
35
by an external controller. Further, the number of driving motors
35
used in this embodiment is two, it goes without saying that it may be one. A power source is not limited to the driving motor
35
but a power spring, a flywheel and so on can be adopted as a power source.
FIG. 9
shows the walking apparatus
1
having a cover
120
in an insect form attached to it. Since the walking apparatus
1
has the leg portions
105
,
106
and
107
extending from the sides of the apparatus body
2
, when attached the cover
120
in an insect form, it closely resembles a real insect. When a plurality of walking apparatuses
1
are put in one box, they make moves that are not different from those of real insects as a result of the walking apparatuses moving onto each other's backs, which is extremely realistic. Further, a cover is not limited to an insect form but various forms of covers may be attached.
A walking apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention has such an effect that, since long slender legs are inserted through and supported in through holes of rotating members provided on both sides of an apparatus body, it can take the form with the long slender legs extending from the apparatus body of a shape close to a real insect. In addition, since the through holes are provided obliquely with respect to the rotational axial line of the rotating members, the front end parts of the leg portions rotate as if they revolve widely to up and down. This makes the walking apparatus walk with front and rear leg portions touching the ground one after another and therefore, it has the effect that the apparatus body moves up and down and can move rhythmically like a real insect and can easily overcome uneven surfaces in its way.
The leg portions have the effect that the front end parts of the leg portions always face downward and necessarily touch the walking surface because the leg portions have the rear end parts guided to the guiding grooves and are made not to rotate on its axis. They also have the effect that the rhythm of the leg portions touching the surface and the walking form can be changed, and the movement of the entire walking apparatus thereby can be rendered unpredictably interesting because the directions of the through holes of the rotating members can be freely changed.
A walking apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention has guiding grooves formed such that they are substantially parallel with the rotational axial line of the rotating members, the rear parts of the leg portions extending from the inner opening of the rotating members are bent and the rear end parts are slidably guided to the guiding grooves. The guiding grooves can be properly changed and have the effect that the rear end parts of the leg portions slide smoothly to the guiding grooves because the rotational centers of the leg portions are always over the guiding grooves when the guiding grooves are formed to be substantially parallel with the rotational axial lines of the rotating members.
A walking apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention has such an effect that it has a space between the side walls and electric parts, such as batteries and circuit substrates, can be incorporated utilizing the space because the leg portions are attached to the rotating members of the left and the right side walls.
A walking apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention walks forward when both the power sources are activated simultaneously to rotate regularly the rotating members of the one side wall and the rotating members of the other side wall to the same direction, and walks backward when activated to rotate them reversedly to the same direction. When both the power sources are activated simultaneously to rotate the rotating members of the one side wall and the rotating members of the other side wall to the different directions, the apparatus turns over quickly in its position. Moreover, when the one power source is activated to rotate only the rotating members of the one side wall, the apparatus rotates about the front end parts of the leg portions of the other side wall. Since there are two power sources provided in this way, the walking apparatus has the effect that it can be moved in a complex manner.
A walking apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention can transfer the power of the power source efficiently because the rotating members are gear wheels.
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 which follow.
Claims
- 1. A walking apparatus, comprising:an apparatus body provided with a power source; at least two rotating members provided on each of the left and the right sides of the apparatus body; a through hole formed in each rotating member; each said through hole being provided obliquely with respect to a rotational axial line of each of the rotating members, and being formed to connect an inner opening and an outer opening, said inner opening being formed toward the center of the inner side surface of a rotating member and said outer opening being formed toward the circumference of the outer side surface of a rotating member; a leg portion rotatably and slidably mounted to said through hole of each rotating member; a guiding groove for slidably guiding a rear end part of each leg portion protruding from the inner opening of each rotating member formed in the apparatus body thereby preventing said leg portions from turning on their axes; and each said rotating member connected for rotation by the power source.
- 2. A walking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:each said guiding groove is formed substantially parallel with the rotational axial line of each rotating member; and each said leg portion includes a rear part protruding from the inner opening of each rotating member to be bent and a rear end part guided slidably into a guiding groove.
- 3. The walking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:said apparatus body includes a bottom wall and side walls provided in the left and the right of the bottom wall; each of said left and the right side walls includes at lest two rotating members; and a guiding groove is formed in the bottom wall.
- 4. A walking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said power source includes two power sources, one of which rotates the rotating members in one of the side walls and the other power source rotates the rotating members in the other side wall.
- 5. A walking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each said rotating member is a gear wheel.
- 6. A walking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each said rotating member is a gear wheel.
- 7. A walking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each said rotating member is a gear wheel.
- 8. A walking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said rotating member is a gear wheel.
Priority Claims (1)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
| 10-340083 |
Nov 1998 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 62-26144 |
Oct 1981 |
JP |
