Abstract:
A combined launching device for launching spinning tops, includes a first launching unit and a second launching unit. Each launching unit includes a casing. The casing accommodates a spinning top holder for holding a spinning top and a spinning mechanism, wherein the spinning mechanism is operated to spin and launch the spinning top by linearly and manually moving an operating member in a predetermined operating direction, wherein the casing of the first launching unit has a first coupler, and the casing of the second launching unit has a second coupler removably combined with the first coupler, and wherein the first launching unit is combined with the second launching unit such that the first and second spinning top holders face in the same direction and the predetermined operating direction of the operating member is the same for the first and second launching units.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a combined launching device for simultaneously launching a plurality of spinning tops. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A traditional launching device for launching a spinning top is configured to launch only one spinning top from a spinning top holder. When a user plays a spinning-tops combat game alone, the user have to launch a first spinning top with a launching device and launch a second one immediately after the first one. There are two ways for launching two spinning tops alone. In one way, the user prepares two launching devices each loaded with a spinning top and launches a first spinning top with one of the launching devices and then launches a second one with the other launching device. In the other way, the user launches a first spinning top with a launching device and loads a second one in the same launching device to launch it. 
         [0005]    Both the operations are troublesome, resulting in a time lag between the launch of a first spinning top and that of a second one. Such a time lag gives an advantage to the second spinning top and impairs the game. 
         [0006]    Japanese Utility-Model Registration No. 3090580 discloses a launching device for simultaneously launching two spinning tops. 
         [0007]    The launching device for simultaneously launching two spinning tops includes a housing accommodating two launching units in parallel, each of which launches a spinning top. Inserting two rack belts into the respective launching units and then pulling the two rack belts together can simultaneously launch two spinning tops. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Unfortunately, the launching device disclosed in Japanese Utility-Model Registration No. 3090580 has a complicated structure including two launching units and a special housing for accommodating the two launching units in parallel. 
         [0009]    An object of the present invention is to provide a combined launching device with a simple structure for launching spinning tops. 
         [0010]    In order to realize the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combined launching device for launching spinning tops, including: 
         [0011]    a first launching unit including a first casing, the first casing accommodating a first spinning top holder for holding a first spinning top and a first spinning mechanism, wherein the first spinning mechanism is operated to spin and launch the first spinning top by linearly and manually moving an operating member in a predetermined operating direction; and 
         [0012]    a second launching unit including a second casing, the second casing accommodating a second spinning top holder for holding a second spinning top and a second spinning mechanism, wherein the second spinning mechanism is operated to spin and launch the second spinning top by linearly and manually moving an operating member in the predetermined operating direction, 
         [0013]    wherein the first casing of the first launching unit has a first coupler, and the second casing of the second launching unit has a second coupler removably combined with the first coupler, and 
         [0014]    the first launching unit is combined with the second launching unit such that the first and second spinning top holders face in the same direction and the predetermined operating direction of the operating member is the same for the first and second launching units. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the operating member is a rack belt. 
         [0016]    According to these configurations, two launching units can be separated for independent use of the individual launching units or the two launching units can be combined with each other for simultaneous launching of two spinning tops. The user can simultaneously launch two spinning tops and play a spinning-tops combat game alone with the combined launching units. This combined launching device has a simple structure. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the first launching unit is combined with the second launching unit such that the rack belt is engaged with both of a pinion of the first spinning mechanism and a pinion of the second spinning mechanism. 
         [0018]    According to this configuration, the combined launching units can be readily operated with one rack belt for simultaneous launching of two spinning tops. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the first launching unit has both of the first coupler and the second coupler and the second launching unit has both of the first coupler and the second coupler. 
         [0020]    According to this configuration, three or more launching units can be combined with each other. In the case of two launching units, these launching units can be disposed in any direction in the combined launching device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not intended to limit the present invention, wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a partially cut-out perspective view of the combined launching device for launching spinning tops according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the combined launching device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating the engagement of teeth of a rack belt with pinions in casings combined in the longitudinal direction; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram illustrating the relationship between arc-shaped grooves in a spinning top and clicks of a spinning top holder while the spinning top holder is spinning; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4B  is a schematic diagram illustrating the relationship between arc-shaped grooves in a spinning top and clicks of a spinning top holder while the spinning top holder is not spinning; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example positional relationship between teeth of a rack belt and the pinions in the casings combined in the longitudinal direction; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating the engagement of teeth of two rack belts with the respective pinions in the casings combined in the transverse direction. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]    Embodiments of a combined launching device for launching spinning tops according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The front, back, right, left, up, and down directions are indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    (Overall Structure) 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  illustrates a combined launching device  1  including two launching units  2  combined in the longitudinal direction, for launching spinning tops. 
         [0032]    In the combined launching device  1 , each launching unit  2  is loaded with one spinning top  30 . 
         [0033]    The combined launching device  1  includes one rack belt  20 . The rack belt  20  is introduced from the front launching unit  2  into the combined launching device  1  such that the front end of the rack belt  20  projects from the back launching unit  2 . Pulling the rack belt  20  can simultaneously spin and launch the spinning tops  30  mounted in the launching units  2 . 
         [0034]    The combined launching device  1  can be separated into the two launching units  2  for independent use of the individual launching units  2 . 
         [0035]    (Partial Structures) 
         [0036]    1. Launching Unit  2   
         [0037]    In the present embodiment, the two launching units  2  have an identical structure. In the circumstances, the same reference numeral is used for identical elements of the two launching units  2  for avoiding redundancy in the description. 
         [0038]    The launching unit  2  includes a casing  2   a . The casing  2   a  is generally rectangular in top view. The casing  2   a  is open at the bottom (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0039]    The casing  2   a  has a forward projection  3   a  at the front end. The projection  3   a  is positioned in the middle of the front end of the casing  2   a  in the transverse or horizontal direction and is narrower than the casing  2   a  in the transverse direction. The projection  3   a  has a rib  30   a  on each side in the transverse direction. The ribs  30   a  project outwardly in the transverse direction. The projection  3   a  functions as a coupler. 
         [0040]    The casing  2   a  has a cutout  18   a  at the back end. The cutout  18   a  has substantially the same width as that of the projection  3   a  in the transverse direction. The cutout  18   a  is open to the bottom. A wall  18   b  is provided in front of the cutout  18   a . The edges of the cutout  18   a , the wall  18   b , and the right and left walls define a recess  3   b . The recess  3   b  functions as another coupler. 
         [0041]    When the projection  3   a  of the back launching unit  2  is fitted into the cutout  18   a  of the front launching unit  2  from the bottom, the front face of the projection  3   a  of the back launching unit  2  comes in contact with the wall  18   b  of the front launching unit  2  and the right and left ribs  30   a  of the back launching unit  2  interlock with the right and left edges, respectively, of the cutout  18   a  of the front launching unit  2 . 
         [0042]    The two launching units  2  are thereby combined with each other. Releasing the projection  3   a  from the recess  3   b  causes the two launching units  2  to be separated from each other. 
         [0043]    The projection  3   a  has a belt inlet  4   a  for the rack belt  20  and the wall  18   b  has a belt outlet  4   b  for the rack belt  20 . When the two launching units  2  are combined with each other, the belt inlet  4   a  and belt outlet  4   b  of one launching unit  2  are aligned to the belt inlet  4   a  and belt outlet  4   b  of the other launching unit  2 . 
         [0044]    The casing  2   a  includes a disk spinning top holder  15  to be loaded with a spinning top  30 . The spinning top holder  15  is mounted on the casing  2   a  around a rotating shaft  11 . The spinning top holder  15  can idle around the rotating shaft  11 . The spinning top holder  15  has two clicks  16  disposed symmetrically around the rotating shaft  11  on the bottom periphery. Each click  16  is arc-shaped in bottom view. The click  16  has a flat face  16   a  at the bottom end, a vertical face  16   b  at the head end in the rotating direction, and an inclined face  16   c  at the tail end in the rotating direction. 
         [0045]    The casing  2   a  accommodates a spinning mechanism  10  for spinning the spinning top holder  15 . The spinning mechanism  10  includes a pinion  12  and a clutch  13 . The pinion  12  is fixed to the rotating shaft  11  and engageable with the teeth of the rack belt  20 . The clutch  13  transmits rotative power from the pinion  12  to the spinning top holder  15 . 
         [0046]    The clutch  13  rotates together with the pinion  12 . The clutch  13  is composed of a synthetic resin. The clutch  13  includes a hub  13   a  engaged with the rotating shaft  11  and two C-shaped protrusions  13   b  integrated with the hub  13   a . Each protrusion  13   b  has a projection  13   c . A cylinder  17  surrounding the clutch  13  is provided on the top periphery of the spinning top holder  15 . The cylinder  17  has recesses  17   a  around the inner wall. The recesses  17   a  can be receive the projections  13   c . Since each projection  13   c  is normally engaged with the recesses  17   a , the rotation of the pinion  12  leads to the rotation of the clutch  13  and thus the rotation of the spinning top holder  15 . An excess load leads to resilient deformation of the protrusion  13   b , which precludes the power transmission from the pinion  12  to the clutch  13 . 
         [0047]    2. Spinning Top  30   
         [0048]    In the present embodiment, two spinning tops  30  have an identical structure. In the circumstances, the same reference numeral is used for identical elements of two spinning tops  30  for avoiding redundancy in the description. 
         [0049]    The spinning top  30  has two arc-shaped grooves  31  in the top face at the positions corresponding to the clicks  16  of the spinning top holder  15 . In the present embodiment, the spinning top  30  has the arc-shaped grooves  31  with a tongue  32  inserted therein from the bottom; however, the spinning top  30  may have the arc-shaped grooves  31  without the tongue  32 . The arc-shaped groove  31  is narrower at the side remote from the tongue  32 . After the clicks  16  of the spinning top holder  15  are inserted into the clearances in the arc-shaped grooves  31  from the top, the spinning top  30  is rotated relative to the spinning top holder  15  such that the clicks  16  of the spinning top holder  15  are moved to the narrower sides of the arc-shaped grooves  31 . A projection  16   d  on the inner face of the click  16  is then slid to the lower side of the upper wall of the spinning top  30 , thereby the spinning top  30  is mounted in (held by) the spinning top holder  15 . 
         [0050]    3. Rack Belt  20   
         [0051]    The rack belt  20  has teeth  21  on one side and a handle  22  at one end. The rack belt  20  is inserted into the combined launching device  1  through the belt inlet  4   a  of the casing  2   a , so that the teeth  21  of the rack belt  20  are engaged with the pinions  12  of the two launching units  2 . 
         [0052]    (Use and Operation) 
         [0053]    The operation of the combined launching device  1  with this structure will now be described. 
         [0054]    After spinning tops  30  are mounted in the respective spinning top holders  15  of the two launching units  2 , the rack belt  20  is introduced from the front launching unit  2  into the combined launching device  1  such that the front end of the rack belt  20  projects from the back launching unit  2 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Extraction of the rack belt  20  while the spinning top holders  15  of the two launching units  2  are facing down rotates the pinions  12  and transmits the rotary power to the spinning top holders  15  via the clutches  13  to rotate the spinning top holders  15 . 
         [0055]    The rotary power is then transmitted from the spinning top holders  15  to the spinning tops  30  via the clicks  16 . When the teeth  21  of the rack belt  20  are detached from the pinions  12 , the pinions  12  stop the rotation. Since the spinning tops  30  continue to rotate due to the inertial force, the tongue  32  of the spinning tops  30  collide with the inclined faces  16   c , as shown in  FIG. 4B . The spinning tops  30  are then moved downward along the inclined faces  16   c  and finally launched downward from the spinning top holders  15  while spinning. 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the two pinions  12  are rotated with one rack belt  20 , the pinion  12  of the forward launching unit  2  is engaged with the teeth  21  for a longer period of time than that of the back launching unit  2 . To equalize the engagement times of the two pinions  12 , the teeth  21  of the rack belt  20  may be formed at the site far from the handle  22  such that the teeth  21  of the rack belt  20  are not engaged with the forward pinion  12  when the rack belt  20  is first positioned in the two casings  2   a , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       Another Embodiment 
       [0057]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of the combined launching device  1  for launching spinning tops according to the present invention. In this combined launching device  1 , the casings  2   a ,  2   a  are combined in the transverse direction, and the pinions  12  are engaged with the teeth  21  of different rack belts  20 . In this case, it is preferable that the rack belts  20  be disposed in parallel, and the handles  22  of the two rack belts  20  be integrated into one coupling grip  23 . With this structure, the rack belts  20  can be simultaneously operated by pulling the coupling grip  23 . 
       Modifications of Invention 
       [0058]    The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. It should be understood that the present invention be not limited to these embodiments and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. 
         [0059]    For example, the projection  3   a  and the recess  3   b  are provided as couplers in the above embodiment. Instead, magnets can be used as couplers. Alternatively, one launching unit  2  may have a first suit of a projection and a recess as a coupler and the other launching unit  2  may have a second suit of a projection and a recess as another coupler such that the two launching units  2  are combined with each other by engaging the first suit of a projection and a recess with the second suit of a projection and a recess. Alternatively, one launching unit  2  may have a dovetail as a coupler and the other launching unit  2  may have a socket as another coupler such that the two launching units  2  are combined with each other by engaging the dovetail with the socket. In an alternative embodiment, one launching unit  2  has a semicircular plate as a coupler at the axis and the other launching unit  2  has a semicircular pocket as another coupler such that the two launching units  2  are combined with each other by relatively rotating the two launching units  2  around the axis. 
         [0060]    This U.S. patent application claims priority to Japanese patent application No. 2015-245219 filed on Dec. 16, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein for correction of incorrect translation.