Traveling toy wheel

A traveling toy wheel whose simple configuration allows multiple devices to be enjoyed and can further change fine offsets is provided. The traveling toy wheel includes a first rim member to which a tire is mounted and a second rim member which includes a fitting portion into which a wheel hub of a traveling toy is fitted. Fitting holes as fixing portions are provided in one of the first rim member or the second rim member and elastic convex pieces as fixed portions are provided in the other of the first and second rim members. When the elastic convex pieces are fitted in the fitting holes, the first rim member and the second rim member are jointed relatively unmovably. A plurality of fitting holes are arranged at different positions, so that it is possible to easily adjust an offset of the wheel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Phase of PCT/JP2014/050952 filed Jan. 20, 2014, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-074325 filed Mar. 29, 2013. The subject matter of each is incorporated herein by reference in entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wheel for a traveling toy.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, wheels conventionally used for a traveling toy (e.g. a radio control car) are molded in one piece, respectively. Hence, when so-called offset adjustment needs to be performed, a plurality of wheels of different offset values need to be selected according to a situation to exchange.

However, a user needs to possess a plurality of wheels according to a situation, and therefore there is a problem that possessing the wheels is costly and a storage space for the wheels needs to be secured. Meanwhile, a manufacturer side needs to individually manufacture wheels of different offsets, and therefore there is a problem that a plurality of molds are individually required and manufacturing cost steeply rises. Further, distributors have a problem that a sales space and a storage space become too large.

Further, Patent Document 1 discloses traveling toy wheels. According to a configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, a design member is attachable to both surfaces of each wheel, and, only by preparing design members of a plurality of designs, it is possible to attach different design members to the same wheel main body.

Patent Document

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, even when a nice design is applied to a design member of each wheel disclosed in Patent Document 1, a partitioning portion of the wheel main body can be seen through a gap of the design member, and therefore a design is not necessarily good. Further, in case of these wheels, there is a limitation that one wheel is positive offset and the other one is negative offset. Therefore, only two types of these offsets can be used, and, when two types of +1 mm positive offset and +3 mm positive offset need to be selectively used, two types of wheels need to be individually manufactured, distributed and purchased.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a traveling toy wheel whose simple configuration allows multiple designs to be enjoyed and whose one type of a design allows a change of fine offsets.

Means for Solving the Problem and Effect of the Invention

The present invention is addressed to a traveling toy wheel characterized by including:

a first rim member to which a tire is mounted; and

a second rim member having one end surface on which a design surface is formed,

wherein

a fixing portion is provided in a circumferential surface of the first rim member,

a fixed portion is provided in a circumferential surface of the second rim member,

the second rim member is inserted in the first rim member such that center axes of the first and second rim members match, and the fixing portion and the fixed portion face each other and are fixed relatively unmovably to joint the first rim member and the second rim member,

one of the fixing portion and the fixed portion is formed as a fitting hole formed in the circumferential surface of one of the first and second rim members,

the other of the fixing portion and the fixed portion is formed in the circumferential surface of the other of the first and second rim members, and is formed as an elastic convex piece which can fit into and engage with the fitting hole,

when the second rim member is inserted in the first rim member, the elastic convex piece comes into contact with the circumferential surface of one of the first and second rim members and elastically deforms while the second rim member is pushed to fit into the first rim member, and the elastic deformation of the elastic convex piece is entirely or partially released at a position at which the elastic convex piece fits into and engages with the fitting hole, and the first rim member and the second rim member are jointed, and

a plurality of the fitting holes are provided at different positions in the one of the first and second rim members along a center axis direction thereof, and one of the plurality of fitting holes is selected and the elastic convex piece is fitted to the selected fitting hole to allow relative positions of the first rim member and the second rim member to change in a wheel axis direction.

As described above, the traveling toy wheel according to the present invention is a so-called two-piece wheel formed by relatively inserting the second rim member in the first rim member, and adopts a structure that the fixing portions and the fixed portions are fixed relatively unmovably each other to joint the first rim member and the second rim member. When, for example, a user wants to change an external appearance of a wheel design surface (the user wants to use a wheel of a different design), the user needs to change only the second rim member to another rim member instead of changing an entire wheel. Consequently, users can substantially reduce purchase cost and a storage space. Further, the manufacturer side manufactures one type of a shape of the first rim member and manufactures multiple types of second rim members of different designs, and, consequently, can substantially suppress manufacturing cost such as development cost and molding cost compared to conventional wheels. Furthermore, distributors can save a sales space and a stock storage space compared to conventional wheels and, consequently, substantially reduce management cost. In view of such a situation, it is possible to reduce a goods price of the traveling toy wheel and select more flexibly wheels compared to conventional wheels.

Further, according to this configuration, the joint structure of the first rim member and the second rim member can secure the strength and becomes simple. Further, when the first rim member and the second rim member are separated, the elastic convex piece needs to be pulled out of the fitting hole by deflecting the elastic convex piece. Consequently, an operation of attaching and detaching the first rim member and the second rim member remarkably improves.

Further, according to this configuration, it is possible to flexibly select the fitting hole to which the elastic convex piece is fitted and set a plurality of offsets by using one type of a wheel. For example, one type of a wheel can set fine offsets such as positive offset +1 mm and positive offset +3 mm. A user having one first rim member which includes fitting holes which support desired offsets can purchase only the second rim member according to user's preference and change the offset. That is, although users conventionally need to have a plurality of whole wheels since offsets are different between wheels of the same design, the users need to have only one type of a wheel. Further, a manufacturer side does not need to individually manufacture wheels of different offsets for specific designs, and a distributor side does not need to secure a large sales space or stock storage space.

Further, a guide convex portion is provided so as to project from one of an inner circumferential surface of the first rim member and an outer circumferential surface of the second rim member, a guide concave groove which extends along a center axis of one of the first and second rim members and whose one groove end is opened at an end portion of one of the first and second rim members is provided in the other of the inner circumferential surface of the first rim member and the outer circumferential surface of the second rim member, and when the second rim member is inserted and fixed in the first rim member, the guide convex portion is inserted in the opened groove end of the guide concave groove, such that the guide convex portion and the guide concave groove can relatively slide while a surface of the guide convex portion and a surface of the guide concave groove contact each other.

According to this configuration, a guide concave groove guiding function can reliably and easily position the fixing portions and the fixed portions such that the fixing portions and the fixed portions face each other, so that it is possible to remarkably improve the operation of assembling the first rim member and the second rim member. Further, it is possible to prevent the first rim member and the second rim member from rattling in a rotation direction. Further, a plurality of aligned guide convex portions and guide concave grooves function as reinforcement ribs, so that it is possible to provide an advantage of improving the strength of each rim member.

Effect of Invention

The traveling toy wheel according to the present invention can change design aspects with a simple configuration and, consequently, can provide an effect of substantially reducing various types of cost. Further, the traveling toy wheel also provides an effect that one design allows a change of a plurality of fine offsets. Further, the traveling toy wheel provides an effect of allowing a user to easily change not only designs but also offsets.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment for embodying a traveling toy wheel according to the present invention will be described later in detail. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and a design change can be optionally made.

FIGS. 1 and 2show a wheel1according to the present embodiment. As shown inFIG. 1, the wheel1includes a first rim member2of a nearly cylindrical shape to which a tire (not shown) is mounted, and a second rim member3that is inserted and fixed in the first rim member2. In addition, the outer diameter of the second rim member3is set according to the inner diameter of the first rim member2such that the second rim member3can be inserted and fixed in the first rim member2. Further, the rim width of the first rim member2is set wider than that of the second rim member3.

As shown inFIG. 1(a), in a circumferential surface of the first rim member2, fitting through-holes4(4A to4C) are formed as fixing portions. More specifically, each fitting hole4is formed in a nearly T shape when seen from a front, and the three fitting holes4(4A to4C) forms one set. Three sets in total are disposed along a circumferential direction of the first rim member2. Further, each of the fitting holes4A,4B and4C is arranged at a position shifted by 3 mm from each other along a center axis direction of the first rim member2, and is arranged by being shifted from each other in the circumferential direction, too. Furthermore, at positions near these fitting holes4, offset reference markings A, B and C are engraved corresponding to the fitting holes4in a circumferential end surface on a vehicle body side of the wheel1.

Further, in the inner circumferential surface2aof the first rim member2, guide concave grooves5(5A,5B and5C) each of which extends along the center axis of the first rim member2are formed. Furthermore, each guide concave groove5includes one groove end as an opening51which is positioned on the vehicle body side of the first rim member2and which is opened, and the other groove end as an end52which is a design surface side and is arranged at a position close to the center of the first rim member2. In addition, the three guide concave grooves5(5A,5B and5C) aligned in the circumferential direction are disposed as one set of the guide concave grooves5, and positions of the ends52are varied by 3 mm such that the guide concave grooves5(5A,5B and5C) meet the fitting holes4(4A to4C). In addition, three sets of the guide concave grooves5(5A,5B and5C) in total are provided along the circumferential direction of the first rim member2.

Further, as shown inFIG. 1(b), the second rim member3is composed of a disk body6formed with a fitting portion3ainto which a wheel hub (not shown) formed in a traveling toy body is fitted. Further, a front side end surface of the disk body6is a design surface6ahaving a design. Further, in an outer circumferential surface6bof the disk body6, elastic convex pieces7as fixed portions are provided so as to project along a radial direction of the second rim member3. Further, each elastic convex piece7includes a claw portion7aof a flat shape and a tapered rib7bwhose height gradually lowers toward the design surface6aside from the claw portion7a, and can fit into and engage with each fitting hole4. In addition, the three elastic convex pieces7are disposed at equal intervals to meet the sets of the fitting holes4of the first rim member2.

Further, in the outer circumferential surface6bof the second rim member3, guide convex portions8are provided so as to project along the radial direction of the second rim member3. The three guide convex portions8are disposed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the second rim member3to meet the sets of the guide concave grooves5of the first rim member2.

Next, with reference toFIG. 2, a process of assembling the first rim member2and the second rim member3will be described. A center axis of the first rim member2and a center axis of the second rim member3are matched, the second rim member3is pushed to fit into the first rim member2and the elastic convex pieces7are fitted into the fitting holes4of the first rim member2. In this case, by using engraved references indicating a desired offset reference A, for example, as markings, the elastic convex pieces7are positioned at the corresponding fitting holes4A and the guide convex portions8of the second rim member3are inserted in the openings51which are the one groove ends of the guide concave grooves5A of the first rim member2and are slid until the guide convex portions8hit the ends52by a guiding function of the guide concave grooves5A. Thus, while the first rim member2and the second rim member3restrict relative movement of each other in a rotation direction, it is possible to very smoothly fit the elastic convex pieces7into the desired fitting holes4.

In addition, when the second rim member3is inserted in the first rim member2, the ribs7bof the elastic convex pieces7of the second rim member3come into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first rim member2, and the elastic convex pieces7are elastically deformed inward. Further, when the elastic convex pieces7and the fitting holes4face each other and fit, elastic deformation of the elastic convex pieces7is partially released, and the fitting holes4and the elastic convex pieces7engage with each other. In addition, each fitting hole4A is formed in a nearly T shape to meet shapes of the claw portion7aand the rib7bof the elastic convex piece7, and operability for releasing engagement is also taken into account.

Further, as shown inFIG. 2, in a state where the elastic convex pieces7are fitted into the fitting holes4A and the first rim member2and the second rim member3are jointed relatively unmovably, the guide convex portions8are in contact with the ends52of the guide concave grooves5A. Hence, for example, it is possible to prevent that the first rim member2and the second rim member3cannot be adequately jointed if the elastic convex pieces7get over the fitting holes4A. Further, surfaces of the guide convex portions8come into planar contact with the guide concave grooves5and come into contact with the ends52, so that it is possible to prevent the first rim member2and the second rim member3from rattling forward, backward, leftward and rightward (including the rotation direction), and secure sufficient rigidity and durability of the wheel1. Hence, this configuration is particularly effective when, for example, significant loads are applied to the wheel1from the front, the back, the left and the right upon drift driving of a radio control car.

Further, each elastic convex piece7is elastically deformed by using a pin or the like from an outside of the fitting hole4A of the first rim member2and is pulled out of the fitting hole4A to separate the first rim member2and the second rim member3. Thus, the first rim member2and the second rim member3can be mutually unfixed and unjointed.

In this regard, when, for example, positive offset +3 mm needs to be changed to positive offset +6 mm, both of the rim members2,3are separated once, and the elastic convex pieces7are fitted again in the fitting holes4B instead of the fitting holes4A. Similarly, when an offset needs to be changed to positive offset +9 mm, the elastic convex pieces7are fitted to the fitting holes4C. Thus, in the present embodiment, one wheel1can support various types of offset values and relative positions of the first rim member2and the second rim member3can be optionally changed.

In addition, by reducing the rim width of the second rim member3by about ½ as in the above-described configuration according to the embodiment described above compared to a wheel width of a conventional configuration, it is possible to reduce the size of a mold for manufacturing the second rim member3. Consequently, it is possible to remarkably reduce a rate of mold cost which occupies in wheel sales prices and provide products at reasonable prices to general users.

Further, when the different design surface6aneeds to be used, only the second rim member3needs to be changed to a different second rim member.

According to the present invention, the design can be optionally changed in addition to the embodiment. For example, through-holes may be formed as fixing portions and fixed portions in the circumferential surfaces of both of the rim members2,3, the through-holes which are fixed portions and the through-holes which are fixed portions may be caused to face each other and both of the rim members2,3may be fixed unmovably by fastening means such as bolts and nuts. Further, in this case, each through-hole may be formed in an elongated slot whose longitudinal direction is along an axial direction of both of the rim members2,3to enable stepless changes in relative positions of the rim members2,3. In addition, the fixing means may be an R pin, a roll pin or a cotter pin, and is not limited thereto as long as the fixing means can joint the first rim member2and the second rim member3relatively unmovably.

Further, the fixing portions and the fixed portions may be screw grooves engraved in the circumferential surfaces of both of the rim member2,3. That is, for example, the screw grooves are engraved in the inner circumferential surface of the first rim member2to cause the first rim member2to function as a female screw, and the screw grooves are engraved in the outer circumferential surface of the second rim member3to cause the second rim member3function as a male screw. Further, by matching the center axes of both of the rim members2,3and screwing the entire second rim member3in the first rim member2, it may be possible to fix the second rim member3at a desired position.

Further, the numbers and positions of fixing portions and fixed portions are not limited in particular. For example, the three fitting holes4(4A to4C) are provided at three types of different positions in the above embodiment to fix the second rim member3to the first rim member2. However, the four fitting holes4may be provided at four types of different positions to fix the second rim member3. In addition, three or four positions at which the second rim member3can be fixed are provided, so that it is not necessary to possess three or four types of wheels of different offsets unlike conventional wheels. Consequently, it is possible to reduce a sales space or a storage space to about ⅓ or about ¼ according to the number of fitting holes4compared to conventional wheels.

Further, in the above embodiment, the fitting holes4A,4B and4C are arranged by being shifted by 3 mm. However, naturally, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be designed such that desired values are optionally selected in a range of 2 mm to 4 mm.

Further, six sets of the elastic convex pieces7and the fitting holes4in total may be provided to each of the rim members2,3. According to this configuration, it is possible to further improve a joint strength of both of the rim members2,3. Further, from a standpoint of durability of the elastic convex pieces7, the dimension may be set such that the shapes of the elastic convex pieces7restore to the original shape in a state where the elastic convex pieces7are fitted to the fitting holes4.

Further, the numbers, positions or dimensional shapes of the guide concave grooves5and the guide convex portions8are not limited in particular. Further, the dimensional shapes of the first rim member2and the second rim member3are not limited in particular, either, and materials may be resin such as polyacetal (POM) resin or polyacrylic resin or metal such as stainless steel or aluminum as the case may be.1: wheel2: first rim member3: second rim member4: fitting hole (fixing portion)5: guide convex groove6a: design surface7: elastic convex piece (fixed portion)8: guide convex portion51: opening