Abstract:
A transformable toy which has a playful aspect in that an additional movement is produced in a process of transformation, although the movement is not directly related to the transformation, as well as which has portions which can be transformed without being manually operated by the user. The transformable toy, which is reversibly transformed between a first configuration and a second configuration, includes a first member and a second member. The second member is connected to the first member in a vertically pivotable manner through a connecting member. When a lock member provided on the first member is functioning, the second member constitutes a first configuration with the first member in a fore-and-aft positional relationship. When the locking function is released, the second member pivots downwardly under its own weight and constitutes a second configuration with the first member in a vertical positional relationship.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a transformable toy which can be reversibly transformed between two configurations, from a first configuration to a second configuration, or vice versa, and more particularly to a transformable toy, based on a new idea, in which a movement is produced in a process of transformation. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventionally, when a transformable toy is transformed during play, it has been required that each constituent part be manually operated and operating procedures have been complicated. Therefore, a transformable toy which can be transformed by a simple operation has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3068216). In this transformable toy, two foldable connecting links are pivotably journaled at both ends thereof on a base member and a movable member, respectively, the movable member having a front member and a rear member pivotably journaled at a front and a rear thereof. The front member and the rear member are adapted to constitute a first configuration in a continuous manner, when the two connecting links are folded, and constitute a second configuration while sandwiching the two connecting links when the two connecting links are extended. 
         [0005]    Although the above-described transformable toy can be transformed at a single touch, it has a problem that users may get bored with it because they cannot enjoy the process of transforming it by moving its constituent parts. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problem. An object of the present invention is to provide a transformable toy, based on a new idea, which has a playful aspect in that an additional movement is produced in a process of transformation, although the movement is not directly related to the transformation, as well as having portions which can be transformed without being manually operated by the user, while also being transformable as in conventional transformable toys. 
         [0007]    In order to solve the foregoing problem, according to the present invention, there is provided a transformable toy reversibly transformed between a first configuration and a second configuration. The transformable toy includes a first member; a second member; a connecting member for connecting the second member to the first member in a vertically pivotable manner; and a lock member provided on one of the first member and the second member, the lock member releasably locking the second member to the first member. When the lock member is functioning, the second member constitutes a first configuration with the first member in a fore-and-aft positional relationship; when the locking function of the lock member is released, the second member pivots downwardly under its own weight and constitutes a second configuration with the first member in a vertical positional relationship; and the connecting member has a rotation mechanism for rotating the second member about a predetermined axis, the rotation mechanism causing the second member to axially rotate about the predetermined axis when the second member pivots downwardly under its own weight. 
         [0008]    Preferably, a spring member is provided between the connecting member and the first member, the spring member urging the second member to pivot downwardly, the second member being forced to move downwardly by an elastic force of the spring member in addition to its own weight. 
         [0009]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first configuration is a running-object configuration; the second configuration is a robot configuration; and the first member and the second member form a driver&#39;s cab and a chassis of a tractor in the running-object configuration, respectively, and form an upper body and a lower body of a robot in the robot configuration, respectively. 
         [0010]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second member includes two sections, and the connecting member includes a base; supporting members mounted in a forwardly and backwardly pivotable manner at both side portions of the base, respectively; and connectors for connecting the respective sections of the second member, the connectors being supported on the supporting members in a laterally pivotable manner, the two sections of the second member each being forwardly, backwardly, and laterally pivotable with respect to the base. 
         [0011]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the rotation mechanism includes a gear unit, the gear unit including: a unit case pivotably journaled on the first member; a crown gear disposed inside the unit case; a driving gear coaxial with the crown gear and disposed outside the unit case; and a pinion meshing with the crown gear, the pinion having a shaft protruding from the unit case and fixed to the base; the transformable toy further includes a rack fixed to the first member, the rack being formed in a curved manner in a shape of an arc of a circle concentric with a center of pivoting of the unit case; and the driving gear is adapted to mesh with the rack, and, when the second member pivots downwardly under its own weight and the unit case pivots, the driving gear is rotated by meshing of the driving gear with the rack, whereby the second member is caused to axially rotate through the crown gear and the pinion. 
         [0012]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the rack is formed so that meshing between the driving gear and the rack is released when the second member has pivoted into a vertical state; and the second member is freely rotatable with respect to the first member when the meshing between the driving gear and the rack is released. 
         [0013]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lock member includes a latching claw and is pivotably journaled on the first member; and the base has a latching recess with which the latching claw of the lock member engageably and disengageably meshes. 
         [0014]    According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a transformable toy which has a playful aspect in that an additional movement, which is axial rotation, is produced, although the movement is not directly related to transformation, and which can be automatically transformed, because, when the lock member is functioning, the first member and the second member constitute a first configuration while maintaining a fore-and-aft positional relationship; and, when the lock is released, the second member pivots downwardly under its own weight, the first member and the second member constitute a second configuration in a vertical positional relationship, and the second member axially rotates while pivoting. 
         [0015]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, since the second member is forced by a spring member to pivot downwardly, the second member can be surely pivoted to a position below the first member, allowing a vertical positional relationship therebetween to be quickly and surely constructed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a first configuration of a transformable toy according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view showing the first configuration of the transformable toy; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing a construction of a connecting member; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a side view showing relationships between the connecting member and a first member as well as a second member; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the transformable toy at a preparation stage for transformation; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 6A to 6C  are side views showing movements of the second member and the connecting member when a lock member is released; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the transformable toy at a stage prior to completion of transformation into a second configuration; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a state of the transformable toy which has been transformed into the second configuration. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are, respectively, a perspective view and a side view showing one example of a running object, which is a first configuration of a transformable toy A according to the present invention, in which the transformable toy A is constructed to be reversibly transformable from a running object, which is a first configuration, to a robot configuration, which is a second configuration, shown in  FIG. 8 . The running object is formed to simulate a tractor for towing a trailer and includes a first member  1  formed to simulate a driver&#39;s cab (constituting an upper body in the robot configuration) of the tractor and a second member  2  formed to simulate a chassis (constituting a lower body in the robot configuration). The first member  1  and the second member  2  are connected by a connecting member  3  and connected so that the second member  2  can pivot in vertical directions with respect to the first member  1  through the connecting member  3 . 
         [0025]    The first member  1  has an accommodating recess  5  formed at an upper portion thereof for accommodating a head portion  4  of a robot in an erectable and retractable manner, a roof member  6  provided in an openable and closable manner for covering the accommodating recess  5 , and arm portions  7  in the robot configuration pivotably provided at both side portions thereof. The second member  2  includes two sections or leg portions  8  in the robot configuration. Each of the leg portions  8  has a rear wheel  9  and a pivoting plate  10  provided at a side surface thereof, the pivoting plate  10  being pivotably mounted to the leg portion  8  by a shaft  11 , and has a supporting plate  13  mounted at an end of the leg portion  8  for supporting the front wheel  12 . The supporting plate  13  has a bumper  14  pivotably mounted at an end thereof. 
         [0026]    The connecting member  3  includes a base  15  and a rotation mechanism (gear unit)  16 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The base  15  constitutes a waist portion of a robot in the robot configuration. The base  15  has supporting members  18  mounted in a forwardly and backwardly pivotable manner at both side portions thereof, respectively. Connectors  17  for connecting the respective sections of the second member  2 , which sections constitute the leg portions  8  in the robot configuration, are supported on the supporting member in a laterally pivotable manner. The leg portions  8  are pivotably supported on the supporting members  18  through the connectors  17 , so that the leg portions  8  can pivot forwardly, backwardly, and laterally with respect to the base  15 . 
         [0027]    Moreover, the base  15  has a latching recess  21  formed in a front surface thereof. Meshing with the latching recess  21  is a latching claw  20   a  of a lock member  20 , which is pivotably journaled at a shaft hole  20   b  thereof on a supporting shaft (not shown) formed on the first member  1 . A connecting plate  23  formed at an end of a shaft  22  protruding downwardly from a bottom portion of the gear unit  16  is fixed to an upper surface of the base  15  by suitable means. 
         [0028]    The gear unit  16  includes a unit case  25 , a crown gear  26  disposed inside the unit case  25 , a driving gear  27  coaxial with the crown gear  26  and disposed outside the unit case  25 , and a pinion  28  meshing with the crown gear  26 . The above-described connecting plate  23  is formed integrally with the shaft  22  of the pinion  28 . 
         [0029]    The unit case  25  has supporting shafts  29  formed protruding on both side surfaces thereof. The supporting shafts  29  are journaled in bearings (not shown) formed on the first member  1 , and the gear unit  16  is disposed so as to be pivotable in the first member  1  about the supporting shafts  29 . 
         [0030]    Moreover, the driving gear  27  is adapted to mesh with a rack  30  formed in a curved manner in a shape of an arc of a circle concentric with the supporting shafts  29  of the unit case  25 . The rack  30  is fixed at a mating hole  30   a  thereof mating with a mating shaft (not shown) provided in the first member  1 . 
         [0031]    Reference numeral  31  indicates a spring member. The spring member  31  has one end  31   a  inserted into a hole  32  formed in a side surface of the unit case  25  and the other end  31   b  mounted in a supporting hole (not shown) formed in the first member  1 . The second member  2  (leg portions  8 ) is urged to pivot downwardly by an elastic force of the spring member  31 , in addition to its own weight. 
         [0032]    When the latching claw  20   a  of the lock member  20  is in mesh with the latching recess  21  of the base  15 , and the second member  2  is locked so as not to pivot downwardly, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the first member  1  and the second member  2  maintain a fore-and-aft positional relationship, and the transformable toy A is in a running-object configuration, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0033]    Next, a description will be made of a case in which the transformable toy A having the above construction is transformed from the running-object configuration, which is the first configuration, to the robot configuration, which is the second configuration. First, the pivoting plates  10  mounted on the second member  2  are folded backwardly on the shafts  11 , as the supporting points, the front wheels  12  are moved so as to be juxtaposed in contact with side surfaces of the leg portions  8 , and the arm portions  7  are pivoted outwardly away from the first member  1  (see  FIG. 5 ). Next, the toy A as a whole is lifted by holding the first member  1  by one hand. In this state, an operating portion  20   c  of the lock member  20  is pressed down by the other hand, thereby releasing the meshing of the latching claw  20   a  with the latching recess  21  and releasing the locked state of the base  15  (see  FIG. 6A ). 
         [0034]    Since the base  15  has the second member  2  (leg portions  8 ) mounted thereon through the connectors  17 , the base  15  is forced to pivot downwardly (in a clockwise direction in  FIG. 6A ) about the supporting shafts  29  by being urged by an elastic force of the spring member  31 , in addition to the weight of the leg portions  8  themselves. 
         [0035]    Moreover, since the second member  2  is connected to the first member  1  through the base  15  and the gear unit  16  of the connecting member  3 , the gear unit  16  pivots in a clockwise direction about the supporting shafts  29  integrally with the second member  2 . At this time, since the driving gear  27  of the gear unit  16  is in mesh with the rack  30 , the driving gear  27  is rotated, the crown gear  26 , which is coaxial with the driving gear  27 , is rotated, and therefore the pinion  28  in mesh with the crown gear  26  is rotated. 
         [0036]    When the pinion  28  rotates, the connecting plate  23  rotates. Since the connecting plate  23  is fixed to the base  15 , the base  15 , which is integral with the connecting plate  23 , rotates. As a result, the second member  2  (leg portions  8 ), which is connected to the base  15  through the connectors  17 , axially rotates about an axis of rotation of the pinion  28  while pivoting downwardly about the supporting shafts  29  (see  FIG. 6B ). 
         [0037]    When the second member  2  has pivoted into a vertical state by being urged by the spring member  31 , in addition to its own weight, since the meshing between the driving gear  27  and the rack  30  has been released and the driving gear  27  is in a free state, the second member  2  is freely rotatable about the supporting shafts  29  and the axis of rotation of the pinion  28  with respect to the first member  1  (see  FIG. 6C ). 
         [0038]    In this state, since the positional relationship between the first member  1  and the second member  2  has been changed from a fore-and-aft positional relationship to a vertical positional relationship, the transformable toy A has been transformed into a robot configuration in a standing state, in which the second member  2  is a lower body and the first member  1  is an upper body, as shown in  FIG. 7 . In order to attain a robot configuration closer to a perfect robot, the roof member  6  covering part of an upper surface of the first member  1  may be tilted backwardly, the head portion  4  accommodated in the accommodating recess  5  may be erected, and hand portions  33 , which are folded, may be pulled up. By doing so, the transformable toy can be transformed into a second configuration which is a robot configuration in a complete state, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0039]    As described above, it is possible to achieve a transformable toy which has a playful aspect not present in conventional transformable toys in that the user can enjoy a movement of the second member  2 , which is axial rotation during downward pivoting, in a process of transformation, although the movement is not directly related to transformation, and which can be transformed from the first configuration to the second configuration, by releasing the locked state of the second member  2  due to the lock member  20 , pivoting the second member  2  downwardly with respect to the first member  1  by using the elastic force of the spring member  31 , in addition to its own weight, and changing the positional relationship between the first member and the second member from the fore-and-aft positional relationship to a vertical positional relationship.