Abstract:
A transformable toy is reversibly transformed from/to a first form to/from a second form with a user operation. Rotational parts are attached to a base part, rotate on a shaft and are biased in a direction for the second form. An engagement part is attached to a movable part attached to the base part, reciprocating in a direction parallel to the shaft and biased in a separating direction from the base part. When the movable part is operated in an approaching direction to the base part, the engagement part rotates the rotational parts to engage therewith at a position for the first form and stop and a locking mechanism locks the movable part. When at least a portion of the locked movable part is operated, the locking mechanism unlocks the movable part and the engagement part disengages from the rotational parts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a transformable toy, or to be more specific, a transformable toy which is reversibly transformed with a simple operation. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    As described, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 3152591, there has been known a transformable toy in which a member composed of a front member and a rear member is supported by a shaft in such a way as to be freely bent, the undersurfaces of the front member and the rear member are connected with a foldable linkage in such a way that the front member and the rear member freely rotate, the linkage being composed of two connection links connected to each other, and an end part of one of the connection links projects from the rear member upward. 
         [0005]    In this transformable toy, when the end part projecting from the rear member upward is rotated forward, the linkage composed of the two connection links bends the member in such away that the front member is over the rear member while folding itself, and when the member is bent, the front member and the rear member constitute, for example, a chest portion and aback portion in the form of a robot, respectively. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    However, according to this art described in Japanese Patent No. 3152591, in transformation from a first form (basic form) to a second form (robot form) and/or transformation from the second form to the first form, the end part projecting from the rear member upward needs to be operated largely. This is trouble for small children. In addition, because the linkage composed of the two connection links bends the member in such away that the front member is over the rear member while folding itself, it is difficult to transform the transformable toy in a state in which the transformable toy is placed on a table or the like, and hence the transformable toy needs to be held with one hand while that end part of the connection link needs to be operated with the other hand. This is also trouble. 
         [0007]    The present invention has been conceived in view of the problems, and objects thereof include providing a transformable toy which is reversibly transformed with a simple operation. 
         [0008]    In order to achieve at least one of the objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transformable toy which is reversibly transformed from/to a first form to/from a second form with a user operation, the transformable toy including: a base part; a first rotational part which is attached to the base part and rotates on a first shaft; a second rotational part which is attached to the base part and rotates on the first shaft or a second shaft parallel to the first shaft; a first movable part which is attached to each of the first and second rotational parts and constitutes a portion of an external appearance in the first and second forms; a first bias member which biases the first and second rotational parts in a direction for the second form; a second movable part which is attached to the base part, constitutes a portion of the external appearance in the first and second forms and reciprocates in a direction parallel to the first shaft; an engagement part which is attached to the second movable part, wherein (i) when the second movable part operates in a direction to approach the base part, the engagement part slides on the first and second rotational parts and rotates the first and second rotational parts against a biasing force of the first bias member so as to engage with the first and second rotational parts at a position for the first form to stop, and (ii) when the second movable part operates in a direction to separate from the base part, the engagement part disengages from the first and second rotational parts; a second bias member which biases the second movable part in the direction to separate from the base part; and a locking mechanism which (i) locks the second movable part against a biasing force of the second bias member when the second movable part is operated in the direction to approach the base part and (ii) unlocks the second movable part when at least a portion of the locked second movable part is operated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    The present invention is fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings, which are given byway of illustration only, and thus are not intended to limit the present invention, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a transformable toy in a first form according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the transformable toy in the first form; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the transformable toy in a second form; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the transformable toy in the second form; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the transformable toy in the second form; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a plan view showing how parts of the transformable toy are assembled; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  shows how parts on the front side of the transformable toy in the first form are assembled; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  shows how parts on the rear side of the transformable toy in the first form are assembled; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  show a state in which an engagement part engages with rotational parts and stops; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  show a state in which the engagement part disengages from the rotational parts; and 
           [0020]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are sectional views for explaining operation of a locking mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    In the following, a transformable toy according to an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a first form of a transformable toy  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the transformable toy  1  in the first form. Hereinafter, “upward and downward”, “right and left” and “front and rear” are based on the first form (the form of a toy car). 
         [0023]    The transformable toy  1  is reversibly transformed from/to the form of a toy car (first form) shown in  FIG. 1  to/from the form of a toy robot (second form) shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0024]    The transformable toy  1  includes a base part  10  ( FIG. 2 ), a movable part  20 , movable parts  30 , movable parts  40  and movable parts  50 . The movable parts  30 , the movable parts  40  and the movable parts  50  are arranged bilateral-symmetrically, and the same reference numerals are given to the right and left parts. One of the right and left movable parts  30 , one of the right and left movable parts  40  and one of the right and left movable parts  50  are described, and description of the others is omitted unless otherwise specified. 
         [0025]    As shown in the bottom view of  FIG. 2 , the base part  10  constitutes a portion of a chassis of the toy car. The base part  10  also constitutes a head portion A and a trunk portion which includes a chest portion B and a hip portion C of the toy robot. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the movable part  20  constitutes a hood  21 , a windshield  22 , a roof  23  and door glasses  24  of the toy car. When the transformable toy  1  is transformed into the toy robot (second form), the movable part  20  rises from the base part  10  as shown in  FIG. 3  and constitutes a back portion-related part D ( FIG. 4 ). The back portion-related part D is a protector to protect the back side of the head portion A and the trunk portion including the chest portion B and the hip portion C of the toy robot. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the movable part  30  constitutes a grille  31  and a fender  32  of the toy car. When the transformable toy  1  is transformed into the toy robot (second form), as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the right and left movable parts  30  operate in directions in which the front end parts thereof separate from each other, and accordingly the right and left movable parts  30  are in forms of standing on the outer sides of shoulder portions of the toy robot. The movable parts  30  constitute a shoulder portion-related part E to protect the head portion A of the toy robot from the sides as a protector. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the movable part  40  constitutes a front wheel  41 , a door  42  and the like of the toy car. When the transformable toy  1  is transformed into the toy robot (second form), as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the right and left movable parts  40  operate in directions in which the rear parts of the right and left doors  42  separate from each other. Between the right and left doors  42 , arm portions F 1  ( FIG. 2 ) of the toy robot are disposed in an integrated manner. The movable parts  40  constitute a portion of an arm portion-related part F. The arm portion-related part F includes the arm portions F 1 , and the front wheels  41  and the doors  42  protect the arm portions F 1 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the movable part  50  constitutes a rear wheel  51 , a fender  52  and a wing  53  of the toy car. When the transformable toy  1  is transformed into the toy robot (second form), as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the right and left movable parts  50  operate in directions in which the rear end parts thereof separate from each other. The movable parts  50  constitute a portion of a leg portion-related part G. The leg portion-related part G includes leg portions G 1 , and the leg portions G 1  are attached to the base part  10  in such a way as to be spread and closed. 
         [0030]    Next, how the movable parts  30  and the movable parts  40  are attached to the base part  10  is described. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , inside the base part  10 , two rotational parts  62  which rotate on a shaft  61  are disposed. These two rotational parts  62  are disposed in such a way as to cross each other, whereby center parts thereof are on top of each other. The two rotational parts  62  are supported by the base part  10  through the shaft  61  at the superposing part (the center parts). The right and left rotational parts  62  are properly bent in such a way that their end parts corresponding to each other are equal in level (height). Parts attached to the two rotational parts  62  are bilateral-symmetrically attached thereto, and the same reference numerals are given to the parts attached thereto. Attachment of the parts to one of the right and left rotational parts  62  is described, and description of attachment of the parts to the other is omitted unless otherwise specified. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the right and left rotational parts  62  are biased by a spring  62   a  in directions X 1  indicated by arrows. In the embodiment, the spring  62   a  is a coil spring but may be a torsion spring. That is, any spring can be used as the spring  62   a  as long as the right and left rotational parts  62  are biased in the directions X 1 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the front end part of each rotational part  62  is connected to one end part of a lever  64  through a shaft  63 . The middle part of the lever  64  is attached to the base part  10  through a shaft  65  in such a way that the lever  64  rotates. The other end part of the lever  64  is attached to a shaft  66  with which the movable part  30  is provided. Although not being particularly limited, the other end part of the lever  64  is fixed to the shaft  66 , with which the movable part  30  is provided, and when the lever  64  rotates on the shaft  65 , the movable part  30  operates with the lever  64 . 
         [0034]    In addition, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the movable part  40  is attached to the shaft  66 , with which the movable part  30  is provided, in such a way as to rotate. The movable part  40  is also attached to one end part of a link  68  through a shaft  67  in such a way as to rotate. The other end part of the link  68  is attached to the base part  10  through a shaft  69  in such a way that the link  68  rotates. Consequently, the lever  64 , the movable part  40 , the link  68  and the base part  10  constitute a four-bar linkage, and the lever  64  constitutes its input link. 
         [0035]    When the rotational part(s)  62  in the first form rotates in the direction X 1  shown in  FIG. 7 , the lever  64  rotates on the shaft  65  in the clockwise direction, the movable part  30  rotates on the shaft  65  in the clockwise direction, and the movable part  40  operates in a direction X 2  indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 7  owing to the four-bar linkage. Thereby, the movable parts  30  and the movable parts  40  of the transformable toy  1  change their forms for the toy robot from those for the toy car. 
         [0036]    Next, how the movable parts  50  are attached to the base part  10  is described. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , one end part of a link  72  is connected to the rear end part of each rotational part  62  through a shaft  71  in such a way that the link  72  rotates. The other end part of the link  72  is connected to a shaft  73  in such a way that the link  72  rotates, the shaft  73  with which the groin part of the leg portion G 1  is provided. The leg portion G 1  is connected to the base part  10  through a shaft  74  near the shaft  73  in such a way as to rotate. 
         [0038]    When the rotational part(s)  62  in the first form rotates in the direction X 1  shown in  FIG. 7  or  8 , the leg portion G 1  rotates in a direction X 3  indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0039]    The leg portion G 1  is connected to the movable part  50  through links  75  and  76 . The link  75 , the movable part  50 , the link  76  and the leg portion G 1  constitute a four-bar linkage, and the lever  75  constitutes its input link. The marks  in  FIG. 8  represent shafts. 
         [0040]    One end part of the link  75  is provided with a pinion  81 . The pinion  81  meshes with a rack  82   a  of a rack part  82 . One end part of the rack part  82  is connected to the base part  10  through a shaft  83  in such away that the rack part  82  rotates. The rack part  82  is bent at some point so that the rack part  82  is partly inserted into the leg portion G 1  and the rack  82   a  of the rack part  82  meshes with the pinion  81  in the leg portion G 1 . 
         [0041]    When the leg portion G 1  rotates in the direction X 3  shown in  FIG. 8 , the rack part  82  rotates on the shaft  83  in the counterclockwise direction, and the rack  82   a  of the rack part  82  rotates the pinion  81  in the clockwise direction and rotates the link  75  on the shaft  77  in the clockwise direction. Thereby, the movable part  50  moves to the tip side of the leg portion G 1 , and as shown in  FIG. 5 , an inclined plane  85   a  of the leg portion G 1  and an inclined plane  85   b  of the movable part  50  contact with each other, the movable part  50  engages with the leg portion G 1 , and the movable part  50  as an outside-leg-portion part G 2  is placed at its normal position in the toy robot. Thereby, the movable parts  50  of the transformable toy  1  change their forms for the toy robot from those for the toy car. 
         [0042]    Next, how an engagement part  91  and the movable part  20  are attached to each other is described. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the engagement part  91  is attached to the lower side of the movable part  20  through a not-shown attachment part. As shown in  FIGS. 9A to 11B , the engagement part  91  is cylindrical, and the diameter of the tip part thereof gradually becomes smaller in the downward direction. At a portion of the outer circumference of the engagement part  91 , a slit  91   a  extending in the upward and downward direction is formed. In addition, the engagement part  91  is provided with a rod  92 . The rod  92  is attached to the engagement part  91  in such a way as to appear from and disappear into the engagement part  91 . On the rod  92 , a head  92   a  having a diameter larger than that of the rod  92  is formed. The head  92   a  is disposed in the engagement part  91 . Between the head  92   a  and the upper face of the engagement part  91  inside the engagement part  91 , a spring  93  is placed. The rod  92  is biased by the spring  93  in a direction (downward direction) in which the rod  92  appears from the engagement part  91 . The tip of the rod  92  is fixed to the base part  10  by a screw  92   b.    
         [0044]    In the case where the movable part  20  descends and the large diameter part of the engagement part  91  is inserted between the right and left rotational parts  62  as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the right and left rotational parts  62  rotate in directions X 4  indicated by arrows in  FIG. 9B  against the biasing force of the spring  62   a . On the other hand, in the case where the movable part  20  rises and the rod  92  is inserted between the right and left rotational parts  62  as shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the right and left rotational parts  62  rotate in directions X 5  indicated by arrows in  FIG. 10B  by the biasing force of the spring  62   a.    
         [0045]    Next, a locking mechanism  94  of the movable part  20  is described. 
         [0046]    The locking mechanism  94  includes a lever  94   a . An operation part  94   b  of the lever  94   a  constitutes a portion of the windshield  22 . The lever  94   a  is attached to the movable part  20  in such a way as to rotate on a shaft  94   c . Of the lever  94   a , the side opposite to the side where the operation part  94   b  is disposed, with the shaft  94   c  in between, hangs down and is provided with a claw part  94   d  at the tip part. The lever  94   a  is biased by a spring (not shown) in such a way that the claw part  94   d  enters the slit  91   a . When the rod  92  disappears into the engagement part  91 , the claw part  94   d  goes under the head  92   a  as shown in  FIG. 11A  and locks the rod  92  at the risen (high) position. On the other hand, when the operation part  94   b  of the lever  94   a  is pushed as shown in  FIG. 11B  in the state shown in  FIG. 11A , the locking is released, and the rod  92  appears from the engagement part  91  by the biasing force of the spring  93 . When the rod  92  appears from the engagement part  91 , the movable part  20  rises by the reaction force. Thereby, the movable part  20  of the transformable toy  1  changes its form for the toy robot from that for the toy car. 
         [0047]    According to the transformable toy  1  configured as described above, the following advantageous effects are obtained. 
         [0048]    First, when the engagement part  91  operates in one direction, the transformable toy  1  takes the first form, and when the engagement part  91  operates in the other direction, the transformable toy  1  takes the second form by the biasing forces of the springs  62   a  and  93 , so that the transformable toy  1  can be reversibly transformed with a simple operation. 
         [0049]    Second, the movable parts  30 , the movable parts  40  and the movable parts  50  operate in a plane which intersects at right angles to the shaft  61 , so that the transformable toy  1  can be transformed in a state in which the transformable toy  1  is placed on a table or the like, and therefore the transformable toy  1  can be easily transformed with one hand. 
         [0050]    Third, the engagement part  91  is attached to the rod  92  which appears from and disappears into the engagement part  91  by reciprocating in the direction parallel to the shaft  61 , and the tip of the rod  92  is fixed to the base part  10 , so that the base part  10  and the movable part  20  can be connected to each other with a simple configuration. 
         [0051]    Fourth, each of the right and left rotational parts  62  is supported by the shaft  61  at the middle point in the longitudinal direction, the movable part  30  and the movable part  40  are attached to one end part of each of the right and left rotational parts  62 , and the movable part  50  is attached to the other end part thereof, so that the movable parts  30 ,  40  and  50  can be operated in various directions, and therefore the transformable toy  1  is highly interesting. 
         [0052]    Fifth, the base part  10  is provided with the head portion A and the trunk portion including the chest portion B and the hip portion C of the toy robot, and the movable parts  40  and the movable parts  50  constitute a portion of the arm portion-related part F and a portion of the leg portion-related part G of the toy robot, respectively, so that the transformable toy  1  can be transformed dynamically. 
         [0053]    Sixth, when the rotational parts  62  operate, the four-bar linkages operate, and in the case where the transformable toy  1  is transformed into the second form, the outside-leg-portion parts G 2  move to their normal positions in the second form, so that various types of transformation of the transformable toy  1  can be enjoyed. 
         [0054]    In the above, an embodiment of the present invention is described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and it is needless to say that the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0055]    For example, in the embodiment, the locking mechanism  94  is configured in such a way that the claw part  94   d  locks the rod  92  by hooking the head  92   a  formed on the rod  92 . However, a push latch using a magnet may be used for the locking mechanism  94 , the push latch performing locking when pushed once and performing unlocking when pushed twice. 
         [0056]    Further, in the embodiment, the right and left rotational parts  62  rotate on the same shaft  61 . However, the rotational parts  62  may be attached to different shafts which are arranged in parallel, respectively. 
         [0057]    Further, in the embodiment, the transformable toy  1  is transformed from/to the form of a toy car to/from the form of a toy robot. However, the transformation may be performed from/to the form of another type of toy vehicle to/from the form of a toy animal. 
         [0058]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-002927 filed on Jan. 10, 2014, the entire disclosure of which, including the description, claims, drawings and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.