Patent Publication Number: US-9415322-B2

Title: Combinable transformable toy

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a combinable transformable toy in which a mounting body as an imitation of a dress etc. can be attached to a doll body for playing. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     According to the background art, there have been known toys each of which is designed to be provided with a doll body and a dress-up member so that a trunk portion of the doll body can be covered with the dress-up member. For example, JP-UM-A-63-56078 discloses a transformable doll toy which is designed in such a manner that a dress-up member is attracted to a doll body by a magnetic substance. According to such a toy, the dress-up member can be mounted on the doll body so that the doll body can be transformed easily. 
     However, in the aforementioned background-art toy, the dress-up member is mounted as it is. For this reason, there has been a demand for toys richer in unexpectedness. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a combinable transformable toy in which when a mounting body is attached to a doll body for playing, not only can the doll body change in appearance but also the mounting body can be transformed in conjunction with the attachment operation. 
     The present invention has been accomplished in order to solve the foregoing problem. The invention has the following characteristics. 
     According to a first configuration of the invention, there is provided a combinable transformable toy including: a doll body; and a mounting body which can be externally mounted on the doll body; wherein: the mounting body is provided with a base portion in which an insertion port is opened, a movement portion which is provided to be movable relatively to the base portion, and a transformation portion which is coupled to the movement portion; and when a head portion of the doll body is inserted from the insertion port, the movement portion is pushed by the doll body to move together with the doll body so that the transformation portion can be transformed in conjunction with the movement of the movement portion. 
     According to a second configuration of the invention, the mounting body covers the doll body while exposing a face of the doll body. 
     According to a third configuration of the invention, the movement portion is attached to the base portion slidably. 
     According to a fourth configuration of the invention, the transformation portion is urged in an opening direction by a spring but locked against urging force of the spring in a state prior to transformation so that when the movement portion moves, the transformation portion can be unlocked and transformed. 
     According to a fifth configuration of the invention, the transformation portion is made of a soft material, and folded and received inside the base portion or the movement portion in a state prior to transformation. 
     According to the first configuration of the invention as described above, when the head portion of the doll body is inserted from the insertion port of the mounting body, the movement portion of the mounting body is pushed by the doll body to move together with the doll body so that the transformation portion can be transformed in conjunction with the movement of the movement portion. That is, when the mounting body is attached to the doll body for playing, not only can the doll body change in appearance but also the mounting body can be transformed in conjunction with the attachment operation. Accordingly, the combinable transformable toy can be made rich in unexpectedness. 
     In addition, according to the second configuration of the invention as described above, the mounting body covers the doll body while exposing the face of the doll body. Accordingly, the combinable transformable toy can be made to provide a way to be played as a dress-up toy. 
     In addition, according to the third configuration of the invention as described above, the movement portion is attached to the base portion slidably. That is, when the movement portion slides against the base portion, the mounting body is transformed with mechanical movement. Accordingly, the structure can be made suitable for a toy for boys such as a transformable robot. 
     In addition, according to the fourth configuration of the invention as described above, the transformation portion is urged in the opening direction by the spring but locked against the urging force of the spring in the state prior to transformation so that when the movement portion moves, the transformation portion can be unlocked and transformed. Accordingly, the mounting body can be transformed in a comparatively simple structure. 
     In addition, according to the fifth configuration of the invention, as described above, the transformation portion is made of the soft material, and folded and received inside the base portion or the movement portion in the state prior to transformation. According to such a configuration, transformation can be completed when the folded transformation portion is simply pulled out. In this manner, the structure can be made simple. In addition, since the transformation portion is made of the soft material, for example, a soft image can be given to the toy to thereby make it suitable for girls. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a combinable transformable toy according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a mounting body according to the first embodiment when seen obliquely from the front; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting body according to the first embodiment when seen obliquely from the back; 
         FIGS. 4A to 4E  are explanatory views of states in which the mounting body is mounted on a doll body according to the first embodiment when seen obliquely from the front; 
         FIGS. 5A to 5E  are explanatory views of the states in which the mounting body is mounted on the doll body according to the first embodiment when seen obliquely from the back; 
         FIG. 6  is an external perspective view of a combinable transformable toy according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a mounting body according to the second embodiment when seen obliquely from the front; 
         FIGS. 8A to 8D  are explanatory views of states in which the mounting body is mounted on a doll toy according to the second embodiment when seen obliquely from the front; and 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are explanatory views showing the internal structure of the mounting body according to the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     First Embodiment 
     A first embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 ,  FIGS. 4A to 4E  and  FIGS. 5A to 5E . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a combinable transformable toy  10  according to the embodiment is configured of a doll body  11  and a mounting body  20 . 
     The doll body  11  is formed as an imitation of a human figure. For example, the doll body  11  is made of a material having certain hardness such as plastic. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the doll body  11  is provided with a head portion  12 , a trunk portion  14 , arm portions  15 , and leg portions  16 . In the embodiment, the head portion  12 , the truck portion  14  and the leg portions  16  are connected integrally and immovably. On the other hand, the arm portions  15  are coupled to the trunk portion  14  swingably. Each of the arm portions  15  can swing in a closing direction (direction along the trunk portion  14 ) in the state shown in  FIG. 1 . Incidentally, the doll body  11  is not limited to the imitation of the human figure but may be an imitation of any other living thing such as an animal or a non-living character (such as a personified non-living thing or a robot). 
     The mounting body  20  is a member which is formed to be able to be externally mounted on the doll body  11 . The mounting body  20  has the following configuration. That is, the mounting body  20  has a form irrelevant to a dress for the doll body  11  before the mounting body  20  is mounted on the doll body  11 . However, after the mounting body  20  is mounted on the doll body  11 , the mounting boy  20  is transformed into the form of a dress for the doll body  11 . In the embodiment, the mounting body  20  in the state of not being mounted on the doll body  11  has the form of a car. Incidentally, the form of the mounting body  20  prior to transformation is not limited to the car, but can be set as anything such as another vehicle, an animal, a plant or food. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the mounting body  20  according to the embodiment is provided with a base portion  22 , a movement portion, and a transformation portion. 
     The base portion  22  is a portion which covers the leg portions  16  of the doll body  11  when the mounting body  20  is mounted on the doll body  11 . To mount the mounting body  20  on the doll body  11 , the base portion  22  is held by a hand and then put on the doll body  11 . In this manner, the mounting body  20  can be mounted on the doll body  11 . An insertion port  22   a  into which the doll body  11  can be inserted is opened in the base portion  22 . 
     A lid member  23  for covering the insertion port  22   a  is attached to the base portion  22  according to the embodiment. The lid member  23  according to the embodiment is a member made of a soft material (such as rubber) and a fixation portion  23   a  provided at a part of a rim of the lid member  23  is fixed to the base portion  22 . The lid member  23  is pushed into the insertion port  22   a  when the doll body  11  is inserted from the insertion port  22   a.    
     The movement portion is a portion which is attached to the base portion  22  slidably. The movement portion according to the embodiment includes a slide member  24  and a head member  31 . 
     The slide member  24  is a portion which covers the trunk portion  14  of the doll body  11  when the mounting portion  20  is mounted on the doll body  11 . The slide member  24  is provided with slide grooves  24   a  on its opposite sides. When the slide grooves  24   a  are engaged with engagement protrusions  22   b  formed on the inner sides of the base portion  22 , the slide member  24  can be guided slidably on the base portion  22 . When the doll body  11  is inserted from the insertion port  22   a  to push the lid member  23  into the insertion port  22   a , the slide member  24  is pushed to slide into the depth of the insertion port  22   a  by the lid member  23 . The slide member  24  is provided with upper support portions  24   b  and side support portions  24   c  on its opposite sides. The upper support portions  24   b  serve for supporting a front member  26  rotatably. The front member  26  will be described later. The side support portions  24   c  serve for supporting upper arm members  27  rotatably. The upper arm members  27  will be described later. 
     The head member  31  is a portion which covers the head portion  12  of the doll body  11  when the mounting body  20  is mounted on the doll body  11 . The head member  31  is attached to the slide member  24  slidably. Specifically, the head member  31  is provided with a head covering portion  31   a  and a slide portion  31   b . The head covering portion  31   a  covers the head portion  12  of the doll body  11 . The slide portion  31   b  is provided at the rear of the head covering portion  31   a  so as to hang down therefrom. The slide portion  31   b  is guided slidably along the rear surface of the slide member  24 . Incidentally, the slide portion  31   b  is covered with a cover member  32  fixed to the rear surface of the slide member  24 . The slide member  31   b  is interposed between the cover member  32  and the slide member  24  so that the slide member  31   b  can be held slidably on the slide member  24 . In this manner, the head member  31  supported by the cover member  32  and the side member  24  slidably is pushed to slide onto the head portion  12  of the doll body  11  when the doll body  11  is mounted into the mounting body  20 . 
     The transformation portion is a portion which is coupled to the slide member  24  (movement portion). The transformation portion is a portion which is transformed in conjunction with movement of the slide member  24  when the mounting body  20  is mounted on the doll body  11 . The transformation portion according to the embodiment is provided with the front member  26  and a pair of arm portions  25 . 
     The front member  26  is a member which constitutes a front portion of the form of the car. The front member  26  is a member which is located in the vicinity of a chest portion of the doll body  11  when the mounting body  20  is mounted on the doll body  11 . The front member  26  is provided with rotatable engagement portions  26   a  engaged with the upper support portions  24   b  of the slide member  24  rotatably. The front member  26  can rotate with respect to the slide member  24  and around the rotatable engagement portions  26   a . The front member  26  is urged in an opening direction by springs (not shown) but locked against the urging forces of the springs in the state of the car prior to transformation. Specifically, in the state of the car prior to transformation, the front member  26  has a configuration in which locked portions  26   b  of the front member  26  are engaged with locking portions  22   c  provided as recesses in the base portion  22  so that the front member  26  can keep its closed state against the urging forces of the springs. When the slide member  24  moves upward in the state of the car prior to transformation, the front member  26  also moves upward integrally therewith. Thus, the engagement between the locking portions  22   c  and the locked portions  26   b  can be released. When the engagement between the locking portions  22   c  and the locked portions  26   b  is released, the front member  26  rotates frontward due to the urging forces of the springs so as to be transformed. 
     The arm portions  25  are members which are located in the vicinities of the arm portions  15  of the doll body  11  when the mounting body  20  is mounted on the doll body  11 . Each of the left and right arm portions  25  is provided with an upper arm member  27 , a shoulder member  28 , a lower arm member  29 , and a coupling member  30 . 
     The upper arm member  27  is provided with a rotatable engagement portion  27   a  which is engaged with the side support portion  24   c  of the slide member  24  rotatably. The upper arm member  27  can be rotated with respect to the slide member  24  and around the rotatable engagement portion  27   a . The upper arm member  27  is urged in an opening direction by the spring (not shown) but locked against the urging force of the spring in the state of the car prior to transformation. Specifically, in the state of the car prior to transformation, the upper arm member  27  has a configuration in which the upper arm member  27  folded in the closing direction enters the slide member  24  so that the upper arm member  27  can keep its closed state against the urging force of the spring. When the slide member  24  moves upward in the state of the car prior to transformation, the upper arm member  27  also moves upward integrally therewith to leave the slide member  24 . Thus, the engagement between the slide member  24  and the upper arm member  27  can be released. When the engagement between the upper arm member  27  and the slide member  24  is released, the upper member  27  rotates sideways due to the urging force of the spring so as to be transformed. 
     The shoulder member  28  is a member which is fixed to the upper arm member  27 . The shoulder member  28  is provided with an insertion hole  28   a  into which an insertion protrusion  27   b  of the upper arm member  27  is inserted and connected. In addition, the shoulder member  28  is also provided with a rotatable support portion  28   b  on which the coupling member  30  is supported rotatably. 
     The lower arm member  29  is a member which is provided in a distal end of the arm portion  25 . The lower arm member  29  is connected to the shoulder member  28  rotatably and slidably through the coupling member  30  which will be described later. The lower arm member  29  is provided with a slide hole  29   a  into which the coupling member  30  is inserted. 
     The coupling member  30  is a member for coupling the shoulder member  28  and the lower arm member  29  to each other. The coupling member  30  is provided with a prismatic insertion portion  30   a  which is inserted into the slide hole  29   a  of the lower arm member  29 , and a rotation portion  30   b  which is formed in an end portion of the insertion portion  30   a . The insertion portion  30   a  is inserted into the slide hole  29   a  slidably. The insertion portion  30   a  is formed so that the arm can be extended when the insertion portion  30   a  is pulled out by a hand. When the arm is extended, the coupling member  30  and the lower arm member  29  can be rotated with respect to the shoulder member  28  due to the rotation portion  30   b.    
     Next, motion when the doll body  11  is mounted into the mounting body  20  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4A to 4E  and  FIGS. 5A to 5E . 
     First, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  and  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the head portion  12  of the doll body  11  is inserted from the insertion port  22   a.    
     When the head portion  12  of the doll body  11  is inserted in the mounting body  20 , the slide member  24  and the head member  31  are pushed by the doll body  11  to move upward together with the doll body  11 , as shown in  FIGS. 4C and 4D  and  FIGS. 5C and 5D . When the slide member  24  moves upward, the engagement which restrains the front member  26  from rotating is released. Therefore, the front member  26  rotates frontward due to the urging forces of the springs. Similarly, when the slide member  24  moves upward, the engagement which restrains the upper arm members  27  (arm portions  25 ) from rotating is released. Therefore, the upper arm members  27  (arm portions  25 ) rotate frontward due to the urging forces of the springs. 
     Finally, as shown in  FIG. 4E  and  FIG. 5E , the mounting body  20  is transformed into the form of a robot type suit to cover the doll body  11 . On this occasion, the mounting body  20  covers the doll body  11  while exposing a face  13  of the doll body  11 . Incidentally, in the state posterior to transformation, the arm portions  15  of the doll body  11  swing in the closing direction so as to be received together with the trunk portion  14  inside the base portion  22  and the slide member  24 . 
     According to such an embodiment, when the head portion  12  of the doll body  11  is inserted from the insertion port  22   a  of the mounting body  20 , the slide member  24  of the mounting body  20  is pushed by the doll body  11  to move together with the doll body  11  so that the arm portions  25  and the front member  26  can be transformed in conjunction with the movement of the slide member  24 . That is, when the mounting body  20  is attached to the doll body  11  for playing, not only can the doll body  11  change in appearance but also the mounting body  20  can be transformed in conjunction with the attachment operation. Accordingly, the combinable transformable toy  10  can be made rich in unexpectedness. 
     In addition, the mounting body  20  covers the doll body  11  while exposing the face  13  of the doll body  11 . Accordingly, the combinable transformable toy  10  can be made to provide a way to be played as a dress-up doll. 
     In addition, the slide member  24  is attached to the base portion  22  slidably. That is, when the slide member  24  slides against the base portion  22 , the mounting body  20  is transformed with mechanism movement. Accordingly, the structure can be made suitable for a toy for boys such as a transformable robot. 
     In addition, the arm portions  25  and the front member  26  are urged in the opening direction by the springs, but locked against the urging forces of the springs in the state prior to transformation. When the slide member  24  moves, the arm portions  25  and the front member  26  can be unlocked and transformed. Accordingly, the mounting body  20  can be transformed in a comparatively simple structure. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 ,  FIGS. 8A to 8D , and  FIGS. 9A and 9B . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a combinable transformable toy  10  according to the embodiment is configured of a doll body  11  which is the same as that in the first embodiment, and a mounting body  40 . 
     The mounting body  40  according to the embodiment is a member which is formed to be able to be externally mounted on the doll body  11 . The mounting body  40  has the following configuration. That is, the mounting body  40  has a form irrelevant to a dress for the doll body  11  before the mounting body  40  is mounted on the doll body  11 . However, after the mounting body  40  is mounted on the doll body  11 , the mounting body  40  is transformed into the form of a dress for the doll body  11 . In the embodiment, the mounting body  40  in the state of not being mounted on the doll body  11  has the form of a cake. Incidentally, the form of the mounting body  40  prior to transformation is not limited to the cake, but can be set as anything. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the mounting body  40  according to the embodiment is provided with a base portion  41 , a movement portion  44  and a transformation portion  50 . 
     The base portion  41  is a portion which covers the vicinities of leg portions  16  of the doll body  11  when the mounting body  40  is mounted on the doll body  11 . To mount the mounting body  40  on the doll body  11 , the base portion  41  is held by a hand and then put on the doll body  11 . In this manner, the mounting body  40  can be mounted on the doll body  11 . An insertion port  41   a  into which the doll body  11  can be inserted is opened in the bottom of the base portion  41 . In addition, notch portions  41   b  are formed in opposite side portions of the base portion  41  so that arm portions  15  of the doll body  11  can be passed through the notch portions  41   b  when the mounting body  40  is mounted on the doll body  11 . 
     The movement portion  44  is a portion which is attached to the base portion  41  movably. The movement portion  44  according to the embodiment is coupled to the base portion  41  through the transformation portion  50  which will be described later. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the movement portion  44  is provided with a front cover  46 , a rear cover  47 , a pair of side covers  48 , and a top ornament  49 . 
     The front cover  46  and the rear cover  47  are portions which cover a head portion  12  of the doll body  11  when the front cover  46  and the rear cover  47  are joined and fixed to each other in the front/rear direction. The pair of side covers  48  are attached to opposite sides of the movement portion  44 . The pair of side covers  48  serve for covering the notch portions  41   b  of the base portion  41  when the mounting body  40  is in the form of the cake. Each of the side covers  48  according to the embodiment is shaped like an animal ear and also serves as an ornament of the movement portion  44 . In addition, the top ornament  49  is an ornament attached to the top portion of the movement portion  44 . 
     Incidentally, the movement portion  44  is provided with a swelling portion  44   a  in an outer circumferential portion of the vicinity of its lower end. The swelling portion  44   a  is engaged with a reduced diameter portion  41   c  of the base portion  41  so that the form of the cake can be maintained (see  FIG. 9A ). 
     The transformation portion  50  is a portion which covers the vicinity of a side head portion or the trunk portion  14  of the doll body  11  when the mounting body  40  is mounted on the doll body  11 . The transformation portion  50  according to the embodiment is made of a soft material such as rubber so that the transformation portion  50  can be bent and transformed easily. The transformation portion  50  is connected to the base portion  41  in the vicinity of its lower end through an inner cylinder  42 . The transformation portion  50  is connected to the movement portion  44  in the vicinity of its upper end through a fixation portion  45 . 
     Incidentally, notch portions  42   a  are provided in side portions of the inner cylinder  42  and in positions corresponding to the notch portions  41   b  of the base portion  41 . Slits (not shown) are provided in side portions of the transformation portion  50  so as to extend along the notch portions  42   a  of the inner cylinder  42  or the notch portions  41   b  of the base portion  41 . 
     In addition, the fixation member  45  is attached to the movement portion  44  through convex shaft portions  45   a . The fixation member  45  can swing with respect to the movement portion  44 . Incidentally, as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the transformation portion  50  is folded and received inside the base portion  41  or the movement portion  44  in the state of the cake prior to transformation. 
     Next, motion when the doll body  11  is mounted into the mounting body  40  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 8A to 8D . 
     First, as shown in  FIGS. 8A to 8B , the head portion  12  of the doll body  11  is inserted from the insertion port  41   a.    
     When the head portion  12  of the doll body  11  is inserted into the mounting body  40 , the transformation portion  50  and the movement portion  44  are pushed by the doll body  11  so as to move upward together with the doll body  11 , as shown in  FIG. 8C . When the transformation portion  50  moves upward, the transformation portion  50  folded and received inside the base portion  41  or the movement portion  44  is unfolded so as to be transformed. 
     Finally, as shown in  FIG. 8D , the mounting body  40  is transformed into the form of a dress to cover the doll body  11 . On this occasion, the mounting body  40  covers the doll body  11  while exposing a face  13  of the doll body  11 . Incidentally, the arm portions  15  of the doll body  11  stretch out sideways through the slits provided in the side portions of the transformation portion  50  and through the notch portions  41   b  and  42   a.    
     Incidentally, to restore the mounting body  40  to the original form of the cake, the doll body  11  is pulled out from the mounting body  40  and then the movement portion  44  is pushed into the base portion  41  so as to engage the swelling portion  44   a  with the reduced diameter portion  41   c , as shown in  FIG. 9A . Incidentally, the notch portions  41   b  are provided in the opening portions of the base portion  41 . Accordingly, when the movement portion  44  is pushed into the base portion  41 , an end edge of the base portion  41  is expanded elastically so that the swelling portion  44   a  and the reduced diameter portion  41   c  can be engaged with each other resiliently. 
     According to such an embodiment, when the head portion  12  of the doll body  11  is inserted from the insertion port  41   a  of the mounting body  40 , the movement portion  44  of the mounting body  40  is pushed by the doll body  11  to move together with the doll body  11  so that the transformation portion  50  can be transformed in conjunction with the movement of the movement portion  44 . That is, when the mounting body  40  is attached to the doll body  11  for playing, not only can the doll body  11  change in appearance but also the mounting body  40  can be transformed in conjunction with the attachment operation. Accordingly, the combinable transformable toy  10  can be made rich in unexpectedness. 
     In addition, the mounting body  40  covers the doll body  11  while exposing the face  13  of the doll body  11 . Accordingly, the combinable transformable toy  10  can be made to provide a way to be played as a dress-up doll. 
     In addition, the transformation portion  50  is made of the soft material, and folded and received inside the base portion  41  or the movement portion  44  in the state prior to transformation. According to such a configuration, transformation can be completed when the folded transformation portion  50  is simply pulled out. Thus, the structure can be made simple. In addition, the transformation portion  50  is made of the soft material. Accordingly, for example, a soft image can be given to the toy to thereby make it suitable for girls.