Patent Publication Number: US-11648459-B2

Title: Fusible toy bead

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/226,701, filed Dec. 20, 2018, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-250580, filed on Dec. 27, 2017, the entire contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a fusible toy bead made of a water-soluble resin. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Fusible toy beads made of a water-soluble resin are known. For example, JP-U-3131292 discloses a toy bead set which employs spherical fusible beads made of a water-soluble resin. JP-A-2013-143986 discloses a transparent polyhedral fusible toy bead made of a water-soluble resin. 
     For example, a user can play using such fusible toy beads in the following manner. First, spherical or polyhedral fusible toy beads are selected according to a desired pattern and put on a holding tray which is formed with recesses. In this state, the fusible toy beads are in contact with each other. Then water is sprayed over the fusible toy beads using a sprayer or the like, whereby the fusible toy beads are moistened. As a result, the fusible toy beads melt and fusible toy beads that are in contact with each other are connected together. If they are dried as they are, they harden while they are kept connected together. Alternatively, it is possible to harden fusible toy beads that are layered. In this manner, the user can play pleasantly by making an assembly of fusible toy beads while selecting spherical ones and polyhedral ones according to a desired pattern or shape. 
     SUMMARY 
     For example, an assembly of fusible toy beads is produced using plural fusible toy beads only. For another example, one sometimes plays in such a manner as to form holes or the like in an assembly of fusible toy beads and insert, into the holes or the like, other things as decorative members (e.g., jewel-like toys or marbles). A produced assembly of fusible toy beads may be attached to a bag, clothes, or the like as an ornament. For the purpose of attaching other things to an assembly of fusible toy beads by inserting the former into the latter or bring an assembly of fusible toy beads outdoors as an ornament, there may occur a case that the bonding strength of fusible toy beads is insufficient. 
     An object of one or more embodiments of the present invention is to provide a fusible toy bead capable of increasing the bonding strength of fusible toy beads. 
     A fusible toy bead according to one or more embodiments of the present invention includes a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a fusible toy bead capable of increasing the bonding strength of fusible toy beads. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a fusible toy bead according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view showing an example use of a toy bead set that employs fusible toy beads according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is an enlarged perspective view of part of the fusible toy bead set shown in  FIG.  2    which employs fusible toy beads according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a fusible toy bead according to a first modification of the embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of a fusible toy bead according to a second modification of the embodiment. 
         FIGS.  6 A- 6 C  are a plan view, a front view, and a perspective view, respectively, of a fusible toy bead according to a third modification of the embodiment. 
         FIGS.  7 A- 7 C  are a plan view, a front view, and a perspective view, respectively, of a fusible toy bead according to a fourth modification of the embodiment. 
         FIGS.  8 A- 8 C  are a plan view, a front view, and a perspective view, respectively, of a fusible toy bead according to a fifth modification of the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the drawings. As shown in  FIG.  1   , a fusible toy bead  10  is formed with plural protrusions  12  and recesses  13 . 
     Each protrusion  12  has plural (i.e., four) quadrilateral flat surfaces  12   a - 12   d . The flat surfaces  12   a - 12   d  form a peak  12   e  by being combined together in such a manner that adjoining ones of them share one side. For example, a flat surface  12   a - 1  shares one side with each of adjoining flat surfaces  12   b - 1  and  12   d - 1 . 
     Plural protrusions that are adjacent to each protrusion  12  are arranged radially. For example, six protrusions  12 - 2  to  12 - 7  that are adjacent to a protrusion  12 - 1  are arranged radially. Any of the flat surfaces  12   a - 12   d  of each protrusion  12  is continuous with any of the flat surfaces  12   a - 12   d  of the adjacent protrusion  12 . In this manner, the fusible toy bead  10  according to the embodiment has 18 protrusions  12  and hence has 72 flat surfaces (flat surfaces  12   a - 12   d ). 
     Each recess  13  is formed by connecting three flat surfaces (three of flat surfaces  12   a - 12   d ), opposed to each other, of three adjacent protrusions  12 . For example, a recess  13 - 1  is formed by connecting three flat surfaces  12   a - 1 ,  12   b - 4 , and  12   d - 5 , opposed to each other, of the three adjacent protrusions  12 - 1 ,  12 - 4 , and  12 - 5 . More specifically, the three flat surfaces  12   a - 1 ,  12   b - 4 , and  12   d - 5  which are opposed to each other are connected to each other so as to share, in forming the recess  13 - 1 , sides of the three flat surfaces  12   a - 1 ,  12   b - 4 , and  12   d - 5 , not shared with any of flat surfaces  12   b - 1 ,  12   d - 1 ,  12   a - 4 ,  12   c - 4 ,  12   a - 5 , and  12   c - 5 , adjoining the three flat surfaces  12   a - 1 ,  12   b - 4 , and  12   d - 5 , and contributing to the formation of the protrusions  12 - 1 ,  12 - 4 , and  12 - 5 , are connected to each other. Each recess  13  has one recess bottom  13   e  ( 13   e - 1 ). The thus-formed fusible toy bead  10  assumes a star shape when projected from at least one direction. 
     The fusible toy bead  10  is made of a water-soluble resin, more specifically, one obtained by kneading a resin containing polyvinyl alcohol. The resin to be used for forming the fusible toy bead  10  can be formed by selecting a transparent material, a light-transmitting material, or an opaque material as appropriate. Where the fusible toy bead  10  is formed using a transparent or translucent material, light incident on the fusible toy bead  10  is reflected repeatedly by protrusions  12  and recesses  13  or light that has transmitted through it is reflected repeatedly by protrusions  12  and recesses  13 . In the fusible toy bead  10  which is a 72-hedron, the distances between the flat surfaces  12   a - 12   d  of one protrusion  12  and those of another protrusion  12  are short. As a result, diffuse reflection of light occurs at the surfaces of the fusible toy bead  10  so as to produce high luminance light beams, whereby the fusible toy bead  10  looks brilliant. Furthermore, as mentioned above the fusible toy bead  10  may have a star-shaped projection, in which case it looks more beautiful. 
       FIG.  2    shows an example use of a toy bead set  80 . The toy bead set  80  is equipped with plural fusible toy beads  10  having the protrusions  12  and the recesses  13 , plural spherical fusible toy beads  22 , plural polyhedral fusible toy beads  24  (rhombic triacontahedron), plural resin-plated decorative toy beads  30 , and a holding tray  50 . 
     Like each fusible toy bead  10 , each fusible toy bead  22  and each fusible toy bead  24  are formed by kneading a resin containing polyvinyl alcohol and molding a resulting mixture into a transparent or opaque, colored or colorless sphere or polyhedron. 
     Each decorative toy bead  30  is made of a water-soluble resin and plated with resin. Thus, the surface of each decorative toy bead  30  is colored in gold, silver, or the like and exhibits high reflectivity. Each decorative toy bead  30  is held by arranging fusible toy beads  10 ,  22 , and  24  around it and melting and then hardening them. 
     The holding tray  50  is shaped like a rectangular plate and its surface is formed with plural circular recesses  52 . The recesses  52  are offset every row (or column). As a result, fusible toy beads  10 ,  22 , and  24  can be placed radially around each fusible toy bead  10 ,  22 , or  24  or decorative toy bead  30  that is set in a recess  52 . The diameter of each recess  52  is set smaller than the diameters of the fusible toy beads  10 ,  22 , and  24  etc. and the distance between the centers of adjacent recesses  52  is set so that two fusible toy beads  10  and  22 ,  22  and  24 , or  24  and  10  that are put in adjacent recesses  52  are in contact with each other or spaced from each other by only a very short distance. 
     A user can play using the toy bead set  80  in the following manner. First, the user puts plural fusible oy beads  10 ,  22 , and  24  and decorative toy beads  30  on the holding tray  50  so as to form a desired pattern. In the example of  FIG.  2   , a fusible toy bead assembly  40  is formed by arranging fusible toy beads  10 ,  22 , and  24  and decorative toy beads  30  in a desired manner so as to form a heart shape as a whole. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3    which is an enlarged view of part of the fusible toy bead assembly  40  shown in  FIG.  2   , adjacent fusible toy beads  10  are engaged with each other in such a manner that plural ones of the flat surfaces  12   a - 12   d  (see  FIG.  1   ) of a protrusion  12  of one fusible toy bead  10  are in contact with plural flat surfaces of a protrusion  12  of the other fusible toy bead  10 . Each of the spherical fusible toy beads  22  and the polyhedral fusible toy beads  24  is also in contact with plural flat surfaces of each of the fusible toy beads  10  located around it. 
     When water is sprayed, with a sprayer or the like, over the fusible toy bead assembly  40  which is put on the holding tray  50 , surface layers of the fusible toy beads  10 ,  22 , and  24  melt and the fusible toy beads  10 ,  22 , and  24  are connected to each other. Excess water drops to the recesses  52  of the holding tray  50  and is stored there. The fusible toy bead assembly  40  is thereafter dried as it is, whereby the fusible toy beads  10 ,  22 , and  24  harden being kept connected to each other. At this time, each of the fusible toy beads  10 ,  22 , and  24  that is in contact with plural ones of the flat surfaces  12   a - 12   d  of a protrusion  12  of a fusible toy had  10  has a larger contact area than each of spherical fusible toy beads  22  that are in contact with each other or each of polyhedral fusible toy beads  24  that are in contact with each other. This increases the bonding strength that is obtained when the fusible toy bead assembly  40  is hardened. 
     Next, descriptions will be made of modifications that are different in shape from the fusible toy bead  10  according to the embodiment of the invention. 
     Modification 1 
     A fusible toy bead  10 A shown in  FIG.  4    has plural protrusions  12 A and plural recesses  13 A. The protrusions  12 A are approximately semispherical. Plural protrusions  12 A adjacent to each protrusion  12 A are arranged radially in such a manner that their surfaces are connected to each other. More specifically, for example, six protrusions  12 A- 2  to  12 A- 7  are arranged radially around a protrusion  12 A- 1 . A recess  13 A (e.g., recess  13 A- 1 ) is formed at the center of three protrusions  12 A opposed to each other (e.g., protrusions  12 A- 1  to  12 A- 3 ). 
     Modification 2 
     A fusible toy bead  10 B shown in  FIG.  5    has plural protrusions  12 B and plural recesses  13 B. The protrusions  12 B are approximately semispherical. Plural protrusions  12 B adjoining each protrusion  12 B are arranged radially in such a manner that their surfaces are connected to each other. More specifically, for example, four protrusions  12 B- 2  to  12 B- 5  are arranged radially around a protrusion  12 B- 1 . A recess  13 B (e.g., recess  13 B- 1 ) is formed at the center of three protrusions  12 B opposed to each other (e.g., protrusions  12 B- 1  to  12 B- 3 ). 
     Modification 3 
     A fusible toy bead  10 C shown in  FIGS.  6 A- 6 C  has plural protrusions  12 C and plural recesses  13 C. As protrusions  12 C- 2  and  12 C- 4  are shown in  FIG.  6 B  in the form of side views, each of five protrusions  12 C (protrusions  12 C- 1  to  12 C- 5 ) extends in one direction, that is, the top-bottom direction, so as to have a circular-arc-shaped outer circumference. Each protrusion  12 C is formed so as to be elliptical in a front view (see the protrusion  12 C- 3  shown in  FIG.  6 B ) and to become narrower as the position goes toward the outside edge (see  FIGS.  6 A and  6 C ). In  FIG.  6 A  which is a plan view, the fusible toy bead  10 C assumes a star shape. That is, as shown in  FIG.  6 A , the fusible toy bead  10 C assumes a star shape when projected from at least on direction. A recess  13 C (recess  13 C- 1 ,  13 C- 2 ,  13 C- 3 ,  13 C- 4 , or  13 C- 5 ) which is long in the one direction, that is, the top-bottom direction, is formed between adjoining ones of the protrusions  12 C- 1  to  12 C- 5 . 
     Modification 4 
     A fusible toy bead  10 D shown in  FIGS.  7 A- 7 C  has plural protrusions  12 D and plural recesses  13 D. As protrusions  12 D- 2  and  12 D- 4  are shown in  FIG.  7 B  in the form of side views, each of five protrusions  12 D (protrusions  12 D- 1  to  12 D- 5 ) extends in one direction, that is, the top-bottom direction, so as to have a circular-arc-shaped outer circumference. Each protrusion  12 D is formed so as to become narrower as the position goes toward the outside edge (see  FIG.  7 A ) and to be connected to continuous spherical surfaces at its top end and bottom end, respectively as shown in  FIGS.  7 A and  7 C . In  FIG.  7 A  which is a plan view, the fusible toy bead  10 C assumes a star shape. That is, as shown in  FIG.  7 A , the fusible toy bead  10 D assumes a star shape when projected from at least one direction. A recess  13 D (recess  13 D- 1 ,  13 D- 2 ,  13 D- 3 ,  13 D- 4 , of  13 D- 5 ) which is long in the one direction, that is, the top bottom direction, is formed between adjoining ones of the protrusions  12 D- 1  to  12 D- 5 . 
     Modification 5 
     A fusible toy bead  10 E shown in  FIGS.  8 A- 8 C  has plural protrusions  12 E and plural recesses  13 E. As protrusions  12 E- 2  and  12 E- 4  are shown in  FIG.  8 B  in the form of side views, each of five protrusions  12 E (protrusions  12 E- 1  to  12 E- 5 ) extends in one direction, that is, the top-bottom direction, so as to have a circular-arc-shaped upper outer circumference and a straight lower outer circumference. Each protrusions  12 E is formed so as to become narrower as the position goes toward the outside edge (see  FIG.  8 A ), and is connected to a semispherical portion  15 E at its bottom end. As shown in  FIG.  8 A , the fusible toy bead  10 E assumes a star shape when projected from at least one direction. A recess  13 E (recess  13 E- 1 ,  13 E- 2 ,  13 E- 3 ,  13 E- 4 , or  13 E- 5 ) which is long in the one direction, that is, the top-bottom direction, is formed between adjoining ones of the protrusions  12 E- 1  to  12 E- 5 . 
     The above-described embodiment of the invention can provide fusible toy beads that are in the following aspects. 
     A fusible toy bead according to a first aspect includes a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses. 
     In the fusible toy bead, another fusible toy bead can be engaged with its protrusion and recess. Thus, the area of contact between fusible toy beads can be made larger than in conventional cases. This makes it possible to provide an assembly of fusible toy beads that is increased in the bonding strength of the fusible toy beads. 
     An assembly of fusible toy beads is less prone to be damaged. A user can play more pleasantly using an assembly of fusible toy beads by, for example, fitting another decorative member into the assembly or attaching the assembly to a bag, clothes, or the like. 
     In a fusible toy bead according to a second aspect, a shape projected from at least one direction assumes a star shape. 
     Since the fusible toy bead having this feature assumes a star shape when viewed from a prescribed direction, an assembly of fusible toy beads can be enhanced in the decoration effect. 
     In a fusible toy bead according to a third aspect, a plurality of second protrusions adjacent to a first projection of the plurality of protrusions are arranged radially. 
     In the fusible toy bead having this feature, the protrusions and the recesses can be arranged densely. Thus, the bonding strength of fusible toy beads can be increased. 
     In a fusible toy bead according to a fourth aspect, at least one of the plurality of protrusions is formed by a plurality of flat surfaces and has one peak. 
     In the fusible toy bead having this feature, it is possible to have an assembly of fusible toy beads look beautiful by causing diffuse reflection of light at plural surfaces. Furthermore, since two fusible toy beads are engaged with each other in such a manner that the peak of a protrusion of one fusible toy bead goes deep into the bottom of a recess of the other, the bonding strength of fusible toy beads can be increased further. 
     In a fusible toy bead according to a fifth aspect, the plurality of flat surfaces are four quadrilateral flat surfaces. 
     In the fusible toy bead having this feature, since one protrusion is formed by four surfaces, a die layout that does not cause an undercut can be realized in the case of manufacturing a fusible toy bead by injection molding. 
     A fusible toy bead according to a sixth aspect, the number of the plurality of protrusions is 18, and the number of the plurality of flat surfaces is 72. 
     In the fusible toy bead having this feature, a polyhedral shape having many flat surfaces can be formed in a compact manner. Thus, it becomes possible to have an assembly of fusible toy beads look beautiful through diffuse reflection of light while increasing the contact area. 
     A fusible toy bead according to a seventh contains a transparent or light-transmitting material. 
     In the fusible toy bead having this feature, not only light shining on the fusible toy bead directly but also light that goes out after passing through the inside of the fusible toy bead is reflected by flat surfaces of a protrusion or a recess. And light that has passed though and exited from one protrusion is reflected by another protrusion or a recess. These make the fusible toy bead look more brilliant. As a result, it is possible to have the fusible toy bead look more beautiful and to provide a fusible toy bead that is enhanced in the decoration effect. 
     Although one or more embodiments of the invention have been described above, the invention is not limited to the embodiments and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.