Abstract:
A spinning top toy including a body and a separate shaft portion. The body has a first hook and the shaft portion has a second hook. The body and the shaft portion are switchable between couplable and decouplable states depending on a relative rotational position. The first hook and the second hook are vertically aligned in the couplable state, and are vertically misaligned in the decouplable state. An urging unit brings an upper face of the first hook and a bottom face of the second hook into contact by an urging force of a spring in the couplable state. The body and the shaft portion enter the couplable state by turning and pushing. The body and the shaft portion engage each other by bringing the upper face of the first hook into contact with the bottom face of the second hook by the urging force of the spring.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a spinning top toy. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Some known battle games involving spinning top toys determine win and loss of the games by launching spinning top toys into each other such that the impact force knocks out the spinning top toys of the opponents or causes ejectable components on the bodies of the spinning top toys to pop off (for example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2). 
         [0003]    The spinning top toys described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 each include an ejectable component and a body (top body) which are engaged with a resilient member. The impact force generated by a collision of the spinning top toys disengages the ejectable component from the body, and the ejectable component is ejected upward by the urging force of the resilient member. 
       PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
       [0004]    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H9-38337 
         [0005]    Patent Document 2: Registered Utility Model No. 3109118 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
       [0006]    The spinning top toys (top bodies) described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have structures in which each component cannot be readily disassembled. Thus, the spinning top toys cannot be readily customized to achieve desired designs or performances of the spinning top toys. 
         [0007]    This is true for not only spinning top toys for battle games but also general spinning top toys including fixed bodies and shafts. 
         [0008]    An object of the present invention, which has been conceived in light of the issues described above, is to provide a spinning top toy that can be readily assembled or disassembled. 
       Means for Solving the Problem 
       [0009]    The first means is a spinning top toy having a predetermined rotational direction, comprising:
       a body, and   a shaft portion,   wherein the body and the shaft portion are separate pieces,   wherein the body has a first hook and the shaft portion has a second hook, the body and the shaft portion being switchable between a couplable state and a decouplable state depending on a relative rotational position around the axis of the shaft portion, the first hook and the second hook being vertically aligned in the couplable state, the first hook and the second hook being vertically misaligned in the decouplable state,   wherein the spinning top toy further comprises an urging unit that brings the upper face of the first hook and the bottom face of the second hook into contact by an urging force of a spring in the couplable state, and   wherein the body and the shaft portion enter the couplable state by turning the shaft portion in the decouplable state against the urging force of the spring in a direction opposite to the predetermined rotational direction relative to the body, and the body and the shaft portion engage each other by bringing the upper face of the first hook into contact with the bottom face of the second hook by the urging force of the spring.       
 
         [0016]    The second means is the spinning top toy according to the first means, further comprising:
       an adjuster ring that varies the performance of the spinning top toy, the adjuster ring being disposed between the body and the shaft portion in a coupled state of the body and the shaft portion.       
 
         [0018]    The third means is the spinning top toy according to the second means, wherein the adjuster ring comprises a fly wheel. 
         [0019]    The fourth means is the spinning top toy according to the second means or the third means, wherein the adjuster ring and the shaft portion are configured to vertically fit when at predetermined rotational positions relative to each other around the axis of the shaft portion and turn together between the decouplable state and the couplable state. 
         [0020]    The fifth means is the spinning top toy according to the fourth means, wherein the body has an arcuate slit and the adjuster ring has a tongue protruding upward to be disposed in the arcuate slit from below so that the rotation of the adjuster ring is limited relative to the body. 
         [0021]    The sixth means is the spinning top toy according to the fifth means, wherein the tongue is positioned at one end of the arcuate slit in the decouplable state, and the tongue is positioned at an opposite end of the arcuate slit in the couplable state. 
         [0022]    The seventh means is the spinning top toy according to the sixth means, wherein opposing surfaces of the body and the shaft portion have resistors that achieve stepwise control of the rotation of the shaft portion relative to the body from the couplable state to the decouplable state. 
         [0023]    The eighth means is the spinning top toy according to the seventh means, wherein the resistors comprise a plurality of depressions or projections disposed along the circumferential direction on one of the opposing surfaces and at least one of the other of the depressions and projections on the other opposing surface, the depressions and projections being capable of fitting to each other. 
       Effects of Invention 
       [0024]    According to the first means, a shaft separated from a body is brought close to the body and is turned in a predetermined direction relative to the body so as to couple the body and the shaft. In contrast, the shaft coupled with the body is turned in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction relative to the body so as to separate the body and the shaft. Thus, the spinning top toy can be readily assembled or disassembled. 
         [0025]    According to the second means, an adjuster ring, which can vary the performance of the toy, is simply disposed between the body and the shaft in the coupled state of the body and the shaft, and thus can be readily attached or detached. 
         [0026]    According to the third means, the adjuster ring is a fly wheel. Thus, the spinning top toy can stably spin for a long time. 
         [0027]    Conventional spinning top toys include integrated units of relatively heavy fly wheels and bodies. Thus, such spinning top toys have an advantage in “battles” because they include the heave fly wheels, which strike and apply large forces to the spinning top toys of the opponents and spin for a long time. The spinning top toy according to the third means also has such an advantage. In a battle game involving the spinning top toy according to the third means, the relatively heavy fly wheel and the shaft continue to spin after the body is attacked by a top of an opponent, while the body, which is lighter than the fly wheel, is readily affected by an external force (for example, an impact force generated through collision with a spinning top toy of the opponent or friction generated between two spinning top toys). The effect on the body increases as the weight of the fly wheel increases, and thus causes ready decoupling of the body and the shaft. According to the third means, competitiveness and strategic thinking are promoted. 
         [0028]    According to the fourth means, the adjuster ring and the shaft are vertically fit to each other at a predetermined relative rotational position, and thus they can be readily aligned. 
         [0029]    According to the fifth means, the turning of the adjuster ring relative to the body is limited so that relative positioning is facilitated. 
         [0030]    According to the sixth means, a tongue is disposed at one end of an arcuate slit in a decouplable state, and the tongue is disposed at the other end of the arcuate slit in a couplable state, facilitating relative positioning. 
         [0031]    According to the seventh and eighth means, the body and the shaft are not separated by a single strike applying an impact force to the body in a battle game. Thus, the players can enjoy playing the battle game for a long time. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates a spinning top toy according to an embodiment of the present invention in use. 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the spinning top toy according to the embodiment. 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is an exploded cross-sectional perspective view of the spinning top toy according to the embodiment. 
           [0035]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a decouplable state of a base, a body, and a flywheel of the spinning top toy according to the embodiment. 
           [0036]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a couplable state of the base, the body, and the flywheel of the spinning top toy according to the embodiment. 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an example launcher that rotationally drives the spinning top toy according to the embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]    Embodiments of a spinning top toy according to the present invention will be described now with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0039]    Overall Configuration 
         [0040]      FIG. 1  illustrates a spinning top toy according to an embodiment of the present invention in action.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the spinning top toy according to this embodiment.  FIG. 3  is an exploded cross-sectional perspective view of the spinning top toy according to this embodiment. In this specification, the terms “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” “front,” and “back” refer to the corresponding directions in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0041]    A spinning top toy  1  according to this embodiment can be used in “spinning top battle games.” Specifically, the spinning top toy  1  can be used in a battle game in which the spinning top toy of the winner collides with and dissembles a spinning top toy  1  of an opponent by the impact force, as illustrated on the right of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0042]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the spinning top toy  1  includes a shaft portion  10  constituting a lower segment, and an adjuster ring  30  and a body  40 , which together constitute an upper segment. 
         [0043]    Detailed Configuration 
       1. Shaft Portion  10   
       [0044]    The shaft portion  10  includes a rotary shaft  11  in the lower portion, a flange  12  in the middle portion, and a cylinder  13  in the upper portion. The rotary shaft  11 , the flange  12 , and the cylinder  13  are composed of synthetic resin. Alternatively, any material other than synthetic resin may be selected; for example, one or more of the rotary shaft  11 , the flange  12 , and the cylinder  13  may be composed of metal. 
         [0045]    The lower portion of the flange  12  has a substantial shape of an inverted cone outlined by steps leading from the flange  12  to the outer circumference of the rotary shaft  11 . 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , holes  14  are provided in the flange  12  and the cylinder  13  at two positions opposite to each other in the front and back direction across the axis of the rotary shaft  11 . The cylinder  13  and the lower portions of flange  12  have protrusions  15  at two positions opposite to each other in the left and right direction across the axis of the rotary shaft  11 . The outer surfaces of the protrusions  15  are flush with the outer circumferential surface of the flange  12 . 
         [0047]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , a column  16  is vertically disposed inside the cylinder  13 . The upper surface of the column  16  may be disposed at any position, for example, above the upper surface of the cylinder  13 . The upper end of the column  16  has hooks (second, hooks)  17  protruding radially outward from two positions opposite to each other in the front and back direction across the axis of the rotary shaft  11 . 
         [0048]    The shaft portion  10  includes a movable cylindrical segment  18  which is disposed inside the cylinder  13  and which surrounds the upper region of the outer circumference of the column  16 . The lower region of the outer circumferential surface of the movable segment  18  has projections  19  protruding radially outward from two positions opposite to each other in the front and back direction across the axis of the rotary shaft  11 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , the projections  19  fit into the holes  14 . The movable segment  18  can move vertically, but the upward movement is restricted by the upper edges of the holes  14 . The movable segment  18  is urged upward by a coil spring  20  wound around the column  16 . Normally, the projections  19  are in contact with the upper edges of the holes  14 , and the upper surface of the movable segment  18  is flush with the upper surface of the cylinder  13 . 
         [0049]    The upper surface of the movable segment  18  has radially extending linear projections  21  at two positions opposite to each other in the left and right direction across the axis of the rotary shaft  11 . 
         [0050]    2. Adjuster Ring  30   
         [0051]    According to this embodiment, the adjuster ring  30  is a fly wheel. This adjuster ring  30  is a plate ring. An annular step  31  is provided on the bottom surface of the adjuster ring  30  for receiving the flange  12  of the shaft  10  inserted from below. The upper surface of the adjuster ring  30  has protrusions  32  extending upward from two positions opposite to each other in the left and right direction across the axis of the rotary shaft  11 . Depressions  33  are provided in the bottom regions of the protrusions  32  for receiving the protrusions  15  of the shaft portion  10  inserted from below. The upper surface of the adjuster ring  30  has tongues  34  adjoining the outer faces of the protrusions  32  and extending upward. The tongues  34  protrude above the protrusions  32 . Instead of the fly wheel, the adjuster ring  30  may be the one that has additional protrusions on the outer circumferential surface for an effective attack on a spinning top toy  1  of an opponent or the one that has additional depressions on the outer circumferential surface for defense against an attack by a spinning top toy  1  of an opponent. Alternatively, such additional protrusions or depressions may be integrated with the fly wheel. 
         [0052]    3. Body  40   
         [0053]    The body  40  has a discoidal shape. With reference to  FIG. 2 , the body  40  includes a base  400  and a transparent cover  401  covering the base  400  and having a shape substantially identical to that of the base  400  in top view. 
         [0054]    Uneven profile  40   a  is formed on the outer circumference of the body  40 . A circular hole  41  is provided at the center of the base  400 . The circular hole  41  is covered with the transparent cover  401  from above. The bottom surface of the body  40  has an annular depression  42  for receiving the protrusions  32  of the adjuster ring  30  inserted from below. The inner circumferential wall  43   a  defining the annular depression  42  has hooks (first hooks)  44  at the bottom edge protruding radially inward from two positions opposite to each other in the front and back direction across the axis of the rotary shaft  11 . The bottom edge of the inner circumferential wall  43   a  has radially extending linear depressions  45  provided at a predetermined pitch along the circumference in two regions opposite to each other in the left and right direction across the axis of the rotary shaft  11 . 
         [0055]    A ceiling  43   b  defining the annular depression  42  of the body  40  has arcuate slits  46  through which the tongues  34  of the adjuster ring  30  are inserted from below. The arcuate slits  46  are long enough for the tongues  34  to move therein. 
         [0056]    Assembly 
         [0057]    An example of the assembly of the spinning top toy  1  will now be described. 
         [0058]    The protrusions  15  of the shaft portion  10  are aligned to the depressions  33  of the adjuster ring  30  from below, and the shaft portion  10  is fit to the adjuster ring  30 . This assembly is aligned with the body  40  from below. The tongues  34  of the adjuster ring  30  of the assembly are aligned to predetermined ends of the arcuate slits  46  of the body  40  ( FIG. 4A ). In this state, the hooks  17  of the shaft portion  10  and the hooks  44  of the body  40  are not vertically aligned. This state is referred to as a decouplable state. Subsequently, the shaft portion  10  of the assembly is urged toward the body  40 . As a result, the adjuster ring  30  is pushed against the bottom surface of the body  40 . Urge of the shaft portion  10  of the assembly toward the body  40  causes the bottom surface of the adjuster ring  30  to push the projections  19  of the shaft portion  10  downward against the urging force of the coil spring  20 . In this state, the hooks  17  of the shaft portion  10  are biased above the hooks  44  of the body  40 . The shaft portion  10  is turned together with the adjuster ring  30  relative to the body  40  until the tongues  34  move to the ends opposite to the predetermined ends ( FIG. 4B ). The adjuster ring  30  and the shaft portion  10  are turned relative to the body  40 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates the body  40  turned relative to the body  40  and the adjuster ring  30 . This vertically aligns the hooks  17  of the shaft portion  10  and the hooks  44  of the body  40 . This state is referred to as a couplable state. Releasing the hand of the user from the shaft portion  10  causes the bottom surfaces of the hooks  17  to come into contact with the upper surfaces of the hooks  44  of the body  40  by the urging force of the coil spring  20 , and the shaft portion  10 , the adjuster ring  30 , and the body  40  to couple each other, so as to assemble the spinning top toy  1 . 
         [0059]    How to Play 
         [0060]    An example of how to play with the spinning top toy  1  will now be described. 
         [0061]    In this example, a spinning top toy  1  engages in a “battle” with another spinning top toy  1 . 
         [0062]    The rotational force of the spinning top toy  1  is generated with a launcher  50 , such as that illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The launcher  50  includes an internal disk (not shown). The disk is urged in a first rotational direction by a spiral spring (not shown) . A handle  51  is then pulled to pull a string (not shown) wound around the disk so as to spin the disk, thereby spinning a top holder  53 . The spinning of the top holder  53  is transmitted to the spinning top toy  1  through fork  54  protruding downward so as to spin the spinning top toy  1 . The fork  54  is inserted into the arcuate slits  46  of the body  40 . Fully pulling the handle  51  of the launcher  50  stops the spinning of the disk and thus the spinning of the top holder  53 , but the spinning top toy  1  continues to spin due to inertia. The spinning top toy  1  follows the tilting faces  54   a  of the fork  54  and detaches from the top holder  53 . In  FIG. 5 , reference numeral  52  denotes a rod that can hide in the top holder  53 . When the spinning top toy  1  is mounted on the top holder  53 , the rod  52  is pushed into the top holder  53  by the upper surface of the spinning top toy  1 . The rod  52  detects the attachment or detachment of the spinning top toy  1 , for example. 
         [0063]    The spinning top toy  1  launched in this way spins in a predetermined field and collides with another spinning top toy  1  of an opponent. The impact force and friction generated by the collision generate a reactive force at the body  40  in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the shaft portion  10  and the adjuster ring  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4B . This causes the body  40  to spin in an opposite direction relative to the rotational direction of the shaft portion  10  and the adjuster ring  30 . 
         [0064]    This spinning causes each of the linear depressions  45  of the body  40  to engage the corresponding linear projections  21  of the shaft portion  10  one by one for positioning. At the position illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the hooks  44  of the body  40  detach from the hooks  17  of the shaft portion  10 , and the body  40  moves away from the shaft portion  10  by the urging force of the coil spring  20 . This dissembles the spinning top toy  1  as illustrated in the right of  FIG. 1 . 
       MODIFICATIONS OF EMBODIMENT OF PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0065]    The present invention should not be limited to the embodiment described above and may be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0066]    In the embodiment described above, the linear projections  21  of the shaft portion  10  and the linear depressions  45  of the body  40  are provided as rotation resistors between the shaft portion  10  and the body  40 . Alternatively, for example, projections and depressions having other shapes may be provided. The number of projections and depressions should not be limited to that according to the embodiment described above. The rotation resistors may be composed of rubber and disposed on the opposing surfaces of the shaft portion  10  and the body  40 , for example. In such a case, the shaft portion  10  and the body  40  spin relative to each other by an external impact force so as to gradually disengage from each other. 
         [0067]    In the embodiment described above, the spinning top toy  1  spins clockwise in top view. Alternatively, the spinning top toy  1  may spin counterclockwise in top view. In such a case, the shaft portion  10  and the adjuster ring  30  which are the same as above can be used while the body  40  is replaced with a different one so as to readily assemble a spinning top toy  1  in which the body  40  spins counterclockwise in top view relative to the shaft portion  10  and the adjuster ring  30 . 
         [0068]    In the embodiment described above, a battle game involving spinning top toys  1  and  1  that spin clockwise in top view is described. Alternatively, the battle game may involve spinning top toys  1  and  1  that spin counterclockwise in top view. 
         [0069]    Alternatively, the battle game may involve a spinning top toy  1  that spins clockwise in top view and another spinning top toy  1  that spins counterclockwise in top view. 
         [0070]    In such a case, the body  40  turns relative to the shaft portion  10  from the decouplable state to the couplable state due to the collision force and friction of the spinning top toys  1  and  1 . In other words, the shaft portion  10  and the body  40  turn to firmly engage with each other. Thus, the spinning top toy  1  cannot be readily disassembled by a collision force or friction in some cases. In such a case, the win or loss of the game can be based on knocking out of the spinning top toy  1  of the opponent. It should be noted that the battle game can involve three or more spinning top toys  1 . 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0071]    The present invention can be suitably applied to manufacturing of spinning top toys. 
       DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0072]      1  spinning top toy 
         [0073]      10  shaft portion 
         [0074]      17  hook (second hook) 
         [0075]      21  linear projection (projection) 
         [0076]      30  adjuster ring 
         [0077]      34  tongue 
         [0078]      40  body 
         [0079]      46  arcuate slit 
         [0080]      50  launcher