Patent Description:
The humanoid-robot block-type transformable toys disclosed in Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM> below are conventional.

These toys are basically such that the transformable toy is constituted by assembling regular hexahedron shaped blocks by way of the biasing force of rubber cords. That is to say, these transformable toys can be transformed into a state in which the outer shape is folded so as to have a box shape and a state in which the outer shape is extended so as to have a humanoid robot shape. Further, Patent Document <NUM> discloses a posable toy figure having a body, a head, and limbs that are held together by at least one elastic cord.

Here, there are currently no transformable block toys that represent complicated shapes with good aesthetics.

This is because conventional block-type transformable toys emphasize allowing a humanoid robot to take on various postures in order to enhance play. For this reason, hexahedral blocks are often used, and the angles formed by the surfaces constituting the blocks are essentially <NUM> degrees. When such hexahedral blocks are used, the blocks in contact with each other can be freely rotated, and a humanoid robot can be made to take various postures. For this reason, for example, the posture of the head can be turned in a direction that is impossible in reality, and since this is allowed, no thought was given to enhancing aesthetics.

This invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a block-type transformable toy capable of realizing shapes with complicated aesthetics, for example, various animal shapes, while ensuring degrees of freedom in folding.

Another object is to provide a block-type transformable toy with which it is easy to realize a coherent outer shape by reliably positioning the blocks relative to each other when the block-type transformable toy composed of blocks having a complicated shapes is folded.

In order to solve the aforementioned problems, in keeping with the main views of this invention, the following aspects are provided.

Note that features other than those described above are disclosed in the following description and drawings of the modes of embodiment of the invention.

Hereafter, one mode of embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> shows a monkey-shaped block-type transformable toy <NUM>, which is an animal-shaped block-type transformable toy of this mode of embodiment.

This monkey-shaped block-type transformable toy <NUM> represents a monkey by combining a plurality of blocks 2a, 3a-3b, 4a-4c, 5a-5c, 6a-6c, and 7a-7c, which make up a head portion <NUM>, a torso portion <NUM>, a right arm portion <NUM>, a left arm portion <NUM>, a right leg portion <NUM>, and left leg portion <NUM>. The block-type transformable toys of the prior art were designed as humanoid robots, but in this example of the invention, it is possible to represent a specific kind of animal by making a complicated shape, including by way of the manner in which the blocks 2a, 3a-3b, 4a-4c, 5a-5c, 6a-6c, and 7a-7c are combined with each other.

<FIG> shows a plan view of this monkey-shaped block-type transformable toy; <FIG> shows a rear view; <FIG> shows a bottom view; and <FIG> shows a right side view. Furthermore, <FIG> shows a perspective view.

Here, as shown in the rear view in <FIG>, each of blocks 2a-7c are urged in directions of approach to each other by first to third rubber cord members indicated by 8a-8c in the figure. That is to say, the head portion <NUM> and the torso <NUM> portion are assembled by way of extending a first rubber cord member 8a from the block 2a constituting the head portion <NUM> to the block 3b constituting the buttocks portion of the torso portion <NUM>, through the block 3a constituting the torso portion <NUM>, and engaging protuberances formed at both ends thereof in the blocks 2a and 3b at the two ends. The rubber cord members 8a-8c are actually embedded in the toy and cannot be seen from the outside but are shown visible therethrough in <FIG>.

Furthermore, the blocks 4a-4c and 5a-5c of the arm portions <NUM> and <NUM> are assembled and attached to the torso portion <NUM> by extending a second rubber cord member 8b from the block 4a constituting the hand of the right arm portion to the block 5a constituting the left arm portion, through the blocks 4b, 4c, 3a, 5c and 5b; and engaging protuberances formed at both ends thereof with the blocks 4c and 5c at the two ends.

Furthermore, the blocks 6a-6c and 7a-7c of the two legs are assembled onto the block 3b of the torso portion <NUM> by extending a third rubber cord member 8c from the block 6a constituting the foot portion of the right leg portion to the block 7a constituting the left leg portion through the blocks 6b, 6c, 3b, 7c, 7b, and engaging protuberances formed at both ends thereof with the blocks 6a and 7a at the two ends.

Then, by changing the mutual positional relationships between adjacent blocks, so that different surfaces contact each other, against the urging force of the rubber cord members 8a-8c, transformation is possible from the state of being extended as shown in <FIG>, to the state of being folded as shown in <FIG>.

Here, <FIG> shows a perspective view illustrating the state of being folded of this monkey-shaped block-type transformable toy; <FIG> shows a side view; <FIG> shows a rear view; <FIG> shows a plan view; <FIG> shows a front view; and <FIG> shows a bottom view.

Further, as described in the claims, the configuration is such that at least two blocks out of the plurality of blocks are in a state in which two surfaces of each are in contact with each other at the same time, whereby rotational movement around the rubber cord member is restricted.

Specifically, in this mode of embodiment, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the two blocks are the block 2a constituting the head portion <NUM> and the block 3a constituting the upper chest portion of the torso portion <NUM>, and, as a result of this configuration, displacement of the head portion <NUM> with respect to the torso <NUM> in the direction of rotational movement thereof is restricted. That is to say, in this mode of embodiment, the lower surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> (two surfaces referred to in the claims) of the block 2a constituting the head portion <NUM> are inclined to form an angle θ of <NUM> degrees (see <FIG>), and the upper surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> of block 3a constituting the torso portion <NUM> that simultaneously abut the two surfaces of the head portion form an angle of <NUM> degrees (value resulting from subtracting the angle of <NUM> degrees formed by the two lower surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> of the head portion <NUM> from <NUM> degrees).

Furthermore, since the two blocks 2a and 3a are urged in the direction of abutment against each other by the rubber cord member 8a, if rotational movement around the extension of the elastic cord member 8a (in the direction shown by arrow α) is attempted starting from the state in which the two surfaces are in contact with each other, the two surfaces <NUM>/<NUM> and <NUM>/<NUM> will obstruct each other such that the two blocks 2a and 3a will be driven against the urging force of the elastic cord member 8a in the direction of separation from each other (in the direction shown by arrow β). The configuration is thereby such that the rotational movement in the direction indicated by the arrow α is restricted, and when the hand is released, the position will return to the original position, that is, the position in which the two surfaces <NUM>/<NUM> and <NUM>/<NUM> abut.

Note that <FIG> is a plan view of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a rear view.

Furthermore, <FIG> are views showing a state in which the three blocks 2a, 3a, and 3b shown in <FIG> are folded.

When folding in this way, first, the head portion <NUM> is folded as shown in <FIG>.

In this state as well, two surfaces <NUM>/<NUM>, which mesh with the two surfaces <NUM>/<NUM> formed on the head portion <NUM>, are formed on the front surface of the block corresponding to the upper chest of the torso portion <NUM>, such that a state is produced in which these are in contact with each other. That is to say, the upper chest of the torso portion is formed with two adjacent surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> forming an angle of <NUM> degrees, so that the two surfaces <NUM>/<NUM> and <NUM>/<NUM> come into contact with each other.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the head portion <NUM> is formed with a slit <NUM> in the vertical direction in the back of the head portion. Furthermore, the torso portion <NUM> is formed with slits <NUM> that open in the directions of the upper surfaces <NUM>/<NUM> and the front surfaces <NUM>/<NUM>. As a result, the rubber cord member 8a is routed without being obstructed by the blocks 2a and 3a, and the head portion <NUM> can be folded as shown in <FIG>.

Furthermore, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the torso portion <NUM>, the block 3b constituting the lower abdomen of the body is attached to the lower part of the block 3a to which the head portion <NUM> is attached. The other end of the rubber cord member 8a is fixed to this block 3b.

These two blocks 3a and 3b are in contact with each other at one surface <NUM>/<NUM>, and in the state shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, can freely move in rotation (arrow α) around the rubber cord member 8a. In this respect, the angle of rotational movement is not restricted because these are not in contact with each other at two surfaces, as in the case of the head portion <NUM>.

On the other hand, the rear portion (buttocks) of the block 3b, which constitutes the lower abdomen, is provided with an inclined surface <NUM>, which is inclined at approximately <NUM> degrees with respect to the direction of the rubber cord member 8a, and an inclined surface <NUM> is provided at the same angle in a corresponding portion in the abdomen portion of the block 3a, which constitutes the torso. Furthermore, when folding, the two surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> are brought into contact with each other so that the block 3b is urged upward (in the direction of arrow γ) along the inclination and caused to abut the head portion <NUM> (2a), allowing the lower surfaces (shown in <FIG>) to be flush when folded.

Note that the blocks 3a and 3b are provided with slits <NUM> and <NUM> spanning the surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, <NUM>, such that the rubber cord member 8a is not obstructed by the block when folded.

Thus, folding is possible with positioning so as to have a rectangular outer shape, as shown in <FIG>.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the examples and variants described above, and can be modified without changing the gist.

For example, <FIG> and <FIG> are schematic views showing the head of a giraffe-shaped block-type transformable toy.

In this variant, the two blocks in which the two surfaces are in contact with each other at the same time are the block 26a constituting the head portion <NUM> and the block 27a constituting the upper end portion of the neck portion <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, and, with this configuration, the displacement of the head portion <NUM> with respect to the neck portion <NUM> in the direction of rotational movement is restricted as shown in <FIG>. That is to say, in this variant, the lower surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> (two surfaces referred to in the claims) of the block 26a constituting the head portion <NUM> are inclined to form an angle θ of <NUM> degrees (see <FIG>), and the upper surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> of block 27a constituting the neck portion <NUM> that simultaneously abut the two surfaces of the head portion form an angle of <NUM> degrees (value resulting from subtracting the angle of <NUM> degrees formed by the two lower surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> of the head portion <NUM> from <NUM> degrees).

Note that, if the angle between the two surfaces of the block on the side having the pointed portion is too small, this portion will be weak and there will be no space for the rubber cord to pass through and thus the angles formed by the two surfaces are preferably <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees.

Furthermore, in one example described above, the animal-shaped block-type transformable toy was a monkey, but this may be a giraffe, as in the variant, and other animals may be used, or this may be a humanoid toy.

Claim 1:
A block-type transformable toy (<NUM>) that represents the shape of an object by way of combining a plurality of blocks, comprising
a head portion (<NUM>) and a torso portion (<NUM>),
wherein:
adjacent blocks are urged by an elastic cord member in a direction of mutual contact;
transformation is possible between a state of being folded so that the outer shape is compact and a state of being extended so that the shape represents the object, by changing the mutual positional relationships between adjacent blocks, so that different surfaces contact each other against the urging force of the elastic cord member;
and
the configuration is such that at least two blocks out of the plurality of blocks are in a state in which two surfaces of each are in contact with each other at the same time, whereby rotational movement around the elastic cord member is restricted,
characterized in that
said at least two blocks are a block (2a) of the head portion (<NUM>) and a block (3a) of the torso portion (<NUM>), and the two surfaces are two lower surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the block (2a) of the head portion (<NUM>) and two upper surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) and two front surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the block (3a) of the torso portion (<NUM>),
wherein
in a state of being extended, the two lower surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the block (2a) of the head portion (<NUM>) are in contact with the two upper surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the block (3a) of the torso portion (<NUM>), and
in a state of being folded, the two lower surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the block (2a) of the head portion (<NUM>) are in contact with the two front surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the block (3a) of the torso portion (<NUM>).