Model toy and joint structure

Abstract

To provide a new mechanism which realizes a movable mechanism of performing operation with natural impression for instance, in a model toy.SOLUTION: A model toy comprises: a joint structure including at least one movable shaft to which other parts are connected, and formed by combining a plurality of parts; and one or more parts rotatably connected to at least the one movable shaft of the joint structure. The joint structure is deformed between a first shape and a second shape, and at least one connection part can slide in the prescribed direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a model toy and an articulated structure. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a demand for doll-type toys (model toys) to realize natural movements and a variety of poses. Therefore, in order to realize movements and poses similar to those of humans and animals, doll-type toys include multiple joints and movable parts. Patent Document 1 proposes a quadruped animal doll having a joint structure that enables realistic movements similar to those of real animals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 06-327841 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional technology, various joints are included to realize a wide variety of movements, and each joint is composed of multiple parts. These joints can realize various movements and poses by rotating the upper body, arms, legs, etc. of the doll body connected to the joints. However, if the joints themselves have a movable mechanism, even more diverse and natural movements can be realized.

[0005] The present invention provides a novel mechanism for realizing a movable mechanism that performs movements with a natural impression, for example in a model toy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is, for example, a model toy comprising an articulated structure formed by combining a plurality of parts and including at least one movable axis to which other parts are connected, and one or more parts rotatably connected to the at least one movable axis of the articulated structure, the articulated structure being capable of transforming between a first shape and a second shape, and the at least one movable axis being capable of sliding in a predetermined direction.

[0007] The present invention also relates to a joint structure having a plurality of parts, the joint structure including: four joints that join the plurality of parts; four links that connect the four joints; and at least one movable shaft to which another part is connected. The joint structure is characterized in that it is deformable between a first shape and a second shape, and the at least one movable shaft is slidable in a predetermined direction. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a novel mechanism for realizing a movable mechanism that moves in a natural manner in a model toy. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an example of a front and side appearance of a model toy according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1A and 1B are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view, respectively, of a waist portion of a model toy according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1A is a perspective view of a hip joint of a model toy according to one embodiment, FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the hip joint, and FIG. [Figure 4] 1A is a side view, FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 1C is an exploded side view of a link mechanism of a model toy according to one embodiment. [Diagram 5] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating the operation of a link mechanism of the model toy according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more features among the multiple features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0011] <Appearance of the model toy> First, an example of the external configuration of a model toy 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1(a) shows the external front view of the model toy 100, and Fig. 1(b) shows the external side view of the model toy 100. Note that the up / down, left / right, and front / rear arrows indicate the orientation of the model toy in the figure, and the same applies to the other figures.

[0012] The model toy 100 includes a head 101, a chest 102, arms 103a and 103b, legs 104a and 104b, and a waist 105, which constitute a main body. In this embodiment, a humanoid robot is used as an example of a model toy, but this is not intended to limit the present invention, and the present invention can be applied to various models such as humans, animals, robots, insects, dinosaurs, weapons, and accessories.

[0013] The head 101 is connected to the chest 102. The right arm 103b and the left arm 103a are further connected to the chest 102 at the sides by connecting members, and the waist 105 is connected at the bottom. The waist 105 includes hip joints, and the right leg 104b and the left leg 104a are respectively rotatably connected thereto. In the following, the portion including the head 101 and the chest 102 is referred to as the upper body.

[0014] <Waist Configuration> Next, the configuration of the waist portion 105 of the model toy 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2(a) shows a perspective view of the waist portion 105. Fig. 2(b) shows an exploded perspective view of the waist portion 105 shown in Fig. 2(a).

[0015] The waist 105 shown in Fig. 2(a) is composed of multiple parts as shown in Fig. 2(b). Each part shown in Fig. 2(b) is composed of at least one part. 201 is a part that forms a waist joint including a waist joint and a hip joint. Part 202 is connected to the front of part 201. Part 202 forms a decorative part on the front of the waist 105 of the model toy 100.

[0016] Part 203 functions as a waist joint together with part 201, and is a part to which the upper body part of the model toy 100 including the chest part 102 is connected, and is connected from above to part 201. Parts 204a and 204b corresponding to the decorative parts on the back of the model toy 100 are further connected to part 203 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. Parts 205a and 205b which are decorative parts on the sides of the model toy 100 are also connected to part 201 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction.

[0017] Furthermore, parts 206b and 206a, which are connecting parts for rotatably connecting the right leg 104b and the left leg 104a, are connected to the part 201. The parts 206b and 206a are rotatably connected to movable shafts formed in the part 201. Therefore, the right leg 104b and the left leg 104a are rotatable about the movable shafts, and further, are slidable within the range of grooves provided in the part 201 in accordance with the sliding movement of the movable shafts.

[0018] <Configuration of the lumbar joint (joint structure)> Next, the configuration of the waist joint of the model toy 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3(a) shows a perspective view of a waist joint part 201. Fig. 3(b) shows an exploded perspective view of the waist joint part 201 shown in Fig. 3(a). Fig. 3(c) shows an exploded side view of the waist joint part 201 shown in Fig. 3(a).

[0019] Part 201, which is the waist joint shown in Fig. 3(a), is composed of multiple parts as shown in Fig. 3(b). Each part shown in Fig. 3(b) is composed of one part. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention, and the part may be composed of multiple parts. Each part is connected to other parts according to the dotted lines shown in Fig. 3(b).

[0020] Specifically, parts 302a and 302b are rotatably connected to cylindrical portions formed on both sides of part 301. Parts 302a and 302b can rotate in the vertical direction (predetermined direction) of model toy 100 with the cylindrical portions as rotation axes. Parts 302a and 302b are each formed with a cylindrical movable shaft on the opposite side to the connection portion to part 301, and the movable shaft is inserted into a groove formed in parts 303a and 303b. Therefore, the movable shaft inserted into the groove slides along the groove in response to the rotational movement. The movable shaft is connected to legs 104a and 104b via parts 206a and 206b.

[0021] Furthermore, part 304 is inserted above part 301. After parts 301, 302a, 302b, and 304 are assembled, parts 303a and 303b and parts 306a and 306b are rotatably connected from both side surfaces. Furthermore, part 305 is connected from the rear surface.

[0022] Part 201 of the waist joint according to this embodiment can be transformed between a first shape that is a rectangle and a second shape that is a parallelogram (approximately diamond). Details will be described later with reference to Figures 4 and 5, but in part 201, multiple parts form four joints and four links, and the shapes of the links can be transformed between the first shape and the second shape. Parts 301, 303a, 303b, 304, 306a, and 306b are the parts that form these links.

[0023] <Link mechanism> Next, the link mechanism of the waist joint part 201 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4(a) shows a side view of the waist joint part 201. Fig. 4(b) shows an exploded perspective view of the waist joint part 201 shown in Fig. 4(a). Fig. 4(c) shows an exploded side view of the waist joint part 201 shown in Fig. 4(a).

[0024] Waist joint part 201 shown in Fig. 4(a) is configured to include parts 301, 304, 401, and 402 as shown in Fig. 4(b). Part 401 is configured to include parts 306a and 306b. Part 402 is configured to include parts 303a and 303b.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4(c), parts 301, 304, 401, and 402 are each rotatably connected to the other two parts. That is, each part is rotatably connected to the other two parts via two connecting parts. Specifically, part 301 is rotatably connected to parts 401 and 402, and part 304 is also rotatably connected to parts 401 and 402. Part 201 assembled in this manner has four rotatable connecting parts. Furthermore, each of parts 301, 304, 401, and 402 functions as a link (side) of the link mechanism.

[0026] Incidentally, grooves 421 are formed in part 402. Movable shafts 422 of parts 302a and 302b connected to parts 206a and 206b, which serve as connecting parts to the legs, are inserted into grooves 421. That is, parts 302a and 302b are each rotatably connected to part 301 from both side surfaces, and are assembled by inserting movable shafts 422 provided on each of parts 303a and 303b into grooves 421.

[0027] <Link Action> Next, the link operation of the waist joint according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5(a) shows the link state of a normal waist joint part 201. Fig. 5(b) shows the link state of a parallelogram obtained by operating the waist joint part 201 from Fig. 5(a).

[0028] In Fig. 5(a), four black circles indicate joints at which parts of part 201 are rotatably joined. Thus, in part 201, multiple parts are connected via four joints. In Fig. 5(a), links (edges) are shown connecting the four joints as vertices.

[0029] In the normal state (first shape) of Fig. 5(a), the link has a substantially rectangular shape. The upper body of the model toy 100 is connected in a direction perpendicular to the upper side of the rectangular link shape. In this state, the movable shaft 422 can slide along the groove 421 in the direction of the arrow.

[0030] The legs 104a, 104b are connected to the connectors 206a, 206b, which are connected to the movable shafts 422. Therefore, in the model toy 100 according to this embodiment, in addition to the movement of the legs 104a, 104b, the movable shafts 422, which form part of the hip joints, can move in the vertical direction, enabling a wider variety of poses and more natural movements to be realized.

[0031] On the other hand, Fig. 5(b) shows a deformed state (second shape) of part 201 obtained by deforming it from the normal state (first shape) of Fig. 5(a). As shown in Fig. 5(b), each part rotates at each of the four joints, so that the shape of the link of part 201 can be deformed into a parallelogram (approximately diamond-shaped). This deformation can be realized by each part included in part 201 rotating in the front-rear direction of model toy 100.

[0032] Since the upper body of the model toy 100 is connected in a direction perpendicular to the upper side of the parallelogram link shape, the upper body can assume a forward leaning posture. As a result, the model toy 100 according to this embodiment can realize more diverse poses and natural movements by deforming the parts 201 of the waist joint including the waist joint in addition to the movement of the waist joint. For example, when bending forward in the model toy 100, the upper body does not bend from the waist joint, but the parts 201 of the waist joint including the waist joint themselves deform forward, allowing the model toy 100 to perform a forward bending movement with a more natural impression.

[0033] 5(b), similarly to the state of Fig. 5(a), movable shaft 422 can slide in the direction of the arrow along groove 421. In other words, the sliding action of movable shaft 422 can be performed separately from the deformation of the link shape of part 201, and a variety of actions can be performed.

[0034] As described above, the model toy according to the present embodiment is a model toy, and includes a joint structure formed by combining a plurality of parts, including at least one movable shaft to which other parts are connected, and one or more parts rotatably connected to at least one movable shaft of the joint structure. The joint structure is deformed between a first shape and a second shape, and the at least one movable shaft is slidable in a predetermined direction. In this way, the present invention can provide, for example, a novel mechanism for realizing a movable mechanism that performs a natural-looking operation in a model toy.

[0035] <Modification> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. For example, the shape of the model toy is not particularly limited, and includes various shapes such as people, animals, robots, insects, dinosaurs, etc.

[0036] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the waist joint part 201 is movable in the front-rear direction of the model toy 100. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention, and the waist joint part may be movable in the left-right direction of the model toy 100. This allows the model toy 100 to achieve a more natural side bending motion instead of a forward bending motion.

[0037] <Summary of the embodiment> The above embodiments disclose at least the following model toy and joint structure.

[0038] (1) A model toy, A joint structure including at least one movable shaft to which other parts are connected and formed by combining a plurality of parts; one or more parts rotatably connected to the at least one movable shaft of the joint structure; Equipped with the joint structure is deformable between a first shape and a second shape; A model toy, characterized in that the at least one movable shaft is slidable in a predetermined direction. (2) The joint structure is configured such that the multiple parts are combined by four connecting parts; The model toy described in (1), wherein the shape of the four links connecting the four joints is movable between the first shape and the second shape. (3) The model toy described in (2), characterized in that the first shape is a rectangle and the second shape is a parallelogram. (4) the plurality of parts includes four parts; The model toy described in (3) is characterized in that each part is rotatably connected to two other parts via two of the four connecting parts. (5) A model toy described in any one of (1) to (4), characterized in that the movement of the joint structure between the first shape and the second shape includes movement in the forward and backward directions of the model toy. (6) A model toy described in any one of (1) to (4), characterized in that the movement of the joint structure between the first shape and the second shape includes movement in the left-right direction of the model toy. (7) The model toy described in any one of (1) to (6), wherein the predetermined direction is an up-down direction in the model toy. (8) The joint structure includes a waist joint and a hip joint of the model toy, The model toy described in any one of (1) to (7), characterized in that the one or more parts include a part constituting an upper body of the model toy, a part constituting a right leg, and a part constituting a left leg. (9) A joint structure having a plurality of parts, Four connecting portions for connecting the plurality of parts; Four links connecting the four joints; At least one movable axis to which other parts are connected; Including, the joint structure is deformable between a first shape and a second shape; A joint structure, characterized in that at least one of the movable shafts is slidable in a predetermined direction. (10) The joint structure described in (9), characterized in that the shapes of the four links connecting the four joint parts are movable between the first shape and the second shape. (11) The joint structure described in (9) or (10), characterized in that the first shape is a rectangle and the second shape is a parallelogram. (12) The plurality of parts includes four parts; The joint structure described in (11) is characterized in that each part is rotatably connected to two other parts via two of the four connecting parts. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 100: Model toy, 101: Head, 102: Chest, 103a, 103b: Arms, 104a, 104b: Legs, 105: Waist

Claims

1. It is a model toy, A joint structure formed by combining multiple parts, including at least one movable axis to which other parts are connected, One or more parts rotatably connected to at least one movable axis of the joint structure and Equipped with, The aforementioned joint structure is The aforementioned multiple parts are combined by four connecting parts, The shape of the four links connecting the four joints is movable between the first shape and the second shape. A model toy characterized in that the at least one movable axis is slidable in a predetermined direction within the region enclosed by the four links.

2. The model toy according to claim 1, characterized in that the first shape is a quadrilateral and the second shape is a parallelogram.

3. The aforementioned multiple parts include four parts, The model toy according to claim 2, characterized in that each part is rotatably connected to two other parts and two of the four connecting parts.

4. The model toy according to claim 3, characterized in that the movement of the joint structure between the first shape and the second shape includes movement in the front-to-back direction in the model toy.

5. The model toy according to claim 3, characterized in that the movement of the joint structure between the first shape and the second shape includes movement in the left-right direction in the model toy.

6. The model toy according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined direction is the vertical direction in the model toy.

7. The aforementioned joint structure includes the hip joint and hip joint of the model toy, The model toy according to claim 3, characterized in that the one or more parts include a part that constitutes the upper body of the model toy, a part that constitutes the right leg, and a part that constitutes the left leg.

8. A joint structure comprising multiple parts, The four connecting parts that connect the aforementioned multiple parts, Four links connecting the four aforementioned joints, At least one movable axis to which other parts are connected Includes, The shape of the four links described above deforms between the first shape and the second shape. The joint structure is characterized in that the at least one movable axis is slidable in a predetermined direction within the region enclosed by the four links.

9. The joint structure according to claim 8, characterized in that the first shape is a quadrilateral and the second shape is a parallelogram.

10. The aforementioned multiple parts include four parts, The joint structure according to claim 8, characterized in that each part is rotatably connected to two other parts and two of the four connecting parts.

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