Coupling tool for weldable bead toy

Abstract

To provide a coupling tool for a weldable bead toy that is facilitated in fitting.SOLUTION: A coupling tool includes: a welding surface formed into a shape according to an outer surface shape of a weldable bead toy; and a welding support projection projecting on a side of the welding surface and intermittently provided around an axis of the welding surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector for weldable bead toys.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, weldable bead toys made of water-soluble resin have been proposed. Weldable bead toys are toys that can be welded together when water is sprayed on them to make them wet and then dried, allowing them to be shaped into any desired shape to create an aggregate. As shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, various substantially spherical shapes have been proposed for weldable bead toys.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, it may not be easy to attach other members different from the weldable bead toy (for example, members that do not contain water-soluble resin) to the above-mentioned weldable bead toy.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector for a weldable bead toy that is easy to attach.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector for a weldable bead toy according to the present disclosure includes a welding surface formed in a shape following the outer surface shape of the weldable bead toy, and welding support protrusions protruding on the welding surface side and intermittently provided around the axis of the welding surface.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a connector for a weldable bead toy that is easy to attach can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall view of an assembly 1A(1) in which a weldable bead toy 2 and a connector 3 are connected. The assembly 1 is formed by welding a plurality of weldable bead toys 2. In the example of FIG. 1, an animal (squirrel) is simulated by combining weldable bead toys 2A and 2B that differ in color and shape.

[0010] The weldable bead toy 2 is formed of a water-soluble resin material. Specifically, the weldable bead toy 2 is formed by blending polyvinyl alcohol into the resin and kneading it. Also, as the resin forming the weldable bead toy 2, a transparent material, a translucent material, or an opaque material can be arbitrarily selected. The weldable bead toy 2 may be colored in various colors. Further, the weldable bead toy 2 can use various forms such as a sphere (the weldable bead toy 2A in FIGS. 1, 4, 7, and 8), a polyhedron (the weldable bead toy 2B in FIG. 5), or a star shape (the weldable bead toy 2C in FIG. 6). The weldable bead toy 2 of the present embodiment may have one or both of concave and convex portions where the distance from the center to the outer surface 2a is not constant, such as a polyhedron or a star shape. The unevenness of the outer surface 2a of the weldable bead toy 2 only needs to be large enough for a liquid (specifically, polyvinyl alcohol dissolved in water) to penetrate into the gap between the outer surface 2a and the welding surface 41 (including the inner surface 422) of the connector 3. Any of the weldable bead toys 2A to 2C is generally a sphere as a whole and is formed with approximately the same radius of curvature. Therefore, the outer surface shape of the weldable bead toy 2 is a substantially spherical convex curved surface.

[0011] A method of creating the aggregate 1 will be described. First, the user (including a player) arranges a plurality of weldable bead toys 2 adjacent to each other using a pattern sheet or the like as a model and makes them in a wet state using a spray or the like. Thereafter, the wet weldable bead toys 2 are welded to each other by drying, and the aggregate 1 is created. The user (including a player) can create an aggregate 1 having an arbitrary shape and color scheme by combining a plurality of weldable bead toys 2.

[0012] One weldable bead toy 2A1 disposed on the upper part of the aggregate 1A(1) has a connector 3 connected thereto by welding. The aggregate 1A(1) can be formed as an accessory by attaching a chain member (not shown) or the like to the annular connected portion 5 of the connector 3.

[0013] Figure 2 is a plane perspective view of the connector 3. Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the connector 3. The connector 3 adds functions or decorations to the assembly 1 by connecting to the weldable bead toy 2. In the description of the connector 3 of this embodiment, the side of the connector 3 where the connected portion 5 is located is regarded as the upper side, and the opposite side is regarded as the lower side.

[0014] The connector 3 has a connecting portion 4 and a connected portion 5. In a plan view, the connecting portion 4 is formed with an outer diameter having a smaller diameter than that of the weldable bead toy 2 with the axis L as the central axis. The connecting portion 4 is formed in a spherical crown shape or a disk shape with a concave curve on the lower surface side. The concave curved lower surface of the connecting portion 4 shown in Figure 3 is a welding surface 41 formed in a shape following the outer surface shape of the weldable bead toy 2. The weldable bead toys 2A to 2C of this embodiment are spherical, polyhedral, or star-shaped and are formed with approximately the same radius of curvature. The shape of the welding surface 41 following the outer surface shape of the weldable bead toy 2 means that the gap between the outer surface 2a of the weldable bead toy 2 and the welding surface 41 (including the inner surface 422) of the connector 3 has irregularities or a smooth concave surface shape that allows a liquid (specifically, polyvinyl alcohol dissolved in water) to penetrate, and it is a surface that can be welded with a strength such that the weldable bead toy 2 and the welding surface 41 do not easily peel off.

[0015] At the outer peripheral edge 4a of the connecting portion 4, a plurality of welding support protrusions 42 are provided that protrude downward on the side of the welding surface 41 and are intermittently provided in the circumferential direction around the axis L of the welding surface 41. In the weldable support protrusions 42 of this embodiment, six are arranged at equal angular positions of 60 degrees around the axis L when viewed from the direction of the axis L (see also Figure 8). The welding support protrusion 42 is formed in a triangular plate shape having a top at the tip 421. As shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 4, the inner surface 422 of the welding support protrusion 42 is a surface parallel to the vertical direction along the axis L, but the welding surface 41 and the inner surface 422 of the welding support protrusion 42 are formed in a concave curved surface shape following the outer surface shape of the weldable bead toy 2A(2) shown by the two-dot chain line as a whole (see Figure 2).

[0016] The connected portion 5 is provided on the convex curved upper surface of the connecting portion 4 and is formed in a short cylindrical ring shape. The connected portion 5 has a circular opening 51 that penetrates in a direction orthogonal to the axis L.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of use of the connector 3. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the assembly 1B(1) of FIG. 7 as viewed from the opposite side of the connector 3. The weldable bead toys 2 in the assembly 1B are arranged in a closest-packed structure in the same plane. That is, around the weldable bead toy 21 arranged at the center, six weldable bead toys 22 to 27 are arranged adjacent to each other at intervals of an angle θ = 60 degrees as viewed from the direction of the axis L with the weldable bead toy 21 as the center.

[0018] The connector 3 is arranged so as to cover from the direction of the axis L substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the assembly 1B with respect to the weldable bead toy 21 arranged at the center. At this time, each welding support projection 42 is arranged in a concave gap S formed between the weldable bead toy 21 and the surrounding weldable bead toys 22 to 27. By arranging the welding support projection 42 in the gap S, while widening the contact area (or welding area) between the welding surface 41 and the surface of the weldable bead toy 21 in a wet state, interference with other weldable bead toys 22 to 27 adjacent to the weldable bead toy 21 to be connected can be prevented. Further, by widening the contact area (or welding area) between the welding support projection 42 and the weldable bead toy 21 to be connected, due to the surface tension with water or the dissolved water-soluble material adhering to the outer surface 2a of the weldable bead toy 21 in a wet state, the connector 3 can be stably placed on the weldable bead toy 2 even during drying.

[0019] By one or more of these actions, the connector 3 can be welded to the weldable bead toy 2 at a high strength in the intended place or posture. Therefore, the connector 3 for the weldable bead toy 2 that is easy to attach can be configured.

[0020] Since the connector 3 attached to the weldable bead toy 2 can insert a chain member or the like through the opening 51 of the connected portion 5, for example, the entire assembly 1 can be configured as a key holder or an accessory.

[0021] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure as described above, a connector in the following aspect can be provided.

[0022] The connector according to the first aspect includes a welding surface formed in a shape following the outer surface shape of the weldable bead toy, and welding support protrusions protruding on the welding surface side and intermittently provided around the axis of the welding surface.

[0023] According to this aspect, the contact area (welding area) between the welding surface and the outer surface of the weldable bead toy can be widened. Further, even when another weldable bead toy is adjacent to the weldable bead toy to be connected, since the welding support protrusions are provided intermittently, interference between the welding support protrusions and the other weldable bead toy can be prevented. Therefore, a connector for a weldable bead toy that is easy to attach can be configured.

[0024] In the connector according to the second aspect, the outer surface shape of the weldable bead toy is a substantially spherical convex curved surface, and the welding surface and the inner surface of the welding support protrusion are formed in a concave curved surface shape following the outer surface shape as a whole.

[0025] According to this aspect, the contact area or welding area between the connector and the weldable bead toy can be widened, the posture of the connector during drying with respect to the weldable bead toy can be stabilized, and the strength after drying (after welding) can be increased.

[0026] In the connector according to the third aspect, the welding support protrusion is formed in a triangular plate shape having a top at the tip.

[0027] According to this aspect, even when the weldable bead toy to be connected by the connector is arranged adjacent to another weldable bead toy, the contact area (or welding area) can be widened while preventing interference between the welding support protrusion and the other weldable bead toy.

[0028] In the connector according to the fourth aspect, the welding support protrusions are provided at positions that are integer multiples of 60 degrees around the axis.

[0029] According to this aspect, even when the weldable bead toys are arranged in the closest-packed structure on the same plane, it is possible to increase the welding area while preventing interference between each welding support protrusion and other weldable bead toys adjacent to the weldable bead toy to be connected.

[0030] The connector according to the fifth aspect includes a connecting portion having the welding surface and a connected portion having an opening that is connected to and penetrates the connecting portion.

[0031] According to this aspect, since it includes a connected portion having an opening, it can function as an intermediate member for indirectly connecting an aggregate and a member that is not easily directly connected to a weldable bead toy such as a chain member.

[0032] In the connector according to the sixth aspect, the welding support protrusion is formed in a triangular plate shape with a tip having a top portion, is provided at an integer multiple position of 60 degrees around the axis, and includes a connecting portion having the welding surface and a connected portion having an opening that is connected to and penetrates the connecting portion.

[0033] According to this aspect, the contact area (or welding area) between the connector and the weldable bead toy can be increased. Also, for an aggregate in which weldable bead toys are arranged in the closest-packed structure in a planar shape, the connector can be stably welded from the normal direction of the aggregate. Furthermore, since it includes a connected portion having an opening, it can function as an intermediate member for indirectly connecting an aggregate and a member that is not easily directly connected to a weldable bead toy such as a chain member.

[0034] This concludes the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, the aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to this embodiment. For example, the welding support protrusion 42 may be provided at an integer multiple position of 60 degrees around the axis L, and may be configured to have a total of 2 at equiangular positions of 180 degrees and a total of 3 at equiangular positions of 120 degrees.

[0035] In addition, the connected part 5 is provided with a through opening 51, and a configuration has been described in which a function of easily connecting a string body such as a chain member to the assembly 1 is added. However, the connected part 5 may be provided with a configuration for adding other functions or decorations to the assembly 1.

[0036] Further, the coupler 3 may be configured not to include the connected part 5.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0037] 1(1A,1B) Assembly 2(2A~2C,2A1) Weldable bead toy 2a Outer surface 3 Coupler 4 Connection part 4a Outer peripheral edge 5 Connected part 21~27 Weldable bead toy 41 Welding surface 42 Welding support projection 51 Opening 421 Tip 422 Inner surface L Axis S Gap θ Angle

Claims

1. A welding surface formed in a shape following the outer surface shape of the welded bead toy, a welding support protrusion protruding toward the welding surface side and intermittently provided around the axis of the welding surface. A connector comprising the above.

2. The outer surface shape of the welded bead toy is a substantially spherical convex curved surface, the welding surface and the inner surface of the welding support protrusion are formed in a concave curved surface shape following the outer surface shape as a whole. The connector according to Claim 1.

3. The welding support protrusion is formed in a triangular plate shape having a top at the tip. The connector according to Claim 1.

4. The welding support protrusion is provided at positions that are integer multiples of 60 degrees around the axis. The connector according to Claim 1.

5. The connector according to Claim 1, comprising a connecting portion having the welding surface and a connected portion connected to the connecting portion and having an opening penetrating therethrough.

6. The welding support protrusion is formed in a triangular plate shape having a top at the tip, provided at positions that are integer multiples of 60 degrees around the axis, and has a connecting portion having the welding surface and a connected portion connected to the connecting portion and having an opening penetrating therethrough. The connector according to Claim 2.

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