Structures, doll toys and toys

Abstract

The objective is to provide a structure that can change its form through rotation between its components and movement of its cover. Furthermore, by applying this structure to doll toys, the objective is to provide doll toys and the like that can achieve a variety of postures both visually and functionally. [Solution] The device comprises a first member and a second member, and a connecting member interposed between these members, to which each member is rotatably attached, and a cover provided to selectively cover at least a portion of the first member and the second member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure in which a plurality of members are rotatably connected, and particularly to a structure, a humanoid toy, and a toy that can change its form by having a cover.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in humanoid toys, a structure that enables posing and deformation by having movable members is known (see Patent Document 1). For example, there is a configuration in which a rotation mechanism is provided at a joint portion to reproduce the movement of legs and arms. However, in these structures, the connection of members and the arrangement of covers are fixed, and there is a problem that they lack visual and functional changes accompanying morphological changes.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a structure capable of changing the form of the structure by rotation between members and movement of a cover. Further, by applying the structure to a humanoid toy, a humanoid toy or the like capable of realizing various visual and functional postures is provided.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The first means includes a first member and a second member, and a connecting member interposed between these members and to which each member is rotatably attached, and has a cover provided so as to selectively cover at least a part of the first member and the second member.

[0006] The second means is the first means, characterized in that the cover is movably provided to selectively cover at least a portion of the first member and the second member.

[0007] The third means is the first or second means, characterized in that the structure has at least a first and a second form, in the first form the cover covers at least a portion of the second member, and in the second form the cover covers at least a portion of the first member.

[0008] The fourth means is the third means, characterized in that, as the transition from the first form to the second form occurs, the cover moves between the second member and the first member by a sliding operation.

[0009] The fifth means is the first means, characterized in that the cover is provided with a claw member that can be locked onto the first member or the second member.

[0010] The sixth means is the fifth means, wherein the first member or the second member is provided with a groove that can engage with a claw portion formed at the tip of the claw member.

[0011] The seventh means is the sixth means, characterized in that the claw member is configured to be rotatable, and the claw portion engages with the groove portion by rotation.

[0012] The eighth means is a third means characterized in that the range of rotation of the first member and the second member relative to the connecting member is different between the first and second embodiments.

[0013] The ninth means is the eighth means, characterized in that, in the first embodiment, only the first member is rotatable relative to the connecting member, and the rotation of the second member is restricted.

[0014] The tenth means is the eighth means, characterized in that, in the second embodiment, both the first member and the second member are rotatable with respect to the connecting member.

[0015] The eleventh means is the first means, characterized in that the cover is integrally formed with the first member or the second member and has a structure in which at least a part of it is expandable and contractible.

[0016] The twelfth means is the eleventh means, characterized in that the cover has a bellows-like structure.

[0017] The thirteenth means is the first means, characterized in that it is used in toys.

[0018] The fourteenth means is the first means, characterized in that the structure constitutes part of a doll toy.

[0019] The 15th means is the 14th means, characterized in that the structure constitutes a part of the body of the doll toy.

[0020] The sixteenth means is the fourteenth means, characterized in that the structure constitutes the legs, arms, or torso of the doll toy.

[0021] The 17th means is a doll toy characterized by comprising the structure of any of the first to 13 means.

[0022] The 18th means is the 17th means, characterized in that the doll toy is configured to be in an upright position in the first form and to be in a different form from the first form in the second form, and the cover constitutes the appearance of the lower leg in the first form and the appearance of the upper leg in the second form.

[0023] The 19th means includes the structure of claim 1, and is characterized in that the structure is deformable between a first toy state in which the structure takes a first form and a second toy state in which the structure takes a second form different from the first form.

Advantages of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, since it includes a plurality of members connected rotatably and a cover that selectively covers them, the entire structure can change its form, and the visual and functional flexibility is improved compared to the conventional fixed structure. In particular, by operating the arrangement of the cover, changes in appearance and the exposure and concealment of the internal structure can be controlled, and it can be applied to special effects and function switching. In a humanoid toy or the like, the range of deformation and posing is widened, and various expressions are possible. Furthermore, the degree of freedom in structural design is increased, and the product differentiation and the customization by users are also improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a front perspective view of the structure of the humanoid toy according to the first form. [Figure 2] It is a rear perspective view of the structure of the humanoid toy according to the first form. [Figure 3] It is a front perspective view of the structure of the humanoid toy according to the second form. [Figure 4] It is a rear perspective view of the structure of the humanoid toy according to the second form. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing the state where the cover of the structure of the humanoid toy in the first form is removed. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing the state where the cover of the structure of the humanoid toy in the second form is removed. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view showing the state where one of the legs of the humanoid toy in the first form is removed. [Figure 8] It is an exploded perspective view of the cover. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view showing the mounting structure of the chest armor. [Figure 10]This is a front view of a large humanoid robot toy. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0027] Basic structure of doll toys The doll toy according to this embodiment has a structure that can take on multiple forms, such as a humanoid robot toy and a quadruped robot toy (for example, with a lion-like appearance). Here, "doll toy" broadly refers to toys that have the form of humanoid or animal-shaped robot toys, as well as characters appearing in anime or games, or virtual life forms equipped with artificial intelligence, in terms of appearance and movement. This structure achieves both visual and functional form changes by incorporating a mechanism that balances leg mobility and external appearance, as well as transformation mechanisms for the torso and head. Furthermore, in humanoid form, it is equipped with leg armor (component 44) attached to the legs H40, which enhances the appearance and functions as a cover for the storage mechanism.

[0028] 《Correspondence between the first and second forms》 Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the structure of the doll toy in its first form, Figure 2 is a rear perspective view thereof, Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the structure in its second form, and Figure 4 is a rear perspective view thereof. Since the doll toy is formed to be generally symmetrical, the same reference numerals are used for corresponding left and right parts, and redundant explanations are omitted. The structure of the doll toy according to the present invention can take on at least two forms: a "humanoid form (first form)" and a "quadruped form (second form)". Furthermore, the doll toy may not be limited to the first and second forms, but may also have a third and fourth form.

[0029] A. Structure of the first form In the first form, the structure includes the following components: [Head H10]: Component 11 [Body H20]: Upper body (component 21), lower body (component 22) [Arm H30]: Upper arm (component 31), forearm (component 32), hand (component 33) [Leg H40]: First member (member 41), connecting member (member 42), second member (member 43), leg armor (member 44), foot (member 45: also referred to as "foot member 45"). [Weapon]: Gun (Part 51, Part 52) [Armor]: Chest armor (part 61), back armor (part 62) Furthermore, the chest armor (member 61) and back armor (member 62) are protective exterior members that constitute a part of the torso H20, particularly the upper torso (member 21). The leg armor (member 44) constitutes a part of the leg H40 and is a member corresponding to the "cover" in the claim.

[0030] B. Structure of the second form In the second form, the components of the first form are transformed to form the following configuration: [Head A10]: First form chest armor (part 61) [Body A20]: Upper body of the first form (part 21) → front body, lower body of the first form (part 22) → rear body [Foreleg A30]: Upper arm (part 31), forearm (part 32), and hand (part 33) of the first form. [Rear Leg A40]: First component of the first form (component 41: also referred to as "first component 41"), connecting component (component 42: also referred to as "connecting component 42"), second component (component 43: also referred to as "second component 43"), leg armor (component 44: also referred to as "cover 44"), and foot (component 45) [Weapon]: Change the orientation of the first form gun (part 52) [Tail section]: Rearrangement of the gun (part 51) in the first form (repositioned to the rear of the torso). The mechanisms of each component are described in detail below. While the present invention can take multiple forms, the following description will be based on a representative form (humanoid form).

[0031] 《H10 head articulation mechanism》 In humanoid form, component 11 maintains an upright position perpendicular to the upper torso 21. When transforming into quadrupedal form, it is rotated backward relative to the upper torso 21 around a predetermined axis and tilted down by the user's operation. Also, in humanoid form, a storage compartment is formed directly behind component 11, where the tilted component 11 is stored.

[0032] 《Structure and deformation mechanism of the torso》 The torso H20 is divided into an upper torso (member 21) and a lower torso (member 22), and the two torsos are connected so as to be able to bend and extend in the front-to-back direction. Since this bending and extending structure is not directly involved in the transformation into humanoid and quadrupedal forms, a detailed explanation of its configuration is omitted.

[0033] 《Arm H30 joint structure and movable mechanism》 In humanoid robot toys, the H30 arm has the following joint structure and movable mechanism. The shoulder joint is rotatably mounted relative to the torso H20, allowing rotation in the forward and backward directions around the joint axis. Furthermore, a two-axis configuration or ball joint structure is employed in the shoulder joint to enable rotation in the left and right directions relative to the torso H20. The shoulder joint is also equipped with a friction-holding mechanism or click mechanism at the joint portion to allow it to be held at any desired angle. This allows the user to rotate the shoulder joint to a desired angle and then stably hold it in that position. The elbow joint is located between the upper arm (member 31) and the forearm (member 32), and a single-axis hinge structure allows the forearm to flex and extend relative to the upper arm. The elbow joint is equipped with a click mechanism or ratchet structure, allowing it to be held at any desired angle. The wrist joint is rotatably attached to the forearm (member 32), and the hand (member 33) can twist via a cylindrical bearing member (not shown). Furthermore, the wrist joint has a biaxial structure, allowing rotation not only in the twisting direction but also in the flexion / extension direction and the up / down direction. This allows the hand's orientation to be changed in multiple directions, enabling the expression of a wider variety of poses.

[0034] Furthermore, the arm H30 is designed to function as a transformation mechanism into a quadruped form. Specifically, by moving the forearm (member 32) and hand (member 33) relative to the upper arm (member 31), the entire arm can be repositioned as the forelegs of the second form. In this process, the shoulder joint (member 34) is rotated backward relative to the torso H20, thereby extending the arm H30 downward and securing a contact position with the ground. Furthermore, by utilizing the torsional and flexion / extension mechanisms of the wrist joint, the orientation of the hand (member 33) can be appropriately adjusted relative to the ground surface, thereby improving consistency and stability. This transformation allows the arms H30 to function as the front legs A30, achieving both stability in the quadrupedal form and a natural, integrated appearance. Furthermore, the click mechanisms and ratchet structures in each joint ensure stability during transformation, as they are held at predetermined angles. In addition, friction-adjusting materials and stopper components maintain smoothness and safety during the transformation process.

[0035] 《H40 Leg Movable Mechanism》 Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the doll toy structure in the first form with the cover removed, and Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the doll toy structure in the second form with the cover removed. The leg H40 is composed of a multi-joint structure having a hip joint A, knee joints B and C, and ankle joint D, and has a movable mechanism that can accommodate both humanoid and quadruped forms. The leg H40 includes a first member 41, a connecting member 42, a second member 43, a cover 44, and a foot (member 45).

[0036] The hip joint A is provided between the torso H20 and the first member 41, and its biaxial structure allows for movement in multiple directions. The first knee joint B is located between the first member 41 and the connecting member 42 and is responsible for the flexion and extension of the knee. The second knee joint C is provided between the connecting member 42 and the second member 43, enabling additional flexion and extension movements. The ankle joint D is a structural component located between the second member 43 (lower leg portion) and the foot member 45, and its biaxial structure enables tilting (up and down movement) and rotation (left and right twisting) movements of the foot. Specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the foot member 45 can rotate vertically around axis 45a, allowing it to flexibly adapt to ground inclines and vertical ankle movements during walking. Furthermore, the foot member 45 can twist (rotate) horizontally around axis 45b, enhancing stability on uneven ground. Note that axis 45b is offset inward from the left-right center of the second member 43, and this configuration improves the ground contact (stable contact with the ground) of the foot member 45. Due to these structures, the ankle joint D is an important movable mechanism that achieves natural foot movement and stable support in both humanoid and quadruped forms.

[0037] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the cover 44. The cover 44 consists of two left and right parts 44a and 44b that are joined together by screws. A notch 44c (see Figure 6) that opens downward is formed on the outer circumference of the cover 44, providing space for the first knee joint B to be movable in the quadruped configuration. Furthermore, a recess 44d is formed on the outer circumference of the cover 44, and a claw member 44e that can be locked onto the second member 43 or the first member 41 is provided in this recess 44d. One end of the claw member 44e is supported within the recess 44d via an axis 44f and is configured to rotate about the axis 44f. A claw portion 44h is formed at the tip of the claw member 44e. When the claw member 44e is seated in the recess 44d, the claw portion 44h can selectively engage with the grooves 41a and 43a formed in the first member 41 and the second member 43 via a hole 44g provided in the recess 44d. With this configuration, the claw member 44e is securely locked by rotation, improving the stability of the cover 44 and allowing for smooth opening and closing by sliding.

[0038] In humanoid form, the cover 44 covers the second member 43, thereby restricting and disabling the movement of the second knee joint C. This allows the first knee joint B to move, resulting in a structure suitable for an upright posture. In this state, the cover 44 functions as outer armor for the legs, enhancing their appearance. On the other hand, in quadrupedal form, the first knee joint B and the second knee joint C are movable. This ensures a posture and stability suitable for quadrupedal walking. In this state, the cover 44 forms the outer shape of the first member 41 and functions as the outer covering of the upper leg. Furthermore, in the first form, the shape of the ends of the foot (member 45) differs between the front and rear, with the front end forming the toes of the humanoid form and the rear end forming the toes of the quadruped form. This makes it possible to ensure the appropriate toes by changing the orientation of the toes according to whether it is a humanoid or quadruped form. Furthermore, when transitioning from humanoid form to quadrupedal form, the legs H40 are folded behind the torso H20, and the cover 44 is slid from the second member 43 toward the first member 41, thereby expanding the range of motion of the knee joint and forming a leg structure suitable for quadrupedal form. With the above structure, the H40 legs can switch the range of motion of their joints and the functions of their exteriors according to the change in form, enabling diverse presentations and playability as a robot toy. Furthermore, the cover 44 may be configured such that its sliding motion causes it to abut against the torso H20 and the legs (member 45), thereby restricting and disabling the movement of the hip joint A and ankle joint D.

[0039] 《Structure and Transformation of Weapon H50》 Weapon H50 has a configuration that performs multiple functions depending on the form change of the doll toy, and it has different arrangements and roles in both the humanoid and quadruped forms. The gun (component 51) has a structure in which the receiver portion is detachably fitted into a hole in the hand (component 33) of the right arm (arm H30), and functions as a handheld weapon in humanoid form. On the other hand, in quadrupedal form, the gun (component 51) is removed from the right arm, and the receiver portion is refitted to the rear of the torso A20, functioning as the tail A60 and forming an animalistic appearance. Furthermore, the gun (component 52) ​​is a fixed weapon mounted on both shoulders (upper torso (component 21)), with its receiver fixed to each shoulder. The barrel can be attached to different parts of the receiver, thereby allowing adjustment of the firing direction. This configuration enables flexible weapon placement in response to changes in form.

[0040] 《Structure and transformation of chest armor and back armor》 In humanoid form, the chest armor (component 61) is attached to the front of the torso H20, and the back armor (component 62) is attached to the back of the torso H20, functioning as decorative elements for the chest and back. On the other hand, in the quadrupedal form, the chest armor (member 61) is repositioned in front of the torso A20 and functions as a head with the shape of a lion's head. Specifically, as shown in Figure 9, the chest armor (member 61) is configured to rotate around axis 61b relative to the upper torso 21 via a rotating member 61a, and is also rotatable around axis 61c. When transitioning from humanoid form to quadrupedal form, it rotates 90 degrees around axis 61b and 180 degrees around axis 61c. The back armor (member 62) is also configured to rotate around axis parallel to axis 61c relative to the upper torso 21 via a rotating member (not shown). When transitioning from humanoid form to quadrupedal form, it rotates 90 degrees around axis and combines with the chest armor (member 61), functioning as a decorative element around the head. In this configuration, the chest armor (member 61) is responsible for the design of the head, and the back armor (member 62) complements its surroundings, enhancing the character and visual impact of the animal-type robot in quadrupedal form.

[0041] Effects of the Embodiment According to this embodiment, in a structure comprising a first member (member 41), a second member (member 43), and a connecting member (member 42) connecting them, each member is rotatably connected, so the structure as a whole has high mobility and can easily undergo shape changes.

[0042] Furthermore, by providing leg armor (member 44), it becomes possible to selectively change the appearance of the second member (member 43) and the first member (member 41), thereby enhancing the visual effect. If the leg armor (member 44) is slidable, it can be switched so that it covers the second member (member 43) in the first form and covers the first member (member 41) in the second form.

[0043] Furthermore, the locking mechanism provided by the claw portion (member 50) allows for stable positioning of the leg armor (member 44), improving the reliability and durability of the structure. If the claw portion (member 50) is rotatable, the ease of locking and unlocking is also improved.

[0044] The structure has a first form and a second form, and by configuring the rotation range of the members to differ in each form, the functional differences between the forms are clearly defined, enabling operation control according to the intended use. If the leg armor (member 44) has an expandable or contractile structure such as a bellows shape, it can flexibly respond to changes in the shape of the member, improving storage capacity and expanding the range of motion. If the leg armor (member 44) is integrally molded, manufacturing efficiency is improved, and if it is a segmented configuration, the degree of design freedom is increased. Applying such structures to doll toys can enhance playability by allowing for changes in posture and deformation of the legs, feet, and torso.

[0045] Other embodiments Figure 10 is a front view of a large humanoid robot toy in which the structure of the doll toy in the first embodiment described above has been partially deformed (including the addition and removal of members), and the lower legs (member 80) and other parts formed by the deformation of another small robot have been attached to it. In another embodiment, the structure is transformable between a first toy state (a doll toy in the first form) and a second toy state (a large humanoid robot toy) in which the structure takes a second form different from the first form. In this other embodiment, the cover (leg armor) 44 in the above embodiment is slid from a state where it covers the second member 43 of the first embodiment toward the first member 41. In this way, by displacing the cover 44 so that it forms the appearance of the upper leg, it becomes possible to thicken the upper leg and transform the toy in a way that does not compromise the proportions of a large humanoid robot. In this other embodiment, although there are described as a first and second form, the toy may also have a third and fourth form.

[0046] Variant form The embodiments described above are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Modifications of the present invention will be described below.

[0047] In the structure of the present invention, the shapes of the second member and the first member are not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped, but may be changed to any shape such as a cylindrical, spherical, or polyhedral shape. This allows for a variety of appearance designs to suit the application and design.

[0048] Furthermore, the connecting members are not limited to rotatable hinge structures; they can also employ expandable link mechanisms or flexible connection structures via elastic members. This makes it possible to further expand the range of motion and deformation behavior of the structure.

[0049] Furthermore, the leg armor (member 44) is not limited to a single molded member, but may also be a structure composed of multiple segmented members. By making at least one of the segmented members movable, or by making each segmented member movable independently, more complex changes in appearance and visual effects can be achieved. Also, the cover does not have to cover the entire circumference of the member, but may cover only a part of the member.

[0050] In addition, the leg armor (component 44) movement mechanism is not limited to manual operation; it can also be configured for automatic drive using electric motors or actuators. In this case, by linking it with sensors and control circuits, autonomous form changes can be achieved in response to the user's movements and environmental conditions.

[0051] Furthermore, the configuration of the leg armor (component 44) can be similarly applied to the arms or torso. For example, in arm armor, using a configuration with multiple segmented components can improve the mobility of the elbow joint and wrist area. Regarding the torso, functionality can be added by incorporating an internal storage space. For example, the exterior of the torso can be composed of multiple movable panels (covers) that can be opened and closed, allowing for the storage of small items inside or exposing the internal mechanism for dramatic effect.

[0052] Furthermore, the cover structure may be integrally formed with the first or second member and may have a structure in which at least a part is expandable or contractible. Also, by making the cover have a bellows-like structure, folding and expanding / contracting becomes easier, contributing to compact storage and a visually appealing design when deployed.

[0053] Furthermore, the configuration of the leg armor (component 44) can be similarly applied to the arms or torso. For example, in arm armor, the mobility of the elbow joint and wrist area can be improved by using a structure with multiple segmented components. As for the torso, functionality can be added by creating a structure that provides storage space inside. For example, by composing the exterior of the torso with multiple movable panels (covers) that can be opened and closed, it is possible to provide a function for storing small items inside or to expose the internal mechanism for a visual effect.

[0054] Furthermore, the structure of the present invention can be applied not only to doll toys, but also to toys such as car and gun-type toys and accessories for sword-type toys, as well as to various fields such as robots, educational materials, decorative items, and storage devices. For example, when applied to a storage device, the leg armor (member 44) can function as an openable and closable lid, creating a structure that combines expansion and protection of the internal space. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0055] 21 Upper Torso 22 Lower Torso 41 First component 41a Groove 42 Connecting Member 43 Second component 43a Groove 44 Cover 44d recess 44e Claw member 44f axis 44g hole 44h Claw part 45 Foot member 45a axis 45b axis 61 Chest Armor 61a Rotating member 61b axis 61c axis 62 Back Armor A10 head A20 Torso A30 nose gear A40 Rear Legs A. Hip joint B First knee joint C Second knee joint D Ankle joint H10 head H20 Torso H30 Arm H40 legs

Claims

1. A structure comprising a first member and a second member, a connecting member interposed between these members and to which each member is rotatably attached, and a cover provided to selectively cover at least a portion of the first member and the second member.

2. The structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover is movably provided to selectively cover at least a portion of the first member and the second member.

3. The structure according to claim 2, wherein the structure has at least a first and a second form, in which the cover covers at least a portion of the second member, and in which the cover covers at least a portion of the first member.

4. The structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, as the transition from the first form to the second form occurs, the cover moves between the second member and the first member by a sliding operation.

5. The structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover is provided with a claw member that can be locked onto the first member or the second member.

6. The structure according to claim 5, wherein the first member or the second member is provided with a groove that can engage with a claw portion formed at the tip of the claw member.

7. The structure according to claim 6, characterized in that the claw member is configured to be rotatable, and the claw portion engages with the groove portion by rotation.

8. The structure according to claim 3, characterized in that the rotational range of the first member and the second member with respect to the connecting member is different in the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

9. The structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, in the first embodiment, only the first member is rotatable with respect to the connecting member, and the rotation of the second member is restricted.

10. The structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, in the second embodiment, both the first member and the second member are rotatable with respect to the connecting member.

11. The structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover is integrally formed with the first member or the second member and has a structure in which at least a part of it is expandable and contractible.

12. The structure according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover has a bellows-like structure.

13. The structure according to claim 1, characterized for use in toys.

14. The structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned structure constitutes a part of a doll toy.

15. The structure according to claim 14, characterized in that the structure constitutes a part of the body of the doll toy.

16. The structure according to claim 14, characterized in that the structure constitutes the legs, arms, or torso of the doll toy.

17. A doll toy characterized by comprising the structure described in any one of claims 1 to 13.

18. The doll toy according to claim 17, characterized in that the doll toy is configured to be in an upright position in the first form and to be in a different form from the first form in the second form, and the cover constitutes the appearance of the lower leg in the first form and the appearance of the upper leg in the second form.

19. A toy comprising the structure of claim 1, characterized in that the structure is deformable between a first toy state in which it takes a first form and a second toy state in which it takes a second form different from the first form.

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