Toys that run

Abstract

The protruding parts can be extended simply by driving the vehicle along the designated path, without any manual operation. [Solution] The running toy 100 includes a coupler 7, which is a protruding part that can be extended and retracted along the longitudinal direction; a biasing member that biases the coupler 7 toward the front in the running direction D1 of the running toy 100; and a locking mechanism that locks the coupler 7 in the retracted position against the biasing force of the biasing member. The locking mechanism includes a release trigger part 4 that releases the locked state of the coupler 7, and the lock is released when the release trigger part 4 is activated by an external force.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a running toy.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a running toy (referred to as a "railway vehicle model" in Patent Document 1) that can project (expose) a coupler from a vehicle body by sliding an operator. In such a running toy, the running toys can be connected by abutting the couplers of a plurality of running toys against each other (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the running toy (railway vehicle model) described in Patent Document 1, when projecting (exposing) the coupler, the user has to operate the operator by himself / herself, so it was necessary to stop the running vehicle for operation during connection. In addition, for those with weak strength such as children, it was necessary to take the trouble of once taking the vehicle off the running track, operating the operator, exposing the coupler, and then putting it back on the running track again. For this reason, there is a problem that the play of running the vehicle is temporarily interrupted during connection.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a running toy that can project a protruding part without manual operation only by running on a running track.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The first means is A protruding part is provided that can extend and retract along the longitudinal direction of the toy vehicle, A biasing member that biases the aforementioned protruding part toward the front in the direction of travel of the toy, A locking mechanism that locks the protruding part in the retracted position against the biasing force of the biasing member, Equipped with, The locking mechanism includes a release trigger that releases the locked state of the protruding part, and the locking is released when the release trigger is activated by an external force.

[0007] The second method is, in the first method, The track on which the aforementioned toy travels is provided with protrusions, The release trigger portion includes a projection provided on the bottom side of the toy vehicle. The release trigger of the locking mechanism is activated when the projection abuts against a protrusion on the travel path.

[0008] The third method is, in the second method, The aforementioned protrusions are characterized by being provided between the rails arranged on the running path.

[0009] The fourth method is, in the first method, The protruding part is directly or indirectly locked to the release trigger portion, and when the release trigger portion is operated by an external force, the locking state is released, and the protruding part is caused by the biasing force of the biasing member to protrude along the direction of travel of the toy.

[0010] The fifth method is, in the first method, The protruding part is characterized in that it is provided so as to be able to extend and retract from the front of the toy vehicle.

[0011] The sixth means is, in the first means, The aforementioned protruding part is characterized by being a coupler for connecting with other toy vehicles.

[0012] The seventh means is in the sixth means, the coupler includes a magnet at least on the free end side, when the coupler of one running toy in the protruding state approaches the coupler of the other running toy in the immersed state, it is attracted by magnetic force to the coupler of the other running toy in the immersed state.

[0013] The eighth means is in the first means, at least the free end side of the protruding part is configured to be swingable in the width direction of the running toy.

[0014] The ninth means is in the first means, inside the protruding opening where the protruding part of the running toy protrudes, a guide member for guiding the protruding direction of the protruding part is provided.

[0015] The tenth means is in the first means, it includes a lever for operating the protruding part along the running direction, the lever makes the protruding part protrude when pushed forward in the running direction, and makes the protruding part immersed when pulled backward in the running direction. '

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] According to the invention described in claim 1, the protruding part can be protruded without the user operating it by hand. Thereby, the running play of the vehicle can be enjoyed without interruption.

[0017] Also, according to the invention described in claim 2, the protruding part can be protruded only by running the running toy on the running road. Thereby, the running play of the vehicle can be enjoyed without interruption.

[0018] Further, according to the invention described in claim 3, the convex part for releasing the locked state of the protruding part by the release trigger part is arranged inside the traveling path. Therefore, the width direction of the traveling path does not increase, and a compact configuration can be realized.

[0019] Further, in the invention described in claim 4, the locking state is released when the release trigger part operates by an external force, and the biasing force of the biasing member is released. With this simple configuration, the protruding part can be made to protrude.

[0020] Further, in the inventions described in claims 5 and 6, the user can automatically project the coupler to the front side of the traveling toy without touching it, and the traveling toys can be connected to each other without interrupting the travel.

[0021] Further, in the invention described in claim 7, if one traveling toy is made to travel to put the coupler in a protruding state, the other traveling toy can be easily connected to the vehicle by simply waiting with the coupler in a submerged state.

[0022] Further, in the invention described in claim 8, since the protruding part can swing in the width direction of the traveling toy, it can bend smoothly even when the traveling toys are connected to each other, and stable travel can be enjoyed.

[0023] Further, in the invention described in claim 9, since the protruding direction of the protruding part is guided, the coupler can be made to protrude relatively straight ahead. Therefore, it is easy to face the couplers toward each other, and they can be smoothly connected without the user using their hands for assistance or the like.

[0024] Further, in the invention described in claim 10, since the operation direction of the lever and the movement direction of the protruding part are the same, the user is less likely to be confused when operating the lever.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1]This is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the toy vehicle according to the embodiment, and the coupler is shown in a retracted state. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the toy vehicle according to the embodiment, and the coupler is shown in a protruding state. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the toy with the main body cover removed, showing the coupler in its retracted state. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the toy with the main body cover removed, showing the coupler in its protruding state. [Figure 5] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the toy vehicle shown, viewed from the bottom. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the main unit cover, seen from the bottom. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of the main components of the main chassis as seen from the top during assembly. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing the release trigger unit as a standalone component. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view of the main part of the protruding support member as seen from the bottom side in the assembled state. [Figure 10] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the main components with the main chassis removed. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view showing the connecting rail parts in the embodiment. [Figure 12] Figure 11 is a perspective view of the main parts showing the rail parts with the top cover removed. [Figure 13] Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the sliding members that make up the rail parts shown. [Figure 14] This is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the connecting rail component in the embodiment. [Figure 15] Figure 10 is a schematic side view of the XV section enclosed by a dashed line, where (a) shows the protruding support member locked to the release trigger, (b) shows the release trigger rotating after abutting against the protrusion, and (c) shows the protruding support member completely detached from the release trigger. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] An embodiment of a driving toy according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 15. The running toy 100 shown in the embodiment is a railway vehicle type running toy and is equipped with a protruding part that is retractable along the longitudinal direction of the running toy 100. In the embodiment, the protruding part is a coupler 7 that is retractable and extends from the front of the running toy 100 in the running direction D1. The running toy 100 is used for coupled running play, for example, by connecting multiple running toys 100 together using the coupler 7 and running them on a track. In the embodiment, the track is composed of rail parts, including coupling rail parts (see Figure 11) which will be described later.

[0027] <Structure> Toys that run Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views showing the external appearance of the toy car 100. Figure 1 shows the toy car 100 in an immersed state, with the coupler 7, a protruding part, positioned inside the protruding opening 12, and Figure 2 shows the toy car 100 in an extended state, with the coupler 7 protruding outwards from the protruding opening 12. Figure 3 shows the toy car 100 shown in Figure 1 with the main body cover 1 removed, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the toy car 100 shown in Figure 2 with the main body cover 1 removed. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the toy car 100 in the state shown in Figure 2, viewed from the bottom. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the toy vehicle 100 comprises a main body cover 1, a main body chassis 2, and a protruding part (coupler 7) supported by a protruding support member 5. In Figures 1 and 2, "front" and "rear" refer to the front and rear sides of the toy vehicle 100 in the direction of travel D1, "left" and "right" refer to the left and right sides in the width direction of the toy vehicle 100, and "up" and "down" in each figure refer to the top and bottom of the toy vehicle 100 in its assembled state.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6, the main body cover 1 has a roughly streamlined shape, with the front end in the direction of travel D1 being narrower than the rear, and almost the entire bottom side (the underside in the toy) is open (opening 11 in Figure 6). The front end of the main body cover 1 is provided with a protruding opening 12 through which the coupler 7, a protruding component described later, extends and retracts. The protruding opening 12 is sized to allow the coupler 7 to pop out (protrude) without resistance. Furthermore, a guide member 13 is provided inside the protruding opening 12 through which the coupler 7 extends and retracts, to guide the direction in which the coupler 7 extends. In this embodiment, vertical wall-shaped guide members 13 are arranged on both the left and right sides of the portion where the coupler 7 is housed, in order to suppress the wobbling of the toy 100 in the width direction (left and right direction in Figures 1 and 2) when the coupler 7 extends.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the top surface of the main body cover 1, which constitutes the ceiling portion of the toy vehicle 100, is provided with a slit-shaped notch 15 that extends along the direction of travel D1. A lever 51, which is provided on a protruding support member 5 (described later), protrudes from the notch 15, allowing the user to operate the lever 51 by hand. Lever 51 operates the coupler 7, which is a protruding part, along the direction of travel D1. Specifically, pushing lever 51 forward in the direction of travel D1 of the toy 100 (the "OPEN" direction in Figures 1 and 2) causes the coupler 7 to protrude from the protrusion opening 12 (the state shown in Figure 2), and pulling it backward in the direction of travel D1 causes the coupler 7 to retract into the protrusion opening 12 (the state shown in Figure 1).

[0030] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the main chassis 2 constitutes the bottom side of the toy vehicle 100 and has a bottom plate 21. Wheel units 3 are attached to the side of the bottom plate 21 that faces the track on which the toy vehicle 100 travels (the back side of the toy vehicle 100). Specifically, on the back side of the bottom plate 21 of the main chassis 2, a pair of left and right axle locking parts 22 are provided on the front and rear sides in the vehicle width direction of the toy vehicle 100 in the travel direction D1. The wheel unit 3 consists of an axle 31 and wheels 32 attached to both ends of the axle 31, and the axle 31 that constitutes the wheel unit 3 is attached to each axle locking part 22. In the assembled state of the toy 100, the wheels 32 positioned on the left and right sides in the width direction of the toy 100 are placed on a pair of left and right rails 81 arranged on the track. In this embodiment, the track is a rail unit (not shown) composed of rail parts (see Figure 11, where the illustrated example is a connecting rail part 8).

[0031] As shown in Figure 5, the bottom plate 21 of the main chassis 2, which constitutes the bottom surface of the toy vehicle 100, is provided with elongated holes 23 at the front and rear in the direction of travel D1. The elongated holes 23 expose the projection 41 of the release trigger part 4, which will be described later. As will be described later, in this embodiment, a protrusion 86 is provided between rails 81 arranged on a connecting rail part 8 that constitutes the track on which the toy vehicle 100 travels. The elongated hole 23 is formed approximately in the center of the width direction of the toy vehicle 100, so that the projection 41 of the release trigger part 4 can be exposed at a position where it can abut against the protrusion 86 when the toy vehicle 100 travels along the track.

[0032] Furthermore, in the assembled state, the protruding support member 5, which will be described later, is positioned on the upper (front) side of the main chassis 2, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. As shown in Figure 7, a first hook portion 25 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate 21 of the main chassis 2, on the front side in the direction of travel D1, and one end of a coil spring 26 is locked to the first hook portion 25 as a biasing member. The other end of the coil spring 26 is locked to a second hook portion 55 on the rear end side of the protruding support member 5, and the coil spring 26 biases the protruding support member 5 and the coupler 7, which is a protruding member connected thereto, toward the front side in the direction of travel D1 of the toy 100. Note that the coil spring 26 is not shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the upper surface (front side) of the bottom plate 21 of the main chassis 2 has bearing portions 27 for receiving the shaft portion 40 of the release trigger portion 4, provided on both the left and right sides of the elongated hole 23.

[0033] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the main part of the release trigger unit 4 attached to the bearing unit 27. As shown in Figure 8, the release trigger unit 4 has a shaft 40 and a projection 41 that is pivotably attached to the shaft 40. A torsion spring 42 is also provided on the shaft 40 of the release trigger unit 4. In this embodiment, the torsion spring 42 is designed to return the projection 41 to its original position when it rotates (oscillates) in a direction that causes it to tilt backward in the travel direction D1 and is displaced. The projection 41 has a locking projection 43 formed thereon that engages with the locking claw 54 of the protruding support member 5, which will be described later. When the projection 41 rotates (oscillates), the locking projection 43 also rotates (oscillates) together with the projection 41. The locking projection 43 only needs to have a shape that can engage with the locking claw 54 of the protruding support member 5, and its specific shape is not limited to the illustrated example.

[0034] Furthermore, when the toy vehicle 100 moves backward, the projection 41 abuts against the edge of the elongated hole 23 of the main chassis 2, thereby preventing it from rotating (swinging) in the direction of forward movement D1. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8 and 10, in this embodiment, the free end of the projection 41 has an inclined surface with a cutout on the rear side in the direction of travel D1. Therefore, when the toy vehicle 100 travels backward over the protrusion 86 of the connecting rail part 8 (see Figure 11, etc.), the inclined surface of the projection 41 pushes against the protrusion 86 as it travels, causing the protrusion 86 to be gradually pushed in, so that the movement of the vehicle vehicle 100 is not obstructed.

[0035] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the protruding support member 5 from the back side in its assembled state. In Figure 9, the upper surface is the inside of the protruding support member 5, and when the protruding support member 5 is positioned upside down in the assembled state, it faces the surface side of the main chassis 2. On the upper surface in the assembled state (the surface shown as the lower side in Figure 9), a lever 51 is provided at a position corresponding to the notch 15 of the main body cover 1 in the assembled state. By moving the lever 51 along the travel direction D1 with the lever protruding from the notch 15, the protruding member, the coupler 7, can be switched between the protruding and retracted states.

[0036] A connecting locking portion 52 is provided on the front end side of the protruding support member 5 in the direction of travel D1, and the coupler 7, which is the protruding member in this embodiment, is locked to the connecting locking portion 52. The connecting locking portion 52 is not particularly limited, but for example, as shown in Figure 9, it is ring-shaped with openings at the top and bottom. The shaft 75 of the coupler 7 is inserted through the connecting locking portion 52, and the coupler 7 is attached to the protruding support member 5 via this shaft 75. As shown in Figure 9, a locking arm 53 is provided on the inside of the protruding support member 5, on the side of the connecting locking portion 52 that is rearward in the travel direction D1. In this embodiment, a pair of locking arms 53 are provided on the left and right sides, and they protrude toward the rear in the travel direction D1. A locking claw 54 is formed at the free end of each locking arm 53, which engages with the locking projection 43 of the release trigger portion 4.

[0037] Furthermore, a second hook portion 55 is provided at the rear end of the protruding support member 5 in the direction of travel D1, to which the other end of the coil spring 26, which acts as a biasing member, is locked. The coil spring 26 is a tension coil spring that is approximately at its natural length when the protruding support member 5 is in a position where the coupler 7 is in a protruding state (towards the front of the toy 100), and stretches back to its natural length when the protruding support member 5 is in a position where the coupler 7 is retracted (towards the rear of the toy 100).

[0038] In this embodiment, a "locking mechanism" (see portion XV enclosed by a dashed line in Figure 10) is formed by the locking claw 54 of the protruding support member 5 and the locking projection 43 of the release trigger portion 4 that locks the locking claw 54. The locking mechanism locks the connector 7, which is a protruding part, in an "recessed position" so that it does not protrude from the protruding opening 12 against the biasing force of the coil spring 26, which is a biasing member. The locking mechanism is released when the release trigger portion 4 is activated by an external force. In other words, in this embodiment, the protruding support member 5 and the coupler 7 attached thereto operate as a single unit. When the protruding support member 5 is locked to the locking projection 43 of the release trigger unit 4 by the locking claw 54, the protruding support member 5 remains on the rear side of the running toy 100, and the coupler 7 is also kept in an "immersed state" where it does not pop out of the protruding opening 12. In contrast, when the locking claw 54 of the protruding support member 5 disengages from the locking projection 43 of the release trigger unit 4, the biasing force of the coil spring 26 returning to its natural length pulls the protruding support member 5 forward in the running direction D1, and the coupler 7 locked to the protruding support member 5 is also pushed forward in the running direction D1 and pops out of the protruding opening 12. In this embodiment, the projection 41 of the release trigger unit 4 strikes the convex portion 86 described later, causing the projection 41 to rotate (oscillate) in a direction that causes it to tilt backward in the running direction D1. This is an "action due to external force," and the locking state by the "locking mechanism" is released.

[0039] The configuration of the coupler 7 is not particularly limited, but it includes a connecting rod (link) 73 that can swing around an axis 75 that is locked to a connecting locking portion 52 of a protruding support member 5, and a tip portion 71 that can swing from side to side around an axis (not shown) at the other end of the connecting rod 73. As a result, at least the tip portion 71 provided on the free end side of the coupler 7 is configured to swing in the width direction of the running toy 100. Note that the entire coupler 7 may be swingable, not just the tip portion 71. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the coupler 7 includes a magnet 72 at least at the tip 71, which is the free end. The type of magnet 72 is not particularly limited, but it has a magnetic force sufficient to allow it to connect with the coupler 7 of another toy 100 when it is in close proximity.

[0040] Rail parts for connecting rails

[0041] As shown in Figure 11, the connecting rail parts 8 that constitute the track of the toy train 100 have a convex portion 82 on one longitudinal side and a concave portion 83 on the other side. Multiple rail parts can be connected by fitting the convex portion 82 of one rail part with the concave portion 83 of another rail part. Although not shown in the illustration, the rail parts that constitute the track have the same configuration as the connecting rail parts 8, except that they do not have the sliding plate 9 or convex portion 86 which will be described later. In Figures 11 to 14, the longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction of the connecting rail part 8, and is the direction of connection (the direction of extension of the track) when multiple rail parts are connected to form a track. The "forward" and "backward" directions shown in the figures indicate the forward and backward directions of the running direction D1 of the toy 100 running on the connecting rail part 8.

[0042] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the connecting rail part 8 comprises a top plate 80 and a bottom plate 85, with a sliding plate 9 positioned between the top plate 80 and the bottom plate 85. The top plate 80 is provided with rails 81 at both ends in the width direction, which are the rail sections on which the wheels run. Furthermore, the top plate 80 has a first opening 841 formed at a position corresponding to the operating section 95 provided on the slide plate 9 in the assembled state, for exposing the operating section 95. The first opening 841 is an elongated hole along the longitudinal direction of the connecting rail part 8 (the operating direction of the operating section 95) so that the operating section 95 can be operated between the "DOWN" position and the "UP" position shown in Figure 11. When the operating section 95 is in the "DOWN" position, the protrusion 86 lowers to almost the same height as the top plate 80, resulting in the "DOWN" state. When the operating section 95 is in the "UP" position, the protrusion 86 protrudes upward, resulting in the "UP" state.

[0043] Furthermore, a second opening 842 is formed in the portion corresponding to the position of the protrusion 86 in the assembled state. In this embodiment, the second opening 842 is provided at least approximately in the center in the width direction of the connecting rail part 8. In the illustrated example, the second opening 842 is also provided approximately in the center in the longitudinal direction of the connecting rail part 8, but the longitudinal positions of the protrusion 86 and the corresponding second opening 842 are not limited to this. Also, the second opening 842 only needs to be formed to a size that allows the protrusion 86 to extend and retract without getting caught, and its specific shape is not limited to the illustrated example.

[0044] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the internal structure after removing the top plate 80 from the connecting rail part 8 shown in Figure 11, Figure 13 is a perspective view of the slide plate 9, and Figure 14 is a perspective view of the main part showing the relationship between the protrusion 86 and the slide plate 9. As shown in Figure 12, a movable unit 860 including a protrusion 86 is arranged on the base plate 85. The movable unit 860 is approximately trapezoidal in side view, and a guide member 87, which serves as a guide when moving the protrusion 86 up and down in the longitudinal direction, is erected on the base plate 85. A biasing member (not shown) is provided inside the movable unit 860, which biases the protrusion 86 in the upward direction.

[0045] As shown in Figure 13, the slide plate 9 has an operating section 95 on one side in the longitudinal direction, at a position corresponding to the first opening 841. The slide plate 9 also has an opening 91 that extends in the longitudinal direction and exposes the movable unit 860. Side walls 92 are provided on both the left and right sides of the opening 91, and regulating block sections 93 are provided protruding inward from the inside of the left and right side walls 92. When the sliding plate 9 is placed on the bottom plate 85, a gap exists between the lower end of the regulating block portion 93 and the bottom plate 85. Furthermore, the rear end face of the slide plate 9 in the longitudinal direction of the regulating block section 93 is an inclined surface 93a that slopes upward from the front to the rear end.

[0046] As shown in Figure 14, the movable unit 860 is provided with a base portion 861 that extends toward the end in the width direction on both the left and right sides in the width direction of the connecting rail part 8. The height (thickness) of the base portion 861 is smaller than the gap between the lower end of the regulating block portion 93 and the bottom plate 85, so that when the operating portion 95 is placed in the "DOWN" position, the base portion 861 is sandwiched between the bottom plate 85 and the regulating block portion 93. As a result, the movable unit 860 is held down against the biasing force of the biasing member that tries to push up the protrusion 86, and the protrusion 86 is placed in the "DOWN" position. Furthermore, when the operating unit 95 is moved towards the "UP" position, the sliding plate 9 slides toward the front of the connecting rail part 8, and the lower part 861 gradually rises along the inclined surface 93a. At this time, the entire movable unit 860 is guided by the guide member 87 and rises with almost no tilt. As a result, when the operating unit 95 is moved to the "UP" position, the protruding part 86 that constitutes the movable unit 860 protrudes above the surface of the top plate 80, resulting in the "UP" state.

[0047] <effect> Next, the operation and play method of the running toy 100 according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figures 15(a), 15(b), 15(c), etc. Figures 15(a), 15(b), and 15(c) are schematic side views illustrating the operation of the "locking mechanism" enclosed by a dashed line in Figure 10. Here, it is assumed that a powered vehicle equipped with a motor, etc., is connected to the rear of the running toy 100, and that the running toy 100 is driven by the powered vehicle. When playing with the toy train 100, multiple rail parts are connected to form the track for the toy train 100. Of the rail parts that make up the track, it is sufficient to include one or more of the connecting rail parts 8 shown in Figure 11. For example, the connecting rail parts 8 can be placed near the platform of a station where two toy trains 100 are connected. When positioning the connecting rail parts 8, position them so that the "UP" position of the control unit 95 faces forward in the direction of travel D1 of the toy 100. When a vehicle without a coupler 7 passes over, or when a vehicle with a coupler 7 does not need to be coupled with another vehicle, the operating part 95 of the coupling rail part 8 is set to the "DOWN" position, and the protrusion 86 is set to the "DOWN" state. In this state, even if the running toy 100 shown in the embodiment passes over the coupling rail part 8, the projection 41 of the release trigger part 4 does not come into contact with the protrusion 86 and does not rotate (oscillate).

[0048] On the other hand, for the running toy 100, the lever 51 is pulled to the rear in the direction of travel D1. By pulling the lever 51 to the rear in the direction of travel D1, the protruding support member 5 connected to the coupler 7 is pulled to the rear in the direction of travel D1 against the biasing force of the coil spring 26, and when the locking claw 54 provided at the free end of the locking arm 53 exceeds the locking projection 43 of the release trigger part 4, the locking claw 54 is locked in a position where it catches on the locking projection 43 when the lever 51 is released (see Figure 15(a)). When the locking claw 54 is locked on the locking projection 43 of the release trigger part 4, the movement of the protruding support member 5 toward the front in the direction of travel D1 is restricted, and the coupler 7, which is locked to the protruding support member 5, is also maintained in a retracted position where it does not pop out from the protruding opening 12 (retracted state shown in Figures 1 and 3). Even when the toy 100 runs over the connecting rail part 8, which has its protrusion 86 in the "DOWN" position, the projection 41 of the release trigger part 4 does not rotate, and the locking state of the coupler 7 by the locking mechanism is not released.

[0049] In response, when the user moves the operating part 95 of the connecting rail part 8 to the "UP" position, the movable unit 860 slides against the inclined surface 93a of the regulating block part 93 and rises upward. As a result, the protrusion 86 protrudes from the second opening 842 of the top plate 80, resulting in the "UP" state. When the toy train 100 is driven forward in the direction of travel D1 (direction of the white arrow D1 shown in Figure 15(b)) on the connecting rail part 8 with the protrusion 86 in the "UP" position, the projection 41 of the release trigger part 4 of the toy train 100 comes into contact with the protrusion 86 located between the pair of rails 81, as shown in Figure 15(b), and the projection 41 rotates (oscillates) to the rear side in the direction of travel D1 (see the black arrow shown in Figure 15(b)).

[0050] The locking projection 43 of the release trigger section 4 and the locking claw 54 of the protruding support member 5 are locked to each other with a slight amount of play. Therefore, when the projection 41 hits the protrusion 86 and rotates backward in the travel direction D1, the locking claw 54 disengages from the locking projection 43, and the locking state of the coupler 7 by the locking mechanism is released. As a result, the protruding support member 5 and the coupler 7 are propelled out in the forward direction D2, which is the same direction as the forward direction D1 of the running toy 100, by the biasing force of the coil spring 26. At this time, the coupler 7 is guided in the forward direction by the guide member 13 provided inside the protruding opening 12 of the main body cover 1, and the coupler 7 protrudes forward from the protruding opening 12 without swaying significantly in the width direction of the running toy 100, and enters the protruding state.

[0051] As the toy 100 continues to move, and as shown in Figure 15(c), when the projection 41 of the release trigger section 4 reaches a point in front of the convex portion 86 in the direction of travel D1, the projection 41 rotates due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 42 of the release trigger section 4 (see the arrow shown in Figure 15(c)) and returns to its original position. The coupler 7, along with the protruding support member 5, protrudes in the forward direction D2, which is the front side of the travel direction D1. However, once the coil spring 26 reaches its natural length, it does not protrude any further and is maintained with its tip protruding from the protruding opening 12 of the main body cover 1, as shown in Figure 2.

[0052] When the coupler 7 of one toy 100, which is in a protruding state, approaches the coupler 7 of another toy 100, even if the coupler 7 of the other toy 100 is in a retracted state, the protruding coupler 7 of the first toy 100 will be attracted to the retracted coupler 7 of the other toy 100 by the magnetic force of the magnet 72, and the two toy toys 100 will be connected. When the first toy 100 is moved, the coupler 7 of the other toy 100 will move from the retracted state to the protruding state. Therefore, the user can connect the toy toys 100 simply by having the other toy 100 wait in front of the first toy 100 in the direction of travel D1 when the coupler 7 is in a protruding state. Then, when the coupling 7 of one toy 100 is connected to the coupling 7 of another toy 100, and the toy 100 is moved forward or backward, the other toy 100 will also move forward or backward accordingly, allowing for linked-running play with multiple toys 100 connected together.

[0053] When you have finished playing with the linked toys and want to uncouple them, you can pull the lever 51 on each toy 100 to the rear in the direction of travel D1, which will retract the protruding coupler 7 into the protruding opening 12. In this state, you can also play with each toy 100 by running them individually. When it is not necessary to connect the running toys 100, the coupler 7 can be retracted into the protruding opening 12, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing appearance for the running toys 100 compared to when the coupler 7 is exposed.

[0054] Furthermore, when the toy vehicle 100 is moved backward, as described above, the projection 41 does not rotate (oscillate) in the direction of tilting forward in the direction of travel D1 as it abuts against the elongated hole 23 of the main chassis 2. When the toy vehicle 100 moves backward to a position where the projection 41 contacts the convex portion 86 of the connecting rail part 8, the toy vehicle 100 moves while the inclined surface of the projection 41 pushes against the convex portion 86. As a result, the convex portion 86 is gradually pushed in, and the movement of the vehicle 100 is not hindered. Various shapes can be envisioned for the rail parts that make up the track; for example, by including arc-shaped or U-shaped rail parts, it is possible to form a track that can circle. In this respect, the coupler 7 in this embodiment is configured to swing in the width direction of the toy. Therefore, even when a curved track is made up of arc-shaped or U-shaped rail parts, the toy 100 can smoothly turn the curve without derailing.

[0055] <Effects> As described above, the running toy 100 of this embodiment has a coupler 7 as a protruding part that can be extended and retracted on the front side along the longitudinal direction of the toy (in this embodiment, the running direction D1), and includes a coil spring 26 which is a biasing member that biases the coupler 7 toward the front side in the running direction D1 of the running toy 100, and a locking mechanism which locks the coupler 7 in the retracted position against the biasing force of the coil spring 26, and the locking mechanism is released when the release trigger part 4 is operated by an external force. Therefore, manual operation by the user is not required to extend the protruding part (coupler 7 in the embodiment). As a result, users can easily enjoy playing with the toy 100 without any hassle.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the coupler 7 can be extended simply by running the toy train 100 on the connecting rail part 8 with the protrusion 86 in the "UP" position. This ensures that the running of the toy trains 100 is not interrupted when connecting them, allowing for uninterrupted enjoyment of connecting and running the vehicles. Furthermore, the protrusion 86 of the connecting rail part 8 is provided between the rails 81 arranged on the track, and the release trigger part 4 includes a projection provided on the bottom side of the toy. As a result, simply by running the toy 100 on the track, the projection 41 of the release trigger 4 can be brought into contact with the protrusion 86, making it possible to release the locking state of the coupler 7 while keeping the width of the track compact.

[0057] In this embodiment, the coupler 7 is locked to the coupling locking portion 52 of the protruding support member 5 and indirectly to the release trigger portion 4. The locking state is released when the projection 41 of the release trigger portion 4 rotates as it abuts against the convex portion 86. When the locking state is released, the biasing force of the coil spring 26, which is a biasing member, causes the coupler 7 to protrude forward in the direction D1 of travel of the toy 100. This allows the train toys 100 to be connected to each other by automatically extending the coupler 7 without stopping the train's movement or requiring manual operation by the user.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the coupler 7 includes a magnet 72 on its free end, and when the coupler 7 of one toy 100 that is in a protruding state comes close to the coupler 7 of another toy 100 that is in a retracted state, it can be attracted to the coupler 7 of the other toy 100 that is in a retracted state by magnetic force and become connected. Therefore, by running one of the toy trains 100 to keep the coupler 7 in a protruding state, the other toy train 100 can be easily connected to the other toy train 100 simply by keeping the coupler 7 in a retracted state.

[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, at least the free end of the coupler 7 is configured to swing in the width direction of the running toy 100. Therefore, even when connecting two 100-unit toys together, they can flexibly navigate curves and enjoy stable running.

[0060] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a guide member 13 is provided inside the protruding opening 12 from which the coupler 7 of the toy vehicle 100 protrudes, to guide the direction in which the coupler 7 protrudes. This allows the direction in which the coupler 7 extends to be guided, enabling it to protrude relatively straight forward. As a result, it is easier to align the couplers 7 together, allowing the toy cars 100 to be smoothly connected without the user having to use their hands to assist.

[0061] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the coupler 7 is provided with a lever 51 that moves it along the travel direction D1. By pushing the lever 51 forward in the travel direction D1, the coupler 7 can be made to protrude, and by pulling it backward in the travel direction D1, the coupler 7 can be made to retract. In this way, since the operating direction of the lever 51 and the operating direction of the coupler 7 are the same, the user can operate the lever 51 intuitively without confusion.

[0062] <Other> Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0063] For example, in the embodiment, the running toy 100 was described as a driven vehicle that is connected to a powered vehicle, but the running toy 100 is not limited to a driven vehicle. For example, the toy vehicle 100 may be a self-propelled vehicle equipped with a drive source such as a motor and a battery that supplies power to the drive source.

[0064] Furthermore, although the embodiment illustrates a case where the coupler 7 is indirectly engaged with the release trigger portion 4 via the protruding support member 5, the configuration for engaging the coupler 7 with the release trigger portion 4 is not limited to this. For example, the toy 100 may not have a protruding support member 5, and the coupler 7 may be directly engaged with the release trigger 4. Alternatively, the coupler 7 may be integrated with the protruding support member 5 and may be a member that is long in the direction of travel D1.

[0065] Furthermore, although the embodiment illustrates a case where a coil spring 26 is locked to the main chassis 2 and the protruding support member 5 as a biasing member, the biasing member can be any member that can bias the protruding part (coupler 7 in the embodiment) toward the front in the direction of travel D1 of the toy 100, and is not limited to a coil spring. Furthermore, the position where the biasing member (coil spring 26 in the embodiment) is provided is not limited to those exemplified in the embodiment. For example, if the protruding support member 5 is not provided as described above, the biasing member (coil spring 26 in the embodiment) may be provided between the main chassis 1 and the protruding part (coupler 7 in the embodiment).

[0066] Furthermore, although the embodiment illustrates a case where the protruding part is a coupler 7 that connects two toy cars 100 together, the protruding part is not limited to a coupler 7 and can be anything that protrudes from the toy cars 100. For example, it could be various types of arms or the like.

[0067] Furthermore, the protrusion 86 of the connecting rail part 8 only needs to be able to abut against the projection of the release trigger part of the running toy 100, and is not limited to being provided between the rails 81 of the running track. For example, the component may be such that it abuts against the side of the road where the release trigger of the toy 100 will strike.

[0068] Furthermore, it is not essential that the coupler 7 has a magnet 72; it may be configured such that the hook-shaped ends are connected to each other. Moreover, it is not limited to the case where the magnet 72 is provided only at the tip of the coupler 7; the entire coupler 7 may be magnetic.

[0069] Furthermore, although the embodiment illustrates a case where the coupler 7, as a protruding part, is pivotable in the width direction of the running toy 100, the protruding part may also be pivotable in the vertical direction of the running toy 100, or it may be pivotable in both the width direction and the vertical direction.

[0070] Furthermore, the device may be equipped with a remote controller or the like that can remotely operate the running toy 100, allowing for remote control of its forward or backward movement. In this way, the starting and stopping of the running toy 100 can be controlled from the user's hand. If the entry and movement of the connecting rail part 8 onto the rail 81 can be controlled remotely, the user can enjoy playing by connecting and running the running toys 100 together, even when away from the running toy 100. If the operating part 95 of the connecting rail part 8 can also be operated remotely, the "UP" and "DOWN" functions of the protrusion 86 can also be operated without direct physical contact. moreover

[0071] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The configuration of the driving toy 100 shown in the above embodiments can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention includes the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents. In addition, the embodiments of the invention and their modifications shown above can be used in appropriate combinations as long as they do not contradict each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1. Main unit cover 12 Output 13 Guide member 2 Main chassis 25 First hook section 26. Coil spring (biasing member) 4. Release trigger section 41 Protrusion 42 Torsion springs 43 Locking protrusion 5. Protruding support member 51 Lever 55 Second hook section 7 Connector (protruding part) 8. Connecting rail parts 86 Convex part 100 Driving Toys

Claims

1. A protruding part is provided that can extend and retract along the longitudinal direction of the toy vehicle, A biasing member that biases the aforementioned protruding part toward the front in the direction of travel of the toy, A locking mechanism that locks the protruding part in the retracted position against the biasing force of the biasing member, Equipped with, The locking mechanism includes a release trigger that releases the locked state of the protruding part, and the locking is released when the release trigger is activated by an external force. A toy that features a driving motion.

2. The track on which the aforementioned toy travels is provided with protrusions, The release trigger portion includes a projection provided on the bottom side of the toy vehicle. When the projection abuts against a protrusion on the road surface, the release trigger of the locking mechanism is activated. The driving toy according to feature 1.

3. The aforementioned protrusions are provided between the rails arranged on the running path. The driving toy according to feature 2.

4. The protruding part is directly or indirectly locked to the release trigger portion, and when the release trigger portion is operated by an external force, the locking state is released, and the protruding part extends along the direction of travel of the toy due to the biasing force of the biasing member. The driving toy according to feature 1.

5. The protruding part is provided so as to be able to extend and retract from the front of the aforementioned toy vehicle. The driving toy according to feature 1.

6. The aforementioned protruding part is a coupler for connecting with other toy vehicles. The driving toy according to feature 1.

7. The coupler includes a magnet at least on the free end side. When the coupler of one toy vehicle, which is in a protruding state, approaches the coupler of the other toy vehicle, which is in a retracted state, it will be attracted to the coupler of the other toy vehicle, which is in a retracted state, by magnetic force. The driving toy according to feature 6.

8. At least the free end of the protruding part is configured to swing in the width direction of the toy. The driving toy according to feature 1.

9. A guide member is provided inside the protruding opening from which the protruding part of the aforementioned toy vehicle protrudes, to guide the direction in which the protruding part comes out. The driving toy according to feature 1.

10. The aforementioned protruding part is equipped with a lever that moves it along the direction of travel, When the lever is pushed forward in the direction of travel, the protruding part extends, and when pulled backward in the direction of travel, the protruding part retracts. The driving toy according to feature 1.

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