Toy

Abstract

To provide a toy that can maintain a three-dimensional shape for a long period of time. The toy (10) comprises a capsule (12) three-dimensionally formed from a sheet of a transparent thermoplastic first resin, and a core (14) filled in the recessed area of ​​the capsule with a transparent thermosetting second resin. The periphery (12P) of the capsule is flush with the bottom surface of the core, and the periphery is flush with the bottom surface of the core.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to three-dimensional toys, and more particularly to transparent toys such as animals and characters.

Background Art

[0002] Toys such as flat animals are not used, and toys having a three-dimensional shape are known by inflating a plastic hollow bag. For example, Patent Document 1 provides a three-dimensional toy such as an animal in which a thermoplastic plastic sheet is used, air is introduced into the hollow bag from an air inlet, and then the air inlet is welded in a state where the air inlet is sealed.

[0003] However, the toy made of a plastic sheet inflated with air as described above cannot maintain a three-dimensional shape for a long period of time because the plastic sheet may break or air may leak.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

[0005] Therefore, the inventor of the present invention considered that the above-mentioned drawbacks could be improved, and as a result of repeated intensive studies, the present invention was proposed by using a transparent capsule three-dimensionally formed of a sheet and a core filled in a recessed region of the capsule.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The present invention has been made by the intensive research of the inventor in view of the above problems, and the object thereof is to provide a transparent toy that can maintain a three-dimensional shape for a long period of time.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The main toy for achieving the above objective comprises a capsule formed three-dimensionally from a sheet of transparent thermoplastic first resin, and a core filled in the recessed area of ​​the capsule with transparent thermosetting second resin. The periphery of the capsule and the bottom surface of the core are on the same plane.

[0008] The toy may also be further equipped with a capsule seal made of a first resin that covers the bottom surface of the core and is welded to the periphery of the capsule. Furthermore, it is preferable that the first resin is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the second resin is epoxy resin.

[0009] A flat plastic plate may be attached to the bottom of the capsule seal. A magnetic plate may also be attached to the flat plate. The pattern may be printed on the capsule or capsule seal, or on a flat plastic plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As described above, this invention is configured to maintain its three-dimensional shape over a long period of time. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] (A) is a front view of a toy according to the first embodiment of the present invention, (B) is a side view thereof, and (C) is a cross-sectional view showing the AA section of (A). [Figure 2] (A) is a side view of a toy according to a second embodiment of the present invention. (B) is a side view of a toy according to a third embodiment. [Figure 3] (A) is a side view of a toy according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. (B) is a side view of a toy according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart showing the assembly process for the toy according to this invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the following examples and can be modified at will without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted. Note that each figure is shown schematically to the extent that the invention can be understood, and some parts, such as size, angle, or thickness, may be exaggerated. Figures 1 and 2 are drawn with mutually orthogonal XYZ axes.

[0013] <First Example> Figure 1(A) is a front view showing a toy 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this invention, the toy 10 is a baby bear, but it may be other animals, plants, or characters. The capsule 12 is preferably transparent. Here, transparent means that visible light from the back surface 16B of the capsule seal 16 (see Figure 1(B)), which is the back of the toy 10, is visible from the front of the toy 10. Even if it is generally called semi-transparent, if visible light from the back surface 16B is visible from the front of the toy 10, it is defined as transparent.

[0014] Figure 1(B) is a side view of the toy 10, and Figure 1(C) is a cross-sectional view showing the AA section of Figure 1(A). The capsule 12 is made of a thin sheet, which is then vacuum-formed after heat is applied to form a capsule with a three-dimensional shape, with the back surface 12B recessed. The capsule 12 is made of a first resin, which can be a thermoplastic resin such as rigid PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), or PMMA (acrylic).

[0015] As shown in Figure 1(C), the capsule 12 has a front surface 12A and a back surface 12B. Vacuum forming creates a wall surface 12C around the capsule 12, and a peripheral edge 12P. All peripheral edges 12P are formed on the same plane in the Z-axis direction. Vacuum forming fills the inside of the wall surface 12C (the recessed area of ​​the back surface 12B) with a core 14 made of a second resin. The second resin is appropriately measured and temperature-controlled before being injected so that the core 14 extends to the peripheral edge 12P. In other words, the bottom surface of the core 14 is on the same plane as the peripheral edge 12P.

[0016] The second resin is, for example, a transparent epoxy resin. The epoxy resin is a two-part mixture of liquid A and liquid B, where liquid A is epoxy resin and liquid B is a hardening epoxy resin. For example, the ratio of liquid A to liquid B is 3:1. Of course, the epoxy resin can also be 9:1, with liquid A being epoxy resin and liquid B being a hardener. A transparent phenolic resin can be used instead of a transparent epoxy resin. Epoxy resins and phenolic resins are thermosetting resins. These thermosetting resins have advantages such as not containing phthalates, which are harmful components, and being less prone to cracking and whitening after drying.

[0017] A flat capsule seal 16 is attached so as to cover the bottom surface of the core 14. Since the peripheral edge 12P is formed on the same plane as the bottom surface of the core 14, the peripheral edge 16P of the capsule seal 16 is in contact with the peripheral edge 12P of the capsule 12. The peripheral edge 16P of the capsule seal 16 is welded to the peripheral edge 12P by welding (high-frequency welding). It is preferable that the capsule seal 16 be made of the same thermoplastic resin as the first resin to facilitate welding. Although not strictly necessary, the capsule seal 16 may have an adhesive layer to ensure strong adhesion to the bottom surface of the core 14.

[0018] As described above, the toy 10 has a three-dimensional shape in which its entire surface is covered with a capsule 12 and a capsule seal 16, and its interior is filled with a core 14. Children can play with the relatively inexpensive transparent toy 10.

[0019] Furthermore, patterns such as a little bear's nose and eyes may be printed on the front surface 12A or the back surface 12B of the capsule 12. Alternatively, patterns such as a little bear's nose and eyes may be printed on the front surface 16A or the back surface 16B of the capsule seal 16. In particular, when a pattern is printed on the front surface 16A of the capsule seal 16, patterns such as a little bear's nose and eyes can be seen in accordance with the three-dimensional nose and eyes of the capsule 12 when viewed from the front of the toy 10.

[0020] <Second Embodiment> FIG. 2(A) is a side view of a toy 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The toy 20 has a plastic flat plate 27 attached to the toy 10 of the first embodiment by an adhesive layer 25.

[0021] The plastic flat plate 27 may be transparent or opaque. If the flat plate 27 is transparent, patterns such as a little bear's nose and eyes may be printed on either the front surface 27A or the back surface 27B thereof. If the flat plate 27 is opaque, patterns such as a little bear's nose and eyes may be printed on the front surface 27A thereof.

[0022] Particularly when no pattern is printed on the capsule 12 or the capsule seal 16, it becomes a toy in which the pattern printed on the flat plate 27 can be clearly confirmed from the front of the transparent toy 10.

[0023] The material of the plastic flat plate 27 does not particularly need to be limited. For example, if it is a transparent plastic material, it may be polyethylene, polycarbonate, acrylic, etc., and if it is an opaque material, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) resin, polyurethane, etc. can be mentioned.

[0024] <Third Embodiment> Figure 2(B) is a side view of a toy 22 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the toy 22, a magnetic plate 29 is attached to the toy 20 of the second embodiment by an adhesive layer 25. Because of the magnetic plate 29, the toy 22 can be attached to a metal plate such as an iron plate. Although not specifically shown, as a modification of the third embodiment, a clipboard may be attached instead of the magnetic plate.

[0025] <Fourth Example> Figure 3(A) is a front view of toy 30, which is a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is one of the modifications of the second embodiment. In toy 30, a plastic plate 27 is attached to toy 10 of the first embodiment by an adhesive layer 25. A first tongue piece 27Q is formed on the upper part of the plastic plate 27, and an opening 27R is formed in the first tongue piece 27Q. Therefore, when a ball chain, lanyard, or carabiner is passed through the opening 27R, the user can use toy 30 as a hanging toy.

[0026] <Example 5> Figure 3(B) is a front view of toy 32, which is a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is also a modification of the second embodiment. In toy 30, a plastic plate 27 is attached to toy 10 of the first embodiment by an adhesive layer 25. A second tongue piece 27Q is formed on the lower part of the plastic plate 27. The second tongue piece 27Q is inserted into a base plate 38 or the like, which has an opening 35R that matches the second tongue piece 27Q, and can be used by the user as a stand toy rising from the base plate 38. Although not shown, a plastic stand may be attached instead of the plastic plate.

[0027] <Sixth Example> Although not shown in the diagram, a magnetic plate 29 may be attached to the toy 10 of the first embodiment by an adhesive layer 25. In other words, the toy according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention does not have a plastic plate 27, and a magnetic plate 29 is attached to the back surface 16B of the capsule seal 16 by an adhesive layer 25.

[0028] <Toy manufacturing method> Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the assembly process of the toy according to the present invention. In step S41, multiple patterns are printed on a thin sheet of the first resin. However, if a patterned plastic plate 27 is bonded to the toy 10, as in the toy 20 of the second embodiment, the toy 10 does not need to have a pattern, so step S41 does not need to be performed.

[0029] In step S42, a thin sheet of the first resin is vacuum-formed to create capsules 12. Specifically, a mold (not shown) with multiple three-dimensional carvings of animals, plants, or characters is attached to the vacuum forming apparatus, and the sheet of the first resin is placed on the mold. The first resin is then heated with a heater or the like to a temperature at which it becomes soft, for example, about 250°C for rigid PVC, and then vacuum suction is applied through several small holes in the mold to form multiple capsules 12. The sheet of the first resin is then cooled to room temperature.

[0030] In step S43, the multiple capsules 12 molded onto the sheet of the first resin are individually cut and separated. Depending on the size of the capsules 12, only one capsule may be molded onto a single sheet of the first resin. In this case, step S43 does not need to be performed.

[0031] In step S44, the second resin is injected into the recessed area on the back surface 12B of the capsule 12 by vacuum forming. To prevent the capsule 12, which is made of the first resin, from deforming due to heat, the second resin is a two-component thermosetting resin mixture type, and for example, the second resin at 40°C is injected into the recessed area of ​​the capsule. The amount of the second resin to be injected is measured in advance, and by injecting that amount into the recessed area, the bottom surface of the core 14 becomes flush with the peripheral edge 12P of the capsule 12, as shown in Figure 1(C).

[0032] In step S45, the capsule seal 16 is attached to the capsule 12. More specifically, the capsule seal 16 is positioned to cover the capsule 12 and the core 14. The peripheral edge 16P of the capsule seal 16 is then welded to the peripheral edge 12P of the capsule 12. The capsule seal 16 may also be a seal with an adhesive layer so that it adheres to the bottom surface of the core 14. From steps S41 to S45, the toy 10 is completed.

[0033] In step S46, the patterned plastic plate 27 is glued together with adhesive 25. By adding step S46, toy 20 is completed. If either the first tongue piece 27Q or the second tongue piece 27S is formed on the plastic plate 27, toy 30 or toy 32 is completed.

[0034] In step S47, a magnetic plate 29 or clipboard is attached to the back surface 27B of the patterned plastic plate 27 with adhesive 25. By adding step S47, the toy 22 is completed.

[0035] If step S47 is performed without performing step S46, a toy with a magnetic plate 29 but without the patterned plastic plate 27 will be completed.

[0036] In summary, the toys 10, 20, or 22 of this invention can be used by users as toys that maintain their three-dimensional shape for a long period of time. Furthermore, toy 10 of this invention can be sold as a toy with reduced labor and manufacturing costs.

[0037] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. For example, in the first embodiment, a capsule seal 16 is attached, but the capsule seal 16 may be omitted. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining these embodiments are also included within the technical scope of this invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 10, 20, 22...Toys 12... Capsules 14... Core 16... Capsule seal 25... Adhesive 27... Plastic plate 29...Magnetic plate

Claims

1. A capsule formed into an undulating three-dimensional shape using a transparent thermoplastic first resin sheet; a core filled in the recessed area of ​​the capsule with a transparent thermosetting second resin; A toy in which the periphery of the capsule is flush and the bottom surface of the core is flush with the periphery.

2. A capsule three-dimensionally formed from a sheet of a transparent thermoplastic first resin; a core filled in the recessed area of ​​the capsule with a transparent thermosetting second resin; A toy in which the periphery of the capsule is flush with the bottom surface of the core, The toy further comprises a capsule seal of the first resin covering a bottom surface of the core and welded to a periphery of the capsule.

3. the first resin is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the second resin is an epoxy resin; The toy described in claim 1, wherein in a cross section along a Y-Z plane perpendicular to an X-Y plane passing through the peripheral portion of the capsule and including two points on the peripheral portion of the capsule, when the Y-directional distance between the two points is A and the Z-directional height of the capsule is B, there exists a cross section such that A>B.

4. 3. The toy according to claim 2, wherein a plastic flat plate is attached to the bottom surface of said capsule seal.

5. 5. The toy according to claim 4, wherein a magnetic plate or a clip plate is attached to the flat plate.

6. The toy according to claim 2 , wherein a pattern is printed on the capsule or the capsule seal.

7. 5. The toy according to claim 4, wherein a pattern is printed on said plastic plate.

8. 5. The toy according to claim 4, wherein said plastic flat plate is formed with a tongue, said tongue having an opening or a shape adapted to be inserted into a bail plate.

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