Toy

Abstract

To provide a technology that makes the operation feeling of a toy that allows a player to repeatedly enjoy the sensation of squashing bubble cushioning material more similar to squashing bubbles in real bubble cushioning material. [Solution] The toy 2 has a first sheet 30 with multiple protrusions 31 formed on the front side. A second sheet 40 is adhered to the back side of the first sheet 30, and each of the protrusions 31 is individually sealed in a gas-sealed state. On the back side of the second sheet 40, there are movable contacts 62 of tactile switches 61 corresponding to each of the protrusions 31.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a toy that allows one to repeatedly enjoy the feeling of crushing a bubble cushioning material.

Background Art

[0002] As a kind of bubble cushioning material used for product packaging etc., there is a sheet-type cushioning material in which a large number of bubbles are geometrically arranged. Such bubble cushioning materials, which are commercialized as Air Cap (registered trademark) and Puchi Puchi (registered trademark), may be used for the play of crushing bubbles before being discarded. The bubble cushioning material is made of thin vinyl, and once the bubbles are crushed, they cannot return to their original state. So, if all the bubbles are crushed, one can no longer play with it.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a toy that allows one to repeatedly enjoy the feeling of crushing a bubble cushioning material. By using this toy, one can not only enjoy the play of crushing bubbles anytime and as many times as one likes, but also has elements of play and can relieve stress.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the toy of Patent Document 1, through a silicone rubber sheet imitating the bubbles of the bubble cushioning material and via the solid body of the silicone rubber (the second button sheet 203 having the large button 501 and the small button 601 of Patent Document 1), it is configured to press a tact switch. Therefore, there was a slightly different feeling from the operating feeling of crushing bubbles like that of a real bubble cushioning material.

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a technology for a toy that can obtain a feeling of operation as if bursting the bubbles of a genuine bubble cushioning material.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] Aspects of the present invention include a first sheet having N (N≥2) convex portions protruding from the front side, a second sheet adhered to the back surface of the first sheet to individually seal each of the convex portions in a gas-sealed state, movable contacts provided at positions corresponding to each of the convex portions on the back side of the second sheet, an effect output unit, and an electronic control unit that controls the effect output of the effect output unit based on the conduction state of the movable contacts. The movable contacts change individually from an off state to an on state when the pressure applied to the corresponding convex portion is transmitted through the sealed gas inside the convex portion. It is a toy. Also, aspects of the present invention include a first sheet having a convex portion protruding from the front side, a second sheet adhered to the back surface of the first sheet to close the convex portion in a gas-sealed state, and a deformation member provided at a position facing the convex portion on the back side of the second sheet. The deformation member deforms when the pressure applied to the front side of the convex portion is transmitted to the deformation member through the enclosed gas inside the convex portion, and transmits the impact associated with the deformation of the deformation member to the front side of the convex portion through the enclosed gas inside the convex portion. It is a toy. Also, aspects of the present invention include a first sheet having a convex portion protruding from the front side, a second sheet adhered to the back surface of the first sheet to close the convex portion in a gas-sealed state, and a deformation member provided at a position facing the convex portion on the back side of the second sheet. The second sheet has a protrusion protruding toward the deformation member at a position facing the deformation member. The deformation member is deformed when the pressure applied to the front side of the convex portion is transmitted to the deformation member through the enclosed gas inside the convex portion, and the protrusion pushes the deformation member. The impact associated with the deformation of the deformation member is transmitted to the front side of the convex portion through the enclosed gas inside the convex portion. It is a toy. Also, aspects of the present invention include a first sheet having at least two adjacent convex portions protruding from the front side, a second sheet adhered to the back surface of the first sheet to close the two adjacent convex portions in a gas-sealed state, and deformation members provided at positions corresponding to the two adjacent convex portions on the back side of the second sheet respectively. The thickness of the first sheet forming the convex portion is such that the thickness of the side surface is thinner than the thickness of the upper surface. The sheet constituting the space between the adjacent convex portions in the first sheet is the first sheet of the upper surface It has a portion larger than the thickness of the sheet, the second sheet has a protrusion protruding toward the deformation member at a position facing the deformation member, and in the deformation member, the pressing of the convex portion toward the front side is transmitted to the deformation member through the enclosed gas in the convex portion, and the protrusion deforms by pushing the deformation member, and the impact accompanying the deformation of the deformation member is transmitted to the front side of the convex portion through the enclosed gas in the convex portion. It is a toy.

[0008] Further, the movable contact is a contact for a tactile switch, and the operation of the movable contact may be tactilely detectable on the front side of the first sheet through the sealed gas in the convex portion corresponding to the movable contact. Further, the deformation member includes a thin dome shape, and the dome shape is configured to be inverted by the pressing. and deformed It may be configured as such. Further, the deformation member is inverted by the pressing. and deformed It may be composed of an inversion spring that is inverted by the pressing.

[0009] Further, the convex portion may be in the shape of a frustum of a cone.

[0010] Further, the movable contact may be sized to fit within the outer shape of the lower surface of the corresponding convex portion as viewed from the front side. Further, the deformation member may be sized to fit within the outer shape of the lower surface of the opposing convex portion when viewed from the front side.

[0011] Further, the movable contact may be sized to fit within the outer shape of the upper surface of the corresponding convex portion as viewed from the front side. Further, the deformation member may be sized to fit within the outer shape of the upper surface of the opposing convex portion when viewed from the front side.

[0012] Further, the convex portion may have a thinner side surface than the thickness of the upper surface. Further, the thickness of the first sheet forming the convex portion may be such that the thickness of the side surface is thinner than the thickness of the upper surface.

[0013] Further, the first sheet and the second sheet may be translucent, and may further include an opaque sheet provided between the second sheet and the movable contact.

[0014] Further, the first sheet may have one or more annular groove portions surrounding the convex portion at the peripheral portion of the convex portion on the back surface.

[0015] Further, the second sheet may have a protruding portion that protrudes toward the movable contact at a position facing the movable contact.

[0016] Further, the first sheet may have M dummy convex portions in addition to the N convex portions, and the second sheet may have ventilation holes at positions corresponding to the respective dummy convex portions.

[0017] Further, it may further include a base having the movable contact, the effect output unit, and the electronic control unit, and a frame body, and the first sheet and the second sheet may be disposed between the base and the frame body.

[0018] Further, the effect output unit may include a speaker, and the base may have a housing portion for housing a battery and a speaker housing portion for housing the speaker protruding from the back side, and a non-protruding portion other than the housing portion and the speaker housing portion may be configured as a gripping portion by the user.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, the first sheet and the second sheet form convex portions in a gas-encapsulated state similar to the bubbles of a genuine bubble cushioning material. These convex portions are elastically deformed when subjected to an operation such as squeezing the bubbles, but return to their original state without breaking the airtightness when the operation is released. And the convex portion that has been subjected to the operation of squeezing the bubbles transmits the operating force to the back side while being elastically deformed to operate the movable contact. By the operation of the movable contact, for example, an effect sound imitating the sound when the bubbles are burst from the toy is output. Therefore, a toy that can provide an operation feeling as if squeezing the bubbles of a genuine bubble cushioning material can be realized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 9

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, it goes without saying that the forms to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the following embodiments. Also, each figure shows a right-handed orthogonal three-axis. The positive X-axis direction of the orthogonal three-axis will be described as the front or forward, the negative X-axis direction as the back or rear, the positive Y-axis direction as the left, the negative Y-axis direction as the right, the positive Z-axis direction as the top, and the negative Z-axis direction as the bottom.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration example of the toy 2 of the present embodiment, and is a perspective external view of the toy 2 seen from the front and obliquely above. FIG. 2 is a perspective external view of the toy 2 seen from the back and obliquely above.

[0023] The toy 2 is a portable, substantially box-shaped small toy that can repeatedly enjoy the feeling of crushing a bubble cushioning material. The toy 2 has a frame body 6 on the front side of the base 4.

[0024] On the upper part of the base 4, a strap hole 8 and an LED 10 for effect output are provided. On the back surface of the base 4, a battery housing portion 14 with a housing lid portion 12 and a speaker housing portion 16 project. Among the back surface of the base 4, the non-projecting portion other than the battery housing portion 14 and the speaker housing portion 16 is made thinner in the front-rear direction than the speaker housing portion 16, and is formed as a gripping portion 18 for gripping the toy 2 with fingers in the front-rear direction.

[0025] The toy 2 sandwiches the upper, lower, left, and right outer edge portions of the seat assembly 20 between the base 4 and the frame body 6. From the window portion of the frame body 6, a plurality of convex portions 31 and a plurality of dummy convex portions 33 of the seat assembly 20 project and are exposed on the front side. The convex portions 31 and the dummy convex portions 33 are formed to imitate the bubbles of a sheet-like bubble cushioning material. The user places the belly of the thumb on the upper surface of the convex portion 31, turns the index finger and other fingers to the back surface of the toy 2 and hooks them on the gripping portion 18 to hold the toy 2. Then, the user plays by operating while crushing the convex portion 31 with the thumb.

[0026] When the convex portion 31 is operated, the circuit inside is turned on, and the toy 2 emits an effect sound similar to the sound emitted when the bubbles of the bubble cushioning material are crushed from the speaker built in the speaker housing portion 16, and causes the LED 10 to emit light in a given effect pattern.

[0027] FIG. 3 is an XZ cross-sectional view and a partial enlarged view of the III-III cross-section (see FIG. 1) of the toy 2 viewed from the negative Y-axis direction. For ease of understanding, the illustration of electrical wiring and fine electronic and electrical components is omitted.

[0028] The toy 2 holds a seat assembly 20, a spacer 52, a control board 60, and an inner case 70 which is an internal support structure, in order from the front side, between the base 4 and the frame body 6.

[0029] The seat assembly 20 is a laminated sheet body, and is formed by laminating and adhering three sheets, namely a first sheet 30, a second sheet 40, and an opaque sheet 50, in order from the front side.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective external view of the first sheet 30 seen from obliquely above the front. FIG. 5 is a perspective external view of the first sheet 30 seen from obliquely above the back. The first sheet 30 is formed of a translucent or transparent silicone rubber. The first sheet 30 has N (N is an integer of 2 or more) convex portions 31 and M (M is an integer of 1 or more) dummy convex portions 33. The convex portions 31 and the dummy convex portions 33 are arranged in a predetermined geometric positional relationship when viewed from the front.

[0031] The convex portion 31 has an outer shape in the shape of a substantially frustum of a cone that imitates the bubbles of a genuine bubble cushioning material, and forms a substantially frustum-shaped internal space that opens to the back side. Note that the outer shape of the convex portion 31 and the shape of the internal space are not limited to this and can be set as appropriate. For example, it may be cylindrical. It may also be a shape that appears to be an ellipse when viewed from the front.

[0032] An annular groove portion 35 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the opening portion on the back side of the convex portion 31. The annular groove portion 35 forms unevenness in the front-rear direction, secures a space for holding an adhesive for adhering the first sheet 30 and the second sheet 40, and contributes to increasing the adhesive strength around the opening portion. The specifications and number of the grooves of the annular groove portion 35 can be set as appropriate according to the materials of the first sheet 30 and the second sheet 40, the specifications of the adhesive, and the like.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a perspective external view of the second sheet 40 seen from obliquely above the front. FIG. 7 is a perspective external view of the second sheet 40 seen from obliquely above the back. The second sheet 40 is formed of a translucent or transparent silicone rubber. The front side of the second sheet 40 is formed flat, but has ventilation holes 41 at positions facing the dummy convex portions 33. Further, the second sheet 40 has thin-walled concave portions 43 and protrusions 45 on the back side in a positional relationship corresponding to each of the convex portions 31. Specifically, the thin-walled concave portions 43 and the protrusions 45 are provided at positions where the center of the convex portion 31 when viewed from the front and the center of the thin-walled concave portions 43 and the protrusions 45 when viewed from the back corresponding to the convex portion 31 have the same YZ plane coordinates.

[0034] The thin-walled concave portion 43 is a donut-shaped dish-like concave portion that is locally thinner in thickness in the X-axis direction (front-rear direction) than the surroundings and opens in the back direction. The protrusion 45 is a portion formed from the central portion of the thin-walled concave portion 43 toward the back direction.

[0035] Returning to FIG. 3, after an adhesive is applied to the annular groove portion 35 on the back side of the first sheet 30, the front side of the second sheet 40 is adhered so as to face it. As a result, the convex portion 31 has its back-side opening closed by the second sheet 40 to form a sealed space, and a gas-sealed state in which airtight air is enclosed is achieved.

[0036] An opaque sheet 50 is attached to the back side of the second sheet 40. The opaque sheet 50 is a resin sheet that is printable and elastically deformable. For example, it is realized by a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) sheet or an opaque silicone rubber. The opaque sheet 50 makes the inside of the toy 2 not visible through the semi-transparent or transparent first sheet 30 and second sheet 40. If various patterns are printed on the front side of the opaque sheet 50 to prepare different types, toys 2 with different variations can be produced.

[0037] A control board 60 is disposed on the back side of the opaque sheet 50 via a spacer 52. The spacer 52 is a member that secures an installation space for the movable contact 62 between the opaque sheet 50 and the control board 60. The spacer 52 is, for example, a thin plate-like member in the X-axis direction, and has a through-hole 54 penetrating in the X-axis direction having the same diameter or substantially the same diameter as the thin-walled concave portion 43 on the back side of each convex portion 31.

[0038] The control board 60 is mounted with tactile switches 61 provided corresponding to the convex portions 31 respectively, an electronic control unit 65, and various electronic and electrical components, and receives power supply from a button battery 80 housed in the battery housing portion 14. Then, the control board 60 is electrically connected to a speaker 82 housed in the speaker housing portion 16 which is a first effect output unit, and an LED 10 which is a second effect output unit, and controls these effect outputs.

[0039] The tactile switch 61 has a movable contact 62 and a fixed contact 63, and these contacts are connected to the electronic control unit 65. The movable contact 62 is a thin metal dome-shaped material that functions as a reversing spring, and in the standard state, the dome is disposed at a position facing the protruding portion 45. The fixed contact 63 is disposed in a positional relationship where it contacts the movable contact 62 when the shape of the movable contact 62 is reversed in the back direction inside the dome of the movable contact 62.

[0040] Based on the conduction state between the movable contact 62 and the fixed contact 63, the electronic control unit 65 controls the effect outputs of the speaker 82 (the first effect output unit) and the LED 10 (the second effect output unit). The electronic control unit 65 can be realized by, for example, an IC chip or a SoC (System on a Chip).

[0041] FIG. 8 is an XZ cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view around one convex portion 31. Focusing on the size relationship of each part dimension around the convex portion 31, the thickness of the side surface ts of the convex portion 31 is thinner than the thickness tp of the upper surface, and the outer diameter φ1 of the upper end portion of the convex portion 31 when viewed from the front side is set smaller than the outer diameter φ2 of the lower end portion when viewed from the front side.

[0042] The diameter of the thin concave portion 43 of the second sheet 40 and the diameter of the through hole 54 of the spacer 52 are set to be the same as or substantially the same as the diameter of the back side opening of the convex portion 31.

[0043] The outer diameter φ3 of the tactile switch 61 as viewed from the front (corresponding to the outer shape of the movable contact 62) is larger than the tip diameter φ4 of the protrusion 45 of the second sheet 40, but is set smaller than the diameter φ5 of the thin-walled recess 43 of the second sheet 40. Also, the outer diameter φ3 of the movable contact 62 is smaller than the outer diameter φ1 of the upper end portion of the convex portion 31 as viewed from the front side, and is also smaller than the outer diameter φ2 of the lower end portion of the convex portion 31 as viewed from the front side. That is, it can be said that the movable contact 62 is sized to fit within the outer shape of the lower surface and the outer shape of the upper surface of the corresponding convex portion 31 as viewed from the front side.

[0044] FIG. 9 is an XZ cross-sectional view showing an enlargement around one convex portion 31 in a state where the user operates the toy 2. The user places the pad of the thumb against the front end face of the convex portion 31, turns the index finger and other fingers to the back of the toy 2, and hangs them on the grip portion 18 to hold the toy 2. Then, the user presses the convex portion 31 with the thumb in a manner similar to crushing the bubbles of a real bubble cushioning material.

[0045] The convex portion 31 deforms as shown in FIG. 9 by the pressing by the operation. That is, the upper, lower, left, and right side surfaces of the convex portion 31 bulge outward and deform, and the thin-walled recess 43 of the second sheet 40 deforms so as to bulge toward the back direction. A realistic feeling similar to the feeling when crushing the bubbles of a real bubble cushioning material is transmitted to the user's fingers.

[0046] The first sheet 30 and the second sheet 40 are firmly adhered by an adhesive held in the groove of the annular groove portion 35, and the airtightness of the convex portion 31 is not broken even when pressed in a crushing manner. In addition, most of the airtight gas corresponding to the pressed amount concentrates on the side surfaces having a thickness ts thinner than the thickness tp of the upper surface, causing the upper, lower, left, and right side surfaces of the convex portion 31 to bulge outward. As a result, the airtight gas corresponding to the pressed amount does not act on the gap between the first sheet 30 and the second sheet 40 to peel off the adhesive portion.

[0047] When the thin concave portion 43 of the second sheet 40 bulges toward the back surface, the opaque sheet 50 also elastically deforms toward the back surface, and the protrusion 45 presses the movable contact 62 through the opaque sheet 50, deforming the dome shape of the movable contact 62 into a shape that is inverted from the front side to the back side.

[0048] Structurally, the impact associated with the inversion operation of the shape of the movable contact 62 is transmitted to the first sheet 30 through the sealed gas in the convex portion 31 corresponding to the movable contact 62, so it can be tactilely detected on the front side of the first sheet 30. By making the movable contact 62 a metal dome-shaped material, the impact generated by the inversion operation of the movable contact 62 is small, but it is sharper than when a metal dome-shaped material is not used. This small but sharp impact is transmitted to the user's finger through the convex portion 31, giving the user a feeling as if the bubbles of a real bubble cushioning material have burst. The sharpness of this impact is one of the important elements that creates a realistic tactile sensation that could not be achieved with conventional similar toys.

[0049] When the movable contact 62 is inverted, the movable contact 62 and the fixed contact 63 become individually conductive (on state), and the electronic control unit 65 performs predetermined effect output control. That is, the LED 10 emits light in a predetermined light emission pattern, and the speaker 82 emits an effect sound imitating the sound when the bubbles of a real bubble cushioning material pop.

[0050] When the user removes their finger from the convex portion 31, the inversion of the movable contact 62 is released and it returns to a convex state toward the front side, and the contact between the movable contact 62 and the fixed contact 63 is released, becoming a non-conductive state (off state). Also, the convex portion 31 restores to its original shape due to its elastic force. That is, the user can operate to crush the same convex portion 31 again.

[0051] As described above, according to the present embodiment, a toy that can obtain an operation feeling as if crushing the bubbles of a real bubble cushioning material can be realized.

[0052] Also, even if the user operates to crush the dummy convex portion 33, there is no corresponding tactile switch 61, and since the air in the dummy convex portion 33 easily escapes through the vent hole 41, there is no production output like when the convex portion 31 as described above is pressed, nor is there a feeling of impact returning to the finger. The state where the tactile feeling of crushing, as if pressing a chipped air bubble with a part remaining at the end portion of a genuine sheet-like air cushion material with its end cut, is reproduced by the dummy convex portion 33.

[0053] 〔Modification Example〕 The embodiments to which the present invention is applicable are not limited to the above examples, and addition, omission, and modification of components can be made as appropriate.

[0054] (Modification Example 1) For example, in the above embodiment, as the form of production output, two examples of light emission by the LED 10 and sound emission from the speaker 82 are illustrated, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the light emission by the LED 10 may be omitted, or a vibrator may be added to add short vibration to the production output.

[0055] (Modification Example 2) As the movable contact 62 of the tactile switch 61 in the above embodiment, a plurality of types of movable contacts 62 having different loads required for shape inversion due to differences in the plate thickness and material of the metal dome-shaped material may be mixed. According to this configuration, even in the case of the air bubbles of a genuine air cushion material, a state where there are sparse air bubbles, such as air bubbles that are difficult to crush and air bubbles that can be relatively easily crushed, can be reproduced by the toy 2. Furthermore, for each type of movable contact 62, the tone emitted from the speaker 82 may be, for example, different bursting sounds.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0056] 2... Toy 4... Base 6... Frame 8... Strap Hole 10... LED 12... Housing Cover Portion 14... Battery Housing Portion 16... Speaker Housing Portion 18... Gripping Portion 20…Sheet assembly 30…First sheet 31…Protrusion 33…Dummy protrusion 35…Annular groove 40…Second sheet 41…Vent hole 43…Thin-walled recess 45…Protrusion 50…Opaque sheet 52…Spacer 54…Through hole 56…Sheet 60…Control board 61…Tactile switch 62…Movable contact 63…Fixed contact 65…Electronic control unit 70…Inner case 80…Button battery 82…Speaker

Claims

1. A first sheet formed with at least two adjacent convex portions protruding on the front side; A second sheet adhered to the back surface of the first sheet to close the two adjacent convex portions in a gas-sealed state; Deformation members respectively provided at positions facing the two adjacent convex portions on the back side of the second sheet; comprising The thickness of the first sheet constituting the convex portion is thinner on the side surface than on the upper surface, The sheet constituting the space between the adjacent convex portions in the first sheet has a portion larger than the thickness of the sheet on the upper surface of the first sheet, The second sheet has a protruding portion protruding toward the deformation member at a position facing the deformation member, When the pressing force on the front side of the convex portion is transmitted to the deformation member through the enclosed gas in the convex portion, the protruding portion presses the deformation member to deform it, and the impact associated with the deformation of the deformation member is transmitted to the front side of the convex portion through the enclosed gas in the convex portion. A toy.

2. The deformation member includes a thin dome shape and is configured to be deformed by inverting the dome shape by the pressing force. The toy according to claim 1.

3. The deformation member is composed of an inversion spring that is deformed by inverting due to the pressing force. The toy according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The second sheet has a thin portion provided around the protruding portion. The toy according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The deformation member is sized to fit within the outer shape of the lower surface of the opposing convex portions when viewed from the front side. The toy according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The protrusion has a size that fits within the upper surface outline of the opposing deformable member when viewed from the front side. The toy according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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