Model parts and model toys

Abstract

To provide a model part with a new mechanism. [Solution] The model component comprises a first part, a second part having a connecting portion rotatably connected to the first part and an extending portion extending from the connecting portion, a third part having a through hole, and a fourth part rotatably connected to the extending portion of the second part, wherein the first part is inserted from a first side of the through hole of the third part and fits into the inner surface of the through hole, the second part is rotatably connected to the first part within the through hole by the connecting portion so that a portion of the extending portion protrudes from a second side of the through hole of the third part opposite the first side, and the fourth part is rotatably connected to the portion of the extending portion of the second part protruding from the second side of the through hole.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to model parts and model toys. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to realize movements and poses similar to those of humans and animals, model toys (for example, doll toys) are provided with various joints and movable parts. These mechanisms enable various movements and poses to be realized. Patent Document 1 proposes a model toy in which joints are made up of multiple members that are rotatably connected to each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-85165 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Model parts used as joints in toy models are required to be able to realize a variety of movements that are as close as possible to those of humans and animals.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a model part with a novel mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention provides a model component comprising: a first part; a second part having a connecting portion rotatably connected to the first part and an extending portion extending from the connecting portion; a third part having a through hole; and a fourth part rotatably connected to the extending portion of the second part, wherein the first part is inserted from a first side of the through hole of the third part and fitted into an inner surface of the through hole; the second part is rotatably connected to the first part within the through hole by the connecting portion so that a portion of the extending portion protrudes from a second side of the through hole of the third part opposite the first side; and the fourth part is rotatably connected to the portion of the extending portion of the second part protruding from the second side of the through hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a model component with a novel mechanism can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the external configuration of a doll toy according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] 1 illustrates the assembly of model parts in one embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 illustrates the assembly of model parts in one embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates the assembly of model parts in one embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates the assembly of model parts in one embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates the assembly of model parts in one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0010] An example of the configuration of a model toy MT according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, a doll-type model toy (humanoid robot) will be described as an example of the model toy MT, but this is not intended to limit the present invention, and the present invention can be applied to various models such as people, animals, robots, insects, dinosaurs, weapons, and ornaments. Hereinafter, the doll-type model toy MT may be referred to as a "doll toy MT."

[0011] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the external configuration of a doll toy MT in this embodiment. Fig. 1 shows the external front view of the doll toy MT, and the X, Y, and Z arrows in the figure indicate the forward, left, and upward directions of the doll toy MT, respectively. In this specification, when explaining the positional relationship of each part, terms such as front (forward), rear (rearward), left (left side), right (right side), top (upper), and bottom (lower) may be used, but these terms are relative to the doll toy MT. For example, front corresponds to the front side of the doll toy MT, and rear corresponds to the back side of the doll toy MT.

[0012] The doll toy MT of this embodiment includes a head 1, a chest 2, an abdomen 3, a right shoulder 4R, a left shoulder 4L, a right arm 5R, a left arm 5L, a waist 6, a right leg 7R, and a left leg 7L. The head 1 is connected to the upper part of the chest 2. The right shoulder 4R is rotatably connected to the right side of the chest 2, and the right arm 5R is rotatably connected to the right shoulder 4R. Similarly, the left shoulder 4L is rotatably connected to the left side of the chest 2, and the left arm 5L is rotatably connected to the left shoulder 4L. A right hand 8R is connected to the tip of the right arm 5R, and a left hand 8L is connected to the tip of the left arm 5L. The abdomen 3 is connected to the lower part of the chest 2, and the waist 6 is connected to the lower part of the abdomen 3. The right leg 7R and the left leg 7L are each rotatably connected to the waist 6.

[0013] The right arm 5R and left arm 5L of the doll toy MT of this embodiment each have a bendable elbow joint and are composed of a model component 100 in which multiple parts are rotatably connected to one another. The model components 100 constituting the right arm 5R and left arm 5L are required to realize more human-like movement by expanding the range of bending and stretching motion at the elbow joint, as well as to be easy to assemble and to prevent the multiple parts from coming off after assembly. Below, we will illustrate the model component 100 constituting the left arm 5L and provide a step-by-step explanation of the assembly of the model component 100, showing an example of its configuration. Figures 2 to 6 show the model component 100 constituting the left arm 5L being assembled.

[0014] Referring to Fig. 2, the model component 100 comprises a first part 10 and a second part 20. Fig. 2 shows how the first part 10 and the second part 20 are connected to each other.

[0015] First part 10 is connected to left shoulder 4L, and is also a component to which connecting portion 21 of second part 20 is connected. First part 10 has two plate portions 11 that sandwich connecting portion 21 of second part 20. Each of the two plate portions 11 has, at its tip, a contact portion 11a that contacts a protrusion 21a provided on connecting portion 21 of second part 20, and has, on its inner surface, a convex portion 11b that engages with a groove 21b provided on connecting portion 21 of second part 20. The inner surface of a plate portion 11 refers to the surface located between the two plate portions 11, i.e., the surface facing the other plate portion 11.

[0016] The second part 20 has a connecting portion 21 that is rotatably connected to the first part 10, and an extension portion 22 that extends from the connecting portion 21. Each of the two surfaces Sa to Sb of the connecting portion 21 that are opposite each other is provided with a protrusion 21a that serves as a rotation axis relative to the first part 10, and a groove 21b that is arranged to surround the protrusion 21a. Each of the two surfaces Sa to Sb is provided with an entrance groove 21c that allows the protrusion 11a of the first part 10 to enter the groove 21b when the first part 10 and the second part 20 are connected. The entrance groove 21c is connected to the groove 21b. The extension portion 22 is provided with an opening 22a that allows the fourth part 40, which will be described later, to be rotatably connected. While FIG. 2 shows only the surface Sa of the second part 20, the surface Sb is configured similarly to the surface Sa.

[0017] In the first relative position shown in FIG. 2, first part 10 and second part 20 are positioned such that protrusion 11a of first part 10 passes through entrance groove 21c of second part 20 and enters groove 21b of second part 20. The first relative position is the relative position between first part 10 and second part 20 in a state in which first part 10 is tilted at a predetermined angle (90 degrees in this embodiment) with respect to the direction in which extension portion 22 of second part 20 extends. In this first relative position, first part 10 and second part 20 are connected. As a result, abutment portion 11a of plate portion 11 of first part 10 comes into contact with protrusion 21a of second part 20, resulting in the position shown in FIG. 3(a). Here, entrance groove 21c is provided in part of the periphery of groove 21b in connecting portion 21 of second part 20 so as to allow convex portion 11a of first part 10 to enter groove 21b of second part 20 in the first relative posture.

[0018] Furthermore, from the state shown in FIG. 3(a) (first relative position), first part 10 and second part 20 are rotated relatively around protrusion 21a of second part 20 as the rotation axis. As a result, convex portion 11b of first part 10 moves along groove 21b of second part 20 and convex portion 11b engages with groove 21b, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 3(b). The relative position (second relative position) of first part 10 and second part 20 in the state shown in FIG. 3(b) is the position when first part 10 and second part 20 are inserted into through-hole 31 of third part 30, as described below. In the second relative position, first part 10 and second part 20 are prevented from separating from each other by the engagement between convex portion 11b and groove 21b. That is, convex portion 11b and groove portion 21b can be configured as a separation prevention mechanism that prevents first part 10 and second part 20 from separating from each other in the second relative posture.

[0019] 4, the model component 100 further includes a third part 30. FIG. 4 shows how the first part 10, to which the second part 20 is connected, is connected to the third part 30.

[0020] The third part 30 is a part that corresponds to the upper arm of the left arm 5L and is configured in a cylindrical shape with a through hole 31. The first part 10 and the second part 20, which are connected to each other in the second relative posture, are inserted into the through hole 31 of the third part 30 from the first side 31a along the extension direction of the second part 20 (extension portion 22), as shown in FIG. 4(a). The through hole 31 of the third part 30 is configured so that the second side 31b opposite the first side 31a is narrower than the first side 31a. As a result, the first part 10 inserted into the through hole 31 of the third part 30 fits against the inner surface (inner wall) of the third part 30, as shown in FIG. 4(b). Specifically, a concave-convex structure 32 is provided on the inner surface of the through hole 31 of the third part 30, and the concave-convex structure 12 provided on the outer surface of the first part 10 fits into the concave-convex structure 32 of the third part 30, thereby fixing the first part 10 inside the through hole 31 of the third part 30.

[0021] When first part 10 is fitted into the inner surface of through hole 31 of third part 30, connecting portion 21 of second part 20 is connected to first part 10 within through hole 31. In this state, second part 20 is rotatable with respect to first part 10 but cannot assume the second relative posture. Therefore, engagement between convex portion 11b and groove portion 21b, which serve as a separation prevention mechanism, makes it difficult for second part 20 to separate from first part 10. Furthermore, when first part 10 is fitted into the inner surface of through hole 31 of third part 30, a portion (opening 22a) of extension portion 22 of second part 20 protrudes from second side 31b of through hole 31 of third part 30, as shown in FIG. 4(b).

[0022] Referring to Fig. 5, the model component 100 further includes a fourth part 40. Fig. 5 shows the fourth part 40 being connected to the first part 10, second part 20, and third part, which are connected to one another.

[0023] The fourth part 40 is a part that corresponds to the forearm of the left arm 5L, and is rotatably connected to a portion (opening 22a) of the extension 22 of the second part 20 that protrudes from the second side 31b of the through-hole 31 of the third part 30. The connecting portion between the portion (opening 22a) of the second part 20 and the fourth part 40 forms the left elbow joint of the left arm 5L. The rotation axis of the fourth part 40 relative to the second part 20 can be parallel to the rotation axis of the second part 20 relative to the first part 10. This increases the range of motion of the fourth part 40 relative to the first part 10 and the third part 30.

[0024] Fourth part 40 of the present embodiment includes two members (first member 41 and second member 42) that sandwich a portion (opening 22a) of extended portion 22 of second part 20 that protrudes from through-hole 31 (second side 31b) of third part 30. First member 41 of fourth part 40 is provided with a protrusion 41a that rotatably engages with opening 22a of second part 20, and second member 42 of fourth part 40 is provided with a protrusion 42a that engages with a recess (not shown) provided on an end surface of protrusion 41a of first member 41. Engagement of protrusion 41a of first member 41a and protrusion 42a of second member 42b through opening 22a of second part 20 connects first member 41a and second member 42b via extended portion 22 of second part 20. This allows fourth part 40 to be connected to second part 20 so as to be rotatable about protrusions 41a to 42a as rotation axes.

[0025] Here, a fifth part 50 is provided between the first member 41 and the second member 42 of the fourth part 40. The fifth part 50 includes two members 51 and 52 that sandwich a portion of extended portion 22 of the second part 20 that protrudes from through-hole 31 (second side 31b) of the third part 30. Member 51 of the fifth part 50 engages with convex portion 41a of the first member 41 of the fourth part 40, and member 52 of the fifth part 50 engages with convex portion 42a of the second member 42 of the fourth part 40. The fifth part 50 serves to fill a gap that occurs when the fourth part 40 is rotated relative to the second part 20.

[0026] 6, the model component 100 further includes a sixth part 60. FIG. 6 shows the sixth part 30 being connected to the fourth part 40.

[0027] Sixth part 60 is used as a fixing member that fixes first member 41 and second member 42 of fourth part 40, which are connected via extension portion 22 of second part 20. Sixth part 60 is attached across first member 41 and second member 42 of fourth part 40. This prevents first member 41 and second member 42 from separating and causing fourth part 40 to come off second part 20.

[0028] In the model part 100 configured as the left arm 5L as described above, the left shoulder 4L is attached to the recess 13 provided on the top surface of the first part 10, and the left hand 8L is attached to the tip of the fourth part 40. Here, the above model part 100 is not limited to the left arm 5L, and may also be applied to the right arm 5R, or the left leg 7L and / or the right leg 7R.

[0029] As described above, in the model component 100 of this embodiment, the first part 10, to which the second part 20 is rotatably connected, is inserted into the through-hole 31 of the third part 30 and fits into the inner surface of the through-hole 31. The second part 20 has a connecting portion 21 connected to the first part 10 and an extending portion 22 extending from the connecting portion 21, and is rotatably connected to the first part 10 within the through-hole 31 of the third part 30 by the connecting portion 21 so that a portion of the extending portion 22 protrudes from the through-hole 31 of the third part 30. Furthermore, the fourth part 40 is rotatably connected to the portion of the extending portion 22 of the second part 20 that protrudes from the through-hole 31 of the third part 30. By applying the model component 100 configured in this manner to the arms and legs of a model toy MT (a toy doll), the model toy MT can realize a variety of movements that more closely resemble those of humans and animals.

[0030] <Summary of the embodiment> The above embodiments disclose at least the following model parts and model toys. (1) a first part; a second part having a connecting portion rotatably connected to the first part and an extension portion extending from the connecting portion; a third part having a through hole; a fourth part rotatably connected to the extension portion of the second part, the first part is inserted into the through hole of the third part from a first side thereof and fitted into an inner surface of the through hole; the second part is rotatably connected to the first part within the through hole by the connecting portion such that a part of the extending portion protrudes from a second side of the through hole of the third part opposite to the first side, The fourth part is rotatably connected to the portion of the extended portion of the second part that protrudes from the second side of the through hole. (2) The model component described in (1), characterized in that the first part is inserted from the first side of the through hole of the third part with the connecting portion of the second part connected. (3) The model component described in (1) or (2), characterized in that the first part and the second part have a mechanism for preventing separation from each other when the first part is fitted into the inner wall of the through hole of the third part. (4) Each of two surfaces of the second part that are opposite to each other in the connecting portion is provided with a protrusion that serves as a rotation axis relative to the first part, and a groove that is arranged to surround the protrusion, the first part has two plate portions that sandwich the connecting portion of the second part, Each of the two plate portions has a contact portion at a tip end thereof that contacts the protrusion portion of the second part, and a convex portion that engages with the groove portion of the second part is provided on an inner surface thereof, The model component according to (3), wherein the mechanism is formed by the convex portion of the first part and the groove portion of the second part. (5) The model component described in (4) is characterized in that the first part and the second part are configured so that the convex portion can enter the groove portion in a first relative posture, and is inserted into the through hole of the third part in a second relative posture obtained by rotating the first part and the second part relatively from the first relative posture. (6) The model component described in (5), characterized in that each of the two surfaces of the second part is provided with an entrance groove for allowing the convex portion to enter the groove portion in the first relative posture. (7) A model component according to any one of (1) to (5), characterized in that the fourth part includes two members that sandwich the portion of the extended portion of the second part that protrudes from the second side of the through hole. (8) The model component according to any one of (1) to (7), characterized in that the rotation axis of the second part relative to the first part and the rotation axis of the fourth part relative to the second part are parallel to each other. (9) The model parts constitute the arms of a model toy, The model component according to any one of (1) to (8), characterized in that the shoulders of the model toy are connected to the first part, and the hands of the model toy are connected to the fourth part. (10) A model toy having the model part according to any one of (1) to (9).

[0031] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] MT: model toy, 100: model part, 10: first part, 11: plate portion, 20: second part, 21: connecting portion, 22: extension portion, 30: third part, 31: through hole, 40: fourth part

Claims

1. A first part; a second part having a connecting portion pivotally connected to the first part and an extension portion extending from the connecting portion; a third part having a through hole; a fourth part rotatably connected to the extension portion of the second part, the first part is inserted into the through hole of the third part from a first side thereof and fitted into an inner surface of the through hole; the second part is rotatably connected to the first part within the through hole by the connecting portion such that a part of the extending portion protrudes from a second side of the through hole of the third part opposite to the first side, The fourth part is rotatably connected to the portion of the extended portion of the second part that protrudes from the second side of the through hole.

2. 2. The model component according to claim 1, wherein the first part is inserted from the first side of the through-hole of the third part with the connecting portion of the second part connected to it.

3. The connecting portion of the second part is provided with a groove portion arranged to surround the rotation axis relative to the first part, and the first part is provided with a protrusion portion that engages with the groove portion of the second part, 2. The model part according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion of the first part and the groove of the second part form a mechanism for preventing separation of the first part from the groove when the first part is fitted onto the inner wall of the through hole of the third part.

4. a protrusion serving as a rotation axis relative to the first part, and the groove disposed so as to surround the protrusion, are provided on each of two surfaces of the second part that are opposite to each other in the connecting portion, the first part has two plate portions that sandwich the connecting portion of the second part, 4. The model component according to claim 3, wherein each of the two plate portions has a contact portion at a tip thereof that contacts the protrusion of the second part, and the convex portion that engages with the groove of the second part is provided on an inner surface thereof.

5. 5. The model component according to claim 4, wherein the first part and the second part are configured so that the convex portion can enter the groove portion in a first relative posture, and is inserted into the through hole of the third part in a second relative posture obtained by rotating the first part and the second part relatively from the first relative posture.

6. 6. The model component according to claim 5, wherein each of the two surfaces of the second part is provided with an entrance groove for allowing the protrusion to enter the groove in the first relative attitude.

7. 2. The model component according to claim 1, wherein the fourth part includes two members that sandwich the portion of the extended portion of the second part that protrudes from the second side of the through hole.

8. 2. The model part of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the second part relative to the first part and the axis of rotation of the fourth part relative to the second part are parallel.

9. the model parts constitute arms of a model toy; 2. The model component according to claim 1, wherein shoulders of the model toy are connected to the first part, and hands of the model toy are connected to the fourth part.

10. A model toy comprising a model part according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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