Shape-changing toys

Abstract

To provide a shape changing toy that is used on a play phase.SOLUTION: At least one movable housing element is included which when a catch and latch of a shape changing toy are fixed and released by the actuator of the shape changing toy, moves between a development position and a storage position. The shape changing toy is formed so that it rolls around at least one axis of rotation of the toy. Also, in several embodiments, the toy is formed to be driven so that it spins around the spin shaft of the toy. In the several embodiments, the toy includes an upper housing part and a lower housing part which are detachably connectable and, in the several embodiments, a flexible transportation member that is different for a specific upper housing part is exchangeable, for the purpose of giving various types of functionality to the toy. The shape changing toy may be driven to spin around the spin shaft by a shaft and flywheel which are mounted in the toy.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to transforming toys that can be spun like a top, and more particularly to transforming toys for use on a playing surface. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known in the art to realize a transformable toy that can transform, i.e., change its shape, between a spherical and a character-like posture. For example, Chinese Patent Application No. 2011 / 47642 teaches a transformable toy including a spherical shell having a pivot member that allows the transformable toy to transition between a spherical and a figure-like posture. Also, for example, U.S. Patent No. 7,306,504 teaches a toy that includes a first movable spherical member, a second movable spherical member, and a coupler located between and coupled to the first and second movable spherical members to transform from an open figure-like posture to a closed spherical posture.

[0003] It is also known in the art to provide spherical toys with an internal flywheel mechanism that is driven by a ripcord and spins independently of the toy to drive the spinning motion of the toy. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,643,095 teaches a top that includes an internal flywheel mechanism to act as a gyroscope. Similarly, reference WO 2011 / 083313 teaches a spinning toy that includes a spherical housing and a flywheel mounted on an axle within the spherical housing. The housing has an opening for "charging" the flywheel with a charging device to drive the spinning motion of the toy. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a novel transforming toy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to one aspect, there is provided a transforming toy, the transforming toy including an upper housing portion including a connector and at least one movable housing element movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element being biased towards the deployed position and including a catch, the connector being releasably connectable to either a first lower housing portion or a second lower housing portion, each of the first lower housing portion and the second lower housing portion including a latch and an actuator connected to the latch, when the upper housing portion is releasably connected to either the first or second lower housing portion; and A latch is disposed in each of the first and second lower housing portions such that when the at least one movable housing element moves to the storage position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the storage position, an actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the storage position, and the second lower housing portion includes a drive element operatively mounted within the second lower housing portion to drive movement of the second lower housing portion.

[0006] According to another aspect, there is provided a transforming toy comprising an upper housing portion including a connector and at least one movable housing element movable between a stored position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element being biased towards the deployed position and including a latch and an actuator connected to the latch, the connector being detachably connectable to either a first lower housing portion or a second lower housing portion, each of the first and second lower housing portions including a catch, the catch being arranged such that when the upper housing portion is detachably connectable to either the first or second lower housing portion and when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages with the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position, the actuator being actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stored position, and the second lower housing portion including a drive element operatively mounted within the second lower housing portion to drive movement of the second lower housing portion.

[0007] According to another aspect, there is provided a transforming toy for use on a play surface, the transforming toy comprising: an upper housing portion including at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element including a catch and biased towards the deployed position; a lower housing portion detachably connected to the upper housing portion, the lower housing portion including a latch mounted within the lower housing portion and an actuator connected to the latch, the latch being positioned within the lower housing portion such that upon movement of the at least one movable housing element to the stowed position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stowed position; and a lower housing portion that is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch and release the at least one movable housing element when the housing element is held in the stowed position, and the upper and lower housing portions, when the upper and lower housing portions are separably connected, are shaped such that when the at least one movable housing element is in the stowed position, the transformable toy can roll along the play surface about at least one axis of rotation of the transformable toy, and such that when the at least one movable housing element is in the deployed position, the at least one movable housing element prevents the transformable toy from rolling about the at least one axis of rotation.

[0008] According to another aspect, there is provided a transforming toy for use on a toy play surface, the transforming toy comprising: a shaft assembly including a toy housing; a shaft rotatably mounted along a central axis of the toy housing; and a flywheel mounted on the shaft, the shaft defining a spin axis of the transforming toy, the flywheel being chargeable to drive spinning movement of the transforming toy about the spin axis such that the transforming toy is in the spin direction; an access aperture within the toy housing for charging the flywheel; at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element including a catch and biased towards the deployed position; and a latch disposed within the toy housing, the latch at least a latch arranged to engage the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the retracted position when at least one movable housing element is moved to the retracted position; and an actuator connected to the latch and including an interacting element, the actuator being actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the retracted position, the actuator being arranged within the toy housing such that when the transforming toy is spinning at or below a set speed, the transforming toy tilts from the spin direction and the interacting element of the actuator interacts with at least a portion of the toy play surface to drive actuation of the actuator to disengage the latch from the catch.

[0009] According to yet another aspect, a spinning toy kit is provided, the spinning toy kit including: a transforming toy including a toy housing, the toy housing including at least one movable housing element movable between a stored position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element including a catch and biased toward the deployed position; a latch disposed within the transforming toy, the latch disposed to engage the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position; and an actuator connected to the latch, the actuator being actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stored position. The transforming toy includes: a shaft assembly rotatably mounted within the toy housing and including a shaft disposed along a central axis of the toy housing; and a flywheel mounted on the shaft, the flywheel including a gear portion; a ripcord card holder within the toy housing and including an access aperture for accessing the flywheel and a card holder body including a recess formed to receive and removably hold at least one playing card associated with the spinning toy; and a ripcord member including a length of triangular teeth extending along at least a portion of at least one side of the ripcord member, the ripcord member being movably mounted to one side of the card holder body and sized to be inserted into the access aperture of the transforming toy such that the triangular teeth of the ripcord member engage the gear portion of the flywheel to drive a spinning motion of the flywheel.

[0010] According to yet another aspect, there is provided a modular arena for use with a spinning toy that is driven to spin by a ripcord having a length of triangular teeth, the modular arena including: an interiorly disposed portion defining a surface for the spinning toy; at least one exterior wall portion interchangeably connectable to the interiorly disposed portion and shaped to at least partially surround the interiorly disposed portion; and at least one contact actuator connected to the at least one exterior wall portion, the at least one contact actuator including a drive portion shaped to engage with the triangular teeth of the ripcord's length and an actuating portion extending over a portion of the surface for the spinning toy, the actuating portion connected to the drive portion such that engagement of the ripcord with the drive portion actuates the actuating portion over the surface, causing the actuating portion to contact the spinning toy and change at least one of the speed and direction of spin of the spinning toy.

[0011] According to yet another aspect, a transforming toy is provided, the transforming toy including an upper housing portion including a connector and at least one movable housing element movable between a stored position and a deployed position. The at least one movable housing element is biased toward the deployed position and includes a catch. The connector is releasably connectable to each of a first lower housing portion and a second lower housing portion. Each of the first lower housing portion and the second lower housing portion includes a latch and an actuator connected to the latch. A latch is disposed in each of the first and second lower housing portions such that when the upper housing portion is releasably connected to either the first or second lower housing portion and when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages with the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position. The actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held by the latch in the stored position. The second lower housing portion includes a drive element operatively mounted therein for driving movement of the second lower housing portion and the upper housing portion along the support surface, and the first lower housing portion includes either no drive element for driving movement of the first lower housing portion or a drive element different from the drive element of the second lower housing portion that is operatively mounted therein for driving movement of the first lower housing portion and the upper housing portion along the support surface.

[0012] In yet another aspect, a transforming toy is provided, the transforming toy including an upper housing portion including a connector and at least one movable housing element movable between a stored position and a deployed position. The at least one movable housing element is biased toward the deployed position and includes a latch and an actuator connected to the latch. The connector is releasably connectable to either a first lower housing portion or a second lower housing portion. The first lower housing portion and the second lower housing portion each include a catch, the catch being arranged such that when the upper housing portion and either the first or second lower housing portion are releasably connected and when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages with the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position. The actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stored position. The second lower housing portion includes a drive element operatively mounted within the second lower housing portion to drive movement of the second lower housing portion.

[0013] In yet another aspect, a transforming toy for use on a play surface is provided. The transforming toy includes an upper housing portion including at least one movable housing element movable between a stored position and a deployed position. The at least one movable housing element includes a catch and is biased toward the deployed position. The transforming toy includes a lower housing portion detachably connected to the upper housing portion. The lower housing portion includes a latch mounted within the lower housing portion and an actuator connected to the latch. The latch is disposed within the lower housing such that when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position. The actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stored position. The upper and lower housing sections are shaped such that when the upper and lower housing sections are separably connected and the at least one movable housing element is in a stowed position, the transformable toy can roll along the play surface about at least one axis of rotation of the transformable toy, and such that when the at least one movable housing element is in an extended position, the at least one movable housing element prevents the transformable toy from rolling about the at least one axis of rotation.

[0014] In yet another aspect, a transforming toy for use on a toy play surface is provided. The transforming toy includes a toy housing, a shaft assembly, an access aperture, at least one movable housing element, a latch, and an actuator. The shaft assembly includes a shaft rotatably mounted along a central axis of the toy housing and a flywheel mounted on the shaft. The shaft defines a spin axis of the transforming toy, and the flywheel is chargeable to drive spinning motion of the transforming toy about the spin axis such that the transforming toy is in the spin direction. The access aperture is for charging the flywheel. The at least one movable housing element is movable between a stored position and a deployed position. The at least one movable housing element includes a catch and is biased toward the deployed position. The latch is disposed within the toy housing such that when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position. The actuator is connected to the latch and includes an interaction element. The actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stowed position, and the actuator is positioned within the toy housing such that when the transforming toy is spinning at or below a set speed, the transforming toy tilts from the spin direction and an interaction element of the actuator interacts with at least a portion of the toy play surface to drive actuation of the actuator.

[0015] Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1A] 1 shows an isometric view of one embodiment of a transforming toy including upper and lower housing portions and a moveable housing element in a stowed position. [Figure 1B]1B shows an isometric view of the transforming toy embodiment of FIG. 1A with the moveable housing element in the deployed position. [Figure 1C] 1B shows an exploded perspective view of the transforming toy embodiment of FIG. 1A with the upper and lower housing sections separated. [Figure 1D] 1B shows another exploded perspective view of the transforming toy embodiment of FIG. 1A, with the upper and lower housing sections separated. [Figure 1E] 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the transforming toy embodiment of FIG. 1A with the movable housing element in a retracted position. [Figure 1F] 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the transforming toy embodiment of FIG. 1A with the interaction element actuated. [Figure 1G] 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the transforming toy embodiment of FIG. 1A with the moveable housing element in the deployed position. [Figure 1H] 1B shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the transforming toy embodiment of FIG. 1A. [Figure 2A] 10 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of a transforming toy including an upper housing portion and separate first and second lower housing portions, the upper housing portion including a moveable housing element in a deployed position. [Figure 2B] 2B shows another isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A with the movable housing element in a retracted position. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A (with minor cosmetic differences between similar components) with the second lower housing section connected to the upper housing section and the movable housing component in the deployed position. [Figure 2D] 2D shows another isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2C with the movable housing element in a retracted position. [Figure 2E] 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A. [Figure 2F] 2C shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B. [Figure 2G] 2D shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2C. [Figure 2H] 2D shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2D. [Figure 3A] 1 shows an embodiment of a transforming toy spinning about its spin axis on a play surface. [Figure 3B] 1 shows an embodiment of a transforming toy spinning about a spin axis on a playing surface such that the pivot axis is tilted relative to the playing surface. [Figure 3C] 3C shows a view of an embodiment of a transforming toy spinning about a spin axis on a play surface and tilted more relative to the play surface than in FIG. 3B. [Figure 3D] 3B shows a view of an embodiment of the transforming toy of FIG. 3A in a non-spinning, unfolded position. [Figure 3E] 3B shows an isometric view of the shape-changing toy of FIG. 3A. [Figure 3F] 3D shows an isometric view of the shape-changing toy. [Figure 4A] 10 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a transforming toy. [Figure 4B] 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the shape-changing toy of FIG. 4A after the shape change. [Figure 5A] 1 illustrates one embodiment of a spinning toy kit including a transforming toy and a ripcord card holder. [Figure 5B] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a transforming toy and a ripcord member of a ripcord card holder. [Figure 5C] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a transforming toy and a ripcord member of a ripcord card holder. [Figure 5D] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a transforming toy and a ripcord member of a ripcord card holder. [Figure 5E] 1 illustrates an isometric view of one embodiment of a Ripcord card holder. [Figure 5F] 1 illustrates an isometric view of one embodiment of a ripcord member of a ripcord card holder. [Figure 6A] 1 shows an isometric view of one embodiment of a spinning transforming toy with an adapter ring attached. [Figure 6B]1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an adapter ring attached to an embodiment of a spinning toy. [Figure 6C] 6B shows an isometric view of the transforming toy of FIG. 6A after transformation. [Figure 7A] 1 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of an adapter ring attached to a spinning transforming toy described herein. [Figure 7B] 10 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of an adapter ring attached to a spinning transforming toy described herein. [Figure 7C] 10 illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of an adapter ring attached to a spinning transforming toy described herein. [Figure 8A] 1 illustrates one embodiment of a modular arena according to the present disclosure. [Figure 8B] 8B shows a cutaway view of the portion of the modular arena of FIG. 8A that includes the touch actuators. [Figure 8C] 8B shows another cutaway view of the portion of the modular arena of FIG. 8A that includes the touch actuators. [Figure 8D] 8B shows a side view of the modular arena embodiment shown in FIG. 8A. [Figure 9A] 1 illustrates an embodiment of a transforming toy including an actuator with a movable weight, the movable weight being in a retracted position. [Figure 9B] 9B shows an embodiment of the transforming toy of FIG. 9A with the movable weight in the deployed position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] For brevity and clarity of description, the same reference numerals may, where necessary, be used in multiple figures to indicate corresponding or similar elements. Furthermore, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more embodiments described herein. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. Moreover, in certain instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. While exemplary embodiments are shown and described below, it should be understood at the outset that any number of techniques, known or unknown, may be used to implement the principles of the present disclosure. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques shown and described below.

[0018] As used throughout this specification, various words and phrases may be read and interpreted as follows, unless the context contradicts: "Or" as used throughout is inclusive as if written "and / or." As used throughout, singular articles and pronouns may include the respective plural forms, and vice versa. Similarly, gender pronouns include the respective opposite gender pronouns, just as pronouns should not be construed as limiting anything described herein to a single gender use, implementation, performance, etc. "Exemplary" should be construed as "illustrative" or "exemplifying," and not necessarily as "preferred" over other embodiments. Additional definitions of words and phrases may be provided herein, and these definitions may apply to previous or subsequent occurrences of these words and phrases, as will be understood by reading this specification. Also, please note that the use of the words "a" or "an" means "at least one" in all instances unless expressly stated otherwise or unless it is clearly understood to mean "one."

[0019] Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems, devices, and methods described herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, components of the systems and devices may be integrated or separated. Furthermore, the operations of the systems and devices disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or different components, and the methods described may include more, fewer, or different steps. Furthermore, the steps may be performed in any suitable order. As used herein, "each" refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set.

[0020] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary (e.g., with respect to materials, shapes, dimensions, and structural details) and are not limited by the claims appended hereto and any amendments made thereto. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many alternative embodiments and modifications are possible, and each of the following examples is merely illustrative of one or more embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is limited only by the claims appended hereto and any amendments made thereto.

[0021] Embodiments with Separate Upper and Lower Housing Portions 1A-1H, a first embodiment of the present disclosure illustrates a transforming toy 100 for use on a play surface 102. The transforming toy 100 includes an upper housing portion 110 and a lower housing portion 120. The upper housing portion 110 includes at least one movable housing element 112, which is movable between a stored position (see FIGS. 1A and 1E) and a deployed position (see FIGS. 1B and 1G). The at least one movable housing element 112 includes a catch 112a and is biased toward the deployed position. The lower housing portion 120 is detachably connected to the upper housing portion 110 and includes a latch 130 mounted within the lower housing portion 120 and an actuator 140 connected to the latch 130. The latch 130 is positioned within the lower housing portion 120 such that when the at least one movable housing element 112 moves to the stored position, the latch 130 engages the catch 112a to retain the at least one movable housing element 112 in the stored position. The actuator 140 is actuatable to disengage the latch 130 from the catch 112a to release the at least one movable housing element 112 when the at least one movable housing element 112 is held in the retracted position.

[0022] The upper and lower housing portions 110, 120 are configured to be separable from one another (see FIGS. 1C and 1H) and are configured such that when the upper and lower housing portions 110, 120 are separably connected and when the at least one movable housing element 112 is in the stowed position, the transforming toy 100 can roll along the play surface 102 about at least one axis of rotation (R1) of the transforming toy 100. Conversely, when the upper and lower housing portions 110, 120 are separably connected and the at least one movable housing element 112 is in the deployed position, the at least one movable housing element 112 prevents the transforming toy 100 from rolling about the at least one axis of rotation (R1).

[0023] In one embodiment of the transforming toy 100 (shown in FIGS. 1A and 1H), the lower housing portion 120 is approximately hemispherical in shape, and the upper housing portion 110 is approximately hemispherical in shape when the at least one movable housing element 112 is in the stowed position. When the at least one movable housing element 112 moves from the deployed position to the stowed position, the upper housing portion 110 becomes approximately hemispherical in shape. Thus, when the hemispherical upper portion is connected with the lower housing portion 120, the collective shape of the transforming toy 100 is spherical (see FIGS. 1A and 1E).

[0024] 1C, a first embodiment of a transforming toy 100 includes an upper housing portion 110 and a lower housing portion 120 that are separably connected to one another. The upper housing portion 110 is hemispherical with a curved upper portion and a flat surface formed at its lower end. The lower housing portion 120 is also hemispherical with a curved lower portion and a generally flat surface formed at its upper end.

[0025] As described above, the transforming toy 100 includes an upper housing portion 110 that includes at least one movable housing element 112 that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In one embodiment (e.g., the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B ), the upper housing portion 110 includes an upper housing body 114 to which the at least one movable housing element 112 is pivotally mounted.

[0026] In one embodiment, each of the at least one movable housing element 112 is mounted on a shaft 113 defining a pivot axis for pivoting the at least one movable housing element 112 between the stowed position and the deployed position. In another embodiment, the at least one movable housing element 112 includes a spring 115 connected about the shaft 113 defining the pivot axis. The spring 115 is positioned to apply a force that rotates the at least one movable housing element 112 about the shaft 113, thereby biasing the at least one movable housing element 112 toward the deployed position. The spring 115 may be any suitable type of spring, such as a torsion spring having a first end mounted to an element of the housing body 114 and a second end engaged with the at least one movable housing element 112.

[0027] In one embodiment, the at least one movable housing element 112 is at least one pair of movable housing elements that are pivotally connected to the upper housing body 114 so as to pivot between a stored position in which the pair of movable housing elements 112 are positioned near the upper housing body 114 and a deployed position in which the movable housing elements 112 are positioned away from the upper housing body 114 (see Figures 1B and 1H).

[0028] 1A-1H, the hemispherical upper housing portion 110 includes an upper housing body 114 having a side region 114a shaped like at least a partial dome, as if it were a truncated portion of a sphere. When the at least one movable housing element 112 is in the retracted position, a hollow cavity 116 is defined within the upper housing portion 110. The at least one movable housing element 112 includes a central movable housing element 118. The central movable housing element 118 is mounted to an upper central portion of the upper housing body 114 so as to be pivotable relative to the upper housing body 114. The central movable housing element 118 of the outer structure is a generally circular, arc-shaped component having a thin profile, which defines a portion of the outer surface of the upper housing portion 110. The outer surface of the at least one movable housing element 112 constitutes a portion of the spherical shape of the transforming toy 100. In the same embodiment, at least one pair of movable housing elements 112 includes lateral movable housing elements 117 that are pivotally mounted to the upper left and right side portions of the upper housing body 114. In the same embodiment, at least one movable housing element 112 also includes corner elements 119 that are pivotally mounted to the upper housing body 114 for movement between a retracted position and a deployed position. The corner elements 119 have arc-shaped members with sharply curved ends. As shown in FIG. 1A , when the corner elements 119 are in their retracted position, they are disposed between the central movable housing elements 118 and pivotally mounted to the upper housing body 114.

[0029] In one embodiment, the corner element 119 is connected to the central housing element 118 so as to pivot about the central housing element 118. In another embodiment, the catch 112a of the upper housing part 110, which is retained by the latch 130 of the lower housing part 120, is defined by a sharply curved end of the corner element 119.

[0030] Broadly speaking, at least one movable housing element 112 is provided to change the transforming toy 100 from a rollable ball configuration (as shown in FIG. 1A) to a character configuration representing a "dragon" (as shown in FIG. 1B) or any other suitable character.

[0031] As described above, the transforming toy 100 includes a lower housing portion 120. In the above-described embodiments in which the lower housing portion 120 is hemispherical, the housing of the lower housing portion 120 defines the spherical portion of the hemisphere, with a hollow cavity 126 formed within the lower housing portion 120.

[0032] In one embodiment, the lower housing portion 120 of the first embodiment of the transforming toy 100 includes a latch 130 mounted within the lower housing portion 120 and an actuator 140. The latch 130 is movable to a latched position (FIG. 1E) in which the latch 130 is oriented to retain the catch 112a of the at least one movable housing element 112 when the at least one movable housing element 112 moves to the retracted position. The latch 130 is movable to a released position (FIG. 1F) in which the latch 130 is oriented to release the catch 112a of the at least one movable housing element 112.

[0033] The actuator 140 is movable to drive the latch 130 between a latched position and a released position to retain or release the catch 112 a of the at least one movable housing element 112 .

[0034] 1B and 1C, the outer surface 120a of the lower housing portion 120 includes a through-hole 127. The through-hole 127 is located within the lower housing portion 120 and extends into the hollow cavity 126 of the lower housing portion such that a catch 112a of the at least one movable housing element 112 is received within the through-hole 127 and engages a latch 130 within the lower housing portion 120 as the at least one movable housing element 112 moves from the deployed position to the stowed position.

[0035] In the particular embodiment of Figures 1A-1H, catch 112a is formed as part of corner element 119, and through hole 127 is located on the front side of lower housing portion 120 for receiving catch 112a.

[0036] In one embodiment, the upper and lower housing portions 110, 120 each include at least one connector 150, 152 that interfaces with the connector 150, 152 of the other housing portion to separably connect the upper and lower housing portions 110, 120 to one another. In the particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 1C and 1C , the connector 152 of the lower housing portion 120 includes a protrusion 152a extending upward from the flat surface 120c of the lower housing portion 120 and a flexible tab 152b. The flexible tab 152b includes a substantially flat portion extending parallel to the flat surface 120c of the lower housing portion 120 and a tab portion protruding upward from the flat portion. Gaps are defined between the flat surface 120c and three sides of the flexible tab 152b to allow the flexible tab 152b to flex relative to the flat surface 120c. In the same embodiment, the connector 150 of the upper housing portion 110 is a connection aperture 150a that extends into the hollow cavity 116 of the upper housing portion 110, and the connection aperture 150a is sized and shaped to receive a protrusion 152a and a flexible tab 152b from the lower housing portion 120.

[0037] To insert the protrusion 152a and flexible tab 152b into the connecting aperture 150a (to connect the upper and lower housing portions 110 and 120), the upper housing portion 110 is tilted at an angle and the flat surface 110c of the upper housing portion 110 is advanced laterally along the flat surface 120c of the lower housing portion 120 until the flexible tab 152b bends into the connecting aperture 150a and the connecting aperture 150a receives the flexible tab 152b. Once the flexible tab 152b is securely received within the connecting aperture 150a, the upper housing portion 110 is then tilted down so that the protrusion 152a is received within the connecting aperture 150a of the upper housing portion 110. The upper and lower housing portions 110, 120 are brought together until the flat surfaces 110c, 120c of each housing portion are in intimate contact. In this detachably connected state, the flexible tabs 152b prevent the flat surfaces 110c, 120c of the upper and lower housing portions 110, 120 from separating, while the protrusions 152a prevent the upper and lower housing portions 110, 120 from moving laterally relative to each other.

[0038] 1E, 1F, 1G, and 1H, both the latch 130 and the actuator 140 are mounted on a pivot member 142. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot member 142 has first and second free ends 142a, 142b and is pivotally mounted within the hollow cavity 126 of the lower housing portion 120 for pivotal movement relative to the lower housing portion 120.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the latch 130 is mounted to a first free end 142a of a pivot member 142, and the actuator 140 is mounted to a second free end 142b. In this embodiment, the pivot member 142 is mounted on a shaft 143, thereby defining a pivot axis for the pivot member 142. The pivot member 142 is pivotable about the pivot axis between a latched position, shown in FIG. 1E, and a released position, shown in FIG. 1F. In another embodiment, the pivot member 142 includes a spring 199 connected around the shaft 143, which defines the pivot axis. The spring 199 is positioned to bias the pivot member 142 toward the latched position by applying a force that rotates the pivot member 142 about the shaft 143. Spring 199 may be any suitable type of spring, for example, a torsion spring having a first end mounted to an element of lower housing portion 120 and a second end engaged with pivot member 142.

[0040] In another embodiment, the actuator 140 includes an interaction element 144 that is arranged to interact with an object external to the transforming toy 100 to drive movement of the latch 130. In one embodiment, the interaction member is a first magnetically responsive element 145 that is arranged to interact with a second magnetically responsive member 146 ( FIG. 1B ) that is external to the transforming toy 100. In all embodiments described herein, the magnetically responsive member is a member that is urged to move by either attraction or repulsion in the presence of a magnetic field. The magnetically responsive member may be any suitable type of member, such as a magnet or a ferromagnetic member (e.g., a piece of carbon steel). In all embodiments described herein, at least one of the first and second magnetically responsive elements is a magnet, and the other of the first and second magnetically responsive elements is an element that is attracted to the magnet (e.g., another magnet) or an element that exhibits ferromagnetic, paramagnetic, or any other suitable type of magnetic property.

[0041] 1E, 1F, 1G, and 1H, at least one of the first and second magnetic response elements 145, 146 is a magnet. The other of the first and second magnetic response elements 145, 146 may be a magnet or may be some other type of magnetically responsive member (e.g., the carbon steel piece mentioned above).

[0042] Interaction between the first magnetic response element 145 and the second magnetic response element 146 causes actuation of the actuator 140. As the transforming toy 100 rolls along the support surface 102 and over the second magnetic response element 146 until it reaches the selected orientation shown in FIG. 1F , the first magnetic response element 145 is within sufficient proximity of the second magnetic response element 146 to cause actuation of the first magnetic response element 145, causing it to move from the position shown at 198a (dashed line) to the position shown at 198b (solid line).

[0043] In a particular embodiment (shown in FIGS. 1A-1H), first magnetic response element 145 is a magnet and second magnetic response element 146 is a strip of magnetizable steel (e.g., carbon steel) contained within toy support member 103 (FIG. 1B). Toy support member 103 may be a card, etc., or any other suitable support member, and defines toy play surface 102. As shown in FIG. 1E, the magnet is mounted to the bottom of second free end 142b of pivot member 142, the other end of which has latch 130 mounted. The magnet is mounted so that it protrudes slightly from the aperture in which it is held and faces generally downward on pivot member 142.

[0044] In another embodiment in which the interacting element 144 is a first magnetic response element 145, the lower housing portion 120 may include a thinned portion 125a formed on a lower hemispherical portion of the lower housing portion 120. The thinned portion 125a is formed with a thickness that allows the second magnetic response member 146 to act on and attract the first magnetic response element 145 of the pivot member 142 through the thinned portion 125a. The thinned portion 125a is positioned along the lower housing portion 120 so that when the pivot member 142 is in the unactuated position, the first magnetic response element 145 is spaced apart from the thinned portion 125a, and when the second magnetic response element comes into proximity with the thinned portion 125a outside the transformable toy 100, the first magnetic response element 145 is attracted to the second magnetic response element 146 and moves toward it, moving the pivot member 142 from the unactuated position to the actuated position, thereby moving the latch 130 from the latched position to the released position.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment, lower housing portion 120 includes an aperture instead of thinned portion 125a. In this embodiment, first magnetic response element 145 of pivot member 142 is attracted to second magnetic response element 146 without any portion of lower housing portion 120 between them.

[0046] The provision of thinned portion 125a, or any of the apertures described above, allows first magnetic response element 145 to be positioned closer to second magnetic response element 146 when pivot member 142 is in the unactuated position than would be possible without thinned portion 125a or aperture in the wall of lower housing portion 120. This, in some embodiments, can increase the distance that transforming toy 100 can be from second magnetic response element 146 while still exerting an attractive force on second magnetic response element 146 strong enough to drive movement of first magnetic response element 145 and move latch 130 to the released position.

[0047] In one embodiment of the transforming toy 100, the "transformation" functionality of the transforming toy 100 is defined in both the upper housing portion 110 and the lower housing portion 120. In this embodiment, the at least one movable housing element 112 defines the at least one upper movable housing element, as described above. The lower housing portion 120 includes at least one lower movable housing element 123, which is movable between a stored position (see FIG. 1A) and a deployed position (see FIG. 1B). The at least one lower movable housing element 123 is biased toward the deployed position. In some embodiments, the latch 130 may be operatively connected to the at least one lower movable housing element 123, in the sense that when the latch 130 engages the catch 112a of the upper movable housing portion 112, the latch 130 also holds the at least one lower movable housing element 123 in the stored position. In this manner, the actuator 140 is said to be actuatable to disengage the latch 130 from the catch 112 a to release the at least one lower movable housing element 123 .

[0048] In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 1B, lower housing portion 120 includes a lower housing body 121 having at least one lower movable housing element 123 pivotally mounted thereto. The outer surface of lower housing body 121 has a slight dome shape, as if it were a truncated portion of a sphere, and its outer surface constitutes a portion of a sphere. In the same embodiment of Figure 1B, at least one lower movable housing element 123 is two lower movable housing elements pivotally mounted on opposite sides of lower housing body 121. In this manner, the two lower movable housing elements 123 form the "leg" components of the character represented by transforming toy 100 when elements 123 are in the deployed position.

[0049] In one embodiment, the at least one lower movable housing element 123 may be biased toward the exposed position by a spring 179. The spring 179 may be any suitable type of spring, such as a torsion spring mounted about a shaft 177, the shaft 177 defining a pivot axis for the at least one lower movable housing element 123. The spring 179 is arranged to bias the at least one lower movable housing element 123 toward the exposed position by exerting a force that pivots the at least one lower movable housing element 123 about the shaft 177 toward the exposed position.

[0050] It should be noted that when the lower movable housing elements 123 move to their extended positions, they may push the transformable toy 100 such that the first magnetic response element 145 is positioned away from the second magnetic response element 146, as shown in FIG. 1G. As a result, the transformable toy 100 may be positioned such that the first magnetic response element 145 is positioned far enough away from the second magnetic response element 146 that the card 103 does not magnetically stick to the transformable toy 100. This has several advantages, in particular, it may allow the card 103 to not magnetically stick to the transformable toy 100 even when the user lifts the transformable toy 100.

[0051] Embodiment of a spinning shape-changing toy In several embodiments of the transforming toys described in detail below (including transforming toy 200a, transforming toy 200b, transforming toy 400, and transforming toy 500), the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 is configured to spin on the play surface 300 by a flywheel or similar drive element about a spin axis S1 of the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500. With reference to Figures 3A and 3F, in embodiments in which the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 is driven to spin about the spin axis S1, the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 is said to be in a spin direction. This spin direction may be defined when the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 is spinning in an upright position, such that the spin axis S1 is approximately vertical (see Figures 3A and 3E).

[0052] 3A-3D, a combined spin and transformation motion will now be described. When the transformable toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 is driven to spin by a flywheel or similar driving element, the rate at which the transformable toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 spins about the toy's spin point slows from the time the transformable toy first begins to spin. When the transformable toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 is initially spinning at a high spin rate (see FIG. 3A), the transformable toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 is oriented in a relatively upright spin direction, with its spin axis S1 being relatively vertical. In this orientation, the angular momentum of the transformable toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 keeps the transformable toy in the spin direction.

[0053] As the spin speed of the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 slows (due to gravity and the toy's own weight), the angular momentum of the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 decreases and the precession rate of the toy's spin axis (S1) increases, causing the spin axis S1 of the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 to become less and less horizontal (see FIGS. 3B and 3C). The spin speed of the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 will continue to decrease until it falls below a set speed.

[0054] In embodiments such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 3D, the set speed is defined as the speed at which the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 spinning about the spin axis S1 at or below the set speed causes an interacting element of the actuator to interact with at least a portion of the toy play surface, driving actuation of the actuator to disengage the latch from the catch.

[0055] In one embodiment, the set speed is defined as the speed at which the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 spinning about the spin axis S1 at or below the set speed causes the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 to tilt away from the spin direction and an interacting element of the actuator interacts with at least a portion of the toy play surface, driving actuation of the actuator to disengage the latch from the catch.

[0056] In another embodiment, the spin speed is defined as the speed at which the transformable toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 tilts away from the spin direction enough to stop the spinning motion of the transformable toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500.

[0057] The set velocity of the transformable toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 may further be defined as the velocity at which the component of the angular momentum of the transformable toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 that is holding the transformable toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 in the spin direction is overcome by the component of the weight of the transformable toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 that is pulling the transformable toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 away from the spin direction.

[0058] Now, with reference to the drawings, several embodiments of a transforming toy that can be driven to spin will be described in detail.

[0059] In another embodiment of the transforming toy of the present disclosure, the transforming toy is designated 200a and includes an upper housing portion 210 connectable to at least one of first and second lower housing portions 220, 230. The upper housing portion 210 of the transforming toy 200a includes a connector 211 and at least one movable housing element 212, which is movable between a stored position (see FIGS. 2B, 2D, and 2F) and an deployed position (see FIGS. 2A, 2C, and 2E). It should be noted that although the upper housing portion 210 shown in FIGS. 2A, 2E, and 2F appears different from the upper housing portion 210 shown in FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, 2G, and 2H, for purposes of describing the functional elements of these figures, all of FIGS. 2A-2H should be considered identical to one another and represent a single effective embodiment of the upper housing portion 210.

[0060] At least one movable housing element 212 is biased toward the deployed position and includes a catch 212 a. In this embodiment, the connector 211 is configured to be releasably connectable to one of the first lower housing portion 220 and the second lower housing portion 230, where the second lower housing portion 230 includes a drive element 260 operatively mounted therein to drive movement of the second lower housing portion 230.

[0061] The first lower housing part 220 and the second lower housing part 230 each include a latch 222, 232 and an actuator 224, 234 connected to the latch 222, 232. Within each of the first and second lower housing parts 220, 230, the latch 222, 232 is arranged such that when the upper housing part 210 is detachably connected to one of the lower housing parts (the first and second lower housing parts 220, 230) by the connector 211 and when the at least one movable housing element 212 has moved to the retracted position, the latch 222, 232 engages with the catch 212 a to hold the at least one movable housing element 212 in the retracted position. Like the first embodiment of the transforming toy 200a, the second embodiment of the transforming toy 200a includes actuators 224, 234 that are actuatable to disengage the latches 222, 232 from the catches 212a and release the at least one movable housing element 212 when the at least one movable housing element 212 is held in the retracted position.

[0062] In one embodiment of the transformable toy 200a, the upper housing portion 210 and each of the first and second lower housing portions 220, 230 are separately molded such that when the upper housing portion 210 and the first and second lower housing portions 220, 230 are releasably connected and when the at least one movable housing element 212 is in the stowed position, the transformable toy 200a can roll along the play surface 290 about at least one axis of rotation of the transformable toy 200a. In this manner, when the at least one movable housing element 212 of the upper housing portion 210 is moved to the deployed position, the at least one movable housing element 212 prevents the transformable toy 200a from rolling about the at least one axis of rotation.

[0063] 2A-2D, the first and second lower housing sections 220, 230 are generally hemispherical in shape, and the upper housing section 210 is generally hemispherical in shape when the at least one movable housing element 212 is in the retracted position. In this embodiment, the shape of the upper housing section 210 becomes generally hemispherical when the at least one movable housing element 212 moves from the deployed position to the retracted position. Thus, when the hemispherical upper section is connected to either the first or second lower housing sections 220, 230, the collective shape of the transforming toy 200a is generally spherical.

[0064] 2A-2D, a transforming toy 200a includes a hemispherical upper housing portion 210 and first and second hemispherical lower housing portions 220, 230. As noted above, the second transforming toy embodiment 200a includes an upper housing portion 210 that includes at least one movable housing element 212 that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position.

[0065] In one embodiment (eg, the embodiment shown in Figures 2A-2H), the upper housing portion 210 includes an upper housing body 214 having at least one movable housing element 212 pivotally mounted thereto.

[0066] The at least one movable housing element 212 may be biased toward the deployed position by a spring 215. The spring 215 may be any suitable type of spring, such as a torsion spring mounted about a shaft 213 that defines a pivot axis for the at least one movable housing element 212 and may be similar to spring 115. The spring 215 is arranged to bias the at least one movable housing element 212 toward the deployed position by exerting a force that pivots the at least one movable housing element 212 about the shaft 213 toward the deployed position.

[0067] In one embodiment, at least one movable housing element 212 is one or more pairs of movable housing elements that are pivotally connected to the upper housing body 214 so as to pivot between a stored position in which the pair of movable housing elements are positioned near the upper housing body 214 and a deployed position in which the movable housing element is positioned away from the upper housing body 214.

[0068] 2B and 2F , the hemispherical upper housing portion 210 includes an upper housing body 214, where a region 214a of the upper housing body 214 is shaped like at least a partial dome, as if it were a truncated portion of a sphere. A hollow cavity 216 is formed within the upper housing portion 210. In these particular embodiments, the at least one movable housing element 212 includes a central movable housing element 217. The central movable housing element 217 is mounted to an upper central portion of the upper housing body 214 so as to be pivotable relative to the upper housing body 214. In the same embodiment, the at least one movable housing element also includes lateral movable housing elements 218, which are pivotally mounted to the upper left and upper right lateral portions of the upper housing body 214. The central movable housing element 217 has an arcuate outer structure and a thin profile, which defines a portion of the outer surface of the upper housing portion 210. The outer surface of the at least one movable housing element 212 forms part of the spherical shape of the transforming toy 200a shown in Figures 2B and 2D.

[0069] In the same embodiment, the at least one movable housing element 212 also includes a corner element 219 that is pivotally mounted to either the central housing element 217 or the upper housing body 214 for movement between a retracted position and a deployed position. The corner element 219 has a generally circular arc shape with sharply curved end portions. As shown in Figures 2B, 2D, and 2F, when in its retracted position, the corner element 219 is disposed in a space defined between the lateral movable housing elements 218.

[0070] In another embodiment, the catches 212 a of the upper housing part 210 that are retained by the latches 222 , 232 of the lower housing part are defined by sharply bent ends of the corner elements 219 .

[0071] Generally speaking, it can be said that the at least one movable housing element 212 is provided to change the transformable toy 200a from a rollable spherical shape to a character shape as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D.

[0072] 2E-2H, the first and second lower housing portions 220, 230 are depicted as generally hemispherical first and second lower housing portions 220, 230, respectively, each including a hollow cavity 216 formed therein. Each of the first and second lower housing portions 220, 230 of this embodiment of the transforming toy 200a includes a latch 222, 232 mounted therein and an actuator 224, 234 connected to the latch 222, 232. As described above, when the at least one movable housing element 212 moves to the retracted position, the latch 222, 232 assumes a position to retain the catch 212a of the at least one movable housing element 212. The latch 222, 232, in conjunction with the actuator 224, 234, moves to retain or release the catch 212a of the at least one movable housing element 212.

[0073] 2A and 2C, the outer surface of each of the first and second lower housing sections 220, 230 includes a through-hole 227, 237. The through-hole 227, 237 of each housing section 220, 230 is located within the respective housing section 220, 230 and is configured such that the catch 212a of the at least one movable housing element 212 is received within the through-hole 227, 237 and engages with the latch 222, 232 within the lower housing section when the at least one movable housing element 212 moves from the deployed position to the retracted position.

[0074] In one embodiment, the catch 212 a is formed as part of the corner element 219 and a through hole is located on the front side of the lower housing portion for receiving a portion of the corner element 219 .

[0075] In one embodiment, each of the first and second lower housing portions 220, 230 includes a connecting element 252, 253 that corresponds to and interfaces with a connector 211 on the upper housing portion 210 to connect the upper housing portion 210 to either the first or second lower housing portion 220, 230. The connector 211 and connecting elements 252, 253 allow the upper housing portion 210 to be detachably matable with either the first lower housing portion 220 or the second lower housing portion 230.

[0076] 2A , the connecting elements 252, 253 of each of the first and second lower housing portions 220, 230 include a protrusion 252a, 253a extending upward from a flat surface of the first or second lower housing portion and a flexible tab 252b, 253b. The flexible tab 252b, 253b of each lower housing portion 220, 230 extends toward the rear of the first or second lower housing portion 220, 230 and includes a generally flat portion that rests parallel to the flat surface of the first or second lower housing portion and a tab portion that projects upward from the generally flat portion. Gaps are defined between the flat surface and three sides of the flexible tab 252b, 253b to allow the flexible tab 252b, 253b to flex relative to the flat surface. In the same embodiment, the connector 211 of the upper housing part 210 is a connecting aperture 150a that extends into the hollow cavity 216 of the upper housing part 210 and is sized and shaped to receive the protrusions 252a, 253a and flexible tabs 252b, 253b from either the first or second lower housing part 220, 230. To insert the protrusions 252a, 253a and flexible tabs 252b, 253b into the connecting aperture 250a to connect the upper housing part 210 and the first or second lower housing part 220, 230, the upper housing part 210 and the lower housing part 220 or 230 are oriented so that the front of the flat surface of the upper housing part 210 is positioned above the rear of the flat surface 220c, 230c of the first or second lower housing part. The upper housing portion 210 is then tilted at an angle and advanced laterally along the flat surfaces 220c, 230c of the first or second lower housing portion 220, 230 until the flexible tabs 252b bend into the connecting apertures 250a, which receive the flexible tabs 252b. Once the flexible tabs 252b are securely received within the connecting apertures 250a, the upper housing portion 210 is then tilted down so that the protrusions 252a are received within the connecting apertures 250a of the upper housing portion 210. The upper and lower housing portions (210 and 220 or 230) are brought together until the flat surfaces of each housing portion are in intimate contact.In this detachably connected state, the flexible tabs 252b, 253b prevent the flat surfaces of the upper and lower housing portions from separating, while the protrusions 252a, 253a prevent the upper housing portion 210 and the first or second lower housing portion 220, 230 from moving laterally relative to each other.

[0077] 2E-2H, the latches 222, 232 and actuators 224, 234 of at least one of the lower housing portions 220, 230 are mounted on a pivot member 242 having first and second free ends, which is pivotally mounted within the hollow cavity 226 of the first or second lower housing portion 220, 230 for pivotal movement relative to the first or second lower housing portion 220, 230. The first free end of the pivot member 242 includes the latches 222, 232, and the second free end of the pivot member 242 includes the interaction element 244.

[0078] In one embodiment, a pivot member 242 is located inside each of the first and second lower housing portions 220, 230. The pivot member 242 has the latches 222, 232 mounted to a first free end 242a and the interface element 244 mounted to a second free end 242b.

[0079] In this embodiment, the hollow portion of the pivot member 242 is mounted around the shaft 243, thereby defining a pivot axis for the pivot member 242. The pivot member 242 can pivot clockwise or counterclockwise about the pivot axis. The pivot member 242 pivots clockwise to the latched position (as shown in FIGS. 2E and 2G) and moves counterclockwise to the unlatched or released position (as shown in FIGS. 2F and 2H). The pivot member 242 may be biased toward the latched position by a spring 299 (FIG. 2E). The spring 299 may be any suitable type of spring, such as a torsion spring mounted around the shaft 243. The spring 299 may also be similar to the spring 199. The spring 299 is positioned to bias the pivot member 242 toward the latched position by exerting a force that causes the pivot member 242 to pivot about the shaft 243 toward the latched position.

[0080] In another embodiment, the interacting element 244 of the actuators 224, 234 is a first magnetic response element 245 located at the second free end 242b of the pivot member and interacts with a second magnetic response element 246, at least one of which is a magnet. Thus, interaction between the first magnetic response element 245 and the second magnetic response element 246 causes actuation of the actuators 224, 234.

[0081] In one particular embodiment, first magnetic response element 245 may be a magnet and second magnetic response element 246 is a steel strip contained within toy support member 291 (FIG. 2F). Toy support member 291 may be a card, etc., or any other suitable support member and defines toy play surface 290. The magnet is mounted to the bottom of second free end 242b of pivot member 242, the other end of which mounts 222, 232. The magnet is mounted such that it protrudes slightly from an aperture through which it is held on pivot member 242.

[0082] In another embodiment in which the interacting element 244 is the first magnetic response element 245, at least one of the first and second lower housing portions 220, 230 includes a thinned portion 270. As described above with respect to the thinned portion 125a of the lower housing portion 120, the thinned portion 270 is formed on the lower hemispherical portion of the first and / or second lower housing portions 220, 230. The thinned portion 270 is formed with a thickness such that the second magnetic response element 246 can attract the magnet of the pivot member 242 through the thinned portion 270, driving the pivot member 242 from the unactuated position to the actuated position and bringing the magnet into close proximity with the thinned portion 270.

[0083] In one embodiment, at least one of the first or second lower housing portions 220, 230 includes an aperture in place of the thinned portion 270.

[0084] 9A and 9B, the transformable toy 200a is a transformable toy 200b that includes an upper housing portion 210 connectable to a second lower housing portion 230 by a connector 211, the lower housing portion 230 including an actuator 934 formed of at least one movable weight 910 movable between a radially inner position (FIG. 9B) and a radially outer position (FIG. 9A) relative to a central axis (C1) of the transformable toy 200b. The at least one movable weight 910 is connected within the second lower housing portion 230 such that the movable weight 910 is in the radially inner position when the transformable toy 200a is spinning at or below a set speed, and the at least one movable weight 910 is in the radially outer position when the transformable toy 200a is spinning at or above a set speed. When the at least one movable weight 910 is in a radially inner position and the at least one movable housing element 212 is held in the retracted position, the latches 222, 232 disengage the catch 212a to release the at least one movable housing element 212.

[0085] 9A and 9B, a movable weight 910 is slidably mounted along a shaft 920 that is fixed within second lower housing portion 230. The movable weight is biased along shaft 920 toward a radially outward position by a biasing member 940. In the particular embodiment of FIGS. 9A and 9B, biasing member 940 is a spring mounted about shaft 920.

[0086] In another embodiment of the transforming toy 200a, the second lower housing portion 230 also includes an access aperture 280 for accessing and driving the movement of the drive element 260. The access aperture 280 is sized to allow insertion of a charge element through the access aperture 280 to drive the movement of the drive element 260 within the second lower housing portion 230.

[0087] In another embodiment, at least one of the first lower housing part 220 or the second lower housing part 230 of the transforming toy 200a includes at least one lower movable housing element 233. In this embodiment, the at least one movable housing element 212 is at least one upper movable housing element. The at least one lower movable housing element 233 of the first or second lower housing part 220, 230 is configured to be movable between a stored position and an exposed position. The at least one lower movable housing element 233, which is biased toward the exposed position, is operatively connected to a latch 222, 232 such that when the latch 232 engages the catch 212a of the upper movable housing element, the at least one lower movable housing element 233 is retained in the stored position. As such, the actuator 224, 234 of either the first or second lower housing part is also actuatable to disengage the latch 222, 232 from the catch 212a, thereby releasing the at least one lower movable housing element 233.

[0088] In another embodiment of the lower housing parts 220, 230 including at least one lower movable housing element 233, the at least one lower movable housing element 233 is mounted on a shaft 277 defining a pivot axis for the at least one lower movable housing element 233 to pivot between the retracted position and the exposed position. In another embodiment, the at least one lower movable housing element 233 includes a spring 279 connected about the shaft 277 defining the pivot axis. The spring 279 is positioned to apply a force that rotates the at least one lower movable housing element 233 about the shaft 277, thereby biasing the at least one lower movable housing element 233 toward the exposed position. The spring 279 may be any suitable type of spring, such as a torsion spring having an end engaged with the at least one lower movable housing element 233.

[0089] 2B and 2D, the first and second lower housing portions 220, 230 each include a lower housing body 220c, 230c having at least one lower movable housing element 233 pivotally mounted thereto. The outer surface of each lower housing body 220c, 230c has a slight dome shape, like a truncated portion of a sphere, and the outer surface constitutes a portion of the spherical shape of the transforming toy 200a. The at least one lower movable housing element 233 is two lower movable housing elements 233 pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the lower housing bodies 220c, 230c, which form the "leg" components of the character represented by the transforming toy 200a when in the unfolded position.

[0090] In another embodiment of the second lower housing element including the access aperture 280, the drive element 260 of the second lower housing part 230 is a shaft assembly 270 including a shaft 272 rotatably mounted within the second lower housing part 230 along the central axis of the second lower housing part 230 and a flywheel 276 mounted on the shaft 272.

[0091] 2E-2H, a shaft 272 is rotatably mounted within the second lower housing portion 230. The lower end of the shaft 272 is rotatably engaged with a first bearing 273 on the underside of the second lower housing portion 230 and a second bearing 274 on the upper side of the second lower housing portion 230. A flywheel 276 is mounted on the shaft 272 and rotates therewith. A gear element 278 is also mounted on the shaft 272 below the flywheel 276, such that when a force is applied to drive the rotation of the gear element 278 and the shaft 272, the shaft 272, the gear element 278, and the flywheel 276 rotate together. The gear element 278 includes a plurality of triangular teeth sized to mesh with the triangular teeth of a charge element that exerts a force on the gear element 278. In another alternative embodiment (not shown), the shaft 272 is fixedly mounted within the second lower housing portion 230 so as not to rotate, and the gear element 278 and flywheel 276 are rotatably coupled to the fixedly mounted shaft 272, with the gear element 278 and flywheel 276 coupled to rotate together about the shaft 272. By mounting the shaft assembly 270 within the second lower housing portion, the second lower housing portion 230 (and the remainder of the transformable toy 200a) can be driven to spin about the spin axis of the transformable toy 200a.

[0092] In an alternative embodiment, gear element 278, flywheel 276, and 272 are formed as a single piece.

[0093] In one embodiment, the second lower housing part 230 includes a downward protrusion 252a formed on a bottom area of ​​the second lower housing part 230, which defines a spin point about which the second lower housing part 230 is driven to spin. In this embodiment, the spin point is positioned such that the transformable toy 200a spins about the spin point when the transformable toy 200a is driven by the flywheel 276 to spin about the spin axis.

[0094] In an alternative embodiment, the bearing 273 of the second lower housing part 230 extends through the second lower housing part 230, thereby defining a spin point for the transformable toy about which the transformable toy 200a spins; in this manner, the shaft and central axis of the transformable toy 200a define the spin axis for the transformable toy 200a.

[0095] 2E-2H, the spin point is located at the bottommost extent of the hemispherical second lower housing portion 230. As such, the spin point intersects with the central axis of the transformable toy 200a such that the spin axis of the transformable toy 200a when spinning about the spin point is defined by the central axis of the transformable toy 200a.

[0096] In some embodiments, the spin axis is defined along the shaft 272 of the shaft assembly 270 .

[0097] In another embodiment in which a spin axis is defined along the shaft of the shaft assembly 270, the shaft is rotatably mounted within the second lower housing portion 230 such that one end of the shaft extends through the toy housing and defines a spin point about which the transforming toy 200a spins about the spin axis.

[0098] In one embodiment, the transformable toy 200a includes a weighted portion that is eccentrically positioned about the spin axis S1. The weighted portion is positioned relative to the second lower housing portion 230 such that when the transformable toy 200a (including the second lower housing portion 230) is spinning about the spin axis S1 at or below a set speed, the transformable toy 200a can tilt slightly and continue to spin. After tilting, when the transformable toy 200a reaches an orientation where the first magnetically responsive member 245 is in a selected vicinity of the second magnetically responsive member 246, the magnetic force therebetween actuates the pivot member 242 from a latched position, shown in solid lines at 299 in FIG. 2F, to a released position, shown in dashed lines at 298 in FIG. 2F.

[0099] 2E-2H, the transformable toy 200a is configured such that the weighted portion is made up of a latch 232 and an actuator 234. In this embodiment, the latch 232 and the actuator 234 are offset from the central spin axis S1 of the transformable toy 200a.

[0100] In an alternative embodiment of the transforming toy 200a, which includes an upper housing portion 210 and either a first or second lower housing portion 220, 230 that are connectable to each other, the positioning of the latches and catches for retaining or releasing at least one movable housing element may be changed.

[0101] In this embodiment, the transforming toy includes an upper housing section and at least one of a first and second lower housing sections that are connectable to each other. In this embodiment, the upper housing section includes a connector and at least one movable housing element that is movable between a stored position and a deployed position. The at least one movable housing element is biased toward the deployed position and includes a latch and an actuator connected to the latch. The connector of the upper housing section is detachably connectable to either the first or second lower housing section, and each of the first and second lower housing sections includes a catch, the catch being arranged such that when the upper housing section and either the first or second lower housing section are detachably connected and when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages with the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position. The actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stored position. The second lower housing portion includes a drive element operatively mounted therein for driving movement of the second lower housing portion and the upper housing portion along the support surface, and the first lower housing portion includes either no drive element for driving movement of the first lower housing portion or a drive element different from the drive element of the second lower housing portion that is operatively mounted therein for driving movement of the first lower housing portion and the upper housing portion along the support surface.

[0102] 4A and 4B , the transforming toy 400 for use on a toy play surface 490 includes a toy housing 410, a shaft assembly 470 including a flywheel 476, at least one movable housing element 412, a latch 422, and an actuator 434. The toy housing 410 includes at least one movable housing element 412 that is movable between a stored position (see FIG. 4A ) and a deployed position (see FIG. 4A ), the at least one movable housing element 412 including a catch 412 a and biased toward the deployed position, and the latch 422 is disposed within the toy housing 410 such that upon movement of the at least one movable housing element 412 to the stored position, the latch 422 engages the catch 412 a to hold the at least one movable housing element 412 in the stored position. The actuator 434 of the transforming toy 400 is connected to the latch 422 and includes an interaction element 444. The actuator 434 is actuatable to disengage the latch 422 from the catch 412a to release the at least one movable housing element 412 when the at least one movable housing element 412 is held in the retracted position. The actuator 434 is disposed within the toy housing 410 such that an interaction element 444 of the actuator 434 interacts with at least a portion of the toy play surface 490 to drive actuation of the actuator 434 to disengage the latch 422 member from the catch 412a when the transforming toy 400 is spinning at or below a set speed. The transforming toy 400 also includes an access aperture 480 for charging the flywheel 476.

[0103] In one embodiment, the toy housing 410 and the at least one movable housing element 412 are configured such that the collective shape of the transforming toy 400 is approximately spherical when the at least one movable housing element 412 is in the retracted position.

[0104] In one embodiment, the toy housing 410 includes a housing body 414 to which at least one movable housing element 412 is pivotally mounted. In this embodiment, the at least one movable housing element 412 is pivotally mounted to pivot between a stowed position in which the at least one movable housing element 412 is disposed near the housing body 414 and a deployed position in which the at least one movable housing element 412 is disposed away from the housing body 414.

[0105] In one embodiment, each of the at least one movable housing element 412 is mounted on a shaft 413 defining a pivot axis for pivoting the at least one movable housing element 412 between the stowed position and the deployed position. In another embodiment, the at least one movable housing element 412 includes a spring 415 connected about the shaft 413 defining the pivot axis. The spring 415 is positioned to apply a force that rotates the at least one movable housing element 412 about the shaft 413, thereby biasing the at least one movable housing element 412 toward the deployed position. The spring 415 may be any suitable type of spring, such as a torsion spring having a first end mounted to an element of the housing body 414 and a second end engaged with the at least one movable housing element 412.

[0106] In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 4A , a hollow cavity 416 is formed within the housing body 414. The at least one movable housing element 412 includes a central movable housing element 417 and side movable housing elements 418. The central movable housing element 417 is pivotally mounted to an upper portion of the housing body 414, and the side movable housing elements 418 are pivotally mounted to an upper left side portion and an upper right side portion of the housing body 414, thereby allowing the housing elements to pivot relative to the housing body 414. The at least one movable housing element 412 also includes corner elements 419, which are pivotally mounted to the housing body 414 for movement between a retracted position and a deployed position. The corner elements 419 have an arcuate shape with sharply curved end portions. As shown in FIG. 4A , when the corner elements 419 are in their retracted position, they are disposed in a space defined between the central movable housing elements 417. Pivotally mounting the corner element 419 to the upper housing body 414 occurs about a first pivot axis.

[0107] In another embodiment, the catch 412 a of at least one movable housing element 412 is defined by a sharply bent end of the corner element 419 .

[0108] In one embodiment, the latch 422 and actuator 434 of the transforming toy 400 are formed on a pivot member 442 having first and second free ends 442a, 442b that are pivotally mounted within the toy housing 410 for pivotal movement relative to the toy housing 410. The first free end 442a of the pivot member 442 includes the latch 422, and the second free end 442b of the pivot member 442 includes the interaction element 444.

[0109] In this embodiment, pivot member 442 is located within toy housing 410, and pivot member 442 is mounted about pivot shaft 498, which defines a pivot axis for pivot member 442. Pivot member 442 is pivotable about the pivot axis clockwise to a latched position and counterclockwise to an unlatched (i.e., released) position to move latch 422 between the latched and unlatched positions.

[0110] In another embodiment, a spring 499 is connected around a pivot shaft 498 on which the pivot member 442 is mounted. The spring 499 is positioned to bias the pivot member 442 toward the latched position by exerting a force that rotates the pivot member 442 about the pivot shaft 498 toward the latched position.

[0111] In another embodiment, the interacting element 444 of the actuator 434 is a first magnetic response element 445 located at the second free end 442b of the pivot member and interacts with a second magnetic response element 446, at least one of which is a magnet. Thus, interaction between the first magnetic response element 445 and the second magnetic response element 446 causes actuation of the actuator 434. In this same embodiment, the second magnetic response element 446 extends along or beneath at least a portion of the toy play surface 490. The first magnetic response element 445 is mounted to a bottom of the second free end 442b of the pivot member 442, while the latch 422 is mounted to the first free end of the pivot member 442.

[0112] In another embodiment in which the interacting element 444 is a first magnetic response element 445, the toy housing 410 may include a thinned portion 425. As described above with respect to the thinned portion 125a of the lower housing portion 120, the thinned portion 425 is formed at the spherical lower portion of the toy housing 410. The thinned portion 425 is formed with a thickness such that the second magnetic response element 446 can act on and attract the magnet of the pivot member 442 through the thinned portion, driving the pivot member 442 from the unactuated position to the actuated position and bringing the magnet into close proximity with the thinned portion 425.

[0113] In one embodiment, the toy housing 410 includes an aperture in place of the thinned portion 425. In this embodiment, the first magnetic response element 445 of the pivot member 442 is attracted to the second magnetic response element 446 when there is no structure between them.

[0114] In one embodiment, the toy housing 410 is a continuous toy housing that houses the shaft assembly 470. By mounting the shaft assembly 470 within the toy housing 410, the transforming toy 400 can be driven to spin about the spin axis S1 of the transforming toy 400 by spinning the flywheel.

[0115] 4A , shaft assembly 470 includes a shaft 472 rotatably mounted along a central axis of toy housing 410 and a flywheel 476 mounted on shaft 472. Shaft 472 defines a spin axis S1 for flywheel 476, and shaft 472 is rotatably mounted inside toy housing 410. Flywheel 476 is spinnably chargeable to drive spinning motion of toy housing 410 about spin axis S1. A lower end of shaft 472 is rotatably engaged with a first bearing 473, and an upper end of shaft 472 is rotatably engaged with a second bearing 474 within toy housing 410. Flywheel 476 is mounted on shaft 472 for rotation therewith, and gear element 478 is also mounted on shaft 472 so that when a force is applied to drive rotation of gear element 478 on shaft 472, shaft 472, gear element 478, and flywheel 476 rotate together. Gear element 478 includes a plurality of triangular teeth sized to mesh with triangular teeth on a charge element that applies a force to gear element 478.

[0116] In one embodiment, the bearings 473 of the toy housing 410 extend through the toy housing 410 and protrude through the bottom exterior surface of the toy housing 410, thereby defining a spin point formed on the bottom area of ​​the toy housing 410. The spin point is positioned such that the transforming toy 400 will spin about the spin point when the transforming toy 400 is driven by the flywheel 476 to spin about the spin axis S1.

[0117] In another embodiment in which the spin axis S1 is defined along the shaft 472 of the shaft assembly 470, the shaft 472 is rotatably mounted within the second lower housing portion such that an end of the shaft 472 extends through the toy housing 410 to define a spin point about which the transforming toy 400 spins about the spin axis S1.

[0118] In one embodiment, the transformable toy 400 includes a weighted portion that is eccentrically positioned about the spin axis S1 and is positioned relative to the toy housing 410 such that when the transformable toy 400 is spinning about the spin axis S1 at or below a set speed, the weighted portion tilts away from the spin direction, stopping the spinning motion of the transformable toy 400 and interacting with the interacting element 444 of the actuator 434.

[0119] In one embodiment, the transformable toy 400 is configured such that weighted portions are configured on a pivot member 442 with latches 422 and actuators 434. In this embodiment, the pivot member 442, including the latches 422 and actuators 434, is offset from the central spin axis S1 of the transformable toy 400.

[0120] Although the above-described embodiments have been described with particular reference to one toy housing 410, it will be appreciated that the above-described mechanisms for spinning the toy and opening the toy at low spin rates are applicable to any of the above-described embodiments in which the transforming toy 400 includes multiple housing sections (e.g., an upper housing section and a second, lower housing section), any of which includes a flywheel 476 or similar drive element (e.g., a flywheel 476 in the second, lower housing section).

[0121] In another embodiment, the transforming toy is a transforming toy 500, which includes a toy housing 510 and a shaft 572 assembly having a flywheel 576 that imparts spinning motion to the transforming toy 500. In this embodiment, the toy 500 may be utilized as a top that is part of a spinning toy kit 501.

[0122] In one embodiment, the spinning toy kit 501 is used as part of a larger board and top game, the board and top game including playing cards associated with various game events and game characters, and the spinning toy of the spinning toy kit 501 includes at least one top associated with one or more playing cards of the game.

[0123] 5A and 5B, the spinning toy kit 501 includes a transforming toy 500 that includes at least one movable housing element 512 movable between a stored position (see FIGS. 5B and 5C) and an extended position (see FIG. 5E). The at least one movable housing element 512 includes a catch 512a and is biased toward the extended position. The transforming toy 500 also includes a latch 522 that is positioned within the transforming toy 500 such that when the at least one movable housing element 512 moves to the stored position, the latch 522 engages the catch 512a to retain the at least one movable housing element 512 in the stored position. The transforming toy 500 also includes an actuator 535 connected to the latch 522, the actuator 535 being actuatable to disengage the latch 522 from the catch 512a and release the at least one movable housing element 512 when the at least one movable housing element 512 is held in the stored position.

[0124] At least one movable housing element 512 is mounted on a shaft 513 defining a pivot axis for the at least one movable housing element 512 to pivot between the stowed position and the deployed position. In another embodiment, the at least one movable housing element 512 includes a spring 515 connected about the shaft 513 defining the pivot axis. The spring 515 is positioned to apply a force that rotates the at least one movable housing element 512 about the shaft 513, thereby biasing the at least one movable housing element 512 toward the deployed position. The spring 515 may be any suitable type of spring, for example, a torsion spring having a first end mounted to an element of the toy housing 510 and a second end engaged with the at least one movable housing element 512.

[0125] Transformable toy 500 further includes a shaft assembly including shaft 572, which is rotatably mounted within toy housing 510 and lies along a central axis C1 of toy housing 510. In the particular embodiment shown in Figures 5B, 5C, and 5D, shaft 572 is rotatably mounted between two bearings 574 and 573. Shaft 572 assembly also includes a flywheel 576 mounted on shaft 572, which includes a gear portion 578. Toy housing 510 also includes an access aperture 580 for accessing the flywheel of shaft 572 assembly. By mounting shaft 572 assembly within toy housing 510, transformable toy 500 can be driven to spin about central axis C1 of transformable toy 500.

[0126] In this same embodiment, spinning toy kit 501 also includes ripcord card holder 560 including card holder body 562 having a card holder configured to receive and removably hold at least one playing card associated with the spinning toy, and ripcord member 564 including a length of triangular teeth 565 extending along at least a portion of at least one side of ripcord member 564. Ripcord member 564 is movably mounted to one side of the card holder body and sized to be inserted into access aperture 580 of transforming toy 500 such that triangular teeth 565 of ripcord member 564 engage gear portion 578 of flywheel 576 to drive the spinning motion of flywheel 576.

[0127] In another embodiment, toy 500 includes a downward protrusion formed on a bottom area of ​​bearing 573 that defines a spin point 569 about which toy housing 510 is driven to spin. In this embodiment, spin point 569 is positioned such that transformable toy 500 spins about spin point 569 when flywheel 576 drives transformable toy 500 to spin about central axis C1.

[0128] In the particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B , a hollow cavity 516 is formed within a toy housing 510. The at least one movable housing element 512 includes a central movable housing element 517 and lateral movable housing elements 518. The central movable housing element 517 is pivotally mounted to an upper central portion of a housing body 514 of the toy housing 510, and the lateral movable housing elements 518 are pivotally mounted to upper left and upper right lateral portions of the housing body 514, thereby allowing the housing elements to pivot relative to the housing body. The at least one movable housing element 512 also includes corner elements 519, which are pivotally mounted to the upper housing body 514 for movement between a retracted position and a deployed position. The corner elements 519 have a generally circular arc shape with sharply curved end portions. As shown in FIG. 5B , when the corner elements 519 are in their retracted position, they are disposed in a space defined between the central movable housing elements 517. Pivotally mounting the corner element 519 to the upper housing body 514 occurs about a first pivot axis.

[0129] In another embodiment, the catch 512 a of the at least one movable housing element 512 held by the latch 522 is defined by a sharply bent end of the corner element 519 .

[0130] 5B, 5C, and 5D, the latch 522 and actuator 535 of the transforming toy 500 are formed on a pivot member 552 having first and second free ends that is pivotally mounted within the hollow cavity 516 of the toy housing 510 for pivotal movement relative to the toy housing 510. The latch 522 is mounted to the first free end 552a of the pivot member 552, and the interaction element 555 is mounted to the second free end 552b of the pivot member 552. The pivot member 552 is located inside either the first or second lower housing portion.

[0131] In this embodiment, the hollow portion of pivot member 552 is mounted around a pivot shaft, thereby defining a pivot axis for pivot member 552. Pivot member 552 can pivot clockwise or counterclockwise about the pivot axis. Pivot member 552 pivots clockwise to the latched position (as shown in FIG. 5B ) and counterclockwise to the unlatched or released position. Pivot member 552 includes a spring 599 connected around shaft 572. Spring 599 is positioned to bias pivot member 552 toward the latched position by applying a force that rotates pivot member 552 about shaft 572 toward the latched position.

[0132] In another embodiment, the interacting element 555 of the actuator 535 is a first magnetic response element 545 located at the second free end 552b of the pivot member 552 and interacting with a second magnetic response element 546, at least one of the first and second magnetic response elements 545 and 546 being a magnet. In this manner, the interaction between the first magnetic response element 545 and the second magnetic response element drives the actuation of the actuator 535.

[0133] In one embodiment in which the interacting element 555 is the first magnetic response element 545, the first magnetic response element 545 is a solid magnet. In this same embodiment, the second magnetic response element is defined by at least a portion of the toy play surface 590, i.e., the magnetic portion 590a of the toy play surface 590. As shown in the particular example in FIG. 5B , the magnet is mounted to a bottom portion of the second free end 552b of the pivot member 552, the other end of which includes the latch 522 hook. The magnet is mounted such that a portion is exposed on the pivot member 552.

[0134] In one embodiment of the transforming toy 500, an access aperture 580 in the toy housing 510 extends between opposing sides of the toy housing 510. The access aperture 580 is positioned in the bottom half of the toy housing 510 such that some of the triangular teeth 565 of the gear element 578 extend at least partially into a path defined along the length of the access aperture 580. As such, a ripcord member 564 having a length of triangular teeth 565 and appropriately sized so that the teeth of the gear element 578 mesh with the teeth of the charge element may be inserted along the access aperture 580. The meshing of the gear element 578 with the charge element causes the gear element 578 and shaft 572 to rotate within the toy housing. This in turn rotates the flywheel along with the shaft 572, which can impart a spinning motion to the toy housing 510 when the transforming toy 500 is placed on the play surface 590.

[0135] 5A, 5D, and 5F, the length of ripcord member 564 is greater than the length of access aperture 580, thereby enabling ripcord member 564, when inserted into access aperture 580 of toy housing 510, to extend through and out the entire length of access aperture 580. As such, ripcord member 564 includes elongated teeth 565 to apply a large torque to gear element 578 of shaft assembly 570.

[0136] 5E and 5F, the ripcord member 564 of the ripcord card holder 560 includes a connection portion 564a and a ripcord portion 564b. Ripcord portion 564b is a relatively long, thin extension of the ripcord member 564 that includes at least one set of triangular teeth extending along the ripcord portion. The connection portion 564a of the ripcord member 564 includes a connection aperture 563 extending therethrough. In the particular embodiment of FIG. 5E, the at least one set of triangular teeth are two sets of triangular teeth 565 extending along opposite sides of the ripcord portion 564b.

[0137] In this same embodiment, ripcord card holder 560 includes a rectangular card holder body 562. Card holder body 562 includes a connecting projection 567 extending outward from a surface of card holder body 562, the projection 567 being sized to receive a connecting aperture 563 of a ripcord member 564. The connecting projection 567 of card holder body 562 is rotatably connected within connecting aperture 563 of ripcord member 564, thereby allowing ripcord member 564 to pivot relative to card holder body 562. Card holder body 562 also includes a substantially flat surface 562a and a plurality of tabs 566 slightly elevated above the surface of substantially flat surface 562a. In this manner, a portion of at least one playing card can be removably secured on the card holder by sliding the portion of the at least one playing card between one of the plurality of tabs 566 and substantially flat surface 562a.

[0138] In embodiments of the transforming toy where the transforming toy includes a drive element that imparts spinning motion to the transforming toy, the toy may be utilized as a spinning top in a spinning game. In one embodiment, the spinning transforming toy is used as a spinning combat toy that spins near and in contact with other spinning toys.

[0139] In some embodiments, the transforming toy 200a, 200b, 400, 500 is defined as a spinning fighting toy 600. In other embodiments, the spinning fighting toy 600 includes at least one removably connectable fighting accessory for changing the appearance, shape, weight, or spin characteristics of the spinning toy 600.

[0140] 7A-7C, the at least one removably connectable combat accessory is one or more removably connectable adapter rings 710. The removably connectable adapter ring 710 includes a body member 712 having a hollow interior circular shape. In one embodiment, the adapter ring 710 includes a plurality of protrusions 716 extending outward from the body member 712 and spaced evenly around the circumference of the body member 712.

[0141] The specific example shown in Figures 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrates three embodiments of the protrusions 716 on the body member 712, including an adapter ring 810 having a plurality of spherical, uneven protrusions 716, 720, an adapter ring 810 having a plurality of wedge-shaped protrusions 716, 730, and an adapter ring 810 having a plurality of "fin"-shaped protrusions 716, 740.

[0142] In embodiments in which the transforming toy includes an adapter ring, the toy housing is molded to include a circumferential channel 720 sized to extend around at least half of the circumference of the transforming toy. The circumferential channel 720 is sized to receive and removably retain the adapter ring. In this manner, multiple adapter rings 710 may be provided on the transforming toy so as to be interchangeable with one another to achieve different appearances and spin characteristics for the toy.

[0143] 6C, circumferential channel 720 is formed in the lower housing portion and includes a pair of inwardly extending slots 640 located at each end of circumferential channel 720. In this embodiment, each adapter ring 710 includes a corresponding pair of tabs 630 at each end, with inwardly extending slots 640 sized to receive tabs 630 of adapter ring 710 and prevent relative rotation of adapter ring 710 around the transforming toy.

[0144] In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 7C, the body member 712 of the adapter ring 710 defines an opening 714 in the interior circular shape of the adapter ring 710 for inserting the adapter ring 710 around any transforming toy (e.g., transforming toy 200a). In this embodiment, the adapter ring 710 of the transforming toy 200a is shaped to be resiliently flexible such that the interior circular shape of the adapter ring 710 can bend around the transforming toy 200a when the opening 714 of the adapter ring 710 is inserted around the transforming toy 200a.

[0145] Toy Arena Embodiment In another aspect of the present disclosure, a modular arena 800 is provided that includes one or more modular components. The modular arena 800 is configured for use in a fighting top game in which multiple spinning fighting toys spin adjacent to each other within the arena and spin into contact with each other as part of the fighting game.

[0146] In one embodiment of the modular arena 800, the modular arena 800 is provided for use with at least one spinning toy that is driven to spin by a ripcord member 810, the ripcord member 810 including a length of triangular teeth extending along at least one edge of the ripcord member 810. The modular arena 800 includes an interiorly disposed portion 820 that defines a playing surface 822 for at least one top. The modular arena 800 also includes at least one exterior wall portion 830. In this embodiment, at least one of the exterior wall portions 830 includes a contact actuator 840 mounted thereto. The contact actuator 840 includes a drive portion 842 that mates with the triangular teeth of the ripcord member 88 and an actuating portion 844 that extends over the playing surface 822 of the modular arena 800. An actuating portion 844 is connected to the drive portion 842 such that interaction of the ripcord member 810 and the drive portion 842 drives actuation of the actuating portion 844 between at least a first position and a second position around the surface of the modular arena. The actuating portion 844 is connected to the drive portion 842 such that engagement of the ripcord member 810 and the drive portion 842 actuates the actuating portion 844 between the first position and a second position around the surface, causing the actuating portion 844 to contact the spinning toy and change at least one of the speed and direction of spin of the spinning toy.

[0147] In one embodiment, the ripcord member 810 that drives the at least one top to spin is the ripcord member 564 of the ripcord card holder 560 described above.

[0148] In another embodiment, at least one exterior wall portion 830 is removably connectable to the interiorly disposed portion 820 of the modular arena 800 so as to at least partially enclose a portion of the playing surface 822 .

[0149] In one embodiment, the plurality of tops are a plurality of transformable toys as described herein, which may be any one or combination of the various spinnable embodiments of the transformable toys disclosed herein (including transformable toy 200a, transformable toy 200b, transformable toy 400, and transformable toy 500).

[0150] In one embodiment, modular arena 800 includes one or more modular components removably connectable to and around interiorly disposed portion 820 of modular arena 800. In another embodiment, one or more modular components of modular arena 800 include at least one contact actuator 840, which is actuated by a ripcord member 810 that is also used to drive at least one of the plurality of tops to spin.

[0151] In the particular embodiment of the modular arena 800 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8D , the modular arena 800 is generally oval-shaped and includes a playing surface 822 for a plurality of pieces. The modular arena 800 includes a plurality of interchangeable wall sections 830 disposed around the sides of the playing surface 822. In the illustrated embodiment, the wall sections 830 are disposed on four sides of the oval-shaped playing surface 822 to provide a relatively continuous wall of the arena around the perimeter of the playing surface 822. Two of the wall sections 830 include tall card stands 850. The stand for holding the cards includes a pair of support members 852 and a support platform 854 that is inclined at an angle above the edge of the playing surface 822. The support platform 854 is sized to allow at least one playing card to be placed on and supported by the support platform 854.

[0152] In the particular embodiment of Figure 8A, the two wall sections 830 containing the tall card stand 850 further include launch ramps that roll at least one transforming toy onto the playing surface 822 of the modular arena 800. In this embodiment, the launch ramps are each defined by an angled recess integrally molded into each wall section 830.

[0153] In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 8C, one embodiment of a contact actuator 840 is shown mounted to wall portion 830. Contact actuator 840 is in the form of a three-armed spinning wheel. In this embodiment, the spinning wheel includes a base portion 840a and an upper rotating portion 840b that spins relative to base portion 840a. A drive portion 842 of contact actuator 840 is housed within base portion 840a, which includes a through aperture 843 for inserting ripcord member 88 into drive portion 842 of contact actuator 840. Actuating portion 844 is defined by upper rotating portion 840b of the three-armed spinning wheel and includes three curved arms 840c extending radially outward from upper rotating portion 840b.

[0154] 8A-8D, at least one wall portion 830 includes a retention recess 870. Retention recess 870 is sized and shaped to support the transforming toy when the transforming toy is not in use on play surface 822.

[0155] In another embodiment, at least one of the replaceable wall portions 830 includes a contact actuator 840 as described above.

[0156] 8A and 8C, the playing surface 822 includes a plurality of recesses 822a sized to removably hold interchangeable portions of the playing surface 822. The playing surface 822 also includes several upwardly projecting portions integrally formed with and extending upwardly from the playing surface 822. In use, an interchangeable portion of the playing surface 822 is provided in each of the plurality of recesses 822a such that a substantially continuous playing surface 822 is formed.

[0157] In many embodiments, the interacting element has been shown to be a first magnetically responsive member that interacts with a second magnetically responsive member external to the transforming toy. However, it should be noted that the interacting element may be some other type of member. For example, the interacting element may be a protruding member on a pivot arm that protrudes slightly downward from adjacent the outer surface of the transforming toy, such that when the transforming toy is dropped, the protruding member strikes whatever supporting surface the transforming toy is dropped on, thereby driving the protruding member upward into the body of the transforming toy. Driving the protruding member upward may be a driving motion that pivots the pivot arm to move the latch to an unlatched or released position.

[0158] In all of the embodiments shown in the drawings, the transformable toy can be positioned in a spherical orientation, allowing the transformable toy to roll along a supporting surface. The transformable toy is said to be in a rollable state when in a spherical shape. However, it should be noted that the transformable toy can also be in a rollable state when in a shape other than a sphere. For example, the transformable toy may be in a cylindrical shape. Alternatively, the transformable toy may be in the shape of a polyhedron that is approximately spherical and has a sufficient number of faces and corners to be able to roll. As yet another alternative, the transformable toy in a rollable state may be in the shape of a vehicle that has wheels and is therefore able to roll.

[0159] The above-described embodiments are intended to be examples of the present disclosure, and changes and modifications may be made to these embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto. [Appendix 1] an upper housing portion including a connector and at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element being The connector is biased toward the deployed position and includes a catch, the connector being separably connectable to each of the first and second lower housing portions, and the first Each of the lower housing portion and the second lower housing portion includes a latch and an actuator connected to the latch, and the upper housing portion is connected to the first and second lower housing portions. The latch engages the catch when releasably connected to one of the housing parts and when the at least one movable housing element moves to the retracted position. The latch is disposed in each of the first and second lower housing portions to hold the at least one movable housing element in the retracted position. and the actuator disengages the latch from the catch when the at least one movable housing element is held in the retracted position by the latch. the upper housing portion being actuatable to disengage and release the at least one movable housing element; the second lower housing portion includes a drive element operatively mounted therein for driving movement of the second lower housing portion and the upper housing portion along a support surface; the first lower housing portion does not include any drive element for driving movement of the first lower housing portion, or includes a drive element different from the drive element of the second lower housing portion, the drive element being operatively mounted within the first lower housing portion to drive movement of the first lower housing portion and the upper housing portion along the support surface; Shape-changing toys. [Appendix 2] A transformable toy as described in Appendix 1, wherein the latch includes a pivot member and a first magnetic response element, the first magnetic response element being provided at one end of the pivot member and interacting with a second magnetic response element, and the actuation of the actuator is driven by the interaction between the first magnetic response element and the second magnetic response element. [Appendix 3] The transformable toy described in Appendix 1, wherein the upper housing portion and each of the first and second lower housing portions are separately molded so that, when the upper housing portion and either of the first or second lower housing portions are detachably connected, the transformable toy can roll along the support surface about at least one rotation axis of the transformable toy when the at least one movable housing element is in the stored position, and so that, when the at least one movable housing element is in the deployed position, the at least one movable housing element prevents the transformable toy from rolling about the at least one rotation axis. [Appendix 4] 2. The transformable toy of claim 1, wherein the first and second lower housing portions are each approximately hemispherical in shape, and the upper housing portion is hemispherical in shape when the at least one movable housing element is in the storage position. [Appendix 5] 2. The transformable toy of claim 1, wherein the second lower housing portion includes a through opening for accessing the drive element and driving movement of the drive element. [Appendix 6] The drive element of the second lower housing portion is a shaft assembly, the shaft assembly comprising: a shaft rotatably mounted within the second lower housing portion along a central axis of the second lower housing portion; a flywheel mounted on the shaft; Including, A transforming toy as described in Appendix 5. [Appendix 7] an upper housing part including a connector and at least one movable housing element movable between a stored position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element being biased toward the deployed position and including a latch and an actuator connected to the latch, the connector being releasably connectable to either a first lower housing part or a second lower housing part, the first lower housing part and the second lower housing part each including a catch, the catch being arranged such that when the upper housing part is releasably connected to either the first or second lower housing part and the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages with the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position, the actuator being actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stored position, the second lower housing part including a drive element operatively mounted within the second lower housing part to drive movement of the second lower housing part. Shape-changing toys, including [Appendix 8] The transformable toy described in Appendix 7, wherein the latch includes a pivot member and a first magnetic response element, the first magnetic response element is provided at one end of the pivot member and interacts with second magnetic response elements, at least one of the first magnetic response elements is a magnet, and actuation of the actuator is driven by interaction between the first magnetic response element and the second magnetic response element. [Appendix 9] 8. The transformable toy of claim 7, wherein the upper housing portion and each of the first and second lower housing portions are separately shaped such that, when the upper housing portion and either of the first or second lower housing portions are detachably connected, the transformable toy can roll along the play surface about at least one axis of rotation of the transformable toy when the at least one movable housing element is in the stored position, and such that, when the at least one movable housing element is in the deployed position, the at least one movable housing element prevents the transformable toy from rolling about the at least one axis of rotation. [Appendix 10] 8. The transformable toy of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second lower housing portions is hemispherical in shape, and the upper housing portion is hemispherical in shape when the at least one movable housing element is in the storage position. [Appendix 11] 8. The transformable toy of claim 7, wherein the second lower housing portion includes a through opening for accessing the drive element to drive movement of the drive element. [Appendix 12] The drive element of the second lower housing portion is a shaft assembly, the shaft assembly comprising: a shaft rotatably mounted within the second lower housing portion along a central axis of the second lower housing portion; a flywheel mounted on the shaft; Including, 1. A transforming toy as described in Appendix 11. [Appendix 13] A transforming toy for use on a play surface, comprising: an upper housing portion including at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element including a catch and biased toward the deployed position; a lower housing part detachably connected to the upper housing part, the lower housing part including a latch mounted within the lower housing part and an actuator connected to the latch, the latch being disposed within the lower housing part such that when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position, and the actuator disengages the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stored position. a lower housing portion that is actuable, the upper and lower housing portions being shaped such that, when the upper and lower housing portions are separably connected, the transforming toy can roll along the play surface about at least one axis of rotation of the transforming toy when the at least one movable housing element is in the stowed position, and such that, when the at least one movable housing element is in the deployed position, the at least one movable housing element prevents the transforming toy from rolling about the at least one axis of rotation; Shape-changing toys, including [Appendix 14] 14. The transformable toy of claim 13, wherein the lower housing portion is approximately hemispherical in shape and the upper housing portion is approximately hemispherical in shape when the at least one movable housing element is in the storage position. [Appendix 15] the at least one movable housing element is at least one upper movable housing element; the lower housing portion further includes at least one lower movable housing element movable between a retracted position and an exposed position, the at least one lower movable housing element being biased toward the exposed position and operatively connected to the latch such that when the latch engages the catch of the upper movable housing element, the at least one lower movable housing element is retained in the retracted position; actuating an actuator to disengage the latch from the catch also releases the at least one lower movable housing element. A transforming toy as described in Appendix 13. [Appendix 16] 1. A transforming toy for use on a toy play surface, comprising: a toy housing; a shaft assembly including a shaft rotatably mounted along a central axis of the toy housing and a flywheel mounted on the shaft, the shaft defining a spin axis of the transforming toy, the flywheel being chargeable to drive spinning motion of the transforming toy about the spin axis such that the transforming toy is in a spin direction; an access aperture for charging the flywheel; at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element including a catch and biased toward the deployed position; a latch disposed within the toy housing such that when the at least one movable housing element is moved to the retracted position, the latch engages the catch to retain the at least one movable housing element in the retracted position; an actuator connected to the latch and including an interaction element, the actuator being configured to hold the at least one movable housing element in the retracted position; an actuator actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch and release the at least one movable housing element when the actuator is positioned within the toy housing such that when the transforming toy is spinning at or below a set speed, the transforming toy tilts from the spin direction and the interaction element of the actuator interacts with at least a portion of the toy play surface to drive actuation of the actuator; Shape-changing toys, including [Appendix 17] 17. The transformable toy of claim 16, wherein the shaft is rotatably mounted within the toy housing such that one end of the shaft extends through the toy housing and defines a spin point about which the transformable toy spins about the spin axis. [Appendix 18] 17. The transformable toy of claim 16, wherein the toy housing includes a weighted portion eccentrically positioned about the spin axis of the toy housing, the weighted portion being relatively positioned within the toy housing such that when the transformable toy is spinning about the spin axis at or below the set speed, the transformable toy tilts away from the spin direction, stopping the spinning motion of the transformable toy, and such that the interaction element of the actuator interacts with at least a portion of the toy play surface. [Appendix 19] 17. The transformable toy of claim 16, wherein the toy housing includes a spin point formed on a bottom area of ​​the toy housing, the spin point being positioned on the toy housing so as to intersect with a central axis of the transformable toy and such that the central axis of the transformable toy defines the spin axis of the transformable toy. [Appendix 20] 17. The transformable toy of claim 16, wherein the actuator includes a pivot member having first and second free ends, the pivot member pivotally mounted within the toy housing, the first free end of the pivot member being a latch, and the second free end of the pivot member including an interaction element. [Appendix 21] 17. The transforming toy of claim 16, wherein the interactive element is a magnet. [Appendix 22] 17. The transforming toy of claim 16, wherein the at least a portion of the toy play surface is a magnetic portion of the toy play surface. [Appendix 23] The transformable toy described in Appendix 16, wherein the actuator includes at least one movable weight movable between a radially inner position and a radially outer position relative to the spin axis of the transformable toy, and the at least one movable weight is connected within the toy housing so that the sliding weight is in the radially inner position when the transformable toy is spinning at or below the set speed, and the at least one movable weight is in the radially outer position when the transformable toy is spinning at or above the set speed. [Appendix 24] 24. The transformable toy of claim 23, wherein when the at least one movable weight is in the radially inner position and the at least one movable housing element is held in the stored position, the latch disengages the catch to release the at least one movable housing element. [Appendix 25] an upper housing portion including a connector and at least one movable housing element movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element being biased toward the deployed position and including a catch, the connector being separably connectable to either a first lower housing portion or a second lower housing portion, each of the first lower housing portion and the second lower housing portion including a latch and an actuator connected to the latch; Including, the latch is disposed in each of the first and second lower housing parts such that when the upper housing part is detachably connected to either of the first and second lower housing parts and when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages with the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position; the actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the retracted position, and the second lower housing portion includes a drive element operatively mounted within the second lower housing portion to drive movement of the second lower housing portion. Shape-changing toys. [Appendix 26] an upper housing portion including a connector and at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element being biased toward the deployed position and including a latch and an actuator connected to the latch, the connector being separably connectable to either a first lower housing portion or a second lower housing portion; Including, each of the first lower housing portion and the second lower housing portion includes a catch, the catch being arranged such that when the upper housing portion is releasably connected to one of the first or second lower housing portions and when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position; the actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the retracted position, and the second lower housing portion includes a drive element operatively mounted within the second lower housing portion to drive movement of the second lower housing portion. Shape-changing toys. [Appendix 27] A transforming toy for use on a play surface, comprising: an upper housing portion including at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element including a catch and biased toward the deployed position; a lower housing portion detachably connected to the upper housing portion, the lower housing portion including a latch mounted within the lower housing portion and an actuator connected to the latch, the latch being disposed within the lower housing portion such that when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position; Including, the actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stowed position, and the upper and lower housing parts are shaped such that when the upper and lower housing parts are separably connected, the transforming toy can roll along the play surface about at least one axis of rotation of the transforming toy when the at least one movable housing element is in the stowed position, and such that when the at least one movable housing element is in the deployed position, the at least one movable housing element prevents the transforming toy from rolling about the at least one axis of rotation. Shape-changing toys. [Appendix 28] 1. A transforming toy for use on a toy play surface, comprising: a toy housing; a shaft assembly including a shaft rotatably mounted along a central axis of the toy housing and a flywheel mounted on the shaft, the shaft defining a spin axis of the transforming toy, the flywheel being chargeable to drive spinning motion of the transforming toy about the spin axis such that the transforming toy is in a spin direction; an access aperture within the toy housing for charging the flywheel; at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element including a catch and biased toward the deployed position; a latch disposed within the toy housing such that when the at least one movable housing element is moved to the retracted position, the latch engages the catch to retain the at least one movable housing element in the retracted position; an actuator connected to the latch and including an interaction element; Including, the actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the retracted position; the actuator is positioned within the toy housing such that when the transforming toy is spinning at or below a set speed, the transforming toy tilts from the spin direction and the interaction element of the actuator interacts with at least a portion of the toy play surface to drive actuation of the actuator to disengage the latch from the catch. Shape-changing toys. [Appendix 29] a transforming toy including a toy housing, the toy housing including at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element including a catch and biased towards the deployed position; a latch disposed within the transforming toy such that when the at least one movable housing element is moved to the storage position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the storage position; an actuator connected to the latch, the actuator being actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch and release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the retracted position; Including, The transforming toy is a shaft assembly including a shaft rotatably mounted within the toy housing and disposed along a central axis of the toy housing, and a flywheel mounted on the shaft, the flywheel including a gear portion; an access aperture within the toy housing for accessing the flywheel; a ripcord card holder including a card holder body including a recess configured to receive and removably hold at least one playing card associated with said spinning toy; a ripcord member including a length of triangular teeth extending along at least a portion of at least one side of the ripcord member, the ripcord member being movably mounted to one side of the cardholder body and sized to be inserted into the access aperture of the transforming toy such that the triangular teeth of the ripcord member engage the gear portion of the flywheel to drive spinning motion of the flywheel; Including, Spin toy kit. [Appendix 30] 1. A modular arena for use with a spinning toy that is driven to spin by a ripcord having a length of triangular teeth, comprising: an interiorly disposed portion defining a surface for the spinning toy; at least one outer wall portion interchangeably connectable to the interiorly disposed portion and shaped to at least partially surround the interiorly disposed portion; at least one contact actuator connected to the at least one exterior wall portion, the at least one contact actuator including a drive portion shaped to mate with triangular teeth on the length of the ripcord and an actuating portion extending over a portion of the surface for the spinning toy; Including, the actuating portion is connected to the drive portion such that engagement of the ripcord and the drive portion actuates the actuating portion on the surface, causing the actuating portion to contact the spinning toy and change at least one of the spin speed and direction of the spinning toy; Modular arena.

Claims

1. an upper housing portion including a connector and at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element being The connector is biased toward the deployed position and includes a catch, the connector being separably connectable to each of the first and second lower housing portions, and the first Each of the lower housing portion and the second lower housing portion includes a latch and an actuator connected to the latch, and the upper housing portion is connected to the first and second lower housing portions. The latch engages the catch when releasably connected to one of the housing parts and when the at least one movable housing element moves to the retracted position. The latches are disposed in each of the first and second lower housing portions to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stowed position. and the actuator disengages the latch from the catch when the at least one movable housing element is held in the retracted position by the latch. the upper housing portion being actuatable to uncouple and release the at least one movable housing element; the second lower housing portion includes a drive element operatively mounted therein for driving movement of the second lower housing portion and the upper housing portion along a support surface; the first lower housing portion does not include any drive element for driving movement of the first lower housing portion, or includes a drive element different from the drive element of the second lower housing portion, the drive element being operatively mounted within the first lower housing portion to drive movement of the first lower housing portion and the upper housing portion along the support surface; Shape-changing toys.

2. 2. The transformable toy of claim 1, wherein the latch includes a pivot member and a first magnetic response element, the first magnetic response element being provided at one end of the pivot member and interacting with a second magnetic response element, and the actuation of the actuator is driven by the interaction between the first magnetic response element and the second magnetic response element.

3. 2. The transformable toy of claim 1, wherein the upper housing portion and each of the first and second lower housing portions are separately shaped so that, when the upper housing portion and either of the first or second lower housing portions are detachably connected, the transformable toy can roll along the support surface about at least one axis of rotation of the transformable toy when the at least one movable housing element is in the stored position, and so that the at least one movable housing element prevents the transformable toy from rolling about the at least one axis of rotation when the at least one movable housing element is in the deployed position.

4. 2. The transformable toy of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second lower housing portions is generally hemispherical in shape, and the upper housing portion is hemispherical in shape when the at least one movable housing element is in the stored position.

5. 2. The transformable toy of claim 1, wherein the second lower housing portion includes a through opening for accessing and driving movement of the actuation element.

6. The drive element of the second lower housing portion is a shaft assembly, the shaft assembly comprising: a shaft rotatably mounted within the second lower housing portion along a central axis of the second lower housing portion; a flywheel mounted on the shaft; Including, The transformable toy according to claim 5.

7. an upper housing part including a connector and at least one movable housing element movable between a stored position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element being biased toward the deployed position and including a latch and an actuator connected to the latch, the connector being releasably connectable to either a first lower housing part or a second lower housing part, the first lower housing part and the second lower housing part each including a catch, the catch being arranged to engage with the latch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position when the upper housing part is releasably connected to either the first or second lower housing part and when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the actuator being actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stored position, the second lower housing part including a drive element operatively mounted within the second lower housing part to drive movement of the second lower housing part. Shape-changing toys, including

8. 8. The transformable toy of claim 7, wherein the latch includes a pivot member and a first magnetic response element, the first magnetic response element being provided at one end of the pivot member and interacting with second magnetic response elements, at least one of the first magnetic response elements being a magnet, and the interaction between the first magnetic response element and the second magnetic response element driving actuation of the actuator.

9. 8. The transformable toy of claim 7, wherein the upper housing portion and each of the first and second lower housing portions are separately shaped such that, when the upper housing portion and either of the first or second lower housing portions are detachably connected, the transformable toy can roll along a play surface about at least one axis of rotation of the transformable toy when the at least one movable housing element is in the stored position, and such that the at least one movable housing element prevents the transformable toy from rolling about the at least one axis of rotation when the at least one movable housing element is in the deployed position.

10. 8. The transformable toy of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second lower housing portions is hemispherical in shape, and the upper housing portion is hemispherical in shape when the at least one movable housing element is in the stored position.

11. 8. The transforming toy of claim 7, wherein the second lower housing portion includes a through opening for accessing and driving movement of the drive element.

12. The drive element of the second lower housing portion is a shaft assembly, the shaft assembly comprising: a shaft rotatably mounted within the second lower housing portion along a central axis of the second lower housing portion; a flywheel mounted on the shaft; Including, The transformable toy according to claim 11.

13. A transforming toy for use on a play surface, comprising: an upper housing portion including at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element including a catch and biased toward the deployed position; a lower housing part detachably connected to the upper housing part, the lower housing part including a latch mounted within the lower housing part and an actuator connected to the latch, the latch being disposed within the lower housing part such that when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position, and the actuator disengages the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stored position. the upper and lower housing portions being actuatable to a pivotal movement of the toy, the upper and lower housing portions being shaped such that when the upper and lower housing portions are separably connected, the toy can roll along the play surface about at least one axis of rotation of the toy when the at least one movable housing element is in the stowed position, and the at least one movable housing element prevents the toy from rolling about the at least one axis of rotation when the at least one movable housing element is in the deployed position; Transforming toys, including:

14. 14. The transforming toy of claim 13, wherein the lower housing portion is generally hemispherical in shape and the upper housing portion is generally hemispherical in shape when the at least one moveable housing element is in the retracted position.

15. the at least one movable housing element is at least one upper movable housing element; the lower housing portion further includes at least one lower movable housing element movable between a retracted position and an exposed position, the at least one lower movable housing element being biased toward the exposed position and operatively connected to the latch such that when the latch engages the catch of the upper movable housing element, the at least one lower movable housing element is retained in the retracted position; actuating an actuator to disengage the latch from the catch also releases the at least one lower movable housing element. The transformable toy according to claim 13.

16. 1. A transforming toy for use on a toy play surface, comprising: a toy housing; a shaft assembly including a shaft rotatably mounted along a central axis of the toy housing and a flywheel mounted on the shaft, the shaft defining a spin axis of the transforming toy, the flywheel being chargeable to drive spinning motion of the transforming toy about the spin axis such that the transforming toy is in a spin direction; an access aperture for charging the flywheel; at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element including a catch and biased toward the deployed position; a latch disposed within the toy housing such that when the at least one movable housing element is moved to the stored position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position; an actuator connected to the latch and including an interaction element, the actuator being configured to hold the at least one movable housing element in the retracted position; an actuator that is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch and release the at least one movable housing element when the actuator is positioned within the toy housing such that when the transforming toy is spinning at or below a set speed, the transforming toy tilts from the spin direction and the interaction element of the actuator interacts with at least a portion of the toy play surface to drive actuation of the actuator; Shape-changing toys, including

17. 17. The transformable toy of claim 16, wherein the shaft is rotatably mounted within the toy housing such that one end of the shaft extends through the toy housing and defines a spin point about which the transformable toy spins about the spin axis.

18. 17. The toy of claim 16, wherein the toy housing includes a weighted portion eccentrically positioned about the spin axis of the toy housing, the weighted portion being relatively positioned within the toy housing such that when the transforming toy is spinning about the spin axis at or below the set speed, the transforming toy tilts away from the spin direction, stopping the spinning motion of the transforming toy, and such that the interaction element of the actuator interacts with at least a portion of the toy play surface.

19. 17. The toy of claim 16, wherein the toy housing includes a spin point formed on a bottom area of ​​the toy housing, the spin point being positioned on the toy housing so as to intersect with a central axis of the transforming toy and such that the central axis of the transforming toy defines the spin axis of the transforming toy.

20. 17. The transformable toy of claim 16, wherein the actuator includes a pivot member having first and second free ends, the pivot member pivotally mounted within the toy housing, the first free end of the pivot member being a latch and the second free end of the pivot member including an interaction element.

21. 17. The transforming toy of claim 16, wherein the interactive element is a magnet.

22. 17. The transforming toy of claim 16, wherein said at least a portion of said toy play surface is a magnetic portion of said toy play surface.

23. 17. The transformable toy of claim 16, wherein the actuator includes at least one movable weight movable between a radially inner position and a radially outer position relative to the spin axis of the transformable toy, the at least one movable weight being connected within the toy housing such that the movable weight is in the radially inner position when the transformable toy is spinning at or below the set speed, and the at least one movable weight is in the radially outer position when the transformable toy is spinning at or above the set speed.

24. 24. The transformable toy of claim 23, wherein the latch disengages the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable weight is in the radially inner position and when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stored position.

25. an upper housing portion including a connector and at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element being biased toward the deployed position and including a catch, the connector being separably connectable to either a first lower housing portion or a second lower housing portion, each of the first lower housing portion and the second lower housing portion including a latch and an actuator connected to the latch; Including, the latch is disposed in each of the first and second lower housing parts such that when the upper housing part is detachably connected to either of the first and second lower housing parts and when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages with the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position; the actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the retracted position, and the second lower housing portion includes a drive element operatively mounted within the second lower housing portion to drive movement of the second lower housing portion. Shape-changing toys.

26. an upper housing portion including a connector and at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element being biased toward the deployed position and including a latch and an actuator connected to the latch, the connector being separably connectable to either a first lower housing portion or a second lower housing portion; Including, each of the first lower housing portion and the second lower housing portion includes a catch, the catch being arranged such that when the upper housing portion is releasably connected to one of the first or second lower housing portions and when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position; the actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the retracted position, and the second lower housing portion includes a drive element operatively mounted within the second lower housing portion to drive movement of the second lower housing portion. Shape-changing toys.

27. A transforming toy for use on a play surface, comprising: an upper housing portion including at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element including a catch and biased toward the deployed position; a lower housing portion detachably connected to the upper housing portion, the lower housing portion including a latch mounted therein and an actuator connected to the latch, the latch being disposed within the lower housing portion such that when the at least one movable housing element moves to the stored position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position; Including, the actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the stowed position, and the upper and lower housing portions are shaped such that when the upper and lower housing portions are separably connected, the transforming toy can roll along the play surface about at least one axis of rotation of the transforming toy when the at least one movable housing element is in the stowed position, and such that when the at least one movable housing element is in the deployed position, the at least one movable housing element prevents the transforming toy from rolling about the at least one axis of rotation. Shape-changing toys.

28. 1. A transforming toy for use on a toy play surface, comprising: a toy housing; a shaft assembly including a shaft rotatably mounted along a central axis of the toy housing and a flywheel mounted on the shaft, the shaft defining a spin axis of the transforming toy, the flywheel being chargeable to drive spinning motion of the transforming toy about the spin axis such that the transforming toy is in a spin direction; an access aperture within the toy housing for charging the flywheel; at least one movable housing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the at least one movable housing element including a catch and biased toward the deployed position; a latch disposed within the toy housing such that when the at least one movable housing element is moved to the stored position, the latch engages the catch to hold the at least one movable housing element in the stored position; an actuator connected to the latch and including an interaction element; Including, the actuator is actuatable to disengage the latch from the catch to release the at least one movable housing element when the at least one movable housing element is held in the retracted position; the actuator is positioned within the toy housing such that when the transforming toy is spinning at or below a set speed, the transforming toy tilts from the spin direction and the interaction element of the actuator interacts with at least a portion of the toy play surface to drive actuation of the actuator to disengage the latch from the catch. Shape-changing toys.

Images