Structural Kit
By using a combination of horizontal extension components and guide members, the problem of monotonous ball movement in traditional toys is solved, achieving attractive and complex motion effects while reducing manufacturing costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- COMET HOLDINGS LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-11
AI Technical Summary
Traditional toys feature monotonous ball movement along an inclined structure, lacking surprise elements, and their complex structure leads to high manufacturing costs.
By employing multiple horizontally extending and gradually expanding components, combined with guide members, a combined path of horizontal and vertical movement is formed, and the complex movement of the sphere is achieved through horizontal holes and guide members.
It achieves the unexpectedness and appeal of spherical motion, simplifies structural design, and reduces manufacturing costs.
Smart Images
Figure 0007856347000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0006]
[0001] The present invention relates to a structural kit used for constructing structures such as toys and figurines.
Background Art
[0002] In conventional toys, plate-like parts are arranged stacked in the vertical direction, and each part is inclined downward from one end to the other end, and a ball moves in the inclined direction due to its weight along guides formed on each part. In this toy, holes through which the ball drops to the lower part are formed at predetermined positions of each part.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional toy, since the parts are inclined downward, it is natural for the ball to move along the inclination, and the surprise factor is small. Also, in conventional toys, the position where the ball drops on the part is fixed, and the surprise factor is small. In addition, there is a problem that each part needs to be inclined at a predetermined angle for arrangement, the structure becomes complicated, and the manufacturing cost increases.
[0005] In view of the above problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a structural kit used for constructing a structure, which is capable of constructing a structure in which the surprise of the movement of the ball in the structure is attractive and can be realized with a simple structure.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] To solve the problems of the conventional technology described above and to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the structural kit of the present invention is a structural kit used to construct a structure, comprising: a plurality of parts that extend horizontally, widen from one end to the other, and have holes formed therein for moving the ball horizontally; and a guide member used to support the plurality of parts when they are assembled and to guide the movement of the ball between the plurality of parts.
[0007] Preferably, a drop hole is formed at the other end of the hole in the part for dropping the ball downwards from the part.
[0008] Preferably, the width from one end of the hole to the drop hole is shorter than the outer diameter of the ball.
[0009] Preferably, the holes in the parts are formed so that their width continuously increases from one end to the other.
[0010] Preferably, the holes in the parts are formed such that their width increases linearly from one end to the other. Preferably, the guide member has a recess that allows for both use: a ball passing through the hole in the part as it moves horizontally, and a ball guiding a ball falling from the upper part to the lower part.
[0011] Preferably, the guide member, in the assembled state, has a first opening into which the ball that falls from the drop hole of the upper part enters, and a second opening that causes the ball that enters from the first opening to fall into the hole of the lower part.
[0012] Preferably, the guide member is a rectangular parallelepiped.
[0013] Preferably, the drop hole is circular in plan view.
[0014] Preferably, the hole is a through hole.
[0015] Preferably, the structure is a toy or a figurine.
Advantages of the Invention
[0016] According to the present invention, there is provided a structural kit used for constructing a structure that combines a plurality of parts to drop a ball, the structural kit being capable of constructing a structure in which the unexpectedness of the movement of the ball in the structure is attractive and can be realized with a simple structure.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy 11 which is an example of a structure obtained by combining parts of the structural kit and a guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toy 11 which is an example of a structure obtained by combining parts of the structural kit and a guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toy 11 which is an example of a structure obtained by combining parts of the structural kit and a guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part 21 of the present embodiment. <好適には、前記構造体は、玩具又は置物である [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a cross-section line of the part 21 shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the part 21 taken along the cross-section line A-A shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the part 21 taken along the cross-section line B-B shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the part 21 taken along the cross-section line C-C shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an external view of the guide member 81 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an external view of a cubic member 91 used in the toy 11. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is an external view of the height correction plate 93 used in the toy 11. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an external view of the support member 97 used in the toy 11. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the ball in the plane direction according to the shape of the hole 31 of the part 21.
Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0018] Hereinafter, a toy (structure) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The toy of this embodiment has a structure in which a ball moves horizontally through a hole in a part, drops at a predetermined position, and the dropped ball moves to a lower part via a guide member.
[0019] FIGS. 1 to 3 are perspective views of a toy 11 which is an example of a structure formed by combining parts and guide members of a structure kit according to an embodiment of the present invention. The structure kit of this embodiment is sold by putting a plurality of parts, guide members, etc. in a bag or the like. In the structure kit according to this embodiment, a user who has purchased the structure kit can form various structures by combining a plurality of parts via guide members.
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the toy 11, in a state where a plurality of parts 21 are combined, the guide member supports the parts 21 and guides the movement of the ball between the plurality of parts 21.
[0021] Hereinafter, the components of the toy 11 will be described. <Part 21> FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the part 21 of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the cross-section line of the part 21 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the part 21 taken along the cross-section line A-A shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the part 21 taken along the cross-section line B-B shown in FIG. 5. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of part 21 along the CC section line shown in Figure 5.
[0022] As shown in Figures 4 to 8, part 21 extends horizontally and widens from one end to the other, with a hole 31 formed therein that allows the ball to move horizontally. The hole 31 is composed of, for example, a curved end portion 311, a straight hole portion 312, and a drop hole portion 313.
[0023] The bent portion 311 is provided at one end of the hole 31 and has a width w shorter than the outer diameter of the ball 9. The other end of the hole 31 is provided with a drop hole 313 for dropping the ball 9 below the part 21. The drop hole 313 is circular in plan view and has a diameter longer than the outer diameter of the ball 9. In this embodiment, a ball 9 that satisfies the above conditions is used.
[0024] The width of hole 31 from the curved end portion 311 to just before the drop hole portion 313 is shorter than the outer diameter of ball 9. Furthermore, the straight hole portion 312 is formed so that its width continuously increases in a straight line from the end of the curved portion 311 towards the drop hole portion 313 (the other end). This structure enables the ball to move smoothly from one end of the hole 31 to the other. Furthermore, the ball's speed can be adjusted by changing the width of the hole 31, making positioning easier.
[0025] Hole 31 is, for example, a through hole. Furthermore, the holes 31 in multiple parts 21 are, for example, identical in shape. This structure allows a ball that has fallen from the upper part to the lower part to move horizontally along the hole 31.
[0026] The bottommost part 25 below part 24 only needs to have a configuration that allows it to hold the ball within a predetermined range using predetermined holes or guides. Part 21 is supported by a guide member 81, a cubic member 91, and a height correction plate 93 so as to be spaced apart in the vertical direction. Ball 9 may or may not be a component of the structural kit.
[0027] <Guide member 81> Figure 9 is an external view of the guide member 81 shown in Figures 1 to 3. As shown in Figure 9, when assembled with part 21, the guide member 81 has a first opening 811 into which a ball 9 that falls from the drop hole 313 of the upper part 21 enters, and a second opening 812 that causes the ball that enters from the first opening 811 to fall into the hole 31 of the lower part 21.
[0028] The guide member 81 is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped.
[0029] <Cube member 91, height correction plate 93> Figure 10 is an external view of the cubic member 91 used in toy 11, and Figure 11 is an external view of the height correction plate 93 used in toy 11. When constructing the toy 11 by combining the parts 21 and the guide member 81, a cubic member 91 and a height correction plate 93 are used to adjust the height of the parts 21. The cubic member 91 and the height correction plate 93 are also components of the structural kit of this embodiment, similar to the part 21 and the guide member 81.
[0030] <Support member (guide member) 97> Figure 12 is an external view of the support member 97 used in the toy 11. The support member 97 has a recess 911 that allows it to be used in two ways: as a ball that moves horizontally along the hole 31 of the part 21 passes through it, and as a guide for a ball that falls from the upper part 21 to the lower part 21.
[0031] The toy 11 made using the structural kit of this embodiment will be described below. <First form of toy 11> The toy 11 shown in Figure 1 is composed of four parts 211-214, three guide members 81, and multiple height correction plates 93. The ball 9, placed at one end of the hole 31 in the uppermost part 211, moves horizontally through the hole 31 from one end to the other and falls into the first opening 811 of the guide member 81 at the drop hole 313. Next, the ball 9 exits the second opening 812 of the guide member 81, moves horizontally along the hole 31 of the part 212, and falls into the first opening 811 of the guide member 81 at the drop hole 313. Next, the ball 9 exits the second opening 812 of the guide member 81, moves horizontally along the hole 31 of the part 213, and falls into the first opening 811 of the guide member 81 at the drop hole 313. Next, the ball 9 exits the second opening 812 of the guide member 81, moves along the hole 31 of the lowest part 214, and falls into the first opening 811 of the guide member 81 at the drop hole 313.
[0032] <Second form of toy 11> The toy 11 shown in Figure 2 is composed of three parts 21, two guide members 81, and multiple cubic members 91. The ball 9, placed at one end of the hole 31 in the uppermost part 211, moves horizontally through the hole 31 from one end to the other and falls into the first opening 811 of the guide member 81 at the drop hole 313. Next, the ball 9 exits the second opening 812 of the guide member 81, moves horizontally along the hole 31 of the part 212, and falls into the first opening 811 of the guide member 81 at the drop hole 313. Next, the ball 9 exits the second opening 812 of the guide member 81 and moves along the hole 31 of the part 213, reaching the drop hole 313. In toy 11, the vertical distance between part 211 and part 212 is adjusted by the height correction plate 93. Furthermore, the height correction plate 93 is positioned so that part 213 descends toward the drop hole 313.
[0033] <Third form of toy 11> The toy 11 shown in Figure 3 has five parts 211 to 215 that overlap from top to bottom, arranged at predetermined intervals by a holding member 81 or the like. Parts 211 to 215 fall from the drop hole 313 into the first opening 811 of the guide member 81 below, and move to the lower part. The ball 9 moves horizontally from one end to the other along the hole 31 in each part 211 to 215.
[0034] Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating the movement of the ball due to the shape of the hole 31 in part 21 from a planar perspective. As shown in Figure 12, in part 21, the length of the line where the straight hole portion 312 of the hole 31 and the ball 9 make contact is longer the shorter the width w of the hole 31 is. The longer the contact line, the greater the frictional force at the contact point, and the slower the horizontal movement speed of ball 9. As you move from the curved end 311 of the hole 31 toward the drop hole 313, the width w increases, the contact line between the straight hole 312 and the ball 9 shortens, and the speed of the ball 9 increases.
[0035] As shown in Figure 1, in toy 11, the ball 9 moves horizontally at an increasing speed along the hole 31 of part 21, rotating to the left in the figure. Then, the ball 9 falls towards the lower part 22 through the drop hole 313, where the width of the hole 31 is the outer diameter of the ball 9.
[0036] In this embodiment, parts 21-25, the holding member 81, the cubic member 91, and the height correction plate 93 are made of wood, for example.
[0037] As described above, with the structural kit of this embodiment, the user can combine parts 21, guide members 81, etc., to construct a toy 11, which is a structure that allows the ball to move horizontally and vertically. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the hole 31 formed horizontally on the surface of part 21 has a shape in which its width w widens from one end to the other in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the ball moves from one end to the other without tilting part 21. This can attract people's attention and provide visual enjoyment. Furthermore, according to toy 11, the speed at which the ball moves horizontally along the hole 31 is determined by the rate of expansion of the width w. Therefore, the speed at which the ball moves is difficult to predict and is highly unpredictable.
[0038] According to the structural kit of this embodiment, a variety of structural structures can be constructed by combining multiple parts 21, guide members 81, cubic members 91, and height correction plates 93, thereby enhancing the user's creativity. At this time, the orientation of the guide member 81 determines the direction in which the part 21 extends.
[0039] Furthermore, since part 21 has a simple structure in which it is supported horizontally by a cubic member 911 that extends vertically, the manufacturing process can be simplified and it can be manufactured at low cost. Furthermore, since there is no need to tilt part 21, positioning part 21 can be easily done.
[0040] Furthermore, toy 11 can be applied to a variety of uses, such as games, toys, and educational materials. For example, dropping a ball can provide visual enjoyment and teach about the mechanics of falling. It is also possible to change the ball's movement pattern by changing the shape of the holes 31 in part 21. In other words, the ball's movement pattern can be changed by changing the width of holes 31-35, their spreading rate, and the size of the ball.
[0041] Furthermore, with toy 11, by moving multiple balls 9 horizontally and dropping them from the upper part 21 to the lower part 21, it is possible to enjoy the diverse movements of multiple balls 9 simultaneously.
[0042] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In other words, those skilled in the art may make various modifications, combinations, subcombinations, and substitutions with respect to the components of the embodiments described above, within the technical scope of the present invention or its equivalents.
[0043] In the embodiments described above, toy 11 was given as an example of the structure of the present invention, but the present invention may also be other structures such as ornaments.
[0044] The structural kit of the present invention may be made of materials other than wood. For example, by using plastic, the weight can be reduced, improving portability.
[0045] In the embodiment described above, the shapes of the multiple holes 31 were made the same, but at least one pair of holes 31 may have different shapes.
[0046] In the embodiments described above, the hole 31 is shown as a through hole throughout its entire horizontal length, but at least a portion of one end may be formed as a recess.
[0047] Furthermore, the shape of the hole 31 is just one example, and other shapes may be used. Alternatively, the ball 9 may be one with a diameter that falls through the drop hole 313 of the hole 31 in part 21, and may fall into the lower part 21 through the straight hole 312. [Industrial applicability]
[0048] This invention is applicable to structural kits such as toys and ornaments. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0049] 9... Ball 11...Toys 21,211,212,213,214… Parts 31...hole 41~45…one end 51-55...other end 81... Guide member 91... Cube component 93... Height correction plate 313... Drop hole section 811...First opening 812...Second opening
Claims
1. A structural kit used to construct a structure that moves a ball horizontally and vertically along a part, A closed through-hole is formed that extends horizontally, widens from one end to the other, does not deform and does not communicate with the outside of the part in the horizontal direction, and each of the plate-shaped parts is a plurality of such parts, With the aforementioned multiple parts assembled so that they overlap in the vertical direction, a support member is provided to support the parts, It has, The cross-section in the width direction of the through hole is, A first opening formed on the upper surface of the part, A second opening formed on the lower surface of the part, It consists of an inclined portion located between the first opening and the second opening that guides the ball, The diameter of the second opening is shorter than the diameter of the first opening. The width of one end of the through hole is shorter than the outer diameter of the ball. The aforementioned through hole is Viewed from a planar direction, The aforementioned straight section has a continuously changing width, It has a curved section located on the other end side of the straight section, and whose spreading rate is greater than the horizontal spreading rate of the straight section, The ball moves along the straight section while its speed is controlled by friction with the inclined section, and the ball falls into the lower part through a drop hole partially formed in the curved section. Structure kit.
2. The support member is a guide member used to guide the movement of the ball between the plurality of parts. A structural kit according to claim 1.
3. The width of the through hole from one end to the drop hole is shorter than the outer diameter of the ball. A structural kit according to claim 1.
4. The through-hole in the aforementioned part is formed so that its width continuously increases from one end to the other. A structural kit according to claim 1.
5. The through-hole in the aforementioned part is formed so that its width increases linearly from one end to the other. The structural kit according to claim 4.
6. The guide member has a recess that allows for both use: for the ball to pass through the through hole in the part as it moves horizontally, and for guiding the ball as it falls from the upper part to the lower part. The structural kit according to claim 2.
7. The guide member, in its assembled state, has a first opening into which the ball that falls from the drop hole of the upper part enters, and a second opening that causes the ball that enters from the first opening to fall into the through hole of the lower part. The structural kit according to claim 2.
8. The guide member is a rectangular parallelepiped, The aforementioned drop hole is circular in plan view. The structural kit according to claim 7.
9. It is a toy or figurine. A structural kit according to claim 1.