Model toys and model parts

Abstract

The present invention provides, for example, a novel mechanism that allows for easy assembly of parts including a rotating mechanism. [Solution] This model toy (100) comprises a first part (201) having a first connecting part (320) that connects parts within the part, and a second part (202) that is combined with the first part and has a second connecting part (329) that connects parts within the part. When the first part and the second part are combined, a rotation mechanism (401) and a first part (402) and a second part (403) that are rotatable relative to each other via the rotation mechanism are formed. After the first part and the second part are combined, the rotation mechanism becomes operational by cutting the first connecting part and the second connecting part.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Model toys that can be easily assembled even by beginners and children are known. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a model toy in which two adjacent main parts are connected without runners and can be almost completed by simply folding. Since there is no need to separate and assemble from the runners, there is no need to grasp which part of the separated parts, and it can be easily assembled.

[0003] In addition, Patent Document 2 proposes an assembly toy in which a plurality of components that can be arranged in a straight line are stacked, and a rod-shaped support member is inserted into each through hole for assembly. In this assembly toy, each component can be locked by inserting the support member and rotating it around the axis center. Therefore, an assembly toy that can be easily assembled by children, is safe, fun, and also serves as an educational play is provided. [[ID=1​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​With the conventional technology described above, it is easy to assemble if the number of parts is small. However, as the number of parts increases, the assembly process becomes more complicated, and it is difficult for young people to determine the assembly order or where each assembled part corresponds to the overall structure from the instructions. For example, it is difficult to determine whether the assembly process up to that point has been carried out correctly, and if the assembly continues with mistakes, it can lead to problems later on, causing the user to find the assembly process cumbersome. On the other hand, reducing the number of parts makes it difficult to realize complex rotating mechanisms, etc.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a novel mechanism that allows for easy assembly of parts including a rotating mechanism, for example. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to, for example, a model toy, comprising a first part having a first connecting portion for connecting parts within the part, and a second part that is combined with the first part and has a second connecting portion for connecting parts within the part, wherein when the first part and the second part are combined, a rotation mechanism and a first part and a second part that are rotatable relative to each other via the rotation mechanism are formed, and the rotation mechanism becomes operational by cutting the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion after the first part and the second part are combined. Furthermore, the present invention relates to, for example, a model toy, comprising a first part having a first connecting portion for connecting parts within the part, and a second part that is combined with the first part and has a second connecting portion for connecting parts within the part, wherein when the first part and the second part are combined, a rotation mechanism and a first part and a second part that are rotatable relative to each other via the rotation mechanism are formed, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected to the rotation mechanism, and the rotation mechanism becomes operational by cutting the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion after the first part and the second part have been combined.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a model part incorporated into, for example, a model toy, comprising a first part having a first connecting portion for connecting parts within the part, and a second part that is combined with the first part and has a second connecting portion for connecting parts within the part, wherein when the first part and the second part are combined, a rotation mechanism and a first part and a second part that are rotatable relative to each other via the rotation mechanism are formed, and the rotation mechanism becomes operational by cutting the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion after the first part and the second part are combined. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a model part incorporated into a molded toy, for example, comprising a first part having a first connecting portion for connecting parts within the part, and a second part that is combined with the first part and has a second connecting portion for connecting parts within the part, wherein when the first part and the second part are combined, a rotation mechanism and a first part and a second part that are rotatable relative to each other via the rotation mechanism are formed, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected to the rotation mechanism, and the rotation mechanism becomes operational by cutting the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion after the first part and the second part have been combined. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a novel mechanism that allows for easy assembly of parts including, for example, a rotating mechanism. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] A diagram showing an example of the front view of a model toy according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] A diagram showing the disassembled configuration of an arm according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] A diagram showing the detailed configuration of an arm part according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] A diagram showing the cutting configuration of the connection part of an arm part according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] A diagram showing the movement configuration of the arm according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] A diagram showing an example of the configuration of a connection part according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] A diagram showing an arm part according to one embodiment connected to a runner. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention as defined in the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, identical or similar configurations will be given the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0012] <Appearance of the model toy> First, with reference to Figure 1, an example of the external configuration of the model toy 100 according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 1 shows the front view of the model toy 100. The x, y, and z arrows indicate the upward, left, and forward directions of the model toy, respectively, and the same applies to the other drawings.

[0013] The model toy 100 includes a head 101, a chest 102, arm parts 103a and 103b, a waist 104, and leg parts 105a and 105b that constitute the main body. In this embodiment, a humanoid robot will be described as an example of the model toy, but the intention is not to limit the present invention, and the present invention can be applied to various models such as humans, animals, robots, insects, dinosaurs, weapons, ornaments, etc.

[0014] The head 101 is rotatably connected to the chest 102. On the chest 102, the right arm part 103a and the left arm part 103b are further connected by a connecting member on the side part, and the waist 104 is connected at the lower part. The hip joint is included in the waist 104, and the right leg part 105a and the left leg part 105b are rotatably connected respectively.

[0015] <Configuration of the arm part> Referring to FIG. 2, the configuration of the left arm part 103b of the model toy 100 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2(a) shows the front appearance of the model toy 100. FIG. 2(b) shows an exploded perspective view of the arm part 200. Here, the configuration of the left arm part 103b will be described, but since the right arm part 103a has the same configuration as the left arm part 103b, a detailed description will be omitted. Also, since FIG. 2(a) is the same drawing as FIG. 1, the description will be omitted.

[0016] The arm part 200 shows the part of the left arm part 103b other than the left hand. As shown in FIG. 2(b), the arm part 200 is composed of including parts 201 and 202. The part 201 corresponds to the first part and constitutes the right half of the arm part 200. The part 202 corresponds to the second part and constitutes the left half of the arm part. As shown by the dotted line, the parts 201 and 202 are fitted and combined with each other. The detailed configuration will be described later.

[0017] When the parts 201 and 202 are combined, they form the arm portion 200, which includes an elbow joint (rotating mechanism), an upper arm portion (the first part), a forearm portion (the second part), and a shoulder portion (the third part). Thus, according to this embodiment, in addition to the elbow joint which is a rotating mechanism, a plurality of parts such as the upper arm portion and the forearm portion connected via the elbow joint can be completed by assembling a small number of parts (here, two parts).

[0018] In ordinary assembly toys, a plurality of parts are required only for the joint portions, and further, in portions such as the upper arm portion and the forearm portion connected via the joint, it is common to be composed of a plurality of parts individually so as to be rotatable with respect to the joint. This is because if the joint portion and the parts of the portion connected to the joint are integrally formed, they will be fixed and the rotating operation cannot be realized. On the other hand, an increase in the number of parts causes complication and difficulty in the assembly work, which becomes an obstacle for beginners and infants. Therefore, in this embodiment, a mechanism for including a rotating mechanism while making it possible to easily assemble the arm portion which is a part of the model toy 100 by assembling two parts 201 and 202 will be described.

[0019] <Detailed Configuration of Arm Parts> Referring to FIG. 3, the detailed configuration of each part of the arm portion 200 of the model toy 100 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3(a) shows a perspective view of the part 201. FIG. 3(b) shows a perspective view of the part 202.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the part 201 corresponds to the first part and constitutes the left half of the arm portion 200, which is the part of the left arm portion 103b other than the left hand, when viewed from the front. The part 201 is composed of a shoulder portion 311, an upper arm portion 313, a rotating portion 315, and a forearm portion 317. The shoulder portion 311 is provided with a circular opening 312 for receiving the shoulder joint formed inside the chest 102.

[0021] The upper arm portion 313 has a fitting portion 314 that matches the shape of the part 202 to be combined. The forearm portion 317 also has a fitting portion 318 that matches the shape of the part 202 to be combined. Thus, according to this embodiment, the parts are fitted together using only a frame that conforms to the shape of the corresponding part, without the need for a protruding fitting portion. This makes the assembly process easier compared to fitting using multiple protruding fitting portions. However, this invention is not intended to limit itself, and a configuration in which parts 201 and 202 are fitted together using multiple protruding fitting portions is also possible.

[0022] The rotating portion 315 has a cylindrical rotating shaft 316 that is inserted into the assembled part 202. The rotating shaft 316 is rotatably connected to the part 202. It also has the function of preventing the parts from falling off after the connection part, which will be described later, is cut.

[0023] Furthermore, connection parts 319 and 320 are formed on part 201. The connection parts 319 and 320 are formed so that a part of the arm 200 can be easily cut, for example, by rotating it. Note that the connection parts according to this embodiment may also be called breakable parts that break when force is applied, or breakable parts that shatter when force is applied. In other words, the connection parts according to this embodiment can take any form as long as they can be easily cut by applying force. In part 201, connection part 319 corresponds to the third connection part and connects the shoulder part 311 and the upper arm part 313. Connection part 320 corresponds to the first connection part and connects the upper arm part 313 and the rotating part 315. In this way, each connection part connects parts within a single part. Therefore, in the runner (base body) that connects the parts for assembling this model toy 100, part 201 is molded as a single integrated part. Similarly, part 202, which will be described later, is also molded as a single integrated part on the runner. In this embodiment, an example of a connection that can be easily cut by hand without the use of tools is described, but it is not limited to this, and a connection that can be cut with a tool may also be used. It is preferable not to use tools as it improves user convenience.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3(b), part 202 corresponds to part 2 and is a single part that forms the right half of the arm 200 when viewed from the front, and is combined with part 201. Part 202 consists of a shoulder portion 321, an upper arm portion 323, a rotating portion 325, and a forearm portion 327. The shoulder portion 321 is provided with a receiving portion 322 that rotatably receives a spherical connecting portion of a shoulder joint (not shown).

[0025] The upper arm portion 323 has a recess 324 that matches the shape of the fitting portion 314 of the part 201 to be combined with it. The forearm portion 327 also has a recess 328 that matches the shape of the fitting portion 318 of the part 201 to be combined with it. The rotating portion 325 has a cylindrical hole 326 that rotatably receives the pivot shaft 316 of the part 201 to be combined with it.

[0026] Furthermore, a connecting portion 329 is formed on part 202. The connecting portion 329 corresponds to the second connecting portion and connects the rotating portion 325 and the forearm portion 327. Thus, the connecting portions are not formed in the same position on part 201 and part 202, but are deliberately placed in different positions. This is to prevent the parts from being completely separated and falling off when the connecting portions are cut after the two parts 201 and 202 are combined. A detailed cutting configuration will be described later.

[0027] <Arm amputation configuration> Referring to Figure 4, the cutting configuration of the parts constituting the arm of the model toy 100 according to this embodiment will be described. Figures 4(a) and (b) show side views of parts 201 and 202, respectively. Figure 4(c) shows a front view of the arm 200.

[0028] Figure 4(a) shows the part 201 with the connecting parts 319 and 320 cut before being combined with part 202. Cutting the connecting parts 319 and 320 while part 201 is alone completely separates the parts. Once the connecting parts 319 and 320 are cut, part 201 is separated into the shoulder portion 311, the upper arm portion 313, the rotating portion 315, and the forearm portion 317. That is, even after cutting part 201, the rotating portion 315 and the forearm portion 317 are not separated but are formed as a single unit.

[0029] Figure 4(b) shows the part 202 with the connection portion 329 cut before combining it with part 201. Cutting the connection portion 329 while part 202 is alone completely separates the parts. Once the connection portion 329 is cut, part 202 separates into the shoulder portion 321, the upper arm portion 323, the rotating portion 325, and the forearm portion 327. That is, even after cutting part 202, the shoulder portion 321, the upper arm portion 323, and the rotating portion 325 are not separated but are formed as a single unit. Note that cutting the connection portions 320 and 329 allows the rotating mechanism corresponding to the elbow joint of the arm portion 200 to operate.

[0030] Figure 4(c) shows a front view of the arm 200 after parts 201 and 202 have been combined and the connecting parts 319, 320, and 329 have been cut off, respectively. The dotted line area 401 indicates the rotating part, which is the rotation mechanism. The dotted line area 402 indicates the upper arm, which is the first part. The dotted line area 403 indicates the forearm, which is the second part. The dotted line area 404 indicates the shoulder, which is the third part.

[0031] As shown in Figure 4(c), after each connection is cut, the upper arm portion 402 and the shoulder portion 404 are not separated from a part of the rotating portion (the rotating portion 325 of part 202). More specifically, although the shoulder portion 311 and the upper arm portion 313 of part 201 are separated, the shoulder portion 321 and the upper arm portion 323 of the combined part 202 are formed as a single unit and therefore do not separate. Strictly speaking, the shoulder portion 311 is not directly fitted to the shoulder portion 321. However, since a part of the shoulder joint (not shown) passes through the opening 312 and is connected to the receiving portion 322, the shoulder portion 311 will not fall off.

[0032] Furthermore, a portion of the rotating part 401 (the rotating part 315 of part 201) and the forearm part 403 are not separated. More specifically, although the forearm part 327 of part 202 and the rotating part 325 are separated, the rotating part 315 and the forearm part 317 of part 201 are formed as a single unit and therefore cannot be separated. On the other hand, the arm part 200 is separated at the rotating part 401. This separation is to enable rotation, but since the rotating shaft 316 is inserted into the hole 326 and connected in the first place, the arm part 200 does not partially separate even after the cutting of each connection part, and can maintain a state in which it can rotate.

[0033] <Rotational movement of the arm> Referring to Figure 5, the rotational movement of the arm 200 in the model toy 100 according to this embodiment will be explained. Figure 5(a) shows a side view of the arm 200. Figure 5(b) shows a front view of the arm 200.

[0034] Figure 5(a) shows the forearm portion 403 being rotated in the direction of the arrow via the rotating portion 401. This initial rotation cuts the connection portion 320 of part 201 and the connection portion 329 of part 202. After cutting, the connection portions 320 and 329 are formed to a size and shape that does not hinder the rotation by the rotating portion 401. In this embodiment, to avoid restricting the rotation of the rotating portion 401, most of the connection portions 320 and 329 remain on the upper arm portion 402 side and the forearm portion 403 side, respectively, after cutting. It should be noted that there is no intention to limit the present invention, and each connection portion may remain on either side as long as it does not hinder the rotation.

[0035] Figure 5(b) shows the shoulder portion 321, which is connected to a shoulder joint (not shown) passing through the shoulder portion 311, and the upper arm portion 402, the rotating portion 401, and the forearm portion 403, which are connected to the shoulder portion 321, being rotated in the direction of the arrow. Performing this rotational movement first severs the connection portion 319 of part 201. According to this embodiment, in order not to restrict the rotation of the arm portion 200, most of the connection portion 319 remains on the shoulder portion 311 after severs. However, there is no intention to limit the present invention, and the connection portion 319 may remain on any part as long as it does not hinder the rotational movement.

[0036] Thus, according to this embodiment, the arm 200, which includes a rotational movement, can be easily completed by assembling two parts 201 and 202. Furthermore, the rotational movement of the arm 200 can be easily realized by cutting the connecting part after assembly. In other words, according to this embodiment, the part including the rotational mechanism can be easily assembled. Moreover, since the connecting part can be easily cut by the first rotational movement, complicated cutting work is not required.

[0037] <Example of connection configuration> Referring to Figure 6, an example of the configuration of the connection part according to this embodiment will be described. Figures 6(a) to (c) show enlarged views of the connection part.

[0038] Figure 6(a) shows an enlarged view of the connecting portion 319 that connects the upper arm portion 313 and the rotating portion 315 of part 201. The connecting portion 319 is formed in a downward-facing convex shape. As the connecting portion 319 rotates, the contact area between the connecting portion 319 and the rotating portion 315 is severed. On the other hand, the contact area between the connecting portion 319 and the upper arm portion 313 is not severed. This occurs because the contact area between the connecting portion 319 and the rotating portion 315 is smaller than the contact area between the connecting portion 319 and the upper arm portion 313. Thus, according to this embodiment, the configuration of the connecting portion is characterized in that the contact area with one of the two connecting portions is smaller than the contact area with the other portion.

[0039] Figures 6(b) and 6(c) show modified examples of the connection part 319, namely connection parts 601 and 602. Thus, the connection part can be formed in various shapes, provided that the contact area with one of the two parts being connected is smaller than the contact area with the other part.

[0040] <Runner including arm parts (base body)> Referring to Figure 7, the base body to which the arm parts according to this embodiment are attached will be described. Figure 7 shows a plan view of the runner to which parts 201 and 202 in this model toy are attached. In the model toy 100, multiple parts before assembly are attached to a runner. Here, a runner refers to a plastic rod-shaped part in an assembly toy such as a plastic model, to which multiple parts before assembly are attached and which is arranged to surround each part. In some cases, the entire runner, including the attached parts, is also referred to as the runner. Here, the entire runner including multiple parts is referred to as the "base body".

[0041] In the base body 700, parts 201 and 202, surrounded by runner 701, are provided connected to runner 701 via sub-runner 702. According to this embodiment, in the base body 700, parts 201 and 202 are molded as a single integrated part, and each connection part is also provided connected. Therefore, during assembly, the arm part 200 can be easily assembled by simply separating parts 201 and 202, which are molded with multiple parts standardized, from the base body 700 and combining them with each other. In this embodiment, the connection parts between parts 201 and 202 and sub-runner 702 may be shaped to be easily cut by the user by applying force by hand, similar to connection parts 319, 320, 329, etc. In that case, it is preferable that the connection parts (connection parts 319, 320, 329, etc.) provided on part 201 or part 202 be formed to be cut with a stronger force than the connection parts between parts 201 and 202 and sub-runner 702. This prevents unintended cutting of the connecting parts (connecting parts 319, 320, 329, etc.) provided on part 201 or part 202, which may occur if strong force is applied to the runner (body) during transport.

[0042] As described above, the model toy (100) according to this embodiment comprises a first part (201) having a first connecting part (320) that connects parts within the part, and a second part (202) that is combined with the first part and has a second connecting part (329) that connects parts within the part. When the first part and the second part are combined, a rotation mechanism (401) and a first part (402) and a second part (403) that are rotatable relative to each other via the rotation mechanism are formed. After the first part and the second part are combined, the rotation mechanism becomes operational by cutting the first connecting part and the second connecting part. Thus, according to this embodiment, a novel mechanism is provided that allows for easy assembly of parts including the rotation mechanism.

[0043] <Variation> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. For example, the shape of the model toy is not particularly limited and includes various shapes such as people, animals, robots, insects, dinosaurs, etc. Furthermore, in the above embodiments, an example of applying the present invention to an elbow joint connecting the upper arm and forearm was described. However, there is no intention to limit the present invention, and these mechanisms may be used for other joints or other parts. For example, they may be applied to a knee joint connecting the upper leg and lower leg, the torso, the head, etc. Also, in the above embodiments, an example was shown in which the arm 200 is composed of two parts, parts 201 and 202, but it may be realized with a different number of parts.

[0044] <Summary of Embodiments> The above embodiments disclose at least the following model toys and model parts. (1) It is a model toy, A first part having a first connecting portion that connects parts within the part, A second part which is combined with the first part and has a second connecting portion that connects parts within the part Equipped with, When the first part and the second part are combined, a rotating mechanism and a first part and a second part that are rotatable relative to each other via the rotating mechanism are formed. A model toy characterized in that the rotating mechanism becomes operational by cutting the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion after the first part and the second part have been assembled. (2) The model toy according to (1), characterized in that the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are severed when the first portion or the second portion is rotated by the rotation mechanism. (3) The model toy according to (1) or (2), characterized in that it connects a part different from the first connecting part and the second connecting part. (4) The first connecting portion connects the rotation mechanism and the first part in the first component, The model toy according to (3), characterized in that the second connecting part connects the rotating mechanism and the second part in the second part. (5) When the first part and the second part are combined, a third part is formed. The model toy according to any one of (1) to (4), characterized in that the first part further has a third connecting part that connects the first part and the third part. (6) The first part is rotatably connected to the other parts via the third part, The model toy according to (5), characterized in that when the first part is rotated relative to the other part, the third connecting part is severed. (7) The model toy according to (6), characterized in that the first connecting portion, the second connecting portion, and the third connecting portion have a contact area with the other portion that is smaller than the contact area with one of the two connecting portions. (8) The model toy according to (7), characterized in that the first connection part, the second connection part, and the third connection part have their contact portions with the other part severed. (9) The aforementioned rotation mechanism is the elbow joint, The aforementioned first part is the upper arm, The model toy according to any one of (1) to (8), characterized in that the second part is a forearm. (10) The aforementioned rotation mechanism is the knee joint, The aforementioned first part is the upper leg, The model toy according to any one of (1) to (8), characterized in that the second part is the lower leg. (11) Model parts that are incorporated into model toys, A first part having a first connecting portion that connects parts within the part, A second part which is combined with the first part and has a second connecting portion that connects parts within the part Equipped with, When the first part and the second part are combined, a rotating mechanism and a first part and a second part that are rotatable relative to each other via the rotating mechanism are formed. A model part characterized in that the rotation mechanism becomes operational by cutting the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion after the first part and the second part have been assembled. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 100: Model toy, 101: Head, 102: Chest, 103a, 103b: Arms, 104: Waist, 105a, 105b: Legs

Claims

1. It is a model toy, A first part having a first connecting portion that connects parts within the part, A second part which is combined with the first part and has a second connecting portion that connects parts within the part Equipped with, When the first part and the second part are combined, a rotating mechanism and a first part and a second part that are rotatable relative to each other via the rotating mechanism are formed. The first connection part and the second connection part are connected to the rotating mechanism. A model toy characterized in that the rotating mechanism becomes operational by cutting the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion after the first part and the second part have been assembled.

2. The model toy according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are cut when the first portion or the second portion is to be rotated by the rotating mechanism.

3. The model toy according to claim 2, characterized in that it connects a portion different from the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

4. The first connecting portion connects the rotation mechanism and the first part in the first component, The model toy according to claim 3, characterized in that the second connecting portion connects the rotating mechanism and the second portion in the second part.

5. When the first part and the second part are combined, a third part is formed. The model toy according to claim 4, characterized in that the first part further has a third connecting part that connects the first part and the third part.

6. The first part is rotatably connected to the other parts via the third part, The model toy according to claim 5, characterized in that when the first part is rotated relative to the other part, the third connecting part is severed.

7. The model toy according to claim 6, characterized in that the first connecting portion, the second connecting portion, and the third connecting portion have a contact area with the other portion that is smaller than the contact area with one of the two connecting portions.

8. The model toy according to claim 7, characterized in that the first connection part, the second connection part, and the third connection part have their contact portions with the other part severed.

9. The aforementioned rotation mechanism is the elbow joint, The first part is the upper arm, The model toy according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the second part is a forearm.

10. The aforementioned rotation mechanism is the knee joint, The first part is the upper leg, The model toy according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the second part is the lower leg.

11. Model parts that are incorporated into model toys, A first part having a first connecting portion that connects parts within the part, A second part which is combined with the first part and has a second connecting portion that connects parts within the part Equipped with, When the first part and the second part are combined, a rotating mechanism and a first part and a second part that are rotatable relative to each other via the rotating mechanism are formed. The first connection part and the second connection part are connected to the rotating mechanism. A model part characterized in that the rotation mechanism becomes operational by cutting the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion after the first part and the second part have been assembled.

Images