Top toy game board

Abstract

A top toy game board for a top toy which includes a shaft and a gear being attached to the shaft includes a floor, a slope, and a rack. The top toy is spun and released to play in the floor. The top toy moves up in the slope. The rack is configured to mesh with the gear. The top toy runs up the slope when the rack meshes with the gear.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO THE RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-226468 filed on Dec. 23, 2024. The entire content of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-226468 is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUNDTechnical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a top toy game board.Description of the Related Art

[0003] Conventionally, as a top toy game board to play with a top toy, which has a shaft with a gear, by spinning and releasing the top toy thereon, there is a known top toy game board that has a rack, along an outer edge of a floor of the board, to be meshed with the gear (see Patent Document 1).

[0004] With this top toy game board, when the gear of the top toy spinning around on the floor comes into contact with the rack, the gear and rack mesh with each other, and the rotational force of the top toy causes the gear to roll on the rack, accelerating the movement of the top to toy.

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-62987SUMMARYProblems the Invention is Intended to Solve

[0006] However, the above-mentioned top toy game board only accelerates the top toy on the floor where the top toy spins around, and the area in which the top toy can move around is limited.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a top toy game board that allows a top toy to move around not only in a two-dimensional space but also in a three-dimensional space.Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] A top toy game board for a top toy which includes a shaft and a gear being attached to the shaft includes a floor, a slope, and a rack. The top toy is spun and released to play in the floor. The top toy moves up in the slope. The rack is configured to mesh with the gear. The top toy runs up the slope when the rack meshes with the gear.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a top toy game board and a top toy.

[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the top toy game board.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a top view of the top toy game board.

[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of part of a slope and an upper portion of the slope.

[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the top toy game board in a use state.

[0014] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the top toy game board in a storage state.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a front view of the top toy game board in the storage state.

[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fastener.

[0017] FIG. 9 is a front view of the fastener.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, a top toy game board according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a top toy game board 10 and a top toy 50.

[0020] The top toy game board 10 is used for a battle of top toys 50, for example. In a battle, for example, each of two players sets their top toy 50 on a launcher, spins and releases the top toy 50 using the launcher into a field of the top toy game board 10. Then, the top toys 50 collide with each other on the field.Top Toy 50

[0021] The top toy 50 is composed of a body 51 and a shaft 52. The body 51 is, for example, composed of a plurality of separable layers, and the layers can be separated by collision with another top toy 50. When the top toys 50 collide with each other, depending on which part is hit, an impact that causes a rotation relative to a direction opposite to the spinning of the top toys 50 is applied to at least one of the layers of the body 51, thereby the layers are separated.

[0022] The shaft 52 is formed in a rod-shape and has a flat shaft tip. The shaft tip can be made sharp, but the top toy 50 spins around on the field more easily with a flat tip.

[0023] In addition, a gear 53 is fixed to the shaft 52 of the top toy 50 at a predetermined height from the shaft tip. As the top toy 50 spins around, the gear 53 meshes with a rack 15, which will be described later. When the gear 53 meshes with the rack 15 and the gear 53 rolls on the rack 15 due to the rotational force of the top toy 50, the moving speed of the top toy 50 increases.Top Toy Game Board 10

[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the top toy game board 10, and FIG. 3 is a top view of the top toy game board 10.

[0025] The top toy game board 10 is mainly composed of a base 12 that constitutes the field, and a cover 13 that encloses the periphery and above of the field to prevent the top toys 50 from jumping out of the field. The base 12 is formed with a floor 12a that serves as a main battlefield during battles, and slopes 14 for letting the top toy 50 move up from the floor 12a. A. Slopes 14

[0026] The slope 14 is formed along an edge of the field in a top view. The slope 14 is configured, for example, to become higher as approaching a terminal end thereof. In other words, it is preferable that the slope 14 has an upward gradient from the starting end to the terminal end (monotonically increasing). However, there may be a flat section or a downward section in the middle of the slope 14.

[0027] The top toy game board 10 according to the embodiment has two slopes 14 to be suitable for not only top toys 50 for clockwise rotation in a top view, but also top toys 50 for counterclockwise rotation in a top view. Since the two slopes 14 have a mirror symmetrical structure, description for only one of the slops 14 is given and description for the other is omitted.

[0028] The rack 15 is formed along the slope 14 on the outer side in the width direction of the slope 14. The rack 15 meshes with the gear 53 of the top toy 50 spinning around on the floor 12a to cause the top toy 50 to run up the slope 14. A cliff 16 is formed at an upper portion of the slope 14. With this structure, the top toy 50 that reaches the upper portion of the slope 14 falls from the cliff 16 to the floor 12a and attacks another top toy 50 on the floor 12a from above.

[0029] The racks 15 that correspond to the two slopes 14, respectively, extend in an arc shape along the edge of the circular floor 12a and are connected to each other at the bottom of the slopes.B. Floor 12a

[0030] The floor 12a is concave in a bowl shape and formed in a circular shape in a top view. Two steps 17a, 17b are formed in the floor 12a. For example, the steps 17a, 17b are formed by walls standing vertically so that the inside thereof is lower, and extend in an arc shape (C-shape) which is a circular shape with a partially open circumference in a top view.

[0031] The radius of step 17a is larger than that of step 17b. The step 17a is formed at a position offset from the center of the floor 12a toward the downward side of the slope 14 in a top view, and has an open circumference toward the downward side. At this open section of the circumference, the floor portion surrounded by the step 17a and the floor portion outside the step 17a are continuous.

[0032] The area enclosed by the step 17a is large enough for the top toys 50 to move around.

[0033] The step 17b is formed in the center of the area defined by the step 17a. The step 17b has an open circumference in the upper portion side of the slope in a top view. At the section where the circumference is open, the floor portion surrounded by the step 17b and the floor portion outside the step 17b are continuous.

[0034] Furthermore, the area enclosed by the step 17b is large enough for the top toys 50 to move around.

[0035] It is preferable that the steps 17a, 17b have a height sufficient to contact an outer periphery of the shaft tip portion below the gear 53 of the top toy 50. While the top toy 50 spins around, when the outer periphery of the shaft tip portion comes into sliding contact with the steps 17a, 17b, the moving speed of the top toy 50 increases. For example, the top toy 50 spinning around inside the step 17b is accelerated when the outer periphery of the shaft tip portion comes into sliding contact with the step 17b, and moves out of the step 17b. Then, as the outer periphery of the shaft tip portion of the top toy 50 comes into sliding contact with the step 17a, the top toy 50 is further accelerated and sent toward the slope 14. In this manner, since the top toy 50 is sent to the slope 14 with momentum, the top toy 50 easily moves up the slope 14. In addition, in a case where the shaft tip may not extend below the gear 53 of the top toy 50, the outer periphery of the gear 53 may directly contact the steps 17a, 17b. C. Structure of Upper Portions of Slopes 14

[0036] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the slopes 14 and the upper portions of the slopes 14.

[0037] At the upper portion of each slope 14, a passage 18a that guides a path of the top toy 50 coming up the slope 14 toward the cliff 16 is formed. Unlike the rack 15, an outer wall of the passage 18a is not provided with teeth. The passage 18a forms a sharp curve with respect to the slope 14, and in a case where teeth similar to those of the rack 15 are provided on the outer wall of the passage 18a, the gear 53 of the top toy 50 may be bounced off by the teeth.

[0038] The outer periphery of the shaft tip portion or the outer periphery of the gear 53 of the top toy 50 comes into sliding contact with the outer wall of the passage 18a. In this manner, the passage 18a guides the toy top toy 50 to the cliff 16.D. Inclined Surfaces 19a, 19b

[0039] On the inner side of the terminal end of each slope 14, an inclined surface 19a is formed with a downward slope toward the cliff 16, and on the slope 14 side of each of the passage 18a at the upper portion, an inclined surface 19b is formed with a downward slope that continues to the inclined surface 19a.

[0040] Each inclined surface 19a is for dropping the top toy 50 onto the floor 12a when the top toy 50 moving up the slope 14 loses momentum and is unable to reach the upper portion of the slope 14, and each inclined surface 19b is for guiding the top toy 50 to the inclined surface 19a when the top toy 50 having reached the upper portion of the slope 14 loses momentum and is unable to reach the cliff 16.Installation Structure of Cover 13

[0041] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the top toy game board 10 in a use state, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the top toy game board 10 in a storage state.

[0042] The cover 13 covers the base 12 and has a circular opening 13a in its center. The cover 13 is configured to be detachable from the base 12, and is attached to the base 12 in different orientations in the use state and in the storage state. In the following description of the base 12 and the cover 13, the front, rear, right, and left refer to the front, rear, right, and left indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5.

[0043] In the use state, the cover 13 is attached to the base 12 in the orientation illustrated in FIG. 5 and fixed to the base 12 by fasteners 24 (FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0044] On the other hand, in the storage state, the cover 13 is attached to the base 12, as illustrated in FIG. 6, in the orientation that right and left sides are reversed from the orientation illustrated in FIG. 5. In the storage state, the cover 13 is deeply fitted to the base 12 (FIG. 7). With this structure, the height from a bottom surface of the base 12 to an upper end of the cover 13 can be made lower in the storage state compared to that in the use state.

[0045] Specifically, the base 12 is formed with an enclosing body 20 that is rectangular in a top view and defines the field. The enclosing body 20 bulges upward and is hollow underneath. In a top view, the enclosing body 20 has right and left sides that are undulating along the front-to-rear direction.

[0046] In the undulating portion on the left side of the base 12, corner portions of the base 12 in the front-to-rear direction form, respectively, upward convex portions 21a, 21b that protrude upward, and a central portion of the base 12 in the front-to-rear direction forms an upward concave portion 21c.

[0047] In addition, in the undulating portion on the right side, corner portions of the base 12 in the front-to-rear direction form upward concave portions 21d, 21e, respectively, and a central portion of the base 12 in the front-to-rear direction forms an upward convex portion 21f.

[0048] The upward convex portions 21a, 21b, 21f are formed with first contact portions 22a, 22b, 22f, respectively. The first contact portions 22a, 22b, 22f are formed at the same height from the bottom surface of the base 12. In the use state, third contact portions of the cover 13, which will be described later, contact the first contact portions 22a, 22b, 22f, respectively. Furthermore, the first contact portions 22a, 22b, 22f are formed with rectangular holes to which the later described fasteners 24 are attached, respectively.

[0049] In addition, on the bottom of the base 12, a protruding portion (second contact portion) 22g protruding outward in the horizontal direction is formed. In the storage state, a protruding portion (fourth contact portion) 25g of the cover 13, which will be described later, contacts the second contact portion 22g.

[0050] On the other hand, the cover 13 bulges upward and is hollow underneath. An upper wall of the cover 13 has left and right sides that are undulating along the front-to-rear direction in a bottom view.

[0051] In the undulating portion on the left side of the cover 13, upper walls at corner portions in the front-to-rear direction forms, respectively, downward convex portions 25a, 25b that protrude downward, and an upper wall at a central portion in the front-to-rear direction forms a downward concave portion 25c.

[0052] In addition, in the undulating portion on the right side of the cover 13, upper walls at corner portions in the front-to-rear direction form downward concave portions 25d, 25e, respectively, and an upper wall at a central portion in the front-to-rear direction forms a downward convex portion 25f that protrudes downward.

[0053] The third contact portions (not illustrated) are formed on lower surfaces of the downward convex portions 25a, 25b, 25f, respectively. The third contact portions are formed at the same height from a bottom surface of the cover 13. In the use state, the third contact portions contact the upper surfaces of the first contact portions 22a, 22b, 22f, respectively. The third contact portions are formed with rectangular holes to which the fasteners 24 are attached, respectively.

[0054] In addition, a lower end of the cover 13 is formed with the protruding portion (fourth contact portion) 25g that protrudes outward. In the storage state, the protruding portion (fourth contact portion) 25g contacts the protruding portion (second contact portion) 22g of the base 12 described above.Fasteners 24

[0055] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the fastener 24, and FIG. 9 is a front view of the fastener 24.

[0056] In the use state, the fasteners 24 fasten the cover 13 to the base 12 with the lower surfaces of the third contact portions of the cover 13 contacting the upper surfaces of the first contact portions 22a, 22b, 22f of the base 12, respectively. At this time, the rectangular holes of the third contact portions are aligned with the rectangular holes of the first contact portions 22a, 22b, and 22f, respectively.

[0057] Each of the fasteners 24 is composed of a contact plate 24a that comes contact with the upper surface of each of the third contact portions of the cover 13, and a pair of elastic locking claws 24b, 24b formed on the lower surface of the contact plate 24a and to be inserted into each of the rectangular holes in the third contact portions and each of the rectangular holes of the first contact portions 22a, 22b, 22f.

[0058] Each of the elastic locking claws 24b is formed with an inclined portion 24c. When each of the pairs of elastic locking claws 24b, 24b are inserted into each of the rectangular holes of the third contact portions and each of the rectangular holes of the first contact portions 22a, 22b, 22f, the elastic locking claws 24b, 24b come into sliding contact with the edges of the rectangular holes of the third contact portions as narrowing in the direction of approaching each other.

[0059] When each of the pair of elastic locking claws 24b, 24b is completely inserted into each of the rectangular holes of the third contact portions and each of the rectangular holes of the first contact portions 22a, 22b, 22f, the elastic force of the elastic locking claws 24b, 24b engages the pairs of elastic locking claws 24b, 24b under the edges of the rectangular holes of the first contact portions 22a, 22b, 22f, respectively.Effects of the Embodiment

[0060] According to the top toy game board 10 of the embodiment configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0061] First, since the field is provided with the slopes 14 on which the top toy 50 moves up, and the racks 15 that guide the top toy 50 to run up the slope 14 by meshing with the gear 53 as the top toy 50 rotates, the top toy 50 can not only move along the floor 12a, but also run up the slopes 14 by its own rotational force.

[0062] Secondly, the cliff 16 is formed at the upper portions of the slopes 14, and the top toy 50 is configured to fall from the cliff 16 onto the floor 12a, so that the top toy 50 can be moved three-dimensionally in the field. In addition, in battles, the range of attacks can be increased by attacking from above and the like.

[0063] Thirdly, since each tooth of the rack 15 extends vertically, the gear 53 of the top toy 50 can easily mesh with the rack 15 without being bounced off, so that the top toy 50 can surely run up the slope 14.

[0064] Fourthly, the passage 18a is formed at the upper portion of the slope 14, which comes into sliding contact with the shaft 52 of the top toy 50 that has moved up to guide the top toy 50 to the cliff 16, so that the top toy 50 is guided smoothly to the cliff 16 without being bounced off.

[0065] Fifth, at the terminal end of the slope 14, the slope surface serves as the inclined surface 19a with a downward gradient toward the cliff 16, so that if the momentum of moving up the slope 14 is lost and the top toy 50 is unable to reach the upper portion of the slope, the top toy 50 can be dropped onto the floor 12a.

[0066] Sixth, since the step 17a extending in a C-shape in a top view is formed on the floor 12a, when the outer periphery of the shaft tip portion of the top toy 50 comes into sliding contact with the step 17a, the top toy 50 is accelerated and sent toward the slope 14, making it easier for the top toy 50 to move up the slope 14.

[0067] Seventh, in addition to the step 17a, since the floor 12a is formed with the step 17b extending in a C-shape in a top view, the top toy 50 is accelerated in two stages, making it even easier for the top toy 50 to move up the slope 14.

[0068] Eighth, the cover 13 is attached to the base 12 in different orientations in the use state and in the storage state so that the height from the bottom surface of the base 12 to the upper end of the cover 13 can be lowered in the storage state, making it easier to handle the top toy game board 10 when shipped or stored.Modification

[0069] Although the top toy game board 10 according to the embodiment has been described above, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible.

[0070] For example, according to the above embodiment, the passage 18a is continuously provided to the upper end of the slope 14, but the cliff 16 may be provided at the upper end of the slope 14.

[0071] Furthermore, the steps 17a, 17b according to the above embodiment may or may not be provided with a rack similar to the rack 15 that meshes with the gear 53. According to the preferred embodiments, as the gear and the rack mesh with each other, the rotational force of the top toy itself accelerates the top toy as to run up the slope, and this causes that the range in which the top toy moves around can be three-dimensional (stereoscopic) and a highly entertaining top toy game board is provided.

Claims

1. A top toy game board for a top toy including a shaft and a gear being attached to the shaft, the top toy game board comprising:a floor on which the top toy is spun and released to play,a slope on which the top toy moves up; anda rack configured to mesh with the gear,the top toy running up the slope when the rack meshes with the gear.

2. The top toy game board according to claim 1, whereinthe slope is formed to be higher as approaching a terminal end of the slope.

3. The top toy game board according to claim 1, whereina cliff is formed at an upper portion of the slope for the top toy up to fall from the cliff onto the floor.

4. The top toy game board according to claim 1, whereinthe rack includes teeth, andeach one tooth of the teeth extends vertically.

5. The top toy game board according to claim 3, whereina passage is formed at the upper portion of the slope to guide the top toy to the cliff by slidably contacting with an outer periphery of a tip of the shaft or an outer periphery of the gear of the top toy that moves up the slope.

6. The top toy game board according to claim 5, whereina surface of the slope includes an inclined surface, with a downward gradient toward the cliff, at a terminal end of the slope between the rack and the cliff.

7. The top toy game board according to claim 1, whereinthe floor includes a first step extending in an arc shape in a top view,the first step is high enough to come into contact with an outer periphery of a tip of the shaft or an outer periphery of the gear, andthe top toy is accelerated by slidably contacting between the outer periphery of the tip of the shaft or the outer periphery of the gear and the step, andthe accelerated top toy is sent toward the slope.

8. The top toy game board according to claim 7, whereinwithin an area defined by the first step, the floor includes a second step extending in an arc shape in a top view,the second step is high enough to come into contact with the outer periphery of the tip of the shaft or the outer periphery of the gear of the top toy that is spinning around, andthe top toy is accelerated by slidably contacting between the outer periphery of the tip of the shaft or the outer periphery of the gear and the another step, and the accelerated top toy is sent toward the step.

9. The top toy game board according to claim 1, further comprisinga base formed in a rectangular shape in a top view; anda cover configured to be detachably attached to the base to cover an outer periphery of the floor, whereinthe floor is configured on the base,the cover is configured to be attached to the base from above in different horizontal orientations in a use state and in a storage state,the base is formed with a first contact portion for the use state and a second contact portion for the storage state,the cover is formed with a third contact portion that contacts the first contact portion in the use state and a fourth contact portion that contacts the second contact portion in the storage state, anda height from a bottom surface of the base to an upper end of the cover in the storage state is lower than a height from the bottom surface of the base to the upper end of the cover in the use state.

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