Model toy and movable structure

Abstract

The present invention provides, with respect to a model toy or the like, a mechanism for realizing a novel structure for expanding a movable region. This model toy comprises: a first section; a second section; and a connection part for connecting the first section and the second section. The connection part is curved to form a bow shape, is pulled out from the first section by rotating about a connection portion connected to the first section, and expands the rotation region of the second section to a greater extent than before the connection part is pulled out from the first section.

Description

Model toys and movable structures

[0001] The present invention relates to a model toy and a movable structure.

[0002] To realize movements and poses similar to those of humans and animals, toy dolls (toy models) include various joints and movable parts. These mechanisms enable a variety of poses. However, providing a toy doll with the same number of joints as a human requires a large number of parts, which is difficult to achieve even with an elaborate toy doll due to the limited number of parts. Therefore, in order to realize the movements and poses described above, it is important to increase the range of motion of the joints and the parts connected to them while using fewer joints and parts. Increasing the range of motion allows for greater freedom of movement and a variety of poses. Patent Document 1 proposes a quadruped animal doll with a joint structure that enables realistic movements similar to those of a real animal.

[0003] JP 2010-17264 A

[0004] To achieve natural movements like those of human limbs, it is desirable for them to be able to rotate in various directions. However, by providing joints such as the neck, shoulder, hip, and waist inside the body, just like in humans, it is possible to achieve natural movements of the parts connected to those joints, but the range of motion is limited by the adjacent parts. Therefore, in order to expand the range of motion, it is important to ensure space between adjacent parts.

[0005] The present invention provides a mechanism for realizing a novel structure for expanding the range of motion in, for example, a model toy.

[0006] The present invention is, for example, a model toy comprising a first part, a second part, and a connecting part that connects the first part and the second part, wherein the connecting part is curved and formed into an arch shape and rotates around the connection part with the first part, thereby being pulled out from the first part and expanding the rotation range of the second part compared to before it was pulled out from the first part.

[0007] The present invention also provides, for example, a movable structure comprising a first part, a second part, and a connecting part that connects the first part and the second part, wherein the connecting part is curved and formed into an arch shape, and is pulled out from the first part by rotating around the connection part with the first part, thereby expanding the rotational range of the second part compared to before it was pulled out from the first part.

[0008] According to the present invention, a novel structure for expanding the range of motion can be realized.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of (a) a front external view and (b) a side external view of a model toy according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing (a) a side external view and (b) an exploded perspective view of the head of a model toy according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a neck joint of a model toy according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation of the neck joint of a model toy according to one embodiment. FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the neck joint of a model toy according to one embodiment. FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing the operation of the neck joint of a model toy according to one embodiment.

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0011] <Appearance of Model Toy> A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. First, an example of the appearance of a model toy 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1(a) shows the front appearance of the model toy 100. Fig. 1(b) shows the side appearance of the model toy 100. Note that up / down, left / right, and front / back arrows indicate the orientation of the model toy in the drawing, and this also applies to the other drawings.

[0012] The model toy (doll body) 100 includes a head 101, an upper body 102, arms 103a and 103b, and legs 104a and 104b. The model toy 100 is a movable model toy such as a movable figure, and each part can be moved within a limited range created by its relationship with other parts. The head 101, which is a first part, is connected to the upper body 102, which is a second part, by a spherical connecting member (hereinafter also referred to as a ball joint). Arms 103, including a right arm 103a and a left arm 103b, are further connected to the upper body 102 by a spherical connecting member. Legs, including a right leg 104a and a left leg 104b, are connected to the lower part of the upper body 102.

[0013] Below, as a movable structure (movable structure) according to this embodiment, a neck joint structure that connects the head 101 and the upper body 102 will be described. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention, and the movable structure described below is not limited to a neck joint and can also be applied to other joints, such as shoulder joints, waist joints, and hip joints.

[0014] <Configuration of Head> Next, the detailed configuration of the head 101, including the neck joint, of the model toy 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2(a) shows a side view of the model toy 100. Fig. 2(b) shows an exploded perspective view of multiple parts that make up the head 101. Fig. 2(a) is the same as Fig. 1(b), and therefore its description will be omitted.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2B, the head 101 is made up of parts 201 to 208, and is rotatably connected to the upper body 102. The parts 201 and 202 form connecting parts that serve as the base of the neck joint. The part 201 is formed in a curved, bow-like shape. Details of this shape will be described later.

[0016] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the connecting parts that form the base of the neck joint are composed of at least two parts 201 and 202. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention, and the joint may be composed of a single part. In this embodiment, the spherical connecting portion of part 201 is inserted into the ring-shaped portion of part 203, and then part 204 is connected to this group of parts. Furthermore, part 205 is connected to this group of parts.

[0017] Part 206 is a face part of the model toy 100, and is assembled to part 205. Parts 207, 208a, and 208b are hair parts of the model toy 100, and are assembled so as to cover the above-mentioned parts.

[0018] <Detailed Structure of Neck Joint> Next, the detailed structure of the neck joint of the model toy 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3(a) shows an exploded perspective view of the parts that make up the neck joint. Fig. 3(b) and (c) show the assembled structure of each part.

[0019] As shown in Figure 3(a), parts 201 and 202 constitute connecting parts that form the base of the neck joint. Part 201 includes a curved, arch-shaped curved portion 311, a connecting portion 312 formed at one end of curved portion 311, and a cylindrical recessed portion 313 formed at the other end. Part 202 includes a rod portion 321, a rod portion 322 formed at one end of rod portion 321, and a connecting portion 323 formed at the other end. Part 203 includes a cylindrical recessed portion 331 and insertion portions 332a and 332b formed at both ends of the outer periphery of recessed portion 331.

[0020] The connecting portion 312 of the part 201 is formed in a spherical shape, and is rotatably connected to a cylindrical recess 331 formed in the part 203. Furthermore, a cylindrical connecting portion 322 of the part 202 is rotatably inserted into a recess (connecting portion) 313 formed in the other end of the part 201. Therefore, the parts 201 and 202 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable in the front-to-rear direction of the model toy 100. Furthermore, the connecting portion 323 of the part 202 is formed in a spherical shape, and is rotatably connected to a part of the upper body 102.

[0021] In this manner, in this embodiment, an example will be described in which the connecting part that serves as the base of the neck joint is formed by rotatably connecting two parts. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention, and the connecting part may be formed from a single curved, arch-shaped part. Also, in the case of forming the joint from two parts, an example will be described in which only part 201 is formed in a curved, arch-shaped shape, but part 202 may also be formed in a curved, arch-shaped shape.

[0022] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the connecting part 312 connected to the head part 101 and the connecting part 323 connected to the upper body part 102 are each formed in a spherical shape. Therefore, each connecting part 312, 323 can rotate in other directions within the limited range of interference with other parts.

[0023] 3(b) shows the parts 201, 202, and 203 connected together. Part 204 has recesses 341a and 341b formed therein that correspond to the insertion sections 332a and 332b of part 203. While insertion sections 332a and 332b are inserted from above into recesses 341a and 341b, respectively, this is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and they may be configured to be inserted from other directions. Part 204 is a part for attaching a neck joint to other parts of the head 101 using connecting parts.

[0024] 3C shows a state in which insertion portions 332a and 332b of the part group formed by assembling parts 201, 202, and 203 are fitted into recesses 341a and 341b of part 204. In this state, of parts 201 and 202 that make up the connected part, the connected part can rotate around the axis of connecting portion 312 of part 201.

[0025] <Movement of Connected Parts> Next, the movement of the connected parts that constitute part of the neck joint according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4(a) shows the connected parts in a normal state, and Figures 4(b) and (c) show the connected parts in an operated state. For ease of explanation, only parts 201 and 202 will be used for the description here. However, parts 201 and 202 that constitute the connected parts are connected to other parts as explained with reference to Figure 3.

[0026] Fig. 4(a) shows the state before the connected parts are operated. From this state, as shown in Fig. 4(b), the connecting portion 312 can be rotated in the direction of the arrow. This rotational movement is performed at the connecting portion with part 203. Furthermore, from the state of Fig. 4(b), as shown in Fig. 4(c), the connecting portion between part 201 and part 202 can be rotated in the direction of the arrow.

[0027] According to this embodiment, the rotational movement of the connecting part 312 shown in Fig. 4(b) can expand the range of rotational movement of the parts 201 and 202 shown in Fig. 4(c). For example, when the rotational movement shown in Fig. 4(c) is performed from the state shown in Fig. 4(a), the upper body 102 abuts against the head 101 connected to the connecting part, thereby hindering the rotational movement of the parts 201 and 202 and reducing the rotational movement range. On the other hand, in the state shown in Fig. 4(b), the connecting part moves in a direction that pulls the head 101 rearward, expanding the area between the head 101 and the upper body 102 compared to the case shown in Fig. 4(a), thereby expanding the range of rotational movement of the parts 201 and 202.

[0028] <Movement of the neck joint> Below, a side cross section of the head 101 and upper body 102 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 shows a side cross section before movement. Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show a state in which the head 101 and upper body 102 are moved by the neck joint.

[0029] Figure 5 shows the normal state before the neck joint is operated. In this state, the connected part made up of parts 201 and 202 is arranged in an arched shape, curved from the shape of part 201. It can be seen that there is a predetermined free space behind the curved portion 311 of part 201, up to the part at the back of the head. This predetermined free space is indicated by dotted line area 501. This area is for rotating the connected part and for pulling the connected part out of head 101.

[0030] Figure 6(a) shows the state where part 201 has been rotated around connecting part 312 from the normal state in Figure 5. When part 201 is rotated around connecting part 312, part 201 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and part 202 and the upper body 102 connected to part 202 rotate accordingly. For ease of explanation, a state where the other parts are rotated while head 101 is fixed will be described here. Naturally, it is also possible to fix upper body 102 and rotate head 101 backward in accordance with the rotation of the connected parts.

[0031] 6A, the part 201 rotates into a predetermined empty space (501) formed at the rear of the part 201. At that time, the connected part is pulled out from the head 101 and moves to the rear side of the head 101. In other words, a part of the rear part of the head 101 enters the curved part of the part 201, which is the connected part.

[0032] In the state shown in Fig. 6(a), the area between the back of the head and the shoulders, i.e., the area behind the neck, is enlarged compared to the state shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6(b) shows how part 202 of the connecting parts is rotated in the direction of the arrow relative to part 201 using the enlarged area. This rotation can be continued until the upper part of the upper body 102 abuts against a part of the back of the head 101. By operating in this manner, the model toy 100 according to this embodiment increases the range of motion of the neck joint, allowing the head 101 to rotate further backward. In other words, according to this embodiment, the range of motion for the head 101 to look up can be increased.

[0033] As described above, the model toy according to this embodiment includes a first section, a second section, and a connecting part that connects the first section and the second section. The connecting part is curved and formed into an arch shape, and rotates around the connection point with the first section to be pulled out from the first section, expanding the rotation range of the second section compared to before being pulled out from the first section. Thus, according to this embodiment, a movable joint structure can be realized in the model toy to secure space in order to expand the range of motion.

[0034] The connecting parts may also include a first part rotatably connected to the first portion, and a second part rotatably connected to the first part at one end and to the second portion at the other end. In this way, by configuring the connecting parts that form the base of the neck joint with two parts that are rotatable relative to each other, the range of motion of the neck joint can be further expanded.

[0035] <Modifications> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the movable structure is applied to a neck joint has been described, but this is not intended to limit the present invention, and the structure may be used in other parts. For example, the structure may also be used in joints such as hip joints and shoulder joints that connect legs.

[0036] Although the example of a model toy has been described, the shape of the model toy (doll body) is not particularly limited and includes various shapes such as people, animals, robots, insects, dinosaurs, imaginary life forms, etc. Furthermore, the shape of the model toy is not particularly limited as long as it has a form that includes a movable part.

[0037] <Summary of Embodiments> The above embodiments disclose at least the following model toys and movable structures: (1) A model toy comprising a first part and a second part, and a connecting part connecting the first part and the second part, wherein the connecting part is curved and formed into an arch shape and is pulled out of the first part by rotating around the connecting part with the first part, thereby expanding the rotation range of the second part compared to before it was pulled out of the first part. (2) The model toy described in (1), wherein the connecting part includes a first part rotatably connected to the first part, and a second part rotatably connected to the first part at one end and to the second part at the other end. (3) The model toy described in (2), wherein the first part is curved and formed into an arch shape and is rotated around the connecting part with the first part, thereby pulling out the connecting part with the second part from the first part. (4) The model toy described in any one of (1) to (3), wherein the first part is the head of the model toy, the second part is the upper body of the model toy, and the connecting part is the neck joint of the model toy. (5) The model toy described in (4), wherein the connecting part is pulled out from the head and moves to the rear of the head by rotating around the connecting part with the head, which is the first part. (6) The model toy described in (4) or (5), wherein the connecting part is rotated around the connecting part with the head, which is the first part, so that a part of the rear of the head enters into the curved part of the connecting part. (7) The model toy described in any one of (4) to (6), wherein the connecting parts between the first part and the second part of the connecting part are each formed in a spherical shape. (8) A movable structure comprising: a first part and a second part; and a connecting part that connects the first part and the second part; wherein the connecting part is curved and formed into an arch shape, and rotates around the connecting part with the first part, thereby being pulled out from the first part and expanding the rotation area of ​​the second part compared to before being pulled out from the first part.(9) The movable structure described in (8), characterized in that the connecting parts include a first part rotatably connected to the first portion, and a second part rotatably connected to the first part at one end and rotatably connected to the second portion at the other end.

[0038] 100: Model toy, 101: Head, 102: Upper body, 103a, 103b: Arms, 104a, 104b: Legs

Claims

1. A model toy comprising: a first part and a second part; and a connecting part connecting the first part and the second part, wherein the connecting part is curved and formed into an arch shape and rotates around the connection part with the first part, thereby being pulled out of the first part and expanding the rotational range of the second part compared to before it was pulled out of the first part.

2. The model toy as described in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting parts include a first part rotatably connected to the first portion, and a second part rotatably connected to the first part at one end and rotatably connected to the second portion at the other end.

3. The model toy according to claim 2, characterized in that the first part is curved and formed into an arch shape, and by rotating around the connecting part with the first part, the connecting part with the second part is pulled out from the first part.

4. A model toy as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first part is the head of the model toy, the second part is the upper body of the model toy, and the connecting part is the neck joint of the model toy.

5. The model toy according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting part is pulled out from the head and moved to the rear side of the head by rotating around the connecting part with the head, which is the first part.

6. The model toy according to claim 4, characterized in that when the connecting part rotates around the connection part with the head, which is the first part, a part of the rear part of the head enters the curved part of the connecting part.

7. The model toy according to claim 4, wherein the connecting parts have respective connecting portions between the first portion and the second portion formed in a spherical shape.

8. A movable structure comprising: a first part and a second part; and a connecting part connecting the first part and the second part, wherein the connecting part is curved and formed into an arch shape and rotates around the connection part with the first part, thereby being pulled out of the first part and expanding the rotational area of ​​the second part compared to before it was pulled out of the first part.

9. The movable structure according to claim 8, characterized in that the connecting parts include a first part rotatably connected to the first portion, and a second part rotatably connected to the first part at one end and rotatably connected to the second portion at the other end.

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