Light-emitting toy

Abstract

This light-emitting toy comprises: a plurality of light-emitting bodies; a template in which a plurality of holes are formed; and a cover that covers an outer surface of the template. Said toy is configured so that the light emission by the plurality of light-emitting bodies can be controlled individually and light from the light-emitting bodies emitting light is directed at the cover via the holes corresponding to the light-emitting bodies, so as to form an optical pattern that is visible from the outside on an outer surface of the cover. On an inner surface of the template, partitions that separate a hole corresponding to any one light-emitting body and a hole corresponding to another light-emitting body are integrally erected.

Description

Light-emitting toy

[0001] The present invention relates to a light-emitting toy.

[0002] Conventionally, a plurality of light-emitting bodies are provided inside a toy body, a template having a plurality of holes of a predetermined shape is provided on an outer wall surface of the toy body, a light guide member for guiding light from the light-emitting bodies to the template is arranged, and further, an outer surface side of the template is covered with a cover body that requires light transmissivity, and a light-emitting toy that emits light from the light-emitting bodies through the holes from the cover body is known (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-247240

[0004] However, since a light guide member is provided corresponding to each hole, the number of parts is large and the assembly is complicated. On the other hand, since it is necessary to make the light guide member a certain size that can be handled, it is necessary to secure an installation space, so it was necessary to increase the size of the toy itself. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a light-emitting toy that requires a small number of parts and can be easily applied to small toys.

[0005] The first means includes a plurality of light-emitting bodies, a template in which a plurality of holes are formed, and a cover body that covers an outer surface of the template. The plurality of light-emitting bodies are configured to be individually light-emission controllable, and light from the light-emitting body that emits light is applied to the cover body through the hole associated with the light-emitting body, and is configured to form a light pattern visible from the outside on an outer surface of the cover body. A partition wall that divides between the hole associated with any one of the light-emitting bodies and the hole associated with the other light-emitting bodies is integrally erected on an inner surface of the template.

[0006] The second means is the first means, wherein a thickness of the cover body is partially changed within a range corresponding to at least some of the holes.

[0007] The third means is the first means, wherein the thickness of the cover body is changed between locations corresponding to the holes.

[0008] The fourth means is the second or third means, characterized in that the thickness of the cover body is partially changed by providing at least one of a convex portion and a concave portion.

[0009] The fifth means is the second or third means, characterized in that the cover body has protrusions formed thereon that change the thickness, and the protrusions are projections that are loosely fitted into the holes and narrow toward the light-emitting element.

[0010] The sixth means is the fifth means, characterized in that the template has a plurality of holes formed therein, and the light-emitting body includes a plurality of LEDs corresponding to the plurality of holes.

[0011] The seventh means is the sixth means, characterized in that a partition is formed on the inner surface of the template to separate the plurality of holes, and each of the rooms separated by the partition is provided with an LED corresponding to the plurality of holes.

[0012] According to this invention, a partition wall is provided in the template, and light is shone on the template through the room divided by the partition wall. Therefore, the number of parts is reduced, and it can be easily applied to small toys.

[0013] This is a front perspective view of the light-emitting toy according to the first embodiment. This is an exploded perspective view of the light-emitting toy as seen from the front. This is a perspective view of the template as seen from the front. This is a perspective view of the template as seen from the rear. This is a perspective view of the cover body as seen from the rear. This is a cross-sectional view showing the engagement relationship between the holes in the template and the protrusions of the cover body. This is a diagram showing the change in expression of the light-emitting toy. This is a diagram showing the change in expression of the light-emitting toy. This is a diagram showing the change in expression of the light-emitting toy. This is a diagram showing the change in expression of the light-emitting toy. This is a diagram showing the change in expression of the light-emitting toy. This is a front perspective view of the light-emitting toy according to the second embodiment. This is a front view of the LED mounting plate. This is a front perspective view of the template. This is a rear perspective view of the template. This is a front perspective view of the transparent part. This is a front perspective view of the cover body.

[0014] Hereinafter, a light-emitting toy according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0015] 《First Embodiment》 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the light-emitting toy 100A according to the embodiment. This light-emitting toy 100A is modeled after the head of an animal and is small enough to be held in one hand.

[0016] This light-up toy 100A is configured such that, although not limited to, the facial expression changes depending on, for example, the number of times a button is pressed on the toy, the number of times the toy is shaken, the frequency of shaking, and the direction of shaking. The change in facial expression is achieved here through light effects. The light effects are achieved, for example, by changing the location of the light on the face or by changing the color of the light. In addition to these light effects, sound effects may also be added.

[0017] 《Detailed Structure》 The toy body 10 of the light-up toy 100A comprises a cover body 18, a hemispherical shell-shaped template 11, and a rear frame 12. The toy body 10 is roughly spherical in shape as a whole, with the cover body 18, template 11, and rear frame 12 joined together by screws. Of course, it is not limited to this shape.

[0018] (Rear frame 12) The rear frame 12 is the part corresponding to the back of the animal toy's head. An LED mounting plate 14 is provided on this rear frame 12. LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) 13a to 13n (14 in total) are attached to the LED mounting plate 14.

[0019] A power supply (not shown) is provided on the back of the LED mounting plate 14. For example, a button battery is used as the power supply. Also on the back of the LED mounting plate 14, circuit components necessary to cause the LEDs 13 (collectively referred to as LEDs 13a to 13n) to emit light as specified are provided. Other circuit components include sensors such as a ball sensor or a three-axis sensor for detecting vibrations of the toy.

[0020] (Template 11) Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the light-emitting toy 100A as seen from the front, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the template 11 as seen from the front. The template 11 is the part corresponding to the face of the animal toy. The template 11 has holes 16a to 16h, holes 16i1, 16i2, 16j to 16n (14 in total) of various shapes formed therein.

[0021] Holes 16a to 16h are formed in front of the corresponding LEDs 13a to 13h. Holes 16i1 and 16i2 are formed in front of the corresponding LED 13i. Furthermore, holes 16j to 16n are formed in front of the corresponding LEDs 13j to 13n.

[0022] The formation positions and shapes of holes 16a-16h, 16i1, 16i2, and 16j-16n will be described below. In the first row from the top of the template 11, holes 16a-16c are formed in order from left to right, with hole 16a being a small circle, hole 16b being heart-shaped, and hole 16c being a large circle. In the second row from the top of the template 11, holes 16d-16f are formed in order from left to right, with hole 16d being "V" shaped, hole 16e being W-shaped, and hole 16f being "V" shaped. In the third row from the top of the template 11, holes 16g, 16h, 16i1, 16i2, 16j, and 16k are formed in order from left to right, with hole 16g being elliptical, hole 16h being rectangular, holes 16i1 and 16i2 being square, hole 16j being rectangular, and hole 16k being elliptical. Furthermore, in the fourth row from the top of template 11, holes 16l to 16n are formed in order from left to right, with hole 16l being circular, hole 16m being V-shaped, and hole 16n being circular. The holes 16a to 16h, holes 16i1, 16i2, and 16j to 16n, arranged as described above, are arranged symmetrically from left to right.

[0023] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the template 11 as seen from the rear. On the back surface of the template 11, a partition (partition wall) 17 is erected to demarcate the light path from the LED 13 to the corresponding holes 16 (collectively referred to as holes 16a to 16h, 16i1, 16i2, 16j to 16n). This partition 17 is integrally molded with the template body. The wall surface of the partition 17 is either black or a color that does not easily transmit light, or it is plated or otherwise treated to prevent light transmission. Since the toy itself is small and the distance between the LED 13 and the template 11 is short, the cover body 18 can be sufficiently illuminated without using a light guide member, however, a light guide member may be placed between the LED 13 and the template 11.

[0024] (Cover body 18) Figure 5 is a perspective view of the back side of the cover body 18. The cover body 18 covers the template 11 from the outside and constitutes the outer skin. The cover body 18 is made of translucent plastic. The cover body 58 is not limited to translucent plastic, but may also be made of thin opaque plastic, paper, or cloth. It is sufficient as long as the area illuminated from the outside can be recognized. The cover body 18 is provided so that its inner surface is in contact with the outer surface of the template 11. Due to this contact, the light emitted from each hole 16 of the template 11 does not spread to the periphery but enters the cover body 18 and is emitted to the outside through the cover body 18.

[0025] On the inner surface of the cover body 18, a projection 18a, for example, a conical projection that narrows inward, is formed at a position corresponding to the hole 16c. The diameter of the base end of the projection 18a is smaller than the diameter of the hole 16c, and the projection 18a is loosely fitted into the hole 16c (Figure 6). As a result, the large circular optical path demarcated by the hole 16c is narrowed by this projection 18a, and the portion of the cover body 18 corresponding to the hole 16c is illuminated in an annular shape. In other words, if the projection 18a were not present, a small circular dark area concentric with the projection 18a would be formed within the bright area that would be illuminated in a large circular shape.

[0026] Furthermore, on the inner surface of the cover body 18, heart-shaped thin sections 18b and 18c, smaller than the holes 16d and 16f, are formed at locations corresponding to the holes 16d and 16f. As a result, the thin sections 18b and 18c shine particularly brightly when light passes through the holes 16d and 16f.

[0027] (Changes in facial expression) Figures 7A to 7F show the changes in the facial expression of the light-up toy 100A. In these figures, the reference numerals of the illuminated LEDs 13 are added to the light-emitting locations on the cover body 18 to indicate the correspondence between the light-emitting locations on the cover body 18 and the illuminated LEDs 13. Figure 7A shows the facial expression when LEDs 13d and 13f are lit, Figure 7B shows the facial expression when LEDs 13d to 13f, LEDs 13g and 13k are lit, and Figure 7C shows the facial expression when LEDs 13b, 13d to 13f, 13g and 13k are lit. Furthermore, Figure 7D shows the facial expression when LEDs 13h and 13j are lit, Figure 7E shows the facial expression when LEDs 13h, 13j, and 13l to 13n are lit, and Figure 7F shows the facial expression when LEDs 13a, 13c, and 13h to 13j are lit.

[0028] (Effects of the First Embodiment) According to the light-emitting toy 100A of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 7A to 7F, various light-emitting patterns representing different facial expressions can be formed by controlling the light emission of the LED 13. Furthermore, according to the light-emitting toy 100A of this embodiment, a light-emitting pattern can be formed in which a small circular dark area exists within a large circular bright area, as indicated by the LED 13c in Figure 7F. Also, for example, if the cross-section of the protrusion 18a is heart-shaped, a heart-shaped dark area can be formed within the bright area. This makes it possible to express the facial expressions of animal toys with more subtlety. Similarly, on the inner surface of the cover body 18, areas where heart-shaped thin sections 18b and 18c are provided can be illuminated brighter than the surrounding areas.

[0029] 《Second Embodiment》 (Differences from the First Embodiment) Figure 8 is a perspective view of the light-emitting toy 100B of the second embodiment. The difference between the light-emitting toy 100B of the second embodiment and the light-emitting toy 100A of the first embodiment is that, in the light-emitting toy 100A of the first embodiment, one hole 16 of the template 11 was generally illuminated by one LED 13, whereas in the light-emitting toy 100A of the first embodiment, one LED 53 (a general term for LEDs 53a to 53d) is configured to be responsible for multiple holes 56 (a general term for holes 56a to 56i) using transparent parts 60 (a general term for transparent parts 60a to 60c), and the multiple holes 56 that the one LED 53 is responsible for are illuminated simultaneously.

[0030] (Details) In this light-emitting toy 100B, as shown in Figure 9, multiple LEDs 53a to 53d are mounted on the LED mounting plate 54, of which LEDs 53a to 53c are mounted in the center in the width direction. Also, in this light-emitting toy 100B, as shown in Figure 10, holes 56a to 56i are formed in the template 51, with holes 56a and 56b, holes 56c and 56d, holes 56e and 56f, and holes 56g and 56h each being formed in symmetrical positions on the left and right. LED 53a corresponds to holes 56a and 56b, LED 53b corresponds to holes 56c and 56d, LED 53c corresponds to holes 56e and 56f, and LED 53d corresponds to holes 56g, 56h, and 56i.

[0031] Furthermore, on the back side of the template 51, as shown in Figure 11, partitions (partition walls) 57a to 57c are formed upright, separating the sets of holes 56a and 56b, holes 56c and 56d, holes 56e and 56f, and holes 56g to 56i. These partitions 57a to 57c are integrally molded with the template body.

[0032] In the rooms 58b to 58d, which are separated by partitions 57a to 57c, transparent parts (light guide parts) 60a, 60b, and 60c for light distribution are arranged. Here, although not particularly limited, adjacent transparent parts 60 are partially connected to each other.

[0033] Transparent part 60a receives light from LED 53b and emits light from the left and right lens-shaped portions 61a and 61b to holes 56c and 56d. Transparent part 60b receives light from LED 53c and emits light from the left and right lens-shaped portions 61c and 61d to holes 56e and 56f. Transparent part 60c receives light from LED 53d and emits light from the left and right lens-shaped portions 61e and 61f to holes 56g and 56h. The back surfaces of these transparent parts 60a, 60b, and 60c are textured. In addition, a hole 61g for LED 53d is formed in transparent part 60c, and the light from LED 53d is directly guided to hole 56i through hole 61g. Note that no transparent parts are provided in room 58a. The light from LED 53a is directly guided to holes 56a and 56b, illuminating holes 56a and 56b simultaneously.

[0034] (Cover body 58) Figure 13 is a perspective view of the cover body 58. The cover body 58 is made of translucent plastic. The cover body 58 is not limited to translucent plastic; it may also be made of thin opaque plastic, paper, or cloth. It is sufficient as long as the part that is illuminated from the outside can be recognized. The cover body 58 has two circular openings 62a and 62b. When the cover body 58 is attached to the outside of the template 51, the holes 56c, 56e, and 56g of the template 51 are exposed through the opening 62a. Similarly, the holes 56d, 56f, and 56h of the template 51 are exposed through the opening 62b. Transparent parts 63a and 63b, which have a shape complementary to the shape of the openings 62a and 62b of the cover body 58, are fitted and fixed into the openings 62a and 62b of the cover body 58.

[0035] Furthermore, recessed carvings 64a, 64b, and 64c, identical in shape to the holes 56a, 56b, and 56i of the template 51, are formed on the inner surface of the cover body 58 at locations corresponding to the holes 56a, 56b, and 56i of the template 51. In other words, the areas of the cover body 58 with recessed carvings 64a, 64b, and 64c are thinner than other areas. In this case, it is also possible to apply recessed carvings only to the areas corresponding to the contour portions of the holes 56a, 56b, and 56i, so that only the contour portions (thin-walled portions) are illuminated. Alternatively, it is also possible to apply further recessed carvings inside the recessed carvings of the contour portions so that only the thin-walled portions are illuminated.

[0036] (Effects of the Second Embodiment) The following effects can be obtained with this second embodiment. In the light-emitting toy 100B of the second embodiment, multiple holes 56 are illuminated by a single LED 53. Therefore, the number of LEDs required for illumination can be reduced. Also, since the holes 56 of the template 51 are illuminated through the transparent parts 60a to 60c, when the holes 56 of the template 51 are viewed from the outside through the cover body 58, they do not appear as a point light source, and the portion of the template 51 corresponding to the holes 56 can be illuminated uniformly.

[0037] (Modifications) Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0038] For example, in the first embodiment described above, one LED was generally used to illuminate one hole in the template, but as in the second embodiment, a transparent part may be used to illuminate multiple holes in the template with a single LED.

[0039] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the light transmittance of the cover body was partially changed by providing protrusions on the cover body that are inserted into holes in the template, or the thickness of the cover body was changed by providing irregularities on the cover body. However, by gradually changing the thickness, a gradient effect can also be added to the light emission pattern.

[0040] The present invention can be suitably used in the field of manufacturing luminous toys.

[0041] 10 Toy body 11 Template 12 Rear frame 14 LED mounting plate 16a-16h, 16i1, 16i2, 16j-16n holes 17 Partition 18 Cover body 18a Protrusion 18b, 18c Thin-walled part 51 Template 54 LED mounting plate 56a-56i Holes 57a-57c Partition 58 Cover body 58a-58d Room 60a-60c Transparent parts 61a-61f Lens-shaped parts 62a, 62b Opening 63a Recessed engraving 63a, 63b Transparent parts 100A, 100B Light-up toy

Claims

1. A light-emitting toy comprising a plurality of light-emitting elements, a template having a plurality of holes formed therein, and a cover body covering the outer surface of the template, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements are configured to be individually controlled in terms of light emission, and the light emitted from the light-emitting elements is directed onto the cover body through the holes corresponding to the light-emitting elements, thereby forming a light pattern visible from the outside on the outer surface of the cover body, wherein a partition wall is integrally erected on the inner surface of the template, separating the holes corresponding to any one of the light-emitting elements from the holes corresponding to other light-emitting elements.

2. The light-emitting toy according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the cover body is partially varied within the range of at least some of the holes.

3. The light-emitting toy according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the cover body is varied between the locations corresponding to the holes.

4. The light-emitting toy according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the thickness of the cover body is partially changed by providing at least one of a convex portion and a concave portion.

5. The light-emitting toy according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the cover body has protrusions formed thereon that change the thickness, and the protrusions are projections that are loosely fitted into the holes and narrow toward the light-emitting body.

6. The light-emitting toy according to claim 5, characterized in that it is equipped with an LED as the light-emitting element.

7. The light-emitting toy according to claim 6, characterized in that each of the rooms separated by the partition wall is provided with the LED.

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