Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
)389
A SELF-PROPELLED RECONFIGURABLE RUNNING TOY
sAcKGRouND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a self-propelledt
reconfigurable running toy, that is to say a toy which
can be leconfigured from a running vehicle configuration
to a robot con~iguration, and, when in a running vehicle
mode, can travel with leg portions folded up and locked
in position above a body portion, the toy being so
designed that, while running, the folded-up leg portions
can suddenly extend st~aight forwaLd to provide the legs
o~ the ~obot.
The toy Or this invention is so constructed
that the ~olded-up portions can suddenly extend
rotatably while the toy is trauelling so that the
toy is rotated into an upright (standlng) posture
by the reaction force generated by the sudden move-
ment of the folded-up (leg) portions.
The ~ollowing problems were involved in the
realizatlon of such areconfigurable running toy.
The ~lrst problem was that, in order to ensure
the maintenance o~ a stable standing-up posture of
the toy, it was neces~ary to concentrate the reac-
t,ion force created by the rapid rotational movement
of the leg portions, whicrl is the motive ~orce
producing the standing-up motion, and it was ~ound
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that the toy wa~ unable to sustain a sta~le, upright,
standing postu~e unless this reaction force was
controlled so as to lie within a certain specified
range. I
The second problem concerned a means for stopp- ¦
ing the leg portions instantaneouely just at the
position at which they have extended straight
~orwards relative to the toy body portion. This
is essentlal to enable the entlre toy assembly,
including its upper half, to achieve a standing-up
motion under the reaction force produced by the rapid
rotational extension movement of the folded-up
portions of the toy when in a running mode.
The third problem resided in the necessity for
provlding a means for ~eliminating any excess reac-
tion ~orce that would remain after the toy has
achieved its standing posture. If any excess reac-
tion ~orce remains after the toy has taken up its
standing posture, this might force the toy to tumble
forward.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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In accordance with the present invention there
is provided a self-propelled reconfigurable running toy
capable of both a translational and predetermined
rotational movement while it is being played with,
comprising:
a feame member having a longitudinal axis;
a wheel assembly attached to the frame member;
a motor assembly attached to the frame member
and which is capable of operatively driving the wheel
assembly ~or translational movement across a support
surface;
means for intentionally rotating the frame
member about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis
so that the longitudinal axis is positioned at
approximately a 90 angle to its original initial
position at the start of its translational movement
during a predetermined period of its translational
movement, including a base member for mounting the
running toy on said support surface: and
means for varying the force generated during
rotation of the frame member including a member for
varying the contact distance between one end of the frame
member and the support surface when the base member is
rotated, wherein said running toy can be stood up on said
support surface by said base member when said frame
member rotates about the axis transverse to the
longitudinal axis during the predetermined period of its
translational movementO
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Also in accordance with the present invention
the~e is provided a reconfigurable toy that can be
converted from a vehicle that can move across an
approximately horizontal support surface into a robot
comprising:
a frame member having a longitudinal axis
approximately parallel to a suppoLt surface in a vehicle
configuation, the frame member also simulating the body
of a robotic figure;
j means for translating the frame membe~ across a
support surface;
a chassis member movably mounted to the frame
member and capable of extending outwa~d from the frame
member by approximately 180 from a vehicle position
above the frame member to a robot position, the chassis
member simulating the legs of a robotic figure:
~ means for biasing the chassis member to an
! extended position in aligr,ment with the longitudinal axis
of the frame member, and
means for releasing the chassis member when
folded above the fLame member during the translation of
the toy in a vehicle configuration including means for
: moving the chassis member away from the frame member
whereby the rotational forces created by the movement of
the chassis member above the frame member rotates the
frame member so that the longitudinal axis is
automaticaly positioned at approximately a 90 angle to
its original initial position parallel to the support
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surface when.the toy terminates its movement and assumes
a robot configuration.
Further in accordance with the invention there
is provided a reconfigurable toy capable of both a
translational movement across a support surface in a
first configuration and an automatic conversion into a
second configuration at a predetermined time, the second
configuration being positioned approximately 90 rotated
from the longitudinal axis of the first configuration,
comprising: .
a first member having a longitudinal axis with a
forward end and a rear end relative to direction of
movement of the toy;
wheel means for permi~ting movement of the first
member in a first conPiguration across a support surface;
a second member pivotally attached to the
foeward end of the lower member;
means for biasing the second member to an
extended position in alignment with the longitudinal axis
of the first member;
means for retaining the second member in a
folded position above the first member;
means for releasing ~he second member, the
second member having sufficient weight for rotation about
its pivot point to initially lift the forward end from
the support surface in a first direction and to cause a
reaction force to then subsequently rotate it in a secsnd
direction whereby the second configuration is formed and
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is finally positioned upright at 90 fro~ the original
position of the longitudinal axis~
The featu~es of the present invention which are
believed to be novel are set forth in detail in the
appended claims. The present invention, both as to its
organization and manner of operation, ~ogetheL with
further objects and advantages thereof, may best be
understood by reference to the following description,
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a
self-propelled, reconfigurable running toy in acc-
ordance with this invention, the toy being shown
in a running mode with its leg portions folded up-
into a locked position.
FIG. 2 is also a general perspective view of
the toy of FIG. 1, reconfigured into a standing
robot-like figure with the leg portions extended~
FIG. 3 ls a rear perspective view of the em-
bodiment of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sect.ton taken along
the line IV-IV of FIG. 1, showing the internal
mechanism.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective ~iew of the
drive mechanism.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a
member expediting the standing motion, illustrating
the manner of adaptation of said member.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the head portion
of the toy when in its robot configuration.
FIG. 8 (A) and (B) illustrate the relationship
between the standing motion expediting member and
the floor surface.
FIG. 9 are sequential sketches of the toy,
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illustrat~n~ the process of its reconfiguration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following description is provided to enable
any person.skilled in the -toy industry to make and
use the present invention and sets forth the best
modes contemplated by the inventor for carrying
out his invention. Various modifications, however,
will remain readily apparent to those skilled in
the art, since the generic principles of the pre-
sent invention have been defined herein specifically
to provide a novel self-propelled reconfigurable
running toy.
The accompanying drawings show an embodiment
of the invention applied to the type of toy which
can be transformed from a running vehicle form into
a robotic humanoid~ or vice versa. That is, the
self-propelled reconflgurable toy according to this
invention can take either the form of a running
toy (FIC~. 1) when folded up, or the form of a toy
robot (FIG. 2) when extended. The toy consists
essentially of a body portion 2 and a pair of leg
portions 3 rotatably secured to the body portion 2
so that they can be rotated up or down (i.e., folded
up or extended), each of the leg portions having
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a sole surrace 30 traverse to the longitudinal axis
of the toy.
This reconfigurable toy 1 can be changed ~rom
the folded-up state shown in FIG. 1 into the ex-
tended state shown in FIG. 2, or vice versa.
The mechanism and structural parts of the toy
1 of this invention will now be described in detail.
Referring to the mode in which the toy can be
played with as a robot (FIG. 2), a protuberance 4
with the appearance of a head is provided at the
top end of the body portion 2, and a pair of arms
5 are rotatably mounted on either side of the body.
The rear of the body portion 2 has a first
sur~ace 40 which, when the toy is folded up as shown
in FIG. 1, constitutes the bottom surface of the
running toy. Projecting from this rear surface,
at positions close to the shoulder portions, are
a pair of wheels 6 (FIG. 3) for facilitating the
movement of the toy when in running mode. Although
there are two of these wheels shown in the embodi-
ment, any number of wheels can be selected as re-
quired.
A pair of projections 7 are integrally formed
at the lower end of the first surface 40 on the rear
of the body portion 2, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,
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the projection being designed to abut against the
rear of the leg portions 3 when in the robot mode
(in the standing configuration) to restrict the
rotation of the leg portions 3.
A known pull-back type of spring-powered prime
mover assembly 8 is housed in the body portion 2,
as shown in FIG. 4. This prime mover assembly 8
(shown in perspective in FIG. 5) is attached to
the inside of the first surface 40 of the body
portion 2 and consists of, although not shown in
the drawings, a spring and a gear train linked to
the spring. A shaft 9 passes through a section of
the prime mover assembly close to one end, so that
the shaft 9 is given a driving force to rotate the
wheels 6 mounted at either end of the shaft 9.
A cam 11 is mounted on the prime mover output
shaft 10 which rotates at a low speed, to act as
a means for releasing the lock of the leg portions,
the cam 11 having a pawl lla.
A lever 13 is provided on the outside of the
shaft 9 side end of the prime mover assembly 8 so
that the lever 13 can rotate about a shaft 12.
The lever 13 is T-shaped and has a hook 14a at the
end of a vertical portion 14 thereof. A horizontal
portion lS Or this T-shaped lever l3 also has a hook
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15a formed at its end. The hooked end of the ver-
tical portion 14 of the lever 13 pro~ects from an
opening 2a formed in the chest portion on one side
of the body 2, for example on the left side as you
face the robot (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The hook 15a
at the end of the horizontal portion 15 is so po-
sitioned that it can engage with the pawl lla of
the cam 11 (see FIG. 4).
A compressed spring 16 is positioned between
the horizontal portion 15 of the lever 13 and the
inner wall of the body 2 so that the lever 13 is
always given a turning force in the clockwise di-
rection in FIG. 5. Thus the end of the horizontal
portion 15 normally stays in contact with the cam
; 11 and, accordingly, when the cam 11 turns in the
counterclockwise direction in FIG. 4 when the toy
is in a ~unning mode, an arcuate portion of the pawl
lla of the cam 11 engages with the hook 15a to make
the lever 13 turn in the counter-clockwise direc-
tion in FIG. 5 to release the hook 14a from the en-
gaged leg portions, as described in more detail
below.
Since the cam ].1 fits tightly onto the output
; shaft 10 to provide a frictiona~ engagement there~
between, the cam 11 is forced to turn with the output
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shaft 10 unless sufficient external force is ex-
erted on the cam 11 to inhibit its motion.
An opening 3a is formed in the leg portion 3
on the same side of the robot aæ the chest portion
from which the hooked end 14a of the T~shaped lever
13 projects. When the toy îs folded up, the hook
14a fits into the opening 3a and engages with its
peripheral edge, thus holding the leg portions 3
in their folded-up position.
The sole of each leg por~ion 3 has a surface
(second surface) 30 which is perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the toy body and has a suffi-
clent area to enable the toy to take up and maintain
a standing posture. An auxiliary wheel 17 ~or
movably supporting the standlng toy 1 is rotatably
mounted on the toe side of each second surface 30.
These wheels 17 at the base of the leg portions
engage w~th the support surface when the toy 1 is
standing in the form of a robot. Therefore, when
there is still excess turning moment acting in the
forward direction on the toy 1 after it has assumed
the standing posture, the toy is forced to make
a forward inertial movement with the aid of the
wheels 17, while keeping its standing posture, so
that the excess turning moment in the forward
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direction is cancelled out. Thus, the toy when in
a standing mode (in the~form of a robot) can securely
maintain its standing posture with minimal danger of
falling forward.,
The leg portions 3 are rotatably (foldably)
attached to the body portion 2 by a shaft 18 secured
to the lower end of the front of the body portion
2. The leg,portions 3 form the upper or base member
of the-toy, while the body portion 2 forms the lower
or frame portion., The frame member 2 has a longitu-
dinal axis that is parallel to the support surface
in a vehi'cie configuration.' The~body porti~on 2 rotates
to ~ perpendicul~r alignment with the support surface
when the~toy is~reconfigured~into a standing
robot.' Although not shown, the shaft 18 is loaded
by a torslon coll spring so that the legs 3, when
folded up, are always urged to rotate in the ex-
tension direction by the force of the coil spring.
' At the rear of the head portion 4 a cutout 19
is provided, as shown in FIG. 6, and a rhomboidal
member 20 fox expediting the standing motion of
the toy is fitted into the cutout 19 so that the
member 20 can rotate about a shaft hole l9b formed
toward one end of the shorter diagonal of the rhom-
boid. The shaft hole l9b is fitted onto a pin ~not
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shown) in the cutout 19 so that the rhomboidal
member 20 is freely rotatable about the pin. Re-
cesses 20a, 20b are formed on the underside of the
rhomboidal member 20, as shown by the broken lines
in FIG. 6. These recesses 20a, 20b are designed
to receive a protuberance 19a formed on the lower
side of the cutout portion 19.
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Edges 21, 22 of the member 20 protruding from
the cutout l9 in the head portion 4 are at different
s ~l and ~2 (~ 2) from the shaft hole
l9b (FIG. 6). Therefore, if the member 20 is turned
counterclockwise so that its edge 22 projects as
shown in FIG. 7, the amount by which the member 20
protrudes is less than when the edge 21 projects.
This is illustrated in FIGS. 8 (A) and ~B). FIG. 8
(A) shows the condition where the edge 22 of the
member 20 pro~ects. In this case, the distance a
bet~een the member 20 and the ~upport surface is
large. FIG. 8 (B) illustrates the condition where
the edge 21 projects~ in which case the distance
a' between the member 20 and the support surface is
small.
This embodiment of the present invention will
now be considered from the aspect of how to play
with it.
First, the leg portions 3 are rotated upward
about the shaft 18 against the elastic force of the
torsion coil spring (not shown), and are thereby
folded up into a position of which they lie over
the body portion 2. The hook 14a of the lever 13
enters the opening 3a in one leg portion 3 (see
FIG. 4). During the course of this movement,
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the hook 14a hits an edge of the opening 3a and,
as the lever 13 rotates further counterclockwise
in FIG. 4, against the opposing force of the spring
16, and the hook 14a is forced to pass over the
edge of the opening 3a and ~s caught inside thereof
(FIG. 4).
In this condition, the leg portions 3 are held
folded-up against the force of the torsion coil
spring (not shown) ~y the engagement of the hook
14a. Thus the leg portions 3 are placed atop the
body portion with their rear surfaces facing up-
wards, and the projections 7 integral with the body
portion 2 are positioned with their ends facing
; forwards, .forming the running vehicle to,y as shown
in FIG. 1. In this form of the toy, the wheels 6
are positioned in engagement with the support sur~
face to enable the running motion of the toy.
: To make the toy run, when a known pull-back
type of spring powered prime mover is used~ the
child holds the toy body, presses the wheels 6
against the support surface, and pulls the toy back-
ward so that the spring (not shown) is wound up
by the axle 9 of the wheels 6. The output shaft 10
on which the spring is loaded is also forced to turn
clockwise in FIG. 4, causing a corresponding rotation
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of the cam 11. Consequently, the stepped portion
of the pawl lla of the cam 11 engages with the hook
15a, but since the cam 11 is only frictionally
attached to the output shart 10, the output shaft
10 alone is forced to turn clockwise while this
engagement is maintained leaving the cam 11 slipp-
ing around the shaft, thereby winding up the spring
(not shown).
When the child lets the toy go under this
condition, the spring begins to unwind to make the
wheels 6 rotate, causlng the toy 1 to start running.
As the output shaft 10 turns further counterclock-
wise in FIG. 4, the external arcuate pOrtiQn o~
the cam pawl lla hits the end of the hook 15a to
raise it, forcing the lever 13 to turn counter-
clockwlse in FIG. 4 against the elastic rorce of
the spring 16, so that the hook 14a is disengaged
from the edge of the opening 3a. Whereupon the leg
portions 3 are urged to spring back to their ex-
tended position in relation to the body portion 2 by
the restoring force of the torsion coil spring
(not shown) wound around the shart 18 which attaches
the leg portions 3 to the body portion 2. As a conse- -
quence, the rhomboidal member 20 protruding from
the rear end of the protuberance 4 is knocked against
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the suppork surface to produce ~ turning moment (reac-
tion force) in response to the action of the cent-
rifugal force generated by the rapid rotation of
the leg portions 3. This j erks the toy, which has
now been transformed into a robot, up into the air,
rotating it through about 90, so that it lands on
the floor with the sole surfaces (second surfaces)
30 of the leg portions 3 engaging with the support
surface.
The force with which the proJecting mem~er 20
i5 knocked against the floor surface can be controlled
by changing the distance between the member 20 and
the floor surface by turning the member as illust-
rated in FIGS. 8 (A) and (B), and it is thereby
possible to adjust the reaction force required for
bringing the toy t.o its erect posture, thus ensuring
that the toy can perform its standing motion.
Because of the provision of the pair of pro
~ections 7 which serve as means for restricting
the rotation of the leg portions when they are
released so that they can takeup a substantially
extended straight posture relative to the body
portion of the toy, the leg portions can be brought
to an instantaneous stop when they have reached their
extended position after being released from their
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folded-up position, making it possible to produce
a large reaction force.
There will still be an excess reaction force
when the toy has just landed on the floor surface,
but since the auxiliary wheels 17 are provided at
the ends of the leg portions 3, the toy 1 is a~le
to make an inertial movement for an appropriate
distance while maintaining its standing posture,
so that any remaining moment in the forward direc-
tion is cancelled out. In other words, any excess
force remaining after the toy has reached its stand-
ing posture is converted into a force which acts
to let the toy make a forward inertial movement
while maintaining its standing posture. This ena-
bles the sure and stable landing of the toy on the
support surface with no danger of it tumbling forward,
after it has assumed the standing posture.
The sequential motion of the toy during its
transformation in play mode, until it assumes its
standing posture as a robot is illustrated in FIG. 9.
Persons skilled in the toy field would be
capable of modifying the various embodiments of
the present invention within its generic teachings.
Accordingly, the scope of the present inven-
tion should be measured solely from the following
claims, wherein I claim:
