Remote control toy top

• US 7,427,225 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TOMY Company Limited, Xenoid Protodesign Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: TOMY Company Limited, Xenoid Protodesign Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Choh, Jinsei, Choh, Jintei, Matsukawa, Hiroyuki, Hocho, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kien T
• Application Number:
  US11/017,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20050142983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 446256-264, 446/454, 446/456, 446/175, 446/355, 446/233, 446/234
• US Class Current: 446/256
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 1/04 with string or band winding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 1/06 with integral winding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A toy actuation device is disclosed which has a device body comprising a holding unit that holds a toy such as a stuffed toy. The holding unit including first detecting unit for detecting that the toy is held in the holding unit; and movable engagement members that are engageable with outer parts of the toy. An actuation mechanism actuates the engagement members. A user-holdable member is detachably disposed at the device body and includes a second detecting unit for sensing that the user is holding the user-holdable member in association with the toy; and a control unit that actuates the actuation mechanism on the basis of the detection results of the first detecting unit and the second detecting unit.

Claims

1. A remote control toy top comprising the combination of:

a toy top; and

a remote controller device that changes the operating mode of the toy top by remote control,

wherein the toy top includes a toy top body provided with a motor whose forward and reverse rotational directions and rotational speed are controlled by control signals transmitted from the remote controller device,

wherein the toy top includes a rotating shaft body that is rotatably supported at a bottom portion of the toy top body, the rotating shaft body rotating in conjunction with a motor shaft of the motor,

wherein the remote controller device includes a rotation-instructing operational unit that instructs forward and reverse rotation of the motor,

wherein the remote controller device includes a change-instructing operational unit that instructs change of the rotational speed of the motor, the motor being rotated at a low speed when the rotation-instructing operational unit is operated, the motor being rotated at a high speed when the change-instructing operational unit is operated together with the rotation-instructing operational unit, and

wherein the shaft body of the toy top includes a buffer mechanism for absorbing an impact in an up-down direction.

2. A remote control toy top comprising the combination of:

a toy top; and

a remote controller device that changes the operating mode of the toy top by remote control,

wherein the toy top includes a toy top body provided with a motor whose forward and reverse rotational directions and rotational speed are controlled by control signals transmitted from the remote controller device,

wherein the toy top includes a rotating shaft body that is rotatably supported at a bottom portion of the toy top body, the rotating shaft body rotating in conjunction with a motor shaft of the motor

wherein the remote controller device includes a rotation-instructing operational unit that instructs forward and reverse rotation of the motor,

wherein the remote controller device includes a change-instructing operational unit that instructs change of the rotational speed of the motor, the motor being rotated at a low speed when the rotation-instructing operational unit is operated, the motor being rotated at a high speed when the change-instructing operational unit is operated together with the rotation-instructing operational unit, and

wherein the remote controller device is provided with a starter mechanism for providing an initial spin to the toy top.

3. A remote control toy top comprising the combination of:

a toy top;

a remote controller device that changes the operating mode of the toy top by remote control,

wherein the toy top includes a toy top body provided with a motor whose forward and reverse rotational directions and rotational speed are controlled by control signals transmitted from the remote controller device,

wherein the toy top includes a rotating shaft body that is rotatably supported at a bottom portion of the toy top body, the rotating shaft body rotating in conjunction with a motor shaft of the motor

wherein the remote controller device includes a rotation-instructing operational unit that instructs forward and reverse rotation of the motor,

wherein the remote controller device includes a change-instructing operational unit that instructs change of the rotational speed of the motor, the motor being rotated at a low speed when the rotation-instructing operational unit is operated, the motor being rotated at a high speed when the change-instructing operational unit is operated together with the rotation-instructing operational unit; and

a rechargeable battery in the toy top and a pair of electrical contacts connected to the rechargeable battery that are accessible from an exterior of the toy top body for electrically recharging the rechargeable battery.

4. The remote control toy top according to claim 3 further including a pair of terminals on the remote controller device, a pair of electrical contacts on a housing member and a battery in the housing member electrically connected to the pair of electrical contacts, wherein the terminals on the remote controller device can be removably attached to the electrical contacts on the toy top to recharge the rechargeable battery.

5. A remote control toy top comprising the combination of:

a toy top; and

a remote controller device that changes the operating mode of the toy top by remote control signals including a forward signal, a reverse signal and a speed change instructing signal,

wherein the toy top includes a toy top body with a base member provided with a motor whose forward and reverse rotational directions and rotational speed are controlled by control signals transmitted from the remote controller device,

a rotating shaft body that is rotatably supported at a bottom portion of the base member, the rotating shaft body rotating in conjunction with a motor shaft of the motor;

a receiving circuit unit is mounted in the base member for receiving the remote control signals, and

a driver unit that drives the motor in a forward and reverse rotation upon receiving from the receiving circuit unit one of a forward control signal and a reverse control signal at a first rotational speed and drives the motor at a second rotational speed higher than the first speed when receiving the speed change instruction signal simultaneously with one of the forward and reverse control signals, and

wherein the base member has a central opening to directly support the motor between a pair of housings for a pair of batteries connected to the receiving circuit unit and the driver unit.

6. The remote control toy top of claim 5 wherein the base member includes balancer members.