Form changing toy

• US 9,675,899 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TOMY Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TOMY Company Limited
• Inventors: Nishimoto, Hisao, Takahama, Yasuo, Oikawa, Yohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US14/953,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20170036130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 446 71, 446 72, 446 97, 446268, 446269, 446274, 446279, 446280, 446291, 446286, 446289, 446321
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/26 Details; Accessories drive mechanisms A63H29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/003 Convertible toys, e.g. robots convertible into rockets or vehicles convertible into planes

Abstract

A form changing toy including the following is shown. A rotating axis is provided in a cover member. A plurality of figures are provided on the rotating axis and form a predetermined form different from each other with the cover member. A handle is provided on the cover member. A power transmission mechanism transmits to the rotating axis operation power of the handle in one direction to rotate the rotating axis in one direction. Each one of the plurality of figures takes a first state covered by the cover member and then takes a second state jumping out from the cover member and then takes the first state from the second state in order according to operation of the handle in one direction.

Claims

1. A form changing toy comprising:

a cover member;

a rotating axis which is provided in the cover member;

a plurality of figures which are provided on the rotating axis, each of which figures is movable between a first position inside the cover member and a second position outside the cover member;

a movable handle which is provided on the cover member; and

a power transmission mechanism connected to the handle and which transmits to the rotating axis operation power from the movement of the handle in only one direction to rotate the rotating axis in only one direction,

wherein, when the handle is moved in the one direction, one of the plurality of figures moves via the rotating axis from the first position to the second position, or from the second position to the first position.

2. The form changing toy according to claim 1, wherein, the power transmission mechanism includes a rack which operates by the movement of the handle and a pinion which is fitted with the rack and rotates by operation of the rack.

3. The form changing toy according to claim 1, wherein,

the handle can be operated in the one direction and in another direction;

and

the power transmission mechanism includes a one way clutch which transmits the operation power to the rotating axis when the handle is operated in the one direction, but not when the handle is operated in the another direction.

4. The form changing toy according to claim 3, wherein the handle is urged into the another position by a biasing mechanism.

5. The form changing toy according to claim 4, wherein the biasing mechanism is one of a coil spring, a winding spring or an elastic member.

6. The form changing toy according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is provided with a movable member which moves against predetermined bias force by the one of the plurality of figures coming into contact with the movable member, when the one of the plurality of figures moves from the first position to the second position to allow the one of the plurality of figures to move from the inside to the outside of the cover member.

7. The form changing toy according to claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of figures is provided with a movable portion which moves downward by gravity when the at least one of the plurality of figures is in the second position.

8. The form changing toy according to claim 7 wherein the movable portion is at least one of a leg or an arm of the one of the plurality of figures.

9. The form changing toy according to claim 7, wherein;

the cover member includes a contact portion which folds the movable portion with contact force when the one of the plurality of figures moves from the second position to the first position.

10. The form changing toy according to claim 9, wherein the moveable portion is a leg of the one of the plurality of figures.

11. The form changing toy according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning mechanism which temporarily holds the one of the plurality of figures in the first or second positions relative to the cover member.

12. The form changing toy according to claim 1, wherein,

the cover member is formed in a shape of a head of a doll;

two figures are provided as the plurality of figures;

one of the two figures is in a form of a car; and

the other of the two figures is a torso, a hand, and a foot of the doll.

13. The form changing toy according to claim 12, wherein the car has rotatable wheels.

14. The form changing toy according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the handle in the one direction is one of linear or rotary.

15. The form changing toy according to claim 1, wherein the first position provides an overall appearance of one of a car or a doll, each with a head thereon.

16. The form changing toy according to claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of figures includes a torso, two hands and two feet.