JPH08206367A - Plush toys - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a stuffed toy that realizes motions such as kittens being shaken by the movement of four legs at the same time, and that the internal structure is simple and does not impair the appearance. [Structure] The stuffed toy 1 is made in the form of a quadruped, and has four protrusions 4L, 4R, 5 corresponding to the four legs.
Four drive shafts 1 that extend inside the protrusions and are rotatably installed in the stuffed toy body 2 having L and 5R, respectively.
It incorporates 2L, 12R, 13L, 13R and a drive unit that simultaneously rotates each drive shaft. This drive is a motor 2
By the rotation output of 2, the two protrusions 5L corresponding to the hind legs,
A first drive mechanism for rotating two drive shafts 13L and 13R extending inward of 5R, and two projecting portions 4 corresponding to the front legs.
It is composed of a second drive mechanism that drives two drive shafts 12L and 12R that extend inside L and 4R, and a transmission shaft 42 that takes out the rotational force from the first drive mechanism and transmits it to the second drive mechanism. There is.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stuffed toy having a form imitating a pet animal such as a kitten and having a drive unit for actuating its limbs and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of the above plush toy, the one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-19797 is known. This is a light that senses a change in natural light on the head of the stuffed toy body in order to realize an action that imitates a pet animal such as a kitten without impairing the appearance (cuteness etc.) of the stuffed toy for pets. With a sensor
When the user touches the brush of the accessory to the nose part of the stuffed toy or holds his hand, the optical sensor detects the change in the amount of light and the internal control unit switches according to the detection signal. To drive the drive unit and the voice output unit.
As a result, the limbs of the stuffed animal are moved, and at the same time, the cry of the animal is generated. Further, the mechanically arranged drive unit disposed inside the stuffed toy body is wrapped with an elastic body, and the drive unit and the power supply unit are separated from each other, so that the size of the power supply unit is made as small as possible and the stuffed toy has a good feel. .

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above plush toy, instead of the switch that the user directly turns on and off,
Although a predetermined motion is caused by a change in light, the motion is limited to the generation of a cry and the driving of the limbs corresponding to the front legs of a quadruped. That is, this toy is not just a switch operation but an operation according to the user's intention like an actual pet animal. However, as a user's visible (visual) operation, As shown in the above, only the front legs of the four legs that extend forward are driven.

Therefore, in order to make the motion of the toy more like an actual animal, for example, to realize the motion of a kitten lying on its back and moving its legs, it is conceivable to drive not only the front legs but also the rear legs. For that purpose, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for driving the rear foot near the rear foot. In that case, in addition to the drive mechanism for the front foot portion, a space for accommodating the drive mechanism for the rear foot portion in the stuffed toy body must be secured. However, in the stuffed toy as described above, in addition to the drive unit, a circuit for outputting voice and a speaker, and a battery box to be the power source for them are also stored, so the drive mechanism for the hind legs also If you want to store it, you have to change the arrangement of existing components,
Depending on the arrangement, the battery box or the like causes a part of the flexible stuffed toy body to protrude, and the appearance of the stuffed toy (such as cuteness) is impaired.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is, in the above-described stuffed toy of a quadruped, not only the forelimbs are driven but also the four legs are moved at the same time so that the kitten is moving In addition to realizing the attitude, a stuffed toy that has a simple structure for it and does not cause a part of the main body of the stuffed toy to protrude from the existing battery box etc., and has a cute appearance and operation and a simple internal structure. Is to provide.

[0006]

The stuffed toy of the present invention is made in the form of a quadruped, and has a stuffed toy body having four protrusions corresponding to the four legs, and the four stuffed toy bodies from inside the stuffed toy body. It is provided with four drive shafts that extend into the protrusion and are rotatably installed respectively, and a drive unit that is provided inside the stuffed toy main body and that simultaneously rotates the drive shafts. .

In one embodiment of the present invention, the drive section includes two motors which are drive sources and which extend into the inside of two protrusions corresponding to the hind paws or fore paws of the animal due to the rotational output of the motor. Drive mechanism for rotating the drive shaft of the animal, a second drive mechanism for driving two drive shafts extending into two protrusions corresponding to the front foot or the rear foot of the animal, and the first drive mechanism. And a transmission shaft for transmitting the rotational force to the second drive mechanism.

In another embodiment, a space for accommodating a power supply box for supplying electric power to the motor is provided between the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism inside the stuffed toy body, and the gap portion has the above-mentioned structure. The power supply box is formed in a bag shape having an entrance / exit through which the power supply box can be inserted and removed from the outside of the stuffed toy body.

[0009] In still another embodiment, the power supply box comprises a case for accommodating a battery, and the case turns on / off a contact with which a pole of the accommodated battery is in contact and power supply from the battery to a driving source. A power switch, and is configured so that an electrical insulator can be inserted from the inlet / outlet between the contact and the electrode of the battery.

[0010]

In the present invention, the drive portion provided inside the stuffed toy body rotates the drive shaft, whereby the four projecting portions corresponding to the four legs protruding from the stuffed toy body rotate. In particular, when this stuffed toy is laid on its back, the four protrusions freely rotate while extending upward, so that it is possible to realize an operation in which the kitten lies on its back and moves its legs. Moreover, less power is required than when driving four legs for walking movements, and because the drive unit is configured simply, it does not take a large space inside the stuffed animal for the drive unit, and the battery box and other configurations It does not hinder the arrangement of the members.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, when the first drive mechanism rotates the two drive shafts by the rotation output of the motor of the drive source, and the two protrusions corresponding to the hind legs or the front legs of the animal are moved. At the same time, due to the rotational force transmitted from the first drive mechanism via the transmission shaft, the second drive mechanism rotates the other two drive shafts and moves the two protrusions corresponding to the front or rear legs of the animal. . Thus, the above-described four-legged operation can be realized, and the first and second drive mechanisms can have the same configuration to facilitate manufacturing and assembly.

According to another embodiment, the power supply box is housed between the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism, so that the shape of the stuffed toy body is not changed.
While maintaining the appearance of the stuffed toy, the power supply box can be put in and out from the entrance of the bag inside the stuffed toy body, which facilitates replacement of batteries and the like.

According to yet another embodiment, when an electrical insulator is inserted between the contact of the power supply box and the electrode of the battery from the inlet / outlet of the bag, even if the power switch is turned on, the motor is turned on. Since there is no power supply for the stuffed toy, the battery consumption can be reduced when carrying or decorating the stuffed toy.In addition, the stuffed toy is displayed on the store front of a toy store, etc. Power is supplied to the stuffed toy, and the stuffed toy works, increasing the advertising effect.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an external view of a stuffed toy 1 made in the form of a kitten, partly broken away, as an embodiment of the present invention. This stuffed toy 1 has a stuffed toy body 2
Elastic body (so-called cushion material,
(Not shown) is built in, and a drive unit, which will be described later, and the like are housed therein.

The stuffed toy body 2 serves as a protrusion, and the head portion 3, two front foot portions 4L and 4R, and two rear foot portions 5L and 5R are provided.
And a tail portion 6. In this embodiment, the front legs 4L, 4R and the rear legs 5L, 5R are respectively attached to the main body 2 in order to realize an operation in which the kitten is lying on its back and turning its four legs.
It is possible to rotate with the connecting portion of and as a fulcrum. The tail 6 may be rotated in addition to the foot.

A nose 7 is provided on the front surface of the head 3, and a member forming this nose 7 is a portion to be inserted on the back side from a hole provided in a face portion of the stuffed toy main body 2 as described later. 8 (FIGS. 5 to 7), which is attached to the stuffed toy main body 2 by stopping this portion 8 from the back side. Furthermore,
An optical sensor is arranged inside the nose 7. The details will be described later.

Inside the stuffed toy main body 2, as shown in FIG. 2, a power source box 1 for accommodating a dry battery 9 as a power source.
0, and the first and second power supplies that supply the required voltage from this power supply.
Drive unit 11 including a drive mechanism (described later) of
From the two drive mechanisms of 1, the front foot portion 4 of the stuffed toy body 2
L, 4R and four rotatable drive shafts 12L, 12R and 13L, 13R extending inside the rear foot portions 5L, 5R,
A voice output unit 14 (FIG. 1) located on the chest of the stuffed toy main body 2 and a control circuit unit 15 (in FIG. 2, a circuit board on which circuit elements such as ICs are arranged, which controls the operation of the drive unit 11 and the voice output unit 14). Are shown so as to be surrounded by an elastic body made of polyester fibers filled in the stuffed toy body 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the portion of the stuffed toy main body 2 that houses the power supply box 10 is formed in a bag shape having an inlet / outlet 16 through which the power supply box 10 can be inserted and removed. The doorway 16 is closed by a fastener provided at the doorway 16 unless the user pushes it open with a finger or the like.

Four drive shafts 12L, 12R and 13L,
For reinforcement, 13R is formed by a rod-shaped member 17 having a cross-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 3, and its tip end is bent and positioned inside the front and rear foot portions 4L, 4R and 5L, 5R of the stuffed toy body 2. However, a cylindrical cap 18 is attached to the tip of each shaft.

The drive portion 11 has a case 20 extending from the head 3 side to the tail 6 side inside the stuffed toy body 2, and a cylindrical convex portion 21 protruding left and right on the tail 6 side.
L and 21R rotatably support the respective drive shafts 13L and 13R through two drive shafts 13L and 13R for moving the rear foot portions 5L and 5R, respectively, and rotate the drive shafts 13L and 13R. Is stored. This first
The drive mechanism 11 a includes a large pulley 25 to which the rotation of a small pulley fixed to a rotation output shaft of a motor 22 is transmitted via a belt 24, a pinion 26 that rotates coaxially with the large pulley 25, and a crown that meshes with the pinion 26. A large gear 27 that rotates integrally with the gear, a small gear 28 that rotates coaxially with the large gear, a large gear 29 that meshes with the small gear, and a large rear gear 13L that meshes with the large gear 29 are provided on the drive shaft 13L of the left hind foot. A left rear foot drive pinion 30, a large gear 31 meshing with the large gear 27 integral with the crown gear, a small gear 32 rotating coaxially with the large gear, a large gear 33 meshing with the small gear, and the large gear 33. The right rear foot drive pinion 34 is provided on the drive shaft 13R of the right rear foot so as to mesh with the right rear foot.

Further, the drive unit 11 is the head 3 of the case 20.
Two drive shafts 1 for moving the front foot portions 4L, 4R to the cylindrical convex portions 41L, 41R projecting on the left and right sides, respectively.
Each shaft is rotatably supported through 2L and 12R, and a second drive mechanism 11b that rotates these drive shafts 12L and 12R is housed. This second drive mechanism 11b
The rotational force is transmitted by the transmission shaft 42 extending from the first drive mechanism 11a to near the front foot. This transmission shaft 4
Reference numeral 2 denotes a rotary shaft having a large pulley 25 of the first drive mechanism 11a fixed to one end thereof and rotatably supported in the case 20, and a pinion 43 fixed to the other end. The second drive mechanism 11b meshes with the large gear 44 that rotates integrally with the crown gear that meshes with the pinion 43, the small gear 45 that rotates coaxially with this large gear, the large gear 46 that meshes with this small gear, and the large gear 46 that meshes with this large gear 46. The left front foot drive pinion 47 provided on the drive shaft 12L of the left front foot, the large gear 48 meshing with the large gear 44 integrated with the crown gear,
With a small gear 49 that rotates coaxially with the large gear, a large gear 50 that meshes with the small gear, and a right front foot drive pinion 51 that is provided on the drive shaft 12R of the right rear foot so as to mesh with the large gear 50, It is configured.

The drive shafts 12L, 12R, 13L,
The lower end of 13R is formed as a thin shaft, and each pinion 4
It is pushed into the center holes of 7, 51, 30, 34. Therefore, the drive shafts 12L, 12R, 13L, 13R can be rotated with respect to the pinions 47, 51, 30, 34 to change the direction of each bent tip. Thereby, the rotation direction of each foot can be set arbitrarily.

In the plush toy 1, the voice output unit 14, the control circuit unit 15 and the power supply box 10 are housed between the first drive mechanism 11a and the second drive mechanism 11b. That is, the drive unit is the first drive mechanism 11
a and the second drive mechanism 11b, and the transmission shaft 4 is provided between them.
By connecting so that the rotational force is transmitted at 2, the space for accommodating the voice output unit 14, the control circuit unit 15, the power supply box 10 and the like is secured, and the storage of these does not impair the appearance of the stuffed toy. There is. Furthermore, since the first drive mechanism 11a and the second drive mechanism 11b have substantially the same configuration as described above, the same mechanism is used for both of the two drive mechanisms provided to drive the front and rear feet. Can be used, and the assembly of the drive unit, the addition of the mechanism, and other modifications can be performed easily and at low cost. Further, the second drive mechanism may be driven by the rotation output of the motor, and the first drive mechanism may be driven from here via the transmission shaft.

The power supply box 10 includes a battery 9 (in this case,
2) is housed, and as described above, this case can be put in and taken out from the entrance 16 provided beside the body of the stuffed toy main body 2 for replacement of the battery 9 or the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the power supply box 10 is provided with a contact plate 10a which contacts the poles of the two batteries 9 housed therein (one is the positive pole and the other is the negative pole). A power switch 10b (FIG. 2) that turns on / off the power supply from the battery 9 to the motor 22, the control circuit unit 15, etc., from the entrance / exit 16 of the stuffed toy main body 2 to the contact plate 10a and one pole of the battery 9 (in this case, + A slit 10c for inserting the tip portion 60a of the elongated plate-shaped electrical insulator 60 between the slit 10c and the pole.

Therefore, from the doorway 16 to the power supply box 10
If the tip portion 60a of the insulator 60 is inserted between the contact plate 10a and the pole of the battery 9 through the slit 10c, the motor 22 or the like will not be supplied with power even if the power switch 10b is turned on. In addition to being able to suppress the consumption of the battery 9 when carrying or decorating the stuffed toy 1, the stuffed toy 1 is displayed on a store such as a toy store, and if the insulator 60 is pulled out, the motor 22 or the like can be drawn. The energization is started, and the stuffed toy 1 can operate as described below, so that the advertising effect is improved.

The control circuit section 15 is connected to the power supply box 10 for power supply, and is electrically connected to the motor 22, the audio output section 14 and the optical sensor 24 through lead wires. .

The voice output unit 14 is composed of a speaker or a sounding body such as a piezoelectric buzzer, and is a case 20 of the drive unit 11.
Placed on top. The control circuit unit 15 includes a voice synthesizing or voice generating circuit that outputs an electric signal for generating a voice simulating a cry of a kitten from this sounding body.

In the case of this embodiment, the nose 7 is made of a resin molded member colored in a relatively bright color. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, this member has a rear protruding portion 8 which is inserted into the inside from a hole 3a provided in the face portion of the head portion 3 of the stuffed toy main body 2, and the head portion is provided at this protruding portion 8. 3 is attached to the head 3 by a stepped washer 70 fitted from the back side of the face portion of 3. Then, in order to prevent it from coming off easily after mounting, a non-return step 8a is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the projecting portion 8.

The rearward projecting portion 8 of the nose 7 has a cavity opened on the rear surface side as shown in FIG. 7, and the optical sensor 71 is inserted therein. The optical sensor 71 mounted in the rear protruding portion 8 of the nose 7 detects the amount of light entering from the front side of the stuffed toy main body 2 through the fabric of the face portion, and the detection output changes according to the change in the amount of light. It is a thing. The control circuit section 15
According to the change of the detection signal from the optical sensor 71,
The electric signal for driving the motor 22 and the audio output unit 14 of the drive unit is configured to be output for a certain period of time (its length can be set in advance arbitrarily). Therefore, when the user holds his or her hand near the nose 7, the optical sensor 71 detects the change in the light amount, the motor 22 is started, and the voice output unit 1 is activated.
The animal screams from 4.

The stuffed toy 1 of FIG. 1 operates as follows with the above configuration.

First, the user makes the nose 7 of the stuffed toy 1.
When a hand or the like is touched near the nose 7 or a brush or the like is brought into contact with the nose 7 like the above-mentioned known stuffed toy, the optical sensor 71 inside the nose 7 detects a decrease in the light amount, and the detection signal is the control circuit unit. Sent to 15. In response to this, the control circuit unit 1
Reference numeral 5 outputs a signal for driving the motor 22 and the audio output unit 14. Therefore, in the first drive mechanism 11a, the motor 2
The rotational force of the output shaft of the second pulley 25 causes the large pulley 25 through the belt 24.
The pinion 26 coaxial with the large pulley 25 rotates the large gear 27 via the crown gear, and the small gear 28 coaxial with the large gear 27 rotates the large gear 29. As a result, the drive shaft 13L is rotationally driven via the left hind foot drive pinion 30 to rotate the left hind foot portion 5L. On the other hand, the large gear 27 rotates from the large gear 27 through the large gear 31 and the small gear 32 coaxial therewith. As a result, the drive shaft 13R is rotationally driven via the right rear foot drive pinion 34, and the right rear foot portion 5R is rotated.

Further, the rotation of the large pulley 25 of the first drive mechanism 11a causes the transmission shaft 42 to rotate the second drive mechanism 11b.
Is transmitted to the large gear 44, and the large gear 46 rotates via the small gear 45 coaxial with the large gear 44. As a result, the drive shaft 12L is rotationally driven via the left front foot drive pinion 47 to rotate the left front foot portion 4L. On the other hand, the large gear 44 to the large gear 48
Further, the large gear 50 rotates via the small gear 49 coaxial therewith. As a result, the drive shaft 12R is rotationally driven via the right front foot drive pinion 51, and the right front foot portion 4R is rotated.

Thus, the stuffed toy 1 makes four kittens 4L, 4R and 5L, 5R rotate at the same time, so that the kitten will move. This operation is performed by the control circuit unit 1
5 continues while outputting a signal for driving the motor 22 (preset time), and when that time has elapsed, it stops with a cry.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, if the stuffed toy 1 is laid on its back and the above-mentioned operation is performed, the four legs are freely rotated in a state of being extended upward, so that the kitten is laid on its back. It makes you move your legs. In this way, in the configuration of operating on the back, compared to the case of moving the four feet on the floor or the like, such as walking, there is no load on the four feet, and despite driving all four feet, The drive unit can be simply constructed. Therefore, the drive mechanism does not take up a large space inside the plush toy, and does not hinder the arrangement of the battery box and other components.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a stuffed toy according to an embodiment of the present invention with a part thereof broken away.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the stuffed toy of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the shape of a drive shaft of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a means for stopping the power supply from the power supply box of the toy.

5 is a diagram showing a mounting structure of a nose portion of the stuffed toy of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a nose is attached to the front of the head of the stuffed toy.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration in which an optical sensor is inserted into a member forming a nose portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... plush toy, 2 ... plush body, 3 ... head,
4L, 4R ... forefoot, 5L, 5R ... hindfoot, 6 ... tail,
7 ... Nose, 8 ... Rear protrusion, 9 ... Battery, 10 ... Power supply box, 11a ... 1st drive mechanism, 11b ... 2nd drive mechanism, 1
2L, 12R, 13L, 13R ... Drive shaft, 14 ... Audio output part, 15 ... Control circuit part, 16 ... Entrance / exit, 17 ... Cross member in cross section, 18 ... Cap, 20 ... Case of drive part, 2
1L, 21R, 41L, 41R ... Convex part, 22 ... Motor,
24 ... Belt, 25 ... Pulley, 26, 43 ... Pinion,
42 ... Transmission shaft, 60 ... Electrical insulator, 70 ... Stepped washer, 71 ... Optical sensor.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G10K 15/04 H

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A stuffed toy body made in the form of a quadruped and having four protrusions corresponding to the four legs, and a stuffed toy body extending from the inside of the stuffed toy body to the inside of the four protrusions and being rotatable respectively. A stuffed toy comprising: four drive shafts installed in the stuffed toy; and a drive unit that is provided inside the stuffed toy body to rotate the drive shafts at the same time. 2. The drive unit rotates a motor as a drive source and two drive shafts extending into two projecting portions corresponding to the hind legs or front legs of the animal by the rotation output of the motor. 1 drive mechanism and 2 corresponding to the front or rear legs of the animal
A second drive shaft for driving two drive shafts extending inside the two protrusions
The stuffed toy according to claim 1, wherein the stuffed toy comprises a drive mechanism and a transmission shaft that extracts a rotational force from the first drive mechanism and transmits the rotational force to the second drive mechanism. 3. A space for accommodating a power supply box for supplying power to the motor is provided between the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism inside the stuffed toy body, and the gap portion is provided in the power supply box. The stuffed toy according to claim 2, wherein the stuffed toy is formed into a bag having an entrance / exit through which the stuffed toy body can be put in and taken out from the outside. 4. The power supply box comprises a case for accommodating a battery, the case including a contact with which a pole of the accommodated battery is in contact, and a power switch for turning on / off power supply from the battery to the drive source. The stuffed toy according to claim 3, further comprising: an electric insulator that can be inserted between the contact and the pole of the battery from the entrance.