MODEL DRIVING MACHINE, DRIVE UNIT AND MODEL

A four-legged model racing machine 150 that drives, for example, models 20 of horses for racing can make the legs of the models swing up and kick up. The models 20 each having a body and plural legs supporting the body move on a partition board 5 serving as a racetrack board. Each model 20 is driven for motions by a mobile drive unit 160 disposed under the partition board 5. The plural legs of the model 20 can swing back and forth. Magnets Mfl, Mfr, Mrl and Mrr are embedded in the leg tips of the plural legs, respectively, with one of the magnetic poles of each of the magnets Mfl, Mfr, Mrl and Mrr facing the underside of the leg tip (facing down). The drive unit 160 is provided with adjacently arranged plural magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr respectively corresponding to the leg tips of the legs and capable of reciprocating parallel to a running direction along the lower surface of the partition board 5. The paired magnets are arranged longitudinally with their magnetic poles respectively of different polarities facing upward. A reciprocating mechanism 180 drives the magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr for longitudinal reciprocation to make the plural legs swing by making the magnetic forces of the magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr act on the magnets Mfl, Mfr, Mrl and Mrr attached to the leg tips of the plural legs of the model 20.

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Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a model driving machine that drives a model having a body and plural legs supporting the body by a driver disposed under a board forming a racetrack to control the motions of the model.

BACKGROUND ART

A model driving machine of this kind is disclosed in Patent document 1, which machine includes a model having four legs respectively provided with permanent magnets attached respectively to the free ends thereof, and a running drive unit disposed under a racetrack board supporting the model thereon and provided with four permanent magnets respectively corresponding to the four legs so as to slide back and forth.

Patent document 1: JP 09-51989 A:

In the model driving machine disclosed in Patent document 1, the four legs are always attracted to the permanent magnets and are moved back and forth so that the legs may not be separated greatly from the board. Therefore, the legs do not kick up high backward and kick up high forward like the legs of a running animal, such as a horse.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Underlying Problem to be Solved by the Invention

Since the legs of an animal of the model driving machine disclosed in Patent document 1 do not kick up high backward and do not kick up high forward, motions of the legs of the model are widely different from those of the legs of an actual animal and give an unnatural impression.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a model driving machine which includes a driving unit disposed under a board and is capable of making legs of a model supported on the board kick up and swing up.

Means for Solving the Underlying Problem

To attain the above object, the present invention provides a model driving machine comprising: a partition board; a model having a body and plural legs supporting the body and being movable on the partition board; and a drive unit disposed under the partition board to operate the model: wherein the plural legs of the model are pivotally joined to the body so as to swing back and forth; the plural legs have leg tips, respectively, each of the leg tips having a magnet attached thereto with one of magnetic poles thereof facing an underside of the leg tip; and the drive unit includes: adjacently arranged plural magnet pairs respectively corresponding to the leg tips of the legs, the magnet pairs being movable back and forth along a lower surface of the partition board, each of the magnet pairs including front and rear magnets adjacently arranged longitudinally with magnetic poles thereof respectively of different polarities facing upward; and a reciprocating drive mechanism for driving the magnet pairs for longitudinal reciprocation to make the plural legs swing by making magnetic forces of the magnet pairs act on the magnets attached to the leg tips of the plural legs of the model.

Preferably, an inner one of the longitudinally arranged front and rear magnets of each of the magnet pairs is magnetized to have same polarity as that of the magnet in the corresponding leg tip, and an outer one of the front and rear magnets of each of the magnet pairs is magnetized to have opposite polarity to that of the magnet in the corresponding leg tip.

The drive unit may be made movable by a moving mechanism. The reciprocating drive mechanism may have guide slots for longitudinally guiding the plural magnet pairs and may include a crank mechanism connecting the magnet pairs and a drive means for driving the crank mechanism.

A model driving machine in an aspect of the present invention comprises: a partition board; a model having a body and four legs supporting the body and being movable on the partition board; and a mobile drive unit disposed under the partition board to operate the model: wherein the four legs of the model are pivotally joined to the body so as to swing back and forth: the four legs have leg tips, respectively, each of the leg tips having a magnet attached thereto with one of magnetic poles thereof facing an underside of the leg tip; the mobile drive unit is movable under the partition board; the mobile drive unit is provided with four magnet pairs adjacently arranged under the board, the four magnet pairs being reciprocatingly movable longitudinally and respectively corresponding to the four legs, each of the magnet pairs including front and rear magnets adjacently arranged longitudinally with magnetic poles thereof respectively of different polarities facing upward; and the mobile drive unit includes a reciprocating drive mechanism for reciprocating the four magnet pairs longitudinally to make the four legs swing by making magnetic forces of the four magnet pairs act on the magnets attached to the leg tips of the four legs.

In the model drive machine in the above aspect of the invention, the four legs include right and left forelegs and right and left hind legs, the reciprocating drive mechanism is provided with a left front magnet pair, a right front magnet pair, a left rear magnet pair and a right rear magnet pair respectively corresponding to the left foreleg, the right foreleg, the left hind leg and the right hind leg. The reciprocating drive mechanism operates to reciprocate the four magnet pairs such that the left front magnet pair and the right rear magnet pair move toward and away from each other, and the right front magnet pair and the left rear magnet pair move toward and away from each other.

The reciprocating drive mechanism may include: a first cross linkage interlocking the left front magnet pair and the right rear magnet pair, a second cross linkage interlocking the right front magnet pair and the left rear magnet pair; a common pivotal pin pivotally joining the first and second cross linkages together in a mutually intersecting state; a drive mechanism for rotationally driving the first and the second cross linkage; a first guide slot for guiding the left front magnet pair and the left rear magnet pair; and a second guide slot for guiding the right front magnet pair and the right rear magnet pair, the second guide slot being parallel to the first guide slot.

The corresponding opposite end parts of the first and second guide slots may be curved away from each other.

In an aspect of the invention, there is provided a drive unit magnetically interlocked through a partition board with a model having a body and plural legs supporting the body and respectively having leg tips, the drive unit comprising: plural magnet pairs adjacently arranged under the partition board for longitudinal reciprocation so as to act on the leg tips of the plural legs of the model, each of the magnet pairs including front and rear magnets adjacently arranged longitudinally with magnetic poles thereof respectively of different polarities facing upward; and a reciprocating drive mechanism for longitudinally reciprocating the plural magnet pairs.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a model magnetically interlocked through a partition board with a drive unit and having a body and plural legs supporting the body, each of the legs including a thigh, a shank having a base end pivotally joined to an extremity of the thigh, and a leg tip pivotally joined to another extremity of the shank: wherein the thigh and the shank are connected by a bar link such that the thigh and the shank can turn relative to each other; and a magnet on which magnetic force of the driving unit acts is attached to each of the leg tips with one of magnetic poles thereof facing an underside of the leg tip.

Effect of the Invention]

In the model drive machine of the present invention, the plural magnet pairs each disposed with the magnetic poles of the paired front and rear magnets respectively of different polarities facing upward are simultaneously longitudinal reciprocated to swing the plural legs by exerting magnetic forces to the magnets attached to the leg tips of the model. One of the paired front and rear magnets, which is given a magnetic pole of a polarity opposite to that of the magnetic pole of the magnet attached to the corresponding or associated leg tip, attracts the leg tip to swing the leg longitudinally, and the leg tip of the swinging leg tends to move up to be released from the attraction acting on the leg tip. Meanwhile, the other magnet of the paired front and rear magnets, which is given a magnetic pole of same polarity as that of the magnetic pole of the magnet attached to the corresponding or associated leg tip, operates to repulse the leg tip to make the leg kick up forward or rearward. Thus motions of the legs of the model look similar to those of the legs of an actual animal and do not give an unnatural impression.

The inner one of the longitudinally arranged paired front and rear magnets is magnetized to have a polarity of magnetic pole thereof, which is same as that of the magnetic pole of the corresponding or associated leg tip of the leg, and the outer one of the paired front and rear magnets is magnetized to have a polarity of magnetic pole thereof, which is opposite to that of the magnetic pole of the corresponding or associated leg tip of the leg. Therefore, the leg tip is attracted by the outer magnet having the opposite polarity, and the leg is swung longitudinally and swung up, separating from the outer magnet of the opposite polarity because the movement of the leg is limited by the length thereof. Thereafter, the leg tip is repulsed by the magnet of the same polarity which is position near the center. Consequently, the leg tips of the foreleg legs can be made to swing up and the leg tips of the hind legs can be made to kick up.

Since the drive unit can be moved by the moving mechanism, the plural magnet pairs move together with the drive unit and the model moves swinging the plural legs thereof.

In the model drive machine in an aspect of the invention, the four legs are made to swing by simultaneously longitudinally reciprocating the four magnet pairs respectively having opposite polarities facing up to exerts magnetic forces to the magnets respectively attached to the leg tips of the four legs of the model. The leg tip is attracted by one of the paired front and rear magnets, having a polarity opposite to that of the magnetic pole of the magnet attached to the leg tip and the leg is made to swing longitudinally, and the leg tip of the swinging leg tends to separate from the attracting magnet by swinging up. At this stage, the other one of the paired front and rear magnets, having the same polarity as the magnetic pole of the magnet of the leg tip repulses the leg tip to swing the leg forward and to make the leg kick up rearward. Since the four magnet pairs move together with the drive unit, the model makes motions resembling those of an actual animal and moves without giving unnatural impression.

In an aspect of the present invention, the reciprocating drive mechanism reciprocates the four pairs of permanent magnets such that the left front pair of magnets and the right rear pair of magnets move toward and away from each other, and the right front pair of magnets and the left rear pair of magnets move toward and away from each other. Thus the body can be supported in satisfactorily balanced position by the diagonally opposite front and the rear legs.

The drive unit of the present invention is disposed under the board below the model disposed on the board and having the plural legs each having leg tip to which the magnet is attached with one of the magnetic poles thereof facing the underside of the leg tip, and is provided with the adjacently arranged plural magnet pairs each corresponding to the leg tip of the leg and capable of simultaneous longitudinally reciprocation. The reciprocating drive mechanism simultaneously longitudinally reciprocates the plural magnet pairs to swing the plural legs of the model by exerting magnetic forces on the magnets attached to the leg tips of the legs of the model. The leg tip, which is being swung up, separates from the outer magnet of the opposite polarity because the movement of the leg is limited by the length thereof, and the leg tip is repulsed by the magnet of the same polarity positioned near the center. Consequently, the leg tips of the forelegs can be made to swing up, and the leg tips of the hind legs can be made to kick up.

The model of the present invention has the plural legs each having the leg tip to which the magnet is attached with one of the magnetic poles thereof facing the underside of the leg. The model is disposed on the board under which is disposed the drive unit including the plural magnet pairs, which are longitudinally adjacently arranged under the board for longitudinal reciprocation so as to cooperate with the leg tips of the plural legs of the model, respectively. The reciprocating drive mechanism reciprocates the plural magnet pairs of the drive unit simultaneously longitudinally to swing the plural legs by exerting magnetic forces on the magnets attached to the leg tips of the plural legs. The leg tip, which is swung upward, separates from the corresponding outer magnetic pole of the opposite polarity because the movement of the leg is limited by the length thereof, and the leg tip is repulsed by the magnet of the same polarity positioned near the center. Consequently, the leg tips of the forelegs can be made to swing up, and the leg tips of the hind legs can be made to kick up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a horse racing game machine as an example of a model driving machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a four-legged model moving mechanism and a mobile drive unit included in the horse racing game machine;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a model horse as an example of the model;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the model horse;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the model horse;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a magnet reciprocating mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a partly omitted bottom view of the magnet reciprocating mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a view explaining motions of the four legs of the model horse at a first stage;

FIG. 9 is a view explaining motions of the four legs of the model horse at a next stage following the first stage;

FIG. 10 is a view explaining motions of the four legs of the model horse at a further stage;

FIG. 11 is a view explaining motions of the four legs of the model horse at a still further stage; and

FIG. 12 is a top view of a magnet reciprocating mechanism in a modification.

 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 . . . Horse racing game machine, 2 . . . Model moving unit, 3 . . . Model jockey, 4 . . . Base, 5 . . . Racetrack board, 6 . . . Satellite, 7 . . . Display screen, 8 . . . Control panel, 9 . . . Coin deposition slot, 10 . . . Coin refunding pocket, 11 . . . Arm, 12 . . . Canopy, 13 . . . Loudspeaker, 14 . . . Illuminating unit, 15 . . . Base board, 16 . . . Display,

20 . . . Model horse, 21 . . . Body, 21R and 21L . . . Body plates, 22 . . . Neck, 23 . . . Buttocks, 24L . . . Left foreleg, 24R . . . Right foreleg, 25L . . . Left hind leg, 25R . . . Right hind leg, 24L1, 24R1, 25L1 and 25R1 . . . Thighs, 24L2, 24R2, 25L2 and 25R2 . . . Shanks, 24L3, 24R3, 25L3 and 25R3 . . . Leg tips, Mfl, Mfr, Mrl and Mrr . . . Permanent magnets,

30 . . . Connecting plate, 31 . . . Cross bar, 32 . . . Pivotal pin, 33L and 33R . . . Through holes, 34 . . . Pivotal pin, 35L and 35R . . . Through holes, 36L, 36R, 37L and 37R . . . Slots, 38L, 38R, 39L and 39R . . . Guide pins, 40L, 40R, 41L and 41R . . . Pins,

50 and 51 . . . Thigh plates, 52 . . . Collar, 54 . . . Connecting pin, 55 . . . Bar link, 56 . . . Pin, 57 . . . Support pin,

60 and 61 . . . Thigh plates, 62 . . . Collar, 64 . . . Connecting pin, 65 . . . Bar link, 66 . . . Pin, 67 . . . Support pin,

70 . . . Upper interlocking mechanism, 71 . . . Pivotal pin, 72 . . . Swing arm, 73L . . . Left sliding member, 73R . . . Right sliding member, 74L and 74R . . . Pins,

80 . . . Lower interlocking mechanism, 82 . . . Swing arm, 83L . . . Left sliding member, 83R . . . Right sliding member,

150 . . . Four-legged model racing machine, 160 . . . Mobile drive unit, 161 . . . Case, 162 . . . Drive wheel, 163L and 63R . . . Wheels, 165 . . . In-wheel motor,

170 . . . Microcomputer, 172 . . . Motor drive circuit, 173 . . . Current collecting device, 180 . . . Magnet reciprocating mechanism, 181 . . . Case, 182L . . . Left guide slot, 182R . . . Right guide slot, 183 . . . Pivotal pin,

mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr . . . Pairs of permanent magnets, 184 . . . Permanent magnet, 185 . . . Container,

186 . . . Slide plate, 187 . . . Spring, Pfl, Pfr, Prl and Prr . . . Guide pins, Lfl, Lfr, Lrl and Lrr . . . Bar links, 188 . . . Guide pin, 190 and 191 . . . Cross bar links, 192 . . . Pin, 193 . . . Pin, 195 . . . Connecting bar, 196. . . Crank, 197 . . . Pin, 198 . . . Connecting bar, 199. . . Crank, 200 . . . Pin, 201 . . . Rotary shaft, 202 . . . Driven pulley, 205 . . . Motor, 206 . . . Drive pulley, 207 . . . Endless belt,

250 . . . Magnet reciprocating mechanism, 251 . . . Case, 252L . . . Left guide slot, 252R . . . Right guide slot

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a horse racing game machine 1 as an example of a model driving machine according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the horse racing game machine 1 is provided with a model moving device 2. Model horses 20, namely, four-legged models, run on the model moving device 2. Model jockeys 3 mount the model horses 20, respectively. The horse racing game machine 1 has a laterally elongate base 4, and a racetrack board 5 having the shape of an oval ring and supported on the base 4. The model horses 20 placed on the racetrack board 5 run on an oval racetrack formed on the top surface of the racetrack board 5.

Four satellites 6 are arranged at positions corresponding to the stands along each of the opposite long sides of the oval ring. Each of the satellites 6 is provided with a display screen 7, a control panel 8, a coin deposition slot 9 and a coin refund pocket 10. The control panel 8, the coin deposition slot 9 and the coin refund pocket 10 are arranged on the front side of the display screen. The control panel 8 is operated to bet money on an expected horse to win or a combination of horses to win.

In the horse racing game machine 1, an arm 11 is extended obliquely upward from one end of the base 4, and a canopy 12 is joined to the upper end of the arm 11. Loudspeakers 13 and an illuminating unit 14 are attached to the lower surface of the canopy 12. A display 16 is disposed on a middle part of the arm 11. The display 16 displays information including names and numbers of the horses, the frame numbers for the horses and bet rates.

Referring to FIG. 2, the model moving device 2 includes a four-legged model moving unit which is built by combining the model horse 20 on the racetrack board 5 and a mobile drive unit 160 disposed under the racetrack board 5. The model horse 20 runs on the racetrack board 5, following the free movement of the mobile drive unit 160 on a horizontal base board 15 disposed under the racetrack board 5.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show the model horse 20 in a side elevation, a top view and a front elevation, respectively. The model horse 20 has a body 21, a neck 22, a tail 23, and four legs 24L, 24R, 25L and 25R. The four legs 24L, 24R, 25L and 25R support the body 21 thereon. The neck 22 extends obliquely upward toward the front from a front part of the body 21. The tail 23 extends rearward from the rear part of the body 21.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the body 21, the left foreleg 24L and the right hind leg 25R. The right foreleg 24R and the left hind leg 25L, not shown in FIG. 5, are substantially the same in construction as the left foreleg 24L and the right hind leg 25R, respectively.

The body 21 is built by disposing a left body plate 21L and a right body plate 21R opposite to each other at a proper distance from each other and connecting the body plates 21L and 21R with a connecting plate 30 and a cross bar 31. The body plates 21L and 21R are provided in substantially central parts thereof with rectangular openings 21Lh and 21Rh. The connecting plate 30 is horizontally extended between the rectangular openings 21Lh and 21Rh so as to divide each of the rectangular openings 21Lh and 21Rh into upper and lower parts.

The body plates 21L and 21R are provided in their front parts with through holes 33L and 33R for receiving a pivotal pin 32 that pivotally support base end parts of the forelegs 24L and 24R, respectively. The body plates 21L and 21R are provided in their rear parts with through holes 35L and 35R for receiving a pivotal pin 34 that pivotally supports base end parts of the hind legs 25L and 25R, respectively. Longitudinal slots 36L and longitudinal slots 36R are formed at predetermined positions above and below the front through holes 33L and 33R, respectively. Longitudinal slots 37L and longitudinal slots 37R are formed at predetermined positions above and below the rear through holes 35L and 35R, respectively.

A guide pin 38L having the shape of a circular cylinder projects to the right from a position some distance behind the upper front slot 36L, and a guide pin 39L having the shape of a circular cylinder projects to the right from a position some distance in front of the lower rear slot 37L in the inner surface (right side surface) of the left body plate 21L.

A guide pin 38R having the shape of a circular cylinder projects to the left from a position some distance behind the front lower slot 36R, and a guide pin 39R having the shape of a circular cylinder projects to the left from a position some distance in front of the rear upper slot 37R in the inner surface (left side surface) of the right body plate 21R.

A pin 40L projects to the left from a position in the vicinity of a part of the outer surface (left side surface) of the left body plate 21L below a front part of the front lower slot 36L. A pin 41L projects to the left from a position in the vicinity of a part of the outer surface of the left body plate 21L below a rear part of the rear lower slot 37L. Similarly, pins 40R and 41R project to the right from the outer side surface (right side surface) of the right body plate 21R so as to correspond to the pins 40L and 41L, respectively. The body 21 is built generally in the foregoing construction.

The legs 24L, 24R, 25L and 25R have thighs 24L1, 24R1, 25L1 and 25R1, shanks 24L2, 24R2, 25L2 and 25R2, and leg tips 24L3, 24R3, 25L3 and 25R3, respectively. Those members are linked in a predetermined arrangement.

Referring to FIG. 5, the left foreleg 24L has the thigh 24L1 including an outer thigh plate 50 and an inner thigh plate 51 of the same outline. The paired thigh plates 50 and 51 are provided in central parts of base end parts thereof with through holes 50a and 51a, respectively. The above-mentioned pivotal pin 32 is inserted in the through holes 50a and 51a to support the thigh plates 50 and 51 so as to be swingable. A cylindrical collar 52 is interposed between the thigh plates 50 and 51 to leave a predetermined space between the thigh plates 50 and 51. The pivotal pin 32 is passed through the collar 52.

The inner thigh plate 51 is provided below the through hole 51a with an arcuate slot 51b having the shape of a circular arc having its center at the center of the through hole 51a. A connecting pin 53 projects to the right from a position above the through hole 51a. A base end part of the shank 24L2 is interposed between free end parts of the thigh plates 50 and 51. A pivotal pin 54 is passed through the free end parts of the thigh plates 50 and 51 and the base end part of the shank 24L2 to support the shank 24L2 pivotally on the free end parts of the thigh plates 50 and 51.

A bar link 55 is disposed in a space between the thigh plates 50 and 51. A front end part of the bar link 55 is pivotally supported by a pin 56 at a position near the pin 54 of the shank 24L2. When the base end parts of the outer thigh plate 50 and the inner thigh plate 51 are pivotally supported by the pivotal pin 32 in a manner to extend along the outer surface of the front part of the left body plate 21L, the front lower pin 40L is passed through the arcuate slot 51b and the base end part of the bar link 55 is pivotally supported by the pin 40L. The connecting pin 53 projecting to the right from the inner thigh plate 51 is extended through the slot 36L formed in the left body plate 21L.

When the thigh 24L1 supported by the pin 32 swings longitudinally, the bar link 55 having the base end supported by the pin 40L projecting from the left body plate 21L also swings. Then, the swing motion of the front end of the bar link 55 is transmitted by the pin 56 to a part of the shank 24L2 pivotally supported by the pivotal pin 54 on the thigh 24L1. Consequently, the shank 24L2 swings relative to the thigh 24L1 varying the angle between the thigh 24L1 and the shank 24L2.

The leg tip 24L3 is pivotally joined to the tip of the shank 24L2 by a pivotal pin 57. A permanent magnet Mfl is embedded in the leg tip 24L3 with the N pole thereof facing the underside of the leg tip 24L3.

The right foreleg 24R, not shown in FIG. 5, is symmetrical with the left foreleg 24L and is substantially the same in construction as the left foreleg 24L. A permanent magnet Mfr is embedded in the leg tip 24R3 with the N pole thereof facing the underside of the leg tip 24R3. The connecting pin of the right foreleg 24R corresponding to the connecting pin 53 of the left foreleg 24L extends through the front lower slot 36R of the right body plate 21R.

The right hind leg 25R will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The right hind leg 25R is the same in construction as the left foreleg 24L. The thigh 25R1 has an outer thigh plate 60 and an inner thigh plate 61. A collar 62 is interposed between the thigh plates 60 and 61. A pivotal pin 34 is extended through two through holes 60a and 61a.

The inner thigh plate 61 is provided with an arcuate slot 61b at a position below the through hole 61a. A connecting pin 63 projects to the left from a position above the through hole 61a. The connecting pin 63 extends through the upper slot 37R of the right body plate 21R into the space between the body plates 21R and 21L. A base end part of the shank 25R2 is disposed between free ends of the thigh plates 60 and 61. A pivotal pin 64 is passed through the base end part of the shank 25R2 to support the shank 25R2 on the thigh plates 60 and 61.

A bar link 65 placed in the space between the thigh plates 60 and 61 has a base end pivotally supported by a pin 41R projecting from a rear lower part of the right body plate 21R and extending through the arcuate slot 61b, and a front end pivotally supported by a pin 66 near the pivotal pin 64 on a part of the shank 25R2. A leg tip 25R3 is supported on the lower end of the shank 25R2 by a pivotal pin 67 so as to be longitudinally swingable. A permanent magnet Mrr is embedded in the leg tip 25$3 with the N pole thereof facing the underside (a lower end) of the leg tip 25R3.

The left hind leg 25L, not shown in FIG. 5, is symmetrical with the right hind leg 25R and is substantially the same in construction as the right hind leg 25R. A permanent magnet Mrl is embedded in the leg tip 25L3 with the N pole thereof facing the underside of the leg tip 25L3. A connecting pin of the left hind leg 25L corresponding to the connecting pin 63 of the right hind leg 25R is extended through the rear lower slot 37L of the left body plate 21L.

The four legs 24L, 24R, 25L and 25R are pivotally joined to the body 21. The left foreleg 24L and the right hind leg 25R are interlocked by an upper interlocking mechanism 70. The right foreleg 24R and the left hind leg 25L are interlocked by a lower interlocking mechanism 80 (FIG. 2).

Referring to FIG. 5, the upper interlocking mechanism 70 has a swing arm 72 supported pivotally by a vertical pivotal pin 71 on the connecting plate 30 extended between the right body plate 21R and the left body plate 21L.

A middle part of the swing arm 72 is supported pivotally by the pivotal pin 71 and has a left arm 72L and a right arm 72R extending in opposite directions, respectively, from the middle part. A left sliding member 73L has a rear end slightly loosely and pivotally joined to the free end of the left arm 72L by a pin 74L. A right sliding member 73R has a front end slightly loosely and pivotally joined to the free end of the right arm 72R by a pin 74R.

The left sliding member 73L has a longitudinally elongate flat, oval, vertical plate 73La, and a rear end part 73Lb extending rearward from the vertical plate 73. The rear end part 73Lb is joined pivotally to the left arm 72L by the pin 74L. The flat, oval, vertical plate 73La is provided with a through hole 73Lc and a guide slot 73Ld in a longitudinally arrangement.

The left sliding member 73L having the rear end part 73Lb pivotally joined to the free end of the left arm 72L of the swing arm 72 is disposed with the flat oval, vertical plate 73La extended along the inner surface of the left body plate 21L. The guide pin 38L projecting from the inner surface of the left body plate 72L is slidably engaged in the guide slot 73Ld. The projecting inward connecting pin 53 extending through the slot 36L is fitted in the through hole 73Lc. The left sliding member 73L held horizontally by the guide pin 38L engaged in the guide slot 73Ld and the connecting pin 53 extending through the slot 36L can slide longitudinally.

The right sliding member 73R is point-symmetrical with the left sliding member 73L with respect to the pivotal pin 71. As mentioned above, a front end part 73Rb extending forward from a flat, oval, vertical plate 73Ra is joined pivotally to the free end of the right arm 72R by the pin 74R. The guide pin 39R projecting inward from the inner surface of the right body plate 21R is slidably engaged in the guide slot 73Rd, and the inwardly projecting connecting pin 63 extending through the slot 37R is fitted in the through hole 73Rc.

The upper interlocking mechanism 70 thus formed interlocks the left foreleg 24L and the right hind leg 25R. When the left foreleg 24L swings rearward, the connecting pin 53 causes the left sliding member 73L to slide forward, and the pin 74L causes the swing arm 72 to turn clockwise as viewed from above. Consequently, the pin 74R attached to the free end of the right arm 72R causes the right sliding member 73R to slide forward. Consequently, the connecting pin 63 causes the right foreleg 25R to swing forward.

Thus the right hind leg 25R swings forward when the left foreleg 24L swings rearward such that the left foreleg 24L and the right hind leg 25R swing toward each other. The right hind leg 25R swings rearward when the left foreleg 24L swings forward such that the left foreleg 24L and the right hind leg 25R swing away from each other. The left foreleg 24L can exert force on the right hind leg 25R, and the right hind leg 25R can exert force on the left foreleg 24L.

The lower interlocking mechanism 80 (FIG. 2) interlocking the right foreleg 24R and the left hind leg 25L is the same in construction as the interlocking mechanism 70. A swing arm 82 (FIG. 2) included in the lower interlocking mechanism 80 is supported pivotally by the vertical pivotal pin 71 on the lower surface of the connecting plate 30. A right sliding member connected to a right end part of the swing arm 82 slides longitudinally when the right foreleg 24R swings. A left sliding member connected to a left end part of the swing arm 82 slides longitudinally when the left hind leg 25L swings. The right foreleg 24R and the left hind leg 25L are interlocked so as to swing toward and away from each other.

The neck 22 is supported on the pivotal pin 32 for swinging. The connecting pin 53 substantially longitudinally reciprocated by the left foreleg 24L swings the neck 22 longitudinally. The tail 23 is supported on the pivotal pin 34 for swinging. The tail 23 is swung up and down by the connecting pin 63 which is reciprocated substantially longitudinally by the swinging movement of the right hind leg 25R.

The four legs 24L, 24R, 25L and 25R of the model horse 20 are set up on the racetrack board 5.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, each of the mobile drive units 160, which is separated from the model horses 20 by the racetrack board 5 and disposed under the racetrack board 5, has a flat rectangular case 161 having an elongated shape with a longer longitudinal size and a shorter transverse size or width. The case 161 is supported on right and left drive wheels 162 at the middle of the case 161 with respect to the length, a front wheel 163F and a rear wheel 163R. The front wheel 163F and the rear wheel 163R are at the middle with respect to the width of the case 161. The case 161 is thus movable.

The paired drive wheels 162 are driven for rotation by in-wheel motors 165, respectively. The working speed of the right and the left in-wheel motor 162 is controlled to control the traveling speed and the traveling direction of the drive unit 160.

A motor drive circuit 172 for driving the in-wheel motors 165 is placed in the case 161. A microcomputer 170 gives motor control signals to the motor drive circuit 172. The drive wheels 162, the in-wheel motors 165, the motor drive circuit 172 and the microcomputer 170 are components of a drive mechanism of the mobile drive unit 160.

As is generally known, a current collecting device 173 is placed in the case 161. Plural current collector shoes 173a projecting from the current collecting device 173 are placed in contact with power feed lines laid on the upper surface of the base board 15 to supply power from an external power source. The power feed lines may be laid on the lower surface of the racetrack board 5. The drive unit 160 may have a charging device for the motors.

Each mobile drive unit 160 is provided with the microcomputer 170 and the motor drive circuit 172. A host computer controls the microcomputers 170 of the mobile drive units 160 in a centralized control mode. Control information provided by the host computer is transmitted to the microcomputers 170 by means of infrared rays and so on.

The drive unit 160 may be not provided with the microcomputer 170 and the control signals may be given directly to the motor drive circuit 172 or the like by a computer for centralized control to control driving operations.

A magnet reciprocating mechanism 180 for swinging the four legs 24L, 24R, 25L and 25R of the model horse 20 is disposed in an upper part of the case 161 of the drive unit 160. The magnet reciprocating mechanism 180 is a linkage provided in a flat, tubular case 181 having a longitudinally long, rectangular upper plate 181u, a longitudinally long, rectangular lower plate 181l disposed under the upper plate 181u, and right and left side plates 181s (FIG. 7).

Referring to FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, a pivotal pin 183 is set in a vertical position in a central part of a space between the upper plate 181u and the lower plate 181l. The upper plate 181u is provided with a longitudinal left guide slot 182L and a longitudinal right guide slot 182R extending parallel to each other on the opposite sides of the pivotal pin 183, respectively. Four pairs of permanent magnets mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr each provided with a pair of permanent magnets 184 arranged longitudinally adjacently are guided by the guide slots 182L and 183R for longitudinal reciprocation.

The left front permanent magnet pair mfl and the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl are arranged longitudinally on the left guide slot 182L. The right front permanent magnet pair mfr and the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr are arranged longitudinally on the right guide slot 182R.

Each of the four permanent magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr is fitted in an oval container 185 with the respective N and S magnetic poles of the paired permanent magnets 184 facing up.

Referring to FIG. 8, the respective rear permanent magnets 184, with respect to a moving direction, of the left front permanent magnet pair mfl and the right front permanent magnet pair mfr are magnetized to be the N poles facing upward toward the N poles of the permanent magnets Mfl and Mfr facing the undersides of the leg tips, attached to the corresponding leg tips 24L3 and 24R3. The respective front permanent magnets 184, with respect to the moving direction, of the left front permanent magnet pair mfl and the right front permanent magnet pair mfr are magnetized to be the S poles facing upward toward the N poles of the permanent magnets Mfl and Mfr. The respective front permanent magnets 184, with respect to the moving direction, of the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl and the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr are magnetized to be the N poles facing upward toward the N poles of the permanent magnets Mrl and Mrr facing the undersides of the leg tips, attached to the corresponding leg tips 25L3 and 25R3. The respective rear permanent magnets 184, with respect to the moving direction, of the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl and the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr are magnetized to be the S poles facing up toward the N poles of the permanent magnets Mrl and Mrr facing the undersides of the leg tips, attached to the corresponding leg tips 25L3 and 25R3.

Referring to FIG. 2, oval slide plates 186 are placed under the containers 185 of the four permanent magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr, respectively, in sliding contact with the upper surface of the upper plate 181u. Guide pins Pfl and Pfr project downward from the lower surfaces of the containers 185 containing the permanent magnet pairs mfl and mfr on the front side with respect to the moving direction at positions corresponding to the front permanent magnets 184, respectively. The guide pins Pfl and Pfr extend through the slide plates 186 and the guide slots 182L and 182R, respectively, and project into the case 181. Springs 187 are disposed between each container 185 and the slide plate 186 corresponding to the container 185. Guide pins Prl and Prr project downward from the lower surfaces of the containers 185 containing the permanent magnet pairs mfl and mfr on the rear side with respect to the moving direction at positions corresponding to the rear permanent magnets 184, respectively. The guide pins Prl and Prr extend through the slide plates 186 and the guide slots 182L and 182R, respectively, and project into the case 181. Springs 187 are disposed between each container 185 and the slide plate 186 corresponding to the container 185.

Short guide pins 188 extend from the lower surfaces of the containers 185 containing the permanent magnet pairs mfl and mfr at positions corresponding to the rear permanent magnets 184 contained in the container 185. The guide pins 188 extend through the slide plates 186 and the guide slots 182L and 182R and project into the case 181. Short guide pins 188 extend from the lower surfaces of the containers 185 containing the permanent magnet pairs mrl and mrr at positions corresponding to the front permanent magnets 184 contained in the container 185. The guide pins 188 extend through the slide plates 186 and the guide slots 182L and 182R and project into the case 181. Springs 187 are disposed between each container 185 and the slide plate 186 corresponding to the container 185.

Thus the four permanent magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr can reciprocate longitudinally along the guide slots 182L and 182R without changing its position as the guide pins Pfl, Pfr, Prl and Prr and the guide pins 188 move along the guide slots 182L and 182R.

The guide pins Pfl, Pfr, Prl and Prr projecting into the case 181 are pivotally connected to horizontally swingable bar links Lfl, Lfr, Lrl and Lrr, respectively. Middle parts of cross bar links 190 and 191 are pivotally supported for horizontal turning on the pivotal pin 183 so as to intersect each other

The cross bar link 190 has opposite ends connected to ends of the bar links Lfl and Lfr by pins 192, respectively. The other cross bar link 191 has opposite ends connected to ends of the bar links Lfr and Lrl by pins 193, respectively.

The left front permanent magnet pair mfl and the right permanent magnet pair mrr diagonally opposite to each other are interlocked by the cross bar link 190 so as to move longitudinally toward and away from each other. Similarly, the right permanent magnet pair mfr and the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl diagonally opposite to each other are interlocked by the cross bar link 191 so as to move longitudinally toward and away from each other.

A longitudinally extending long connecting bar 195 has a rear end thereof pivotally connected to the guide pin Pfl projecting from the container 185 of the left front permanent magnet pair mfl, and a front end of the same is pivotally connected to a crank 196 by a pin 197 to form a slider crank mechanism. The connecting bar 195 extends into a space outside the case 181.

Similarly, a longitudinally extending long connecting bar 198 has a rear end pivotally connected to the guide pin Pfr projecting from the container 185 of the right front permanent magnet pair mfr, and a front end of the same is pivotally connected to a crank 199 by a pin 200 to form a slider crank mechanism. The connecting bar 198 extends into a space outside the case 181.

The cranks 196 and 199 are attached to a rotary shaft 201 so as to extend at an angle of 90° to each other. A driven pulley 202 is mounted on the rotary shaft 201 at a position between the cranks 196 and 199.

A motor 205 is disposed in the front right corner of the lower plate 181l of the case 181. The drive shaft 205a of the motor 205 projects upward through the lower plate 181l into the case 181. A drive pulley 206 is mounted on a part of the drive shaft 205a extending in the case 181. An endless belt 207 is extended between the drive pulley 206 and the driven pulley 202.

When the motor 205 is actuated, the endless belt 207 turns to rotate the rotary shaft 201, and the cranks 196 and 199 turn. The turning crank 196 drives the connecting bar 195 to reciprocate the left front permanent magnet pair mfl longitudinally. Reciprocating motions of the left front permanent magnet pair mfl are transmitted through the bar link Lfl, the cross bar link 190 and the bar link Lrr to the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr to reciprocate the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr longitudinally.

The turning crank 199 drives the connecting bar 198 to reciprocate the right front permanent magnet pair mfr longitudinally. Reciprocating motions of the right front permanent magnet pair mfr are transmitted through the bar link Lfr, the cross bar link 191 and the bar link Lrl to the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl to reciprocate the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl longitudinally.

The operation of the motor 205 is controlled by the microcomputer 170.

A mode in which the model horse 20 gallops when the four permanent magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr are reciprocated longitudinally by driving the motor 205 to swing the four legs 24L, 24R, 25L and 25R of the model horse 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11 showing galloping stages in time series.

In FIGS. 8 to 11, the permanent magnet pairs mfr and mrr positioned close to the racetrack board 5 among the four permanent magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr under the racetrack board 5 are on the right side with respect to the moving direction of the model horse 20, and the permanent magnet pairs mfl and mrl positioned downwardly remote from the racetrack board 5 are on the left side with respect to the moving direction of the model horse 20. In FIGS. 8 to 11, the polarities of the upper magnetic poles of the permanent magnets 184 are indicated.

As mentioned previously, the N poles of all the permanent magnets Mfl, Mfr, Mrl and Mrr embedded in the leg tips 24L3, 24R3, 25L3 and 25R3 of the four legs 24L, 24R, 25L and 25R of the model hose 20 face the undersides of the leg tips 24L3, 24R3, 25L3 and 25R3.

In a state shown in FIG. 8, the left front permanent magnet pair mfl and the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr are in mutually close positions, and the permanent magnet Mfl of the left foreleg 24L is attracted by the S pole of the front permanent magnet 184 of the left front permanent magnet pair mfl under the racetrack board 5. Similarly, the permanent magnet Mrr of the right hind leg 25R is attracted by the S pole of the rear permanent magnet 184 of the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr under the racetrack board 5. The two legs, namely, the left foreleg 24L and the right hind leg 25R, support the body of the model horse 20. The right front permanent magnet pair mfr and the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl are longitudinally apart from each other, and the right foreleg 24R and the left hind leg 25L are forced to swing up forward and swing up rearward, respectively, by repulsive forces acting between the N pole of the inner permanent magnet 184 of the right front permanent magnet pair mfr and the N pole of the permanent magnet Mfr and between the N pole of the inner permanent magnet 184 of the rear left permanent magnet pair mrl and the N pole of the permanent magnet Mrl. The front permanent magnet 184 having the S pole facing up of the left front permanent magnet pair mfl and the rear permanent magnet 184 having the S pole facing up of the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr are on the “outer side” (on the front side and on the rear side) of the respective N poles of the left front permanent magnet pair mfl and the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr, respectively, with respect to the central part of the case 161 of the mobile drive unit 160 where the pivotal pin 183 is disposed. On the other hand, the S poles of the same permanent magnet pairs are on the “inner side” (near the central part) of the S poles of the same permanent magnet pairs with respect to the central part of the case 161 of the mobile drive unit 160. The relation between the polarities of the permanent magnets expressed by the terms “outer side” and “inner side” applies also to the other permanent magnet pairs mfr and mrl.

The motor 205 turns the cranks 196 and 199 clockwise, as viewed from above, through an angle of about 90°. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the left front permanent magnet pair mfl and the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr are moved away from each other, and the right front permanent magnet pair mfr and the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl are moved toward each other. Consequently, the left foreleg 24L and the right hind leg 25R swing away from each other. When the left foreleg 24L swings forward beyond a position limited by the length of the left foreleg 24L, the left front permanent magnet Mfl moves away from the front permanent magnet 184 of the left front permanent magnet pair mfl and is moved up forward like kicking by a repulsive force acting between the left front permanent magnet Mfl and the front permanent magnet 184 of the same polarity of the left front permanent magnet pair mfl. When the right hind leg 25R swings rearward beyond a position limited by the length of the right hind leg 25R, the right rear permanent magnet Mrr moves away from the front permanent magnet 184 of the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr and is moved up rearward like kicking by a repulsive force acting between the right rear permanent magnet Mrr and the front permanent magnet 184 of the same polarity of the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr.

Then, the right foreleg 24R and the left hind leg 25L are moved toward each other, the permanent magnet Mfr and the permanent magnet Mrl are attracted by attractive forces acting between the permanent magnet Mfr and the outer permanent magnet 184, i.e., the front permanent magnet 184 of the right front permanent magnet pair mfr and between the permanent magnet Mrl and the outer permanent magnet 184, namely, the rear permanent magnet 184, of the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl, respectively. Thus the body of the model horse 20 is supported by the right foreleg 24R and the left hind leg 25L.

The cranks 196 and 199 are turned further clockwise, as viewed from above, through an angle of about 90°. Then, the left front permanent magnet pair mfl and the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr are moved toward each other as shown in FIG. 10 after being moved away further from each other, and the right front permanent magnet pair mfr and the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl approach gradually each other. Consequently, the left foreleg 24L and the right hind leg 25R swing toward each other after swinging away from each other. The right foreleg 24R and the left hind leg 25L supporting the body of the model horse 20 and attracted by the outer permanent magnet 184, namely, the front permanent magnet 184, of the right front permanent magnet mfr and the outer permanent magnet 184, namely, the rear permanent magnet 184, of the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl move further toward each other.

The cranks 196 and 199 are turned further clockwise through an angle of about 90°. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the left front permanent magnet pair mfl and the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr are moved further toward each other, and the right front permanent magnet pair mfr and the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl are moved away from each other. Consequently, the left foreleg 24L and the right hind leg 25R are turned toward each other, the permanent magnet Mfl and the permanent magnet Mrr thereof are attracted by the outer (front side) permanent magnet 184, namely, the front permanent magnet 184, of the left front permanent magnet pair mfr and the outer (rear side) permanent magnet 184, namely, the rear permanent magnet 184, of the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr, respectively, and the left foreleg 24L and the right hind leg 25R support the body of the model horse 20. The respective permanent magnets Mfr and Mrl of the right foreleg 24R and the left hind leg 25L under the attractive forces of the S poles of the outer permanent magnets 184 of the permanent magnets Mfr and Mrl, namely, the respective front and rear permanent magnets 184 of the permanent magnets Mfr and Mrl, are repulsed by the N poles of the inner permanent magnets 184. Consequently, the right foreleg 24R and the left hind leg 25L are turned upward.

When, the cranks 196 and 199 are turned clockwise through an angle of about 90°, the model force 20 is set again in a state shown in FIG. 8.

When the motor 205 thus drives the cranks 196 and 199 for turning, the magnet reciprocating mechanism 180 reciprocates the four permanent magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr longitudinally along the guide slots 182L and 182R. Consequently, the four legs 24L, 24R, 25L and 25R are swung while the body of the model horse 20 is supported always by at least the two legs.

The four permanent magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr, while they are reciprocating longitudinally, move along the lower surface of the racetrack board 5 as the mobile drive unit 160 travels. Consequently, the model horse 20 gallops, while swinging the four legs 24L, 24R, 25L and 25R, on the racetrack board 5, following the permanent magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr.

Since the forelegs 24L and 24R swing up forward and the left hind leg 25L and the right hind leg 25R swing up rearward as the model hose 20 gallops, the legs can make motions similar to those of the legs of a galloping actual horse and do not give an unnatural impression.

As mentioned above, the left foreleg 24L and the right hind leg 25R are interlocked by the upper interlocking mechanism 70, and the right foreleg 24R and the left hind leg 25L are interlocked by the lower interlocking mechanism 80. Therefore, the legs swing smoothly because both the front and the rear legs urge each other to swing the legs, and the body 21 of the model horse 20 can be supported always in a natural position at the center of an area in which the four legs 24L, 24R, 25L and 25R move.

The four legs 24L, 1243R, 25L and 25R of the model horse 20 are made to swing by reciprocating the four permanent magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr by the simple magnet reciprocating mechanism 180. Therefore, any electromagnets and any wiring for electromagnets are unnecessary, and hence the horse racing game machine is simple in construction and can be manufactured at low cost.

The permanent magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr may be reciprocated by a ball-screw mechanism instead of by turning the cranks 196 and 199 by the motor 205. In this case, the permanent magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr can be driven by using two ball-screw mechanisms and a motor, while retaining the cross bar link 190 for moving the left front permanent magnet pair mfl and the right rear permanent magnet pair mrr, and the cross bar link 191 for moving the right front permanent magnet pair mfr and the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl.

A magnet reciprocating mechanism 250, which is a modification of the magnet reciprocating mechanism 180, will be described with reference to FIG. 12.

In the magnet reciprocating mechanism 250, a left guide slot 252L and a right guide slot 252R parallel to the left guide slot 252L formed in an upper plate 251u of a case 251 are different from the guide slots 182L and 182R of the case 181 in that opposite end parts of the guide slots 252L and 252R are curved outward. The magnet reciprocating mechanism 250 is the same in other respects as the magnet reciprocating mechanism 180 and hence members thereof corresponding to those of the magnet reciprocating mechanism 180 are designated by the same reference characters.

The opposite end parts of the left guide slot 252L are curved smoothly to the left to form a front curved section 252Lf and a rear curved section 252Lr. The opposite end parts of the right guide slot 252R are curved smoothly to the right to form a front curved section 252Rf and a rear curved section 252Rr.

While containers 185 holding permanent magnet pairs mfl, mfr, mrl and mrr are in straight sections of the left guide slot 252L and the right guide slot 252R, the two paired permanent magnets 184 are arranged longitudinally adjacent to each other along the straight section of each of the guide slots 252L and 252R. When the container 185 reaches the curved sections 252Lf or 252Lr (or 252Rf or 252Rr), a guide pin Pfl or Prl (or Pfr or Prr) projecting downward from a position corresponding to the outer one of the magnets 184 turn away to the left (or to the right) along the curved section 252Lf or 252Lr (or 252Rf or 252Rr) from the straight section of the left guide slot 252L (or the right guide slot 252R).

For example, in the state shown in FIG. 12 similar to the state shown in FIG. 8, a left front permanent magnet pair mfl in the straight section of the left guide slot 252L and a right rear permanent magnet pair mrr in the straight section of the right guide slot 252R are close to each other, whereas a right front permanent magnet pair mfr in the front curved section 252Rf of the right guide slot 252R, and a left rear permanent magnet pair mrl in the rear curved section 252Lr are apart from each other. In this state, the front magnet 184 of the right front permanent magnet pair mfr and the rear magnet 184 of the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl are dislocated to the right from the straight section of the right guide slot 252R and to the left from the straight section of the left guide slot 252L, respectively. Consequently, containers 185 containing those magnets 184 extend obliquely to the right and to the left, respectively.

The left foreleg 24L and the left hind leg 25L of the model horse 20 swing along the straight section of the left guide slot 252L, the right foreleg 24R and the right hind leg 25R swing along the straight section of the right guide slot 252R. Therefore, the permanent magnet Mfr attached to the right foreleg 24R is attracted and moved forward by the front permanent magnet 184 of the right front permanent magnet pair mfr. When the right front permanent magnet pair mfr reaches the front curved section 252Rf of the right guide slot 252R and the front permanent magnet 184 of the same moves to the right from the straight section of the right guide slot 252R, the front permanent magnet 184 deviates from a path along which the permanent magnet Mfr attached to the right foreleg 24R swings. Consequently, the permanent magnet Mfr is released smoothly from the attraction of the front permanent magnet 184 and is repulsed by the rear permanent magnet 184 so as to swing up forward.

Similarly, the permanent magnet Mrl attached to the left hind leg 25R is attracted and moved rearward by the rear permanent magnet 184 of the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl. When the left rear permanent magnet pair mrl reaches the rear curved section 252Lr of the left guide slot 252L and the rear permanent magnet 184 of the same moves to the left from the straight section of the left guide slot 252R, the rear permanent magnet 184 deviates from a path along which the permanent magnet Mrl attached to the left hind leg 25R swings. Consequently, the permanent magnet Mrl is released smoothly from the attraction of the rear permanent magnet 184 and is repulsed by the front permanent magnet 184 so as to swing up rearward.

The magnetic attraction acting on the leg tips can be quickly and smoothly removed at a predetermined position and the leg tips can be made to kick up by curving the opposite end parts of the right guide slot to the right and curving the opposite end parts of the left guide slot to the left. Therefore, the length of the guide slots 252L and 252R can be reduced and the size of the case 251 can be slightly reduced.

The present invention is not limited in its practical application to models each having four legs but is applicable to models each having plural legs, such as insects each having six legs and human being having two legs. The present invention is applicable not only to model animals but also to boats which move by working on plural oars, which correspond to the legs.

The present invention is applicable not only to a machine in which a model moves together with a drive unit separated from the model by a racetrack board forming a partition board, but also to a machine in which a model is held stationary at a fixed position and a drive unit drives only legs for motions. The relation between the N and the S pole mentioned above may be reversed.

Claims

1. A model driving machine comprising: a partition board; a model having a body and plural legs supporting the body and being movable on the partition board; and a drive unit disposed under the partition board to operate the model:

wherein the plural legs of the model are pivotally joined to the body so as to swing back and forth;
the plural legs have leg tips, respectively, each of the leg tips having a magnet attached thereto with one of magnetic poles thereof facing an underside of the leg tip; and
the drive unit includes: adjacently arranged plural magnet pairs respectively corresponding to the leg tips of the legs, the magnet pairs being movable back and forth along a lower surface of the partition board, each of the magnet pairs including front and rear magnets adjacently arranged longitudinally with magnetic poles thereof respectively of different polarities facing upward; and a reciprocating drive mechanism for driving the magnet pairs for longitudinal reciprocation to make the plural legs swing by making magnetic forces of the magnet pairs act on the magnets attached to the leg tips of the plural legs of the model.

2. The model driving machine according to claim 1, wherein an inner one of the longitudinally arranged front and rear magnets of each of the magnet pairs is magnetized to have same polarity as that of the magnet in the corresponding leg tip, and an outer one of the front and rear magnets of each of the magnet pairs is magnetized to have opposite polarity to that of the magnet in the corresponding leg tip.

3. The model driving machine according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is movable by a moving mechanism.

4. The model drive machine according to claim 1, wherein the reciprocating drive mechanism has guide slots for longitudinally guiding the plural magnet pairs and includes a crank mechanism connecting the magnet pairs and a drive means for driving the crank mechanism.

5. A model driving machine comprising: a partition board; a model having a body and four legs supporting the body and being movable on the partition board; and a mobile drive unit disposed under the partition board to operate the model:

wherein the four legs of the model are pivotally joined to the body so as to swing back and forth:
the four legs have leg tips, respectively, each of the leg tips having a magnet attached thereto with one of magnetic poles thereof facing an underside of the leg tip;
the mobile drive unit is movable under the partition board;
the mobile drive unit is provided with four magnet pairs adjacently arranged under the board, the four magnet pairs being reciprocatingly movable longitudinally and respectively corresponding to the four legs, each of the magnet pairs including front and rear magnets adjacently arranged longitudinally with magnetic poles thereof respectively of different polarities facing upward; and
the mobile drive unit includes a reciprocating drive mechanism for reciprocating the four magnet pairs longitudinally to make the four legs swing by making magnetic forces of the four magnet pairs act on the magnets attached to the leg tips of the four legs.

6. The model drive machine according to claim 5, wherein the four legs include right and left forelegs and right and left hind legs; and

the reciprocating drive mechanism is provided with a left front magnet pair, a right front magnet pair, a left rear magnet pair and a right rear magnet pair respectively corresponding to the left foreleg, the right foreleg, the left hind leg and the right hind leg, the reciprocating drive mechanism being operative to reciprocate the four magnet pairs such that the left front magnet pair and the right rear magnet pair move toward and away from each other, and the right front magnet pair and the left rear magnet pair move toward and away from each other.

7. The model drive machine according to claim 6, wherein the reciprocating drive mechanism includes:

a first cross linkage interlocking the left front magnet pair and the right rear magnet pair;
a second cross linkage interlocking the right front magnet pair and the left rear magnet pair;
a common pivotal pin pivotally joining the first and second cross linkages together in a mutually intersecting state;
a drive mechanism for rotationally driving the first and second cross linkages;
a first guide slot for guiding the left front magnet pair and the left rear magnet pair; and
a second guide slot for guiding the right front magnet pair and the right rear magnet pair, the second guide slot being parallel to the first guide slot.

8. The model drive machine according to claim 7, wherein corresponding opposite end parts of the first and second guide slots are curved away from each other.

9. A drive unit magnetically interlocked through a partition board with a model having a body and plural legs supporting the body and respectively having leg tips, said drive unit comprising:

plural magnet pairs adjacently arranged under the partition board for longitudinal reciprocation so as to act on the leg tips of the plural legs of the model, each of the magnet pairs including front and rear magnets adjacently arranged longitudinally with magnetic poles thereof respectively of different polarities facing upward; and
a reciprocating drive mechanism for longitudinally reciprocating the plural magnet pairs.

10. A model magnetically interlocked through a partition board with a drive unit and having a body and plural legs supporting the body, each of the legs including a thigh, a shank having a base end pivotally joined to an extremity of the thigh, and a leg tip pivotally joined to another extremity of the shank:

wherein the thigh and the shank are connected by a bar link such that the thigh and the shank can turn relative to each other; and
a magnet on which magnetic force of the driving unit acts is attached to each of the leg tips with one of magnetic poles thereof facing an underside of the leg tip.
Patent History
Publication number: 20090270184
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 26, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 29, 2009
Inventor: Naoji Kumagai (Tokyo)
Application Number: 12/158,815
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Magnetically Propelled Object (463/61); Magnet Or Member Moves Along Partition Surface (446/135); Figure Movable Along Endless Path (446/332)
International Classification: A63F 9/14 (20060101); A63H 18/14 (20060101); A63H 11/20 (20060101);