BACKSPIN TOY

Abstract

A backspin toy includes a running body including a flywheel, a starting base including a starting unit, and a torque giving unit. The torque giving unit gives torque to travel backward to the flywheel in a state in which the running body is kept on the starting base. The starting unit hits the running body so as to give force to travel forward to the running body in a state in which the torque is given to the flywheel, thereby catapulting the running body forward with backspin. The running body including the flywheel, to which the torque is given, and being catapulted forward, travels backward by the torque given to the flywheel in response to reaching a limit point of the force to travel forward.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a backspin toy.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. sho 52-9586 (Patent Document 1), there is known a running toy including a flywheel to give inertial torque to a wheel of a running body, which slides down an inclined running surface, so as to make the running body run as far as possible.

Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. sho 62-298389 (Patent Document 2), there is known a starting device for a toy car, the starting device in which a starting unit is operated after torque is accumulated in a flywheel-type drive mechanism connected to a drive wheel of the toy car, so as to start the toy car by drive of the drive wheel by the torque released from the drive mechanism, and accordingly the velocity of the toy car does not rapidly decrease.

Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. hei 8-5758 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,417; Patent Document 3), there is known a starting device for a running toy, the starting device which stably starts the running toy at a high initial velocity by using a flywheel as a drive wheel of the running toy.

All the technologies disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are to start a toy vehicle at a high initial velocity by utilizing driving force of a flywheel so as to make the vehicle run as far as possible, but make the vehicle run only in one direction. Hence, the movement itself is monotonous.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in view of the circumstances, and objects of the present invention include providing a backspin toy which makes unexpected movement.

In order to achieve at least one of the objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a backspin toy including: a running body including a flywheel which constitutes or is connected to a wheel, and is supported by a shaft; a starting base which keeps the running body at a predetermined position in a state in which the flywheel freely rotates; a torque giving unit which gives torque to travel backward to the flywheel in a state in which the running body is kept on the starting base; and a stating unit included in the starting base, the starting unit which hits the running body so as to give force to travel forward to the running body in a state in which the torque is given to the flywheel by the torque giving unit, thereby catapulting the running body forward with backspin, wherein the running body including the flywheel, to which the torque is given by the torque giving unit, and being catapulted forward by the starting unit, travels backward by the torque given to the flywheel in response to reaching a limit point of the force to travel forward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The present invention is fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended to limit the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a backspin toy in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is an exploded plan view of a running body;

FIG. 2B is an exploded lateral view of the running body viewed from the left side;

FIG. 3A is a plan view of the running body;

FIG. 3B is a lateral view of the running body viewed from the left side;

FIG. 3C is a front view of the running body;

FIG. 3D is a lateral view of the running body viewed from the right side;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a meshing relationship between a pinion and a rack belt viewed from a lateral side;

FIG. 5A is a plan view of a starting base;

FIG. 5B is a plan view of the starting base with the upper part thereof removed;

FIG. 5C is a front view of the starting base;

FIG. 5D is a lateral view of the starting base viewed from the right side;

FIG. 6A is a lateral view showing a configuration of a right wall of the starting base;

FIG. 6B is a lateral view showing a configuration of a left wall of the starting base;

FIG. 7A is an exploded perspective view of a stating unit;

FIG. 7B is a lateral view of the stating unit viewed from the left side;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body is housed in the starting base, and the rack belt is attached thereto;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body housed in the starting base is about to start;

FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body has started from the starting base;

FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body catches a target;

FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing a state in which the running body, which has caught the target, travels backward;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a backspin toy in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12A is a plan view of a running body;

FIG. 12B is a front view of the running body;

FIG. 12C is a lateral view of the running body viewed from the right side;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a connecting mechanism of the backspin toy shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting mechanism of the backspin toy shown in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, embodiments of the present invention are descried with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a backspin toy 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The backspin toy 100 includes a starting base 10, a running body 30, a rack belt 50 and targets 70. In the present specification, the words “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” with respect to the running body 30 respectively indicate the “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” in a forward direction of the running body 30, the forward direction in which the running 30 normally travels. In addition, the words “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” with respect to the starting base 10 respectively indicate the “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” in a direction from the center of the starting base 10 to an entrance/exit thereof.

FIG. 2A is an exploded plan view of the running body 30, and FIG. 2B is an exploded lateral view of the running body 30 viewed from the left side. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the running body 30, FIG. 3B is a lateral view of the running body 30 viewed from the left side, FIG. 3C is a front view of the running body 30, and FIG. 3D is a lateral view of the running body 30 viewed from the right side.

The running body 30 includes a core body 32, a first holder 33 and a second holder 34. A flywheel 31, which constitutes a main wheel having a large diameter, is attached to the core body 32. The first holder 33 is detachably attached to the front part of the core body 32. The second holder 34 is detachably attached to the back part of the core body 32. In the first embodiment, the running body 30 is constituted of the core body 32, the first holder 33 and the second holder 34. However, the core body 32, the first holder 33 and the second holder 34 may be configured as one component. Alternatively, the core body 32 and the first holder 33 or the second holder 34 may be configured as one component.

The core body 32 includes first swelling parts 35 on the right side and the left side (a right first swelling part 35 and a left first swelling part 35). Each first swelling part 35 is in the shape of a trapezoid in a planar view and in the shape of a rectangle in a lateral view. A right second swelling part 36 is disposed above the right first swelling part 35. A left second swelling part 36 is disposed on the left first swelling part 35. Each second swelling part 36 is in the shape of a trapezoid in a planar view. The second swelling parts 36 are smaller than the first swelling parts 35 in a planar view.

As shown in FIGS. 3C and 4, a gap is provided between the upper face of the right first swelling part 35 and the lower face of the right second swelling part 36. The gap constitutes a rack belt insertion part 37, and the rack belt 50 can be inserted into the rack belt insertion part 37 from the right side of the core body 32. On the other hand, no gap is provided between the upper face of the left first swelling part 35 and the lower face of the left second swelling part 36. That is, the left second swelling part 36 is thicker than the right second swelling part 36, and is disposed on the left first swelling part 35. However, a gap may be provided between the upper face of the left first swelling part 35 and the lower face of the left second swelling part 36 by forming the left second swelling part 36 in such a way as to have the same thickness as the right second swelling part 36.

The flywheel 31 is attached to the center of the core body 32 in a planer view. The flywheel 31 is attached to the core body 32 in such a way that the right end face and the left end face, which are flat, of the flywheel 31 face the left side and the right side, respectively. A right shaft 31a and a left shaft 31a are attached to the right end face and the left end face of the flywheel 31, respectively. The right shaft 31a and the left shaft 31a are supported by the core body 32. As shown in FIGS. 3C and 4, a pinion (an input gear) 38 is fixed to the right shaft 31a at a point corresponding to the rack belt insertion part 37. The pinion 38 rotates with the right shaft 31a. The edge of the pinion 38 slightly comes out from the upper face of the right first swelling part 35 so that teeth 38a of the pinion 38 mesh with teeth 52a of the rack belt 50 at the rack belt insertion part 37.

The first holder 33 holds a tape T1, which is one of a loop tape and a hook tape constituting a hook-and-loop fastener. As shown in FIG. 2A, the first holder 33 is configured in such a way that protrusions 33b face each other. The protrusions 33b extend in the up-down direction along a right wall and a left wall of the first holder 33, respectively. The right wall and the left wall are formed at the back end of the first holder 33, and define a notch part 33a. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2B, recesses 32a are formed on the right side and the left side of the core body 32, respectively. The recesses 32a extend in the up-down direction so that the protrusions 33b of the first holder 33 engage with the recesses 32a one-to-one. (In FIG. 2B, only the recess 32a on the left side is shown.) The recesses 32a of the core body 32 and the protrusions 33b of the first holder 33 are aligned on the lower side of the core body 32, and the first holder 33 is moved upward toward the core body 32, so that the recesses 32a and the protrusions 33b engage with each other. Thus, the first holder 33 is attached to the core body 32. The first holder 33 is detached from the core body 32 in the reverse procedure.

The configuration for the attachment of the first holder 33 to the core body 32 is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, the first holder 33 may be attached to or detached from the core body 32 in such a way that one of a recess part and a protrusion part is formed on the back face of the first holder 33 and the other thereof is formed on the front face of the core body 32, and the back face of the first holder 33 is moved close to or away from the front face of the core body 32 so that the recess part engages with or disengages from the protrusion part. Alternatively, the first holder 33 may be attached to or detached from the core body 32 by using magnetic force.

By making the first holder 33 attachable to and detachable from the core body 32, the following can be done.

That is, a plurality of first holders 33 having tapes T1 different in size and being exchangeable are prepared, so that adhesiveness of the backspin toy 100 changes by exchanging the first holders 33 to be attached to the core body 32. Accordingly, variety can be given to the play with the backspin toy 100.

The second holder 34 supports an auxiliary wheel 40. The second holder 34 is approximately in the shape of “U” in a cross-section view. The second holder 34 is detachably attached to the core body 32 by sandwiching a sandwiched part 32b between a right wall 34a and a left wall 34a from the right side and the left side. The sandwiched part 32b is disposed under a top plate of the back part of the core body 32. In a state in which the second holder 34 is attached to the core body 32, the upper end of the second holder 34 is covered with the top plate of the back part of the core body 32. The second holder 34 is detached from the core body 32 in the reverse procedure.

The configuration for the attachment of the second holder 34 to the core body 32 is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, the second holder 34 may be attached to or detached from the core body 32 in such a way that one of a recess part and a protrusion part is formed on the front face of the second holder 34 and the other thereof is formed on the back face of the core body 32, and the front face of the second holder 34 is moved close to or away from the back face of the core body 32 so that the recess part engages with or disengages from the protrusion part. Alternatively, the second holder 34 may be attached to or detached from the core body 32 by using magnetic force.

By making the second holder 34 attachable to and detachable from the core body 32, the following can be done.

That is, a plurality of second holders 34 having auxiliary wheels 40 different in width and being exchangeable are prepared, so that straight traveling stability of the backspin toy 100 changes by exchanging the second holders 34 to be attached to the core body 32. Accordingly, variety can be given to the play with the backspin toy 100.

FIG. 5A is a plan view of the starting base 10, FIG. 5B is a plan view of the starting base 10 with the upper part thereof removed, FIG. 5C is a front view of the starting base 10, and FIG. 5D is a lateral view of the starting base 10 views from the right side.

The starting base 10 includes a running body housing part 11, which houses the running body 30. As shown in FIG. 1, each of a right wall and a left wall of the entrance/exit of the running body housing part 11 is constituted of an inner wall 12, an intermediate wall 13 and an outer wall 14. A path defined by the right inner wall 12 and the left inner wall 12 is wide on the entrance/exit side of the running body housing part 11, gradually narrower as being closer to the back side thereof, and uniform in width from the middle to the back side thereof. Some parts of the running body 30 slide along the right inner wall 12 and the left inner wall 12, whereby the right inner wall 12 and the left inner wall 12 guide the running body 30 to a predetermined point (predetermined position) of the running body housing part 11.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the right intermediate wall 13 is provided with a semicircular notch part 13a. The notch part 13a supports a right bearing 31b for the right shaft 31a of the running body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11 from the lower side. The notch part 13a is formed at the upper edge of the right intermediate wall 13. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, the left intermediate wall 13 is provided with a semicircular notch part 13b. The notch part 13b supports a left bearing 31b for the left shaft 31a of the running body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11 from the lower side. The notch part 13b is formed at the lower edge of a notch part 13c of the left intermediate wall 13. The notch 13c is open toward the front side of the starting base 10. The right intermediate wall 13 and the left intermediate wall 13 support the right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b from the lower side when the running body 30 enters the running body housing part 11, whereby the right intermediate wall 13 and the left intermediate wall 13 guide the right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b to the notch part 13a and the notch part 13b. In the state, in which the right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b of the running body 30 are supported by the notch part 13a and the notch part 13b, the flywheel 31 of the running body 30 does not touch the floor of the starting base 10, namely, is located a little above the floor of the starting base 10. In order to obtain this state, a slope 10a is disposed on the floor of the starting base 10. The slope 10a ascends toward the back side of the running body housing part 11. When the flywheel 31 climbs up the slope 10a, the right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b are guided by the right intermediate wall 13 and the left intermediate wall 13 so that the flywheel 31 travels upward, and when the flywheel 31 crosses the slope 10a, the right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b of the running body 30 are supported by the notch part 13a and the notch part 13b. Consequently, the flywheel 31 of the running body 30 is located a little above the floor of the starting base 10. In the first embodiment, the right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b are supported by the notch part 13a and the notch part 13b. Alternatively, the right shaft 31a and the left shaft 31a or other components (or parts) may be supported by the notch part 13a and the notch part 13b or the like. What is important here is that the flywheel 31 of the running body 30 is freely rotatable.

The right outer wall 14 and the left outer wall 14 constitute the right contour and the left contour of the starting base 10, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 5C and 51D, the starting base 10 is provided with a rack belt insertion opening 15 where the rack belt 50 is inserted. The rack belt insertion opening 15 is formed in the right wall of the starting base 10 extending to the back wall thereof. The rack belt insertion opening 15 is formed at the same level as the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11. The rack belt insertion opening 15 communicates with the running body housing part 11. The rack belt 50 can be inserted into the rack belt insertion opening 15 from the right side of the starting base 10 to the running body housing part 11. The rack belt 50 inserted to the running body housing part 11 can be inserted to the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11.

The starting base 10 includes a starting unit 20. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the starting unit 20 includes a push lever 21 and a coil spring 22. The push lever 21 is attached to the starting base 10 in such a way as to rotate on a shaft 21a. The coil spring 22 gives force to move to an initial position to the push lever 21. The push lever 21 catapults the running body 30 by using the law of the lever. The push lever 21 includes an operation part 21b, which a player operates, and a hitting part 21c, which hits the running body 30. When the push lever 21 is located at the initial position, the upper face of the operation part 21b is horizontal, and can be hit from the above. In addition, when the push lever 21 is located at the initial position, the hitting part 21c lightly touches the back part of the running body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11, or is located away from the back part of the running body 30. When a player operates the operation part 21b, the hitting part 21c hits the back part of the running body 30. Consequently, the right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b of the running body 30 disengage from the notch part 13a and the notch part 13b, so that the running body 30 catapults. The starting base 10 is provided with a first stopper 23a and a second stopper 23b. The first stopper 23a keeps the push lever 21, to which the force is given by the coil spring 22, at the initial position. The second stopper 23b controls a moving range of the operation part 21b by touching a touching part 210b disposed under the operation part 21b of the push lever 21 so that the operation part 21b does not move more than necessary when a player operates the operation part 21b.

Instead of the coil spring 22, a torsion spring wound around the shaft 21a, the torsion spring having one end fixed to the push lever 21 and the other end fixed a fixation part of the starting base 10, may be used. Alternatively, the coil spring 22 may be simply removed. In this case, a player manually returns the push lever 21 to the initial position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rack belt 50 includes a handle (a belt operation part) 51 and a belt main body 52. The rack belt 50 is attachable to the running body 30 in a state in which a teeth wide direction of rack teeth 52a and a shaft line direction of the shaft 31a for the pinion 38 are approximately parallel to each other. Consequently, it is unnecessary to insert the rack belt 50 into the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 from the top end of the rack belt 50. Accordingly, the rack belt 50 can be easily attached to the running body 30. The rack belt 50 and the pinion 38 constitute a torque giving unit.

The belt main body 52 is in the shape of a belt. The rack teeth 52a are disposed on the lower face of the belt main body 52. The belt main body 52 is provided with a no-rack-teeth part 52b at a point closer to the handle 51. The no-rack-teeth part 52b makes it easy to insert the rack belt 50 into the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30. That is, although the gap constituting the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 has a size suitable to keep a state in which the rack belt 50 meshes with the pinion 38, existence of the no-rack-teeth part 52b makes the rack teeth 52a of the rack belt 50 not touch the teeth 38a of the pinion 38 from a lateral side (the right side, in the first embodiment) when the rack belt 50 is inserted into the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 from the lateral side, by disposing the no-rack-teeth part 52b in such a way as to face the pinion 38 as shown in FIG. 4. Accordingly, the rack belt 50 can be easily guided to above the pinion 38. By pulling the rack belt 50 backward in this state, the rack teeth 52a of the rack belt 50 can be easily meshed with the teeth 38a of the pinion 38 in the middle of pulling the rack belt 50.

The targets 70 are configured as a component separate from the starting base 10, in which the running body 30 and the rack belt 50 are disposed. As shown in FIG. 1, each target 70 is in the shape of a disk. Each target 70 includes a circular plate 71 and a circumferential wall 72, which is disposed on the circumference of the circular plate 71 and projects in the up-down direction from the circular plate 71. A tape T2, which is the other of the loop tape and the hook tape constituting the hook-and-loop fastener, is attached to the outer face of the circumferential wall 72. The shape of the target 70 is not limited to the shape of a disk.

In the first embodiment, the tape T1, which is one of a loop tape and a hook tape constituting a hook-and-loop fastener, is attached to the running body 30, and the tape T2, which is the other of the loop tape and the hook tape constituting the hook-and-loop fastener, is attached to the target 70. Instead, an adhesive tape may be attached to at least one of the running body 30 and the target 70. Alternatively, instead of the hook-and-loop fastener, a permanent magnet may be included in one of the running body 30 and the target 70, and a magnetic substance may be included in the other of the running body 30 and the target 70. What is important here is that a component to catch the target 70 is provided.

Next, an example of how to play with the backspin toy 100 is described.

First, a player houses the running body 30 in the running body housing part 11 of the starting base 10. The player rotates the flywheel 31 of the running body 30 along the floor of the starting base 10 from the entrance/exit of the starting base 10 so as to house the running body 30 in the running body housing part 11. Consequently, the flywheel 31 of the running body 30 climbs up the slope 10a, and when the flywheel 31 crosses the slope 10a, the right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b of the running body 30 engage with the notch part 13a and the notch part 13b, whereby the flywheel 31 of the running body 30 is located a little above the floor of the starting base 10.

Next, the player inserts the rack belt 50 into the rack belt insertion opening 15 of the starting base 10 so as to insert the rack belt 50 into the rack belt insertion part 37 of the running body 30 housed in the running body housing part 11. This state is shown in FIG. 8. At the time, the rack belt 50 is attached to the running body 30 in such a way that the no-rack-teeth part 52b faces the teeth 38a of the pinion 38.

Next, the player pulls the rack belt 50 backward with great force so as to pull the rack belt 50 out of the starting base 10, fixing his/her fingers to the handle 51 of the rack belt 50. Consequently, the rack teeth 52a of the rack belt 50 mesh with the teeth 38a of the pinion 38 of the running body 30 in the middle of pulling the rack belt 50, whereby the pinion 38, and the flywheel 31 by extension, rotates.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the player presses the operation part 21b of the push lever 21 from the above. Consequently, the hitting part 21c of the push lever 21 hits the back part of the running body 30 strong, and the right bearing 31b and the left bearing 31b disengage from the notch part 13a and the notch part 13b, whereby, as shown in FIG. 10A, the running body 30 catapults toward the target 70 with backspin. At the time, the flywheel 31 rotates backward, namely, travels forward with backspin.

If the target 70 is located at a point which is the same as a limit point of the force to travel forward of the running body 30 or before the limit point, namely, closer to the starting base 10, as shown in FIG. 10B, the running body 30, which has catapulted, hits the target 70, and the tape T1 sticks to the tape T2. Then, as shown in FIG. 10C, the running body 30 travels backward by the torque of the flywheel 31 when reaching the limit point of the force to travel forward, and returns to the starting base 10 with the target 70 caught. Then, the running body 30 is housed in the running body housing part 11 of the starting base 10.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a backspin toy 100A in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The backspin toy 100A includes, like the backspin toy 100, the starting base 10, the running body 30, the rack belt 50 and the targets 70. The backspin toy 100A is the same as the backspin toy 100 in many aspects. Hence, the same reference numbers are used for the components (units, parts and the like) of the backspin toy 100A corresponding to those of the backspin toy 100. In the following, aspects different from the backspin toy 100 of the first embodiment are described.

FIG. 12A is a plan view of the running body 30, FIG. 12B is a front view of the running body 30, and FIG. 12C is a lateral view of the running body 30 viewed from the right side.

The running body 30 does not have the right second swelling part 36 above the right first swelling part 35. As shown in FIGS. 12B and 12C, the edge of the pinion 38 slightly comes out from the upper face of the right first swelling part 35.

Unlike the backspin toy 100 of the first embodiment, the starting base 10 of the second embodiment is not configured in such a way that the rack belt 50 is inserted from the right side. Instead, the starting base 10 is provided with a belt/gear housing part 81, which supports a part of the rack belt 50 and houses a gear mechanism (a connecting mechanism) 80 described below. The belt/gear housing part 81 is provided with openings 81a (a front opening 81a and a back opening 81a) for the rack belt 50 on the front side and the back side. In FIG. 11, only the front opening 81a is shown, and the back opening 81a is not shown.

The gear mechanism 80, the rack belt 50 and the pinion (input gear) 38 constitute the torque giving unit. The gear mechanism 80 includes a gear 80a, a shaft 80b, an arm 80c, a gear 80d, a shaft 80e and a gear 80f. The gear 80a is a sun gear having teeth which mesh with the rack teeth 52a of the rack belt 50. The arm 80c is supported by the shaft 80b, which is a shaft for the gear 80a too, in such a way as to freely rotate. The gear 80d is a planetary gear attached to the arm 80c, and meshes with the gear 80a, thereby rotating around the gear 80a. The gear 80f is supported by the shaft 80e, which is a shaft for the gear 80d too, thereby rotating with the gear 80d. In addition, the gear 80f meshes with the pinion 38.

When the rack belt 50 is operated backward, the gear 80a rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 14, the gear 80d meshing with the gear 80a rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow B, and the arm 80c rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow C. Consequently, the gear 80f meshes with the pinion 38. At the time, the gear 80f rotates in the same direction as the gear 80d, namely, in a direction indicated by an arrow D. Consequently, the pinion 38, which meshes with the gear 80f, rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow E. On the other hand, when the back belt 50 is operated forward, the gear 80a rotates in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow A, the gear 80d meshing with the gear 80a rotates in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow B, and the arm 80c rotates in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow C. Consequently, the gear 80f separates from the pinion 38. At the time, the gear 80f rotates in the same direction as the gear 80d, namely, a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow D, but the pinion 38 separating from the gear 80f does not rotate.

In the second embodiment, the arm 80c is supported by the shaft 80b, which is a shaft for the gear 80a as the sun gear too, and the gear 80d as the planetary gear is attached to the arm 80c. However, the shaft 80e for the gear 80d may be supported by a long hole without the arm 80c provided so that the gear 80d rotates around the gear 80a or separates from the gear 80a depending on a rotation direction. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the rack teeth 52a of the rack belt 50 are connected to the teeth 38a of the pinion 38 via the gear 80f, which rotates with the gear 80d as the planetary gear. However, the gear 80d may be directly connected to the pinion 38. Furthermore, force may be given to the gear 80d as the planetary gear by a spring, the force to disconnect the rack teeth 52a of the rack belt 50 from the teeth 38a of the pinion 38, so as to make sure that the rack teeth 52a are disconnected from the teeth 38a while the rack belt 50 is not in operation. In this case, one end of the spring is fixed to the arm 80c or to a shaft for the gear 80d if no the arm 80c but the above-described long hole is provided.

Although the rack teeth 52a themselves are not shown in FIG. 11, in the second embodiment, the rack belt 50 is provided with the rack teeth 52a but not provided with the no-rack-teeth part 52b. At the top end of the rack belt 50, a horseshoe-shaped or semicircular preventer 55 is disposed. Projecting parts 55a of the back end part of the preventer 55, the projecting parts 55a which project to the right side and the left side from the belt main body 52, touch the edge of the front opening 81a of the belt/gear housing part 81 when the rack belt 50 is operated backward, thereby preventing the rack belt 50 from being out of the starting base 10 backward. The preventer 55 is detachably attached to the belt main body 52 by using a not-shown screw or by engaging with the belt main body 52. The preventer 55 may be fixed to the belt main body 52. The preventer 55 makes it easy to operate the rack belt 50, but is not essential.

The other aspects (components) of the backspin toy 100A of the second embodiment are the same as those of the backspin toy 100 of the first embodiment.

According to the backspin toy 100A of the second embodiment, the following effect can be obtained.

That is, because the rack belt 50 is disposed in the starting base 10 in such a way as not to be out of the starting base 10, it is unnecessary to attach the rack belt 50 to the starting base 10 (and the running body 30) each time the running body 30 is started. In addition, because the pinion 38 can be repeatedly rotated by operating the rack belt 50 to reciprocate in the front-back direction, the flywheel 31 can rotate at a high velocity.

In the above, the embodiments of the present invention are described. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and hence can be variously modified.

For example, in the embodiments, the torque is given to the flywheel 31 by the rack belt 50, but may be given thereto by a motor built in the starting base 10 or the running body 30. In this case, a gear mechanism connects the motor to the flywheel 31.

Alternatively, the torque may be given to the flywheel 31 by rotation of a handle disposed in the starting base 10. In this case, a gear mechanism connects the handle to the flywheel 31.

Furthermore, in the embodiments, the flywheel 31 constitutes a main wheel. However, the flywheel 31 may be connected to a main wheel.

Furthermore, the rack belt insertion opening 15 of the backspin toy 100 of the first embodiment may be covered with (closed by) a door. Then, the door is opened when the rack belt 50 is attached to the starting base 10, and the door is closed after the rack belt 50 is attached to the starting base 10. Accordingly, the rack belt 50 can be prevented from being out of the rack belt insertion opening 15. In this case, force to close the door may be given to the door by a spring or gravity, and the door may be opened by pressure to insert the rack belt 50 against the force by the spring or the gravity. Furthermore, the backspin toy 100 of the first embodiment may be provided with the preventer 55 of the backspin toy 100A of the second embodiment at the top end of the belt main body 52 of the rack belt 50 and the gear mechanism 80 thereof without the right second swelling part 36 provided above the right first swelling part 35 so as to expose the pinion 38 of the running body 30. Accordingly, the rack belt 50 can be operated to reciprocate multiple times each time the running body 30 is started.

Furthermore, in the embodiments, the torque is given to the flywheel 31 by using the rack belt 50, but may be given thereto by pulling a string wound around a bobbin winder pulley so as to rotate the bobbin winder pulley, for example. In this case, it is preferable that the torque be given to the flywheel 31 via a clutch mechanism by pulling the string wound around the bobbin winder pulley against force of a spring of the bobbin winder pulley so as to rotate the bobbin winder pulley, and that, when a player releases the string from his/her hand, the bobbin winder pulley rotate backward by the force of the spring so that the string automatically winds around the bobbin winder pulley in a state in which the bobbin winder pulley is disconnected from the flywheel 31 by the clutch mechanism.

According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a backspin toy including: a running body including a flywheel which constitutes or is connected to a wheel, and is supported by a shaft; a starting base which keeps the running body at a predetermined position in a state in which the flywheel freely rotates; a torque giving unit which gives torque to travel backward to the flywheel in a state in which the running body is kept on the starting base; and a stating unit included in the starting base, the starting unit which hits the running body so as to give force to travel forward to the running body in a state in which the torque is given to the flywheel by the torque giving unit, thereby catapulting the running body forward with backspin, wherein the running body including the flywheel, to which the torque is given by the torque giving unit, and being catapulted forward by the starting unit, travels backward by the torque given to the flywheel in response to reaching a limit point of the force to travel forward.

Preferably, in the backspin toy, the torque giving unit includes: a rack belt including a rack tooth, the rack belt which is operated forward and backward; an input gear included in the running body, and connected to the flywheel; and a gear mechanism disposed between the rack belt and the input gear, the gear mechanism which (i) connects the rack tooth to the input gear so as to give the torque to the flywheel via the input gear in response to the rack belt being operated backward, and (ii) disconnects the rack tooth from the input gear so as to idle the flywheel in response to the rack belt being operated forward.

Preferably, in the backspin toy, the rack belt includes a preventer at a top end of a belt main body, the preventer which touches a part of the starting base in response to the rack belt being operated backward so as to prevent the rack belt from being out of the starting base.

Preferably, the backspin toy further includes a target to which one of a loop tape and a hook tape constituting a hook-and-loop fastener is attached, wherein the other of the loop tape and the hook tape is attached to a front part of the running body so that the running body catches the target by using the loop tape and the hook tape bound together.

Preferably, the backspin toy further includes a target, wherein an adhesive tape is attached to at least one of the target and a front part of the running body so that the running body catches the target by using adhesiveness of the adhesive tape.

According, the running body, which has catapulted at a high rate of acceleration from the starting base, returns to the starting base by suddenly traveling backward after traveling forward for a predetermined distance. Consequently, a backspin toy which brings a sense of velocity and makes unexpected movement can be realized. Accordingly, the running body of the backspin toy can hit and catch the target and be received by the starting base when returning to the starting base by traveling backward.

According to another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a backspin toy including: a running body including a flywheel which constitutes or is connected to a wheel, and is supported by a shaft; a stating base which keeps the running body at a predetermined position in a state in which the flywheel freely rotates; a torque giving unit which gives torque to travel backward to the flywheel in a state in which the running body is kept on the starting base; and a starting unit included in the starting base, the starting unit which hits the running body so as to give force to travel forward to the running body in a state in which the torque is given to the flywheel by the torque giving unit, thereby catapulting the running body forward with backspin, wherein (i) the running body including the flywheel, to which the torque is given by the torque giving unit, and being catapulted forward by the starting unit, travels backward by the torque given to the flywheel in response to reaching a limit point of the force to travel forward, (ii) the torque giving unit includes a pinion connected to the flywheel and a rack belt attachable to the running body and including a rack tooth which meshes with a tooth of the pinion in response to the rack belt attached to the running body, and gives the torque to the flywheel via the pinion by the rack belt attached to the running body being pulled out of the running body, (iii) the rack belt is attachable to the running body in a state in which a teeth wide direction of the rack tooth and a shaft line direction of the shaft for the pinion are approximately parallel to each other, and further includes a belt operation part to operate the rack belt and a belt main body, (iv) the belt main body includes a rack teeth part where the rack tooth is disposed and a no-rack-teeth part next to the rack teeth part on a side closer to the belt operation part, and (v) the rack belt is attachable to the running body in such a way that the no-rack-teeth part faces the tooth of the pinion.

Accordingly, attachment of the rack belt is easy.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-226630 filed on Oct. 12, 2012, the entire disclosure of which, including the description, claims, drawings and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Claims

1. A backspin toy comprising:

a running body including a flywheel which constitutes or is connected to a wheel, and is supported by a shaft;

a starting base which keeps the running body at a predetermined position in a state in which the flywheel freely rotates;

a torque giving unit which gives torque to travel backward to the flywheel in a state in which the running body is kept on the starting base; and

a stating unit included in the starting base, the starting unit which hits the running body so as to give force to travel forward to the running body in a state in which the torque is given to the flywheel by the torque giving unit, thereby catapulting the running body forward with backspin, wherein

the running body including the flywheel, to which the torque is given by the torque giving unit, and being catapulted forward by the starting unit, travels backward by the torque given to the flywheel in response to reaching a limit point of the force to travel forward.

2. The backspin toy according to claim 1, wherein the torque giving unit includes:

a rack belt including a rack tooth, the rack belt which is operated forward and backward;

an input gear included in the running body, and connected to the flywheel; and

a gear mechanism disposed between the rack belt and the input gear, the gear mechanism which (i) connects the rack tooth to the input gear so as to give the torque to the flywheel via the input gear in response to the rack belt being operated backward, and (ii) disconnects the rack tooth from the input gear so as to idle the flywheel in response to the rack belt being operated forward.

3. The backspin toy according to claim 2, wherein the rack belt includes a preventer at a top end of a belt main body, the preventer which touches a part of the starting base in response to the rack belt being operated backward so as to prevent the rack belt from being out of the starting base.

4. The backspin toy according to claim 1 further comprising a target to which one of a loop tape and a hook tape constituting a hook-and-loop fastener is attached, wherein

the other of the loop tape and the hook tape is attached to a front part of the running body so that the running body catches the target by using the loop tape and the hook tape bound together.

5. The backspin toy according to claim 1 further comprising a target, wherein

an adhesive tape is attached to at least one of the target and a front part of the running body so that the running body catches the target by using adhesiveness of the adhesive tape.