ELECTRIC YO-YO TOY

Abstract

The present invention provides an electric yo-yo toy which is easily handled even by a young child and a beginner by allocating electric parts and gear mechanism to both of rotors in a balanced manner so that weights of both of the rotors are almost the same. An electric yo-yo toy has a pair of rotors, a main shaft provided between the centers of the pair of rotors, and a rotary shaft rotatably provided for the main shaft and around which a string member is wound. The rotor is provided with a drive motor, a gear mechanism for transmitting rotation of the drive motor to the rotary shaft, and a detecting device for detecting rotation of the rotor. The other rotor is provided with power supplies. The main shaft is provided with a conducting unit for electrically connecting the drive motor and the detecting device of the rotor and the power supplies of the other rotor.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

The disclosures of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2009/069865 is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a yo-yo toy having a rotary shaft of the yo-yo body, to which the lower end of a string is attached and rising while winding the string around the rotary shaft, and descending while loosening the string from the rotary shaft, and making the rotary shaft forcedly rotated.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there is an electric yo-yo toy in which the rotary shaft of the yo-yo body around which a string is wound is forcedly rotated by a drive motor (for example, patent document 1). The electric yo-yo toy has a pair of rotors each formed in a disc shape, a main shaft provided between centers of the pair of rotors, and a rotary shaft swingably provided for the main shaft. One of the rotors is provided with a drive motor, a gear mechanism for transmitting rotation of the drive motor to the rotary shaft, a detecting device that detects rotation of the rotors, and a power supply such as a cell.

RELATED ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

• Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-66167

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

An electric yo-yo toy makes a rotary shaft around which a string is wound forcedly rotate by a drive motor so as to realize a high-level technique which cannot be achieved by a regular yo-yo toy by a young child and a beginner. Since all of electric parts and gear mechanisms are housed in one of the rotors, the rotor becomes heavy and the rotors are not balanced. There is a problem that the electric yo-yo toy tilts during playing.

In the yo-yo toy, it is desirable that weights of rotors disposed on both sides of a rotary shaft are almost the same. When the weights of the rotors disposed on both sides are almost the same, the string in a pulled state and the rotary shaft form an almost right angle, so that smooth movement can be expected. However, when one of the rotors is heavier than the other, the string in a pulled state and the rotary shaft do not form an almost right angle. The string comes into contact with the other rotor which is lighter, and smooth movement cannot be expected. In the electric yo-yo toy, also in the case where the rotary shaft tilts, the drive motor forcedly rotates the rotary shaft. In some cases, the string in a tangled state is tightened firmly. There is a problem that the user has hard time untangling the tangled string.

To solve the problem, it is considered to put a weight in the lighter rotor to balance the right and left rotors in the electric yo-yo toy. In this case, however, the weight becomes almost double. There are problems that burden on a hand of the user is large, and that it is difficult to use the electric yo-yo toy for a young child and a beginner. There are other problems than the weight. Since all of electric parts and gear mechanisms are housed in one of the rotors, the size becomes large. To make the sizes of the rotors balanced, the other rotor has to be made large. There is consequently a problem that it is more difficult for a young child having small hands to handle the electric yo-yo toy.

The present invention has been achieved in consideration of the problems, and an object of the invention is to provide an electric yo-yo toy in which electric parts and gear mechanisms are allocated to both rotors in a balanced manner so that weights of the rotors are almost the same, and which realizes lighter weight and compactness and is easily handled also by young children and beginners.

Means for Solving the Problem

To achieve the object, an electric yo-yo toy of a first aspect of the invention includes an electric yo-yo toy including a pair of rotors; a main shaft provided between centers of the pair of rotors; and a rotary shaft swingably provided for the main shaft and around which a string member is wound, wherein one of the rotors is provided with a drive motor, a gear mechanism for transmitting rotation of the drive motor to the rotary shaft, and a detecting device for detecting rotation of the rotors, the other rotor is provided with a power source, and the main shaft is provided with a conducting unit that electrically connects the drive motor and the detecting device of one of the rotors and the power source of the other rotor.

To achieve the object, in the electric yo-yo toy of a second aspect of the invention, the conducting unit includes an inner conduction shaft provided on the inside of the main shaft and an outer conduction shaft provided on the outside of the main shaft.

To achieve the object, in the electric yo-yo toy of a third aspect of the invention, the outer conduction shaft is formed in a cylindrical shape and provided on the outside of the main shaft, and a rotary shaft is swingably provided for the outer conduction shaft.

To achieve the object, in the electric yo-yo toy of a fourth aspect of the invention, the inner conduction shaft is a fixing shaft which is inserted in the main shaft and which fixes the pair of rotors.

To achieve the object, in the electric yo-yo toy of a fifth aspect of the invention, the detecting device includes a first stationary contact plate: a second stationary contact plate provided apart from the first stationary contact plate; a contact position where it comes into contact with the first and second stationary contact plates almost simultaneously; a rolling contact that rolls toward between a contact position where it comes into contact with the first and second stationary contact plates almost simultaneously and a non-contact position where it does not come into contact with at least one of the first and second stationary contact plates; and a magnet which holds the rolling contact in the non-contact position, and the rolling contact rolls against magnetic force of the magnet by inertia force generated by rotation of the rotors and comes into contact with the first and second stationary contact plates almost simultaneously to drive the drive motor.

To achieve the object, in the electric yo-yo toy of a sixth aspect of the invention, the second stationary contact plates are provided on both sides of the first stationary contact plate, when the rolling contact comes into contact with the first stationary contact plate and one of the second stationary contact plates, the drive motor drives in one direction, and when the rolling contact comes into contact with the first stationary contact plate and the other second stationary contact plate, the drive motor drives in the other direction.

To achieve the object, in the electric yo-yo toy of a seventh aspect of the invention, the detecting device includes an oscillating contact whose one end is pivoted and capable of oscillating like a pendulum: a stationary contact plate provided apart from the oscillating contact and coming into contact when the oscillating contact oscillates; and a magnet which holds the oscillating contact in a position of non-contact with the stationary contact plate, and the oscillating contact oscillates against magnetic force of the magnet by inertia force generated by rotation of the rotors and comes into contact with the stationary contact plate to drive the drive motor.

To achieve the object, in the electric yo-yo toy of an eighth aspect of the invention, the stationary contact plates are provided on both sides of the oscillating contact, when the oscillating contact comes into contact with one of the stationary contact plates, the drive motor drives in one direction, and when the oscillating contact comes into contact with the other stationary contact plate, the drive motor drives in the other direction.

To achieve the object, in the electric yo-yo toy of a ninth aspect of the invention, a pair of detecting devices is provided so as to face one of the rotors and, when both of the detecting devices detect rotation, the drive motor is driven.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

In an electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention, one of the rotors is provided with a drive motor, a gear mechanism for transmitting rotation of the drive motor to the rotary shaft, and a detecting device for detecting rotation of the rotors. The other rotor is provided with a power source. The power source provided for the other rotor and the drive motor and the detecting device provided for the rotor are electrically connected by a conducting unit disposed in the main shaft provided between centers of the pair of rotors, thereby constructing an electric circuit. As described above, weights are allocated to the right and left rotors in a balanced manner in the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention, lighter weight and compactness are achieved, and there is an effect that even a young child and a beginner can easily handle the electric yo-yo toy.

In addition to the above effect, the electric yo-yo toy according to the invention has an effect that, since the conducting unit includes: an inner conduction shaft provided on the inside of the main shaft; and an outer conduction shaft provided on the outside of the main shaft, without contact between the inner and outer conduction shafts, a safe electric circuit can be constructed.

In addition to the above effect, the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention has the following effect. Since the outer conduction shaft is formed in a cylindrical shape and provided on the outside of the main shaft, a rotary shaft is swingably provided for the outer conduction shaft. The outer conduction shaft is made of a metal conductive material, and frictional resistance of the outer conduction shaft is small, so that smooth rotation of the rotary shaft can be expected. Moreover, since the wear of the outer conduction shaft is extremely small, the product life is long.

In addition to the above effect, in the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention, the inner conduction shaft is a fixing shaft which is inserted in the main shaft and which fixes the pair of rotors. Consequently, it is unnecessary to separately provide a unit for fixing and integrating the pair of rotors. There is an effect that the number of parts is decreased, and the toy can be manufactured inexpensively and compactly. When a screw is used as a fixing shaft, the rotors can be easily disassembled, and there is an effect that the tangled string member can be easily untangled.

In addition to the above effect, in the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention, the detecting device includes: a first stationary contact plate: a second stationary contact plate provided apart from the first stationary contact plate; a rolling contact that rolls between a contact position where it comes into contact with the first and second stationary contact plates almost simultaneously and a non-contact position where it does not come into contact with at least one of the first and second stationary contact plates; and a magnet which holds the rolling contact in the non-contact position. The rolling contact rolls against magnetic force of the magnet by inertia force generated by rotation of the rotors and comes into contact with the first and second stationary contact plates almost simultaneously to drive the drive motor. There is consequently an effect that the rotation can be detected reliably and promptly.

In addition to the above effect, in the electric yo-yo toy according to the invention, the second stationary contact plates are provided on both sides of the first stationary contact plate. When the rolling contact comes into contact with the first stationary contact plate and one of the second stationary contact plates, the drive motor drives in one direction. When the rolling contact comes into contact with the first stationary contact plate and the other second stationary contact plate, the drive motor drives in the other direction. The rotor can be forcedly rotated by the drive motor in the rotating direction of the rotor detected. There is also an effect that can provide smooth playing.

In the electric yo-yo toy according to the invention, in addition to the above effects, the detecting device includes: an oscillating contact whose one end is pivoted and capable of oscillating like a pendulum: a stationary contact plate provided apart from the oscillating contact and coming into contact when the oscillating contact oscillates; and a magnet which holds the oscillating contact in a position of non-contact with the stationary contact plate. The oscillating contact oscillates against magnetic force of the magnet by inertia force generated by rotation of the rotors and comes into contact with the stationary contact plate to drive the drive motor. Thus, rotation can be detected reliably and promptly. There are also effects that the number of parts is smaller and the price is low.

In the electric yo-yo toy according to the invention, the stationary contact plates are provided on both sides of the oscillating contact. When the oscillating contact comes into contact with one of the stationary contact plates, the drive motor drives in one direction. When the oscillating contact comes into contact with the other stationary contact plate, the drive motor drives in the other direction. Consequently, the rotor can be forcedly rotated by the drive motor in the rotation direction of the rotor detected, and there is an effect that can provide smooth playing.

In the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention, a pair of detecting devices is provided so as to face one of the rotors and, when both of the detecting devices detect rotation, the drive motor is driven. There is consequently an effect that the drive motor does not drive only by detection of one of the detecting devices and, therefore, the drive motor can be prevented from driving suddenly without discretion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(a) is an overall side cross section view of an electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention viewed from one direction in the case of using a rolling contact for a rotation detecting device.

FIG. 1(b) is a side cross section view of the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention viewed from another direction in the case of using an oscillating contact for a rotation detecting device which is no partially shown.

FIG. 1(c) is an overall side cross section view of the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention viewed from further another direction.

FIG. 2(a) is an overall front view of one of the rotors in the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 2(b) is a front view of a detecting device of one of the rotors in the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 2(c) is a side view of the detecting device of one of the rotors in the electric yo-yo toy according to the present.

FIG. 3(a) is an overall front view of the other rotor in the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 3(b) is a side view of the other rotor in the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 4(a) is an overall front view of a rotation case of one of the rotors.

FIG. 4(b) is a cross section view of the rotation case of one of the rotors in the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 4(c) is a side view of the rotation case of one of the rotors.

FIG. 4(d) is an overall rear view of the rotation case of one of the rotors.

FIG. 4(e) is a cross section view of the rotation case of one of the rotors in the direction of arrow B.

FIG. 4(f) is a cross section view of the rotation case of one of the rotors in the direction of arrow C.

FIG. 5(a) is an overall front view of an external cover of one of the rotors.

FIG. 5(b) is a cross section view of the external cover of one of the rotors in the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 5(c) is a right side view of the external cover of one of the rotors.

FIG. 5(d) is an overall rear view of the external cover of one of the rotors.

FIG. 5(e) is a cross section view of the external cover of one of the rotors in the direction of arrow B.

FIG. 5(f) is a cross section view of the external cover of one of the rotors in the direction of arrow C.

FIG. 5(g) is a bottom view of the external cover of one of the rotors.

FIG. 6(a) is an overall front view of a main shaft member of one of the rotors.

FIG. 6(b) is a right side view of the main shaft member of one of the rotors.

FIG. 6(c) is a cross section view of the main shaft member of one of the rotors in the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 6(d) is an overall rear view of the main shaft member of one of the rotors.

FIG. 6(e) is a cross section view of the main shaft member of one of the rotors in the direction of arrow B.

FIG. 7(a) is an overall front view of a motor attachment plate of one of the rotors.

FIG. 7(b) is a right side cross section view of the motor attachment plate of one of the rotors.

FIG. 7(c) is a right side view of the motor attachment plate of one of the rotors.

FIG. 7(d) is an overall rear view of the motor attachment plate of one of the rotors.

FIG. 8(a) is an overall front view of a rotation case of the other rotor.

FIG. 8(b) is a cross section view of the rotation case of the other rotor in the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 8(c) is a cross section view of the rotation case of the other rotor in the direction of arrow B.

FIG. 8(d) is a right side view of the rotation case of the other rotor.

FIG. 8(e) is an overall rear view of the rotation case of the other rotor.

FIG. 8(f) is a cross section view of the rotation case of the other rotor in the direction of arrow C.

FIG. 8(g) is a cross section view of the rotation case of the other rotor in the direction of arrow D.

FIG. 8(h) is a cross section view of the rotation case of the other rotor in the direction of arrow G.

FIG. 8(i) is a cross section view of the rotation case of the other rotor in the direction of arrow E.

FIG. 8(j) is a cross section view of the rotation case of the other rotor in the direction of arrow F.

FIG. 9(a) is an overall front view of an external cover of the other rotor.

FIG. 9(b) is a right side view of the external cover of the other rotor.

FIG. 9(c) is a cross section view of an external cover of the other rotor in the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 9(d) is an overall rear view of an external cover of the other rotor.

FIG. 9(e) is a cross section view of an external cover of the other rotor in the direction of arrow B.

FIG. 10(a) is an overall front view of a cover member of the other rotor.

FIG. 10(b) is a cross section view of the cover member of the other rotor in the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 10(c) is a right side view of the cover member of the other rotor.

FIG. 10(d) is an overall rear view of the cover member of the other rotor.

FIG. 10(e) is a cross section view of the cover member of the other rotor in the direction of arrow B.

FIG. 10(f) is a bottom view of the cover member of the other rotor.

FIG. 11(a) is a left side view of a rotary shaft.

FIG. 11(b) is a front view of the rotary shaft.

FIG. 11(c) is a cross section view of the rotary shaft.

FIG. 11(d) is a right side view of the rotary shaft.

FIG. 12(a) is a front view of an attachment plate for attaching a first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 12(b) is a top view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 12(c) is a bottom view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 12(d) is a side cross section view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 12(e) is a left side view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 12(f) is a rear view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 13(a) shows a drive gear of an electric yo-yo toy.

FIG. 13(b) shows an intermediate shaft of the electric yo-yo toy.

FIG. 13(c) shows a fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft) of the electric yo-yo toy.

FIG. 13(d) shows a metal tongue piece on the other rotor side of the electric yo-yo toy.

FIG. 13(e) shows a metal tongue piece on one of the rotors of the electric yo-yo toy.

FIG. 13(f) shows a first stationary contact plate of the electric yo-yo toy.

FIG. 13(g) shows a conductive band of the electric yo-yo toy.

FIG. 14(a) is a front view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 14(b) is a top view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 14(c) is a bottom view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 14(d) is a left cross section view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 14(e) is a left side view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 14(f) is a rear view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 14(g) is a front view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate showing a use mode.

FIG. 14(h) is a side view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate showing a use mode.

FIG. 15 is an Electric configuration diagram of an electric yo-yo toy.

FIG. 16(a) is an overall front view of one of the rotors of the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 16(b) is a front view of a detecting device of one of the rotors of the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 16(c) is a side view of the detecting device of one of the rotors of the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 17(a) is a front view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 17(b) is a top view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 17(c) is a bottom view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 17(d) is a left cross section view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 17(e) is a left side view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 17(f) is a rear view of the attachment plate for attaching the first stationary contact plate.

FIG. 18(a) shows an oscillating contact of the electric yo-yo toy.

FIG. 18(b) shows a contact piece of the electric yo-yo toy.

FIG. 19 is another electric configuration diagram of the electric yo-yo toy.

FIG. 20(a) is an overall side cross section view of an electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention viewed from one direction.

FIG. 20(b) is an overall front view of a rotation case of one of the rotors of electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 20(c) is an overall cross section view of the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention viewed from another direction.

FIG. 20(d) is an overall front view of one of the rotors of the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 20(e) is an overall rear view of the rotation case of one of the rotors of the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 20(f) is an overall front view of the other rotor in the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 20(g) is a side view of the other rotor in the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention viewed from one direction.

FIG. 20(h) is a side view of the other rotor in the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention viewed from further another direction.

FIG. 21(a) is an overall side cross section view of a use mode of the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention when a flexible pipe slides to a position apart from a pair of rotors.

FIG. 21(b) is an overall side cross section view of a use mode of the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention when the flexible pipe slides to a position close to the pair of rotors.

FIG. 22(a) is a side view of a use mode of the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention when a flexible pipe slides to a position apart from a pair of rotors.

FIG. 22(b) is a side view of a use mode of the electric yo-yo toy according to the present invention when the flexible pipe slides to a position close to the pair of rotors.

FIG. 23(a) is an overall perspective view of a flexible pipe when a cut groove of the flexible pipe is linearly closed in an axial direction.

FIG. 23(b) is an overall perspective view of a flexible pipe when a cut groove of the flexible pipe is linearly opened in an axial direction.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Outline of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15. An electric yo-yo toy 1 has a pair of rotors 10 and 60, a main shaft 26 provided between the centers of the pair of rotors 10 and 60, and a rotary shaft 122 rotatably provided for the main shaft 26 and around which a string member 2 is wound. The rotor 10 as one of them is provided with a drive motor 130, a gear mechanism 140 for transmitting rotation of the drive motor 130 to the rotary shaft 122, and a detecting device 100 for detecting rotation of the rotor 10. The other rotor 60 is provided with power supplies 81 and 82. The main shaft 26 is provided with a conducting unit 40 for electrically connecting the drive motor 130 and the detecting device 100 of the rotor 10 and the power supplies 81 and 82 of the other rotor 60.

The electric yo-yo toy 1 has, as described above, an electric circuit constructed by electrically connecting the power supplies 81 and 82 provided for the other rotor 60 and the drive motor 130 and the detecting device 100 provided for the one rotor 10 via the conducting unit 40 disposed in the main shaft 26 provided between the centers of the pair of rotors 10 and 60. The weights are allocated to the right and left rotors 60 and 10 in a balanced manner. The electric yo-yo toy 1 realizes light weight and compactness and is easily handled also by young children and beginners.

In the electric yo-yo toy 1, the conducting unit 40 has an inner conduction shaft 41 provided on the inside of the main shaft 26 and an outer conduction shaft 121 provided on the outside of the main shaft 26. Consequently, the electric yo-yo toy 1 has a safe electric circuit without contact between the inner conduction shaft 41 and the outer conduction shaft 121.

In the electric yo-yo toy 1, the external conduction shaft 121 is formed in a cylindrical shape and provided on the outside of the main shaft 26, and the rotary shaft 122 is swingably provided for the outer conduction shaft 121. Since the external conduction shaft 121 is made of a metal conducting material, the frictional resistance of the outer conduction shaft 121 is low, smooth rotation of the rotary shaft 122 can be expected and, moreover, the friction of the outer conduction shaft 121 is extremely small, so that the electric yo-yo toy 1 has long product life.

In the electric yo-yo toy 1, the inner conduction shaft 41 is inserted in the main shaft 26 and serves as a fixing shaft that fixes the pair of rotors 10 and 60. Consequently, it is unnecessary to provide the electric yo-yo toy 1 with a unit for fixing and integrating the pair of rotors 10 and 60. The number of parts is decreased and the electric yo-yo toy 1 can be manufactured inexpensively and compactly. When a screw is used as the fixing shaft, the rotor 10 and the other rotor 60 can be easily disassembled, and tangle of the string member 2 is easily loosened.

The detecting device 100 of the electric yo-yo toy 1 has a first stationary contact plate 103, a second stationary contact plate 105 provided apart from the first stationary contact plate 103, a rolling contact 101 rolling between a contact position in which it contacts almost simultaneously with the first and second stationary contact plates 103 and 105 and a no-contact position in which it does not in contact with at least one of the first and second stationary contact plates 103 and 105, and a magnet 115 which holds the rolling contact 101 in the non-contact position. The electric yo-yo toy 1 is constructed so that the rolling contact 101 rolls against the magnetic force of the magnet 115 by inertia force of the rotation of the rotor 10, comes into contact with the first and second stationary contact plates 103 and 105 almost simultaneously, continues contacting by centrifugal force to drive the drive motor 130. Therefore, the electric yo-yo toy 1 can detect rotation reliably and promptly.

The electric yo-yo toy 1 has a configuration that the second stationary contact plates 105 are provided on both sides of the first stationary contact plate 103, when the rolling contact 101 comes into contact with the first stationary contact plate 103 and one of the second stationary contact plates 105, the drive motor 130 drives in one direction and, when the rolling contact 101 comes into contact with the first stationary contact plate 103 and the other second stationary contact plate 105, the drive motor 130 drives in the other direction. The electric yo-yo toy 1 can make the rotor 10 forcedly rotate by the drive motor 130 in the rotation direction of the rotor 10 detected, and can provide smooth playing.

Outline of another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 16 to FIG. 19. Another detecting device 150 of the electric yo-yo toy 1 has an oscillating contact 151 whose one end is pivoted and capable of oscillating like a pendulum, the stationary contact plate 105 which is provided apart from the oscillating contact 151 and comes into contact when the oscillating contact 151 oscillates, and a magnet 165 which holds the oscillating contact 151 in a position where the stationary contact plate 105 is not in contact. The oscillating contact 151 oscillates against the magnetic force of the magnet 165 by the inertia force generated by the rotation of the rotor 10, comes into contact with the stationary contact plate, continues in contact by the centrifugal force, and drives the drive motor 130. The electric yo-yo toy 1 can detect rotation reliably and promptly and, moreover, is inexpensive since the number of parts is small.

The electric yo-yo toy 1 has a configuration that the stationary contact plates 105 are provided on both sides of the oscillating contact 151, when the rolling contact 151 comes into contact with one of the stationary contact plates 105, the drive motor 130 drives in one direction and, when the rolling contact 101 comes into contact with the other stationary contact plate 105, the drive motor 130 drives in the other direction. The electric yo-yo toy 1 can make the rotor 10 forcedly rotate by the drive motor 130 in the rotation direction of the rotor 10 detected, and can provide smooth playing.

The electric yo-yo toy 1 is constructed that a pair of detecting devices 100, 100, 150, and 150 is provided so as to face the rotor 10 as one of the rotors and detect rotation, and the drive motor 130 is driven. In the electric yo-yo toy 1, the drive motor 130 does not drive only by detection of the detecting device 100 and the detecting device 150 as one of them. Therefore, the drive motor 130 can be prevented from driving suddenly without discretion.

Further, the electric yo-yo toy will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15. As shown in FIGS. 1(a)-1(c), the electric yo-yo toy 1 has a pair of rotors 10 and 60 each formed in a disc shape, and the main shaft 26 provided between the centers of the pair of rotors 10 and 60. The rotor 10 as one of them includes a rotation case 11 and an external cover 22 screwed to the rotation case 11.

As shown in FIGS. 4(a)-4(f), the rotation case 11 is integrally formed by synthetic resin in a bowl shape by a side wall 12, a curved wall 13 connected around the side wall 12, and a peripheral wall 15 formed around the curved wall 13. An opening 16 is formed in an almost center of the side wall 12. An annular recess 17 is formed around the opening 16 in an outside face 12a of the side wall 12. As shown in FIGS. 1(a)-1(b), a ring-shaped resistance plate 18 is fit in the recess 17.

Four attachment bosses 21 are provided around the opening 16 as a center in an inside face 12b of the side wall 12. As shown in FIG. 1(b), a main shaft member 25 is attached to the attachment bosses 21 by screws or the like. As shown in FIGS. 6(a)-(e), the main shaft member 25 is integrally formed by synthetic resin and includes the main shaft 26 and a rectangular attachment plate 27 formed at one end of the main shaft 26. In the attachment plate 27, through holes 28 are formed in positions matching the attachment bosses 21 . . . . The main shaft 26 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and an insertion hole 29 in which the fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft) 41 is inserted is formed in the main shaft 26. As shown in FIG. 13(c), the fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft) 41 is made of a conductive material such as metal and includes a shaft part 42 and a flange part 43. A screw 45 is formed in the shaft part 42.

In the surface 27a of the attachment plate 27, a fitting recess 31 in which a metal tongue piece 30 shown in FIG. 13(e) is fit is formed. The insertion hole 29 penetrates the fitting recess 31. In the attachment plate 27, an insertion hole 32 in which a bent piece 37 of a ring-shaped conductive band 36 attached to the main shaft 26 shown in FIG. 13(g) is inserted is formed. In both opposed sides of the attachment plate 27, rectangular guide recesses 33 are formed. In the other opposed sides, semicircular notch recesses 35 and 35 in which a gear is inserted are formed.

As shown in FIG. 1(c), a motor attachment plate 50 is attached to the attachment bosses 21 . . . by screws or the like. As shown in FIGS. 7(a)-7(d), positioning tubes 51 are provided in positions matching the positions of the attachment bosses 21 . . . in a face 50a as one of faces of the motor attachment plate 50, and communication holes 52 are formed in positions of the positioning tubes 51. A motor attachment recess 53 is formed in the other face 50b of the motor attachment plate 50, and an opening 55 in which a drive shaft 131 of the drive motor 130 is inserted is also formed. In both opposed sides of the motor attachment plate 50, rectangular guide recesses 57 and 57 are formed. Near the other opposed sides, bearing holes 56 and 56 are formed.

As shown in FIG. 1(c), the other rotor 60 includes a rotation case 61 and an external cover 90 screwed to the rotation case 61. As shown in FIGS. 8(a)-8(j), the rotation case 61 is integrally formed by synthetic resin in a bowl shape by a side wall 62, a curved wall 63 connected around the side wall 62, and a peripheral wall 65 formed around the curved wall 63. A bearing hole 66 is formed in an almost center of the side wall 62. A shaft cylindrical part 64 is formed around the bearing hole 66 in an outside face 62a of the side wall 62, and an annular recess 67 is formed around the shaft cylindrical part 64. As shown in FIGS. 1(a)-1(b), the ring-shaped resistance plate 18 is fit in the recess 67.

On an inside face 62b of the side wall 62, an almost C-shaped guide wall 69 in which a metal tongue piece 70 shown in FIG. 13(d) is fit is formed around the bearing hole 66 as a center. In the side wall 62, an insertion hole 72 in which the bent piece 37 of the ring-shaped conductive band 36 attached to the shaft cylindrical part 64 shown in FIG. 13(g) is inserted is formed. Further, on the inside face 62b of the rotation case 61, an attachment recess 73 (refer to FIG. 3(b)) to which a pair of cells (power supplies) 81 and 82 is attached, and attachment recesses 75, 76, and 77 to which contact terminals 85, 86, and 87 with which the positive and negative electrodes of the cells 81 and 82 come into contact are attached are formed. As shown in FIGS. 9(a)-9(e), an opening 91 through which the cells 81 and 82 are attached/detached to/from the attachment recess 73 are is formed in the outside cover 90. To the opening 91, a cover member 92 is closably attached as shown in FIGS. 10(a)-9(f).

As shown in FIGS. 2(a)-2(c), the detecting device 100 attached to the rotor 10 has a metal sphere (rolling contact) 101, a guide member 102 (refer to FIGS. 12(a)-12(f)) for guiding the metal sphere 101, the first stationary contact plate 103 fixed to the guide member 102, and the second stationary contact plates 105 provided apart on both sides of the first stationary contact plate 103. The guide member 102 has an attachment plate 106, a semicircular projection 107 projected on one side of the attachment plate 106, a guide wall 109 curved around the projection 107 as a center, and a magnet attachment frame 110 formed on the other side of the attachment plate 106 and positioned in an almost intermediate part of the guide wall 109. The magnet 115 is attached to the magnet attachment frame 110. A shaft hole 108 is formed in an almost center of the projection 107.

The guide member 102 is disposed opposed to the inside face 12b of the rotation case 11. By adjusting the shaft hole 108 to a screw hole 23a of a projection 23 formed opposed to the rotation case 11 shown in FIG. 4(a) and screwing a screw 111 in the screw hole 23a via the shaft hole 108, the guide member 102 is fixed so as to face the inside face 12b of the rotation case 11. Since the magnet attachment frame 110 fits in the guide recess 33 in the attachment plate 27 of the main shaft member 25 and the guide recess 57 in the motor attachment plate 50, the guide member 102 is fixed unswingably by the screw 111.

When the guide member 102 is fixed to the rotation case 11 by the screw 111, the first stationary contact plate 103 is fixed to the projection 107 by the screw 111. As shown in FIG. 13(f), the first stationary contact plate 103 is made by an almost semicircular guide plate 112 formed so as to project from the outer periphery of the projection 107 and a bent piece 113 which is bent at almost the right angle at one end of the guide plate 112. As shown in FIG. 2(b), the metal sphere 101 rolls between the periphery of the guide plate 112 and the guide wall 109 and is stably held in an almost center of the guide wall 109 by the magnet 115. To make the held state more reliable, an engagement recess 116 for making the metal sphere 101 engaged with the guide wall 109 may be formed as shown in FIG. 14(g).

The second stationary contact plate 105 is formed in a band shape and held in a state where it is bent in a semi-annular shape by guide projections 117 and 118 formed on the inside face 12b side of the rotation case 11. Both ends of the second stationary contact plate 105 are bent, thereby forming contact parts 120. The contact parts 120 are provided on both sides of the guide plate 112. When the metal sphere 101 rolls to one direction, it comes into contact with one of the contact parts 120 and the guide plate 112. When the metal sphere 101 rolls to the other direction, it comes into contact with the other contact part 120 and the guide plate 112.

As described above, the external cover 22 is screwed to the rotation case 11 and, as shown in FIGS. 5(a)-5(g) and, a semi-annular guide projection 46 for guiding the metal sphere 101 so that the metal sphere 101 rolls between the periphery of the guide plate 112 and the guide wall 109 is formed. Further, in the external cover 22, a mountain-shaped projection 47 covering the drive motor 130 is formed in an almost center.

As shown in FIGS. 1(a)-1(c), in the rotor 10 as one of the rotors, the through hole 28 in the attachment plate 27 of the main shaft member 25 and the positioning tube 51 of the motor attachment plate 50 are overlapped in order on the attachment boss 21 of the rotation case 11, and a screw 58 is screwed in the attachment boss 21 via the communication hole 52 and the through hole 28, thereby fixing the main shaft member 25 and the motor attachment plate 50. The main shaft 26 projects from the opening 16 in the rotation case 11 to the outside. To the main shaft 26, as described above, the ring-shaped conductive band 36 is attached. The bent piece 37 of the ring-shaped conductive band 36 is inserted in the insertion hole 32 in the attachment plate 27 and projects to the inside.

The main shaft 26 is provided with the conductive cylindrical body (outer conduction shaft) 121. One end of the conductive cylindrical body (outer conduction shaft) 121 is in contact with the conductive band 36 on the side of the rotor 10 as one of the rotors, and the other end is in contact with the conductive band 36 on the other rotor 60 side. For the conductive cylindrical body (external conductive shaft) 121, the rotary shaft 122 made of the nonconductive material, for example, synthetic resin is swingably provided. As illustrated in FIGS. 11(a)-11(d), in the rotary shaft 122, a string winding groove 123 and a driven gear 124 are formed. The string winding groove 123 is positioned almost midway between the rotor 10 and the other rotor 60. The drive gear 124 is disposed in the rotor 10.

The drive motor 130 is attached to the motor attachment recess 53 in the motor attachment plate 50, and the drive shaft 131 projects from the opening 55 between the motor attachment plate 50 and the attachment plate 27. To the drive shaft 131, a drive gear 132 shown in FIG. 13(a) is fixed. The drive gear 132 engages with a spur gear 135 fixed to one end of an intermediate shaft 133 shown in FIG. 13(b). The driven gear 124 of the rotary shaft 122 engages with a pinion 136 fixed to the other end of the intermediate shaft 133. The intermediate shaft 133 is swingably attached to the bearing hole 56 in the motor attachment plate 50 and a bearing hole 19 formed in the rotation case 11. By the drive gear 132, the spur gear 135, the pinion 136, and the driven gear 124, the gear mechanism 140 that transmits rotation of the drive motor 130 to the rotary shaft 122 is constructed.

The electric yo-yo toy 1 is assembled as follows. The ring-shaped conductive band 36 is attached to the main shaft 26 of the main shaft member 25, and the bent piece 37 of the ring-shaped conductive band 36 is inserted in the insertion hole 32 in the attachment plate 27 and fixed. When the conductive cylindrical body (external conductive shaft) 121 is attached to the main shaft 26, one end of the conductive cylindrical body (external conductive shaft) 121 comes into contact with the conductive band 36. The rotary shaft 122 is swingably attached to the conductive cylindrical body (external conductive shaft) 121. The driven gear 124 of the rotary shaft 122 is positioned on the side of the attachment plate 27. The metal tongue piece 30 is fit in the fitting recess 31 in the attachment plate 27 of the main shaft member 26, and the fixing shaft (internal conductive shaft) 41 is inserted in the insertion hole 29 in the main shaft 26. The flange part 43 of the fixing shaft (internal conductive shaft) 41 comes into contact with the metal tongue piece 30.

When the drive motor 130 is attached to the motor attachment recess 53 in the motor attachment plate 50, the drive shaft 131 projects from the opening 55 in the motor attachment plate 50, and the drive gear 132 is fixed to the projected drive shaft 131. The through hole 28 in the attachment plate 27 of the main shaft member 25 and the positioning tube 51 of the motor attachment plate 50 are overlapped in order on the attachment boss 21 of the rotation case 11, and the screw 58 is screwed in the attachment boss 21 via the communication hole 52 and the through hole 28, thereby fixing the main shaft member 25 and the motor attachment plate 50 to the rotation case 11.

Simultaneously, the intermediate shaft 133 is swingably fit in the bearing hole 56 in the motor attachment plate 50 and the bearing hole 19 formed in the rotation case 11. The spur gear 135 in the intermediate shaft 133 engages with the drive gear 132, and the pinion 136 in the intermediate shaft 133 engages with the drive gear 124 in the rotary shaft 122. The pair of second stationary contact plate 105 and the guide member 102 is attached in predetermined positions in the rotation case 11 and, after that, the external cover 22 is fixed to the rotation case 11.

The ring-shaped conductive band 36 is attached to the shaft cylindrical part 64 of the rotation case 61 of the other rotor 60, and the bent piece 37 of the ring-shaped conductive band 36 is inserted in the insertion hole 72 in the rotation case 61 and fixed. The metal tongue piece 70 is fit in the guide wall 69 in the rotation case 61. When the fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft) 41 attached to the rotor 10 is inserted in the bearing hole 66 in the rotation case 61 and a nut 48 is screwed in the screw 45 of the fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft) 41, the rotation case 61 is fixed to the rotor 10. The other end of the conductive cylindrical body (outer conduction shaft) 121 comes into contact with the conductive band 36 of the rotation case 61. The metal tongue piece 70 comes into contact with the screw 45 and the nut 48 of the fixing shaft (inner conductive shaft) 41. After the cells 81 and 82 are attached to the attachment recess 73 in the rotation case 61, the external cover 90 is fixed to the rotation case 61. The cells 81 and 82 can be detached by opening a cover member 92 of the external cover 90.

The electric configuration of the electric yo-yo toy 1 is as follows. As shown in FIG. 15, a positive-electrode contact terminal 85 of each of the cells 81 and 82 is connected to a second stationary contact plate 105a via the conductive band 36 of the other rotor 60, the conductive cylindrical body 121, and the conductive band 36 of the rotor 10. A negative-electrode contact terminal 87 of each of the cells 81 and 82 is connected to the other second stationary contact plate 105b via the metal tongue piece 70 of the other rotor 60, the fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft) 41, and the metal tongue piece 30 of the rotor 10. The first stationary contact plate 103a is connected to the terminal 130a of the drive motor 130, and the other first stationary contact plate 103b is connected to the other terminal 130b of the drive motor 130. By the conductive cylindrical body (external conductive shaft) 121 and the fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft) 41, the conducting unit 40 for electrically connecting the drive motor 130 and the detecting device 100 of the rotor 10 and the power supplies 81 and 82 in the other rotor 60 is constructed.

The electric yo-yo toy 1 can be used as follows. As shown in FIG. 15, when the electric yo-yo toy 1 does not rotate, the metal sphere 101 is held in the position (non-contact position) P0 apart from the contact part 120 in the second stationary contact plate 105 by the magnet 115, and the current from the cells 81 and 82 does not flow to the drive motor 130, so that the drive motor 130 is in a non-drive state. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the lower part of the string member 2 is coupled and fixed to the rotary shaft 122, and the string member 2 is wound around the rotary shaft 122. When the user holds the electric yo-yo toy 1 by inserting his/her middle finger in a loop formed in an upper part of the string member 2 and pushes the electric yo-yo toy 1 downward, the pair of rotors 10 and 60 rotates and descends while loosening the string member 2 from the rotary shaft 122.

When the rotor 10 rotates, the drive motor 130 operates. Specifically, in FIG. 15, when the rotor 10 rotates clockwise, the metal sphere 101 rolls in the counterclockwise direction against the magnetic force of the magnet 115 by the inertia force, a metal sphere 101a positioned above moves to the contact position P1 where it simultaneously comes into contact with the first stationary contact plate 103a and the second stationary contact plate 105a, and a metal sphere 101b positioned downward moves to the contact position where it simultaneously comes into contact with the other first stationary contact plate 103b and the other second stationary contact plate 105b.

The current of the cells 81 and 82 flows in the negative-electrode contact terminal 87 of the cells 81 and 82 via the positive-electrode contact terminal 85, the conductive band 36 of the rotor 10, the second stationary contact plate 105a, the metal sphere 101a, a first stationary contact plate 103a, a terminal 130a of the drive motor 130, a terminal 130b of the drive motor 130, the other first stationary contact plate 103b, the metal sphere 101b, the other second stationary contact plate 105b, the metal tongue piece 30 of the rotor 10, the fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft) 41, and the metal tongue piece 70 of the other rotor 60, and the drive shaft 131 of the drive motor 130 rotates in the counterclockwise direction.

When the drive shaft 131 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the drive gear 132 attached to the drive shaft 131, the spur gear 135 that engages with the drive gear 132, the intermediate shaft 133 fixing the spur gear 135, the pinion 136 fixed to the intermediate shaft 133, and the driven gear 124 that engages with the pinion 136 rotate, and the rotary shaft 122 tries to rotate in the counterclockwise direction. However, the rotary shaft 122 is coupled and fixed to the lower part of the string member 2 and does not rotate. Therefore, the rotor 10 rotates at high speed in the clockwise direction around the rotary shaft 122 as a center.

As long as the rotor 10 rotates, the metal sphere 101a simultaneously comes into contact with the first stationary contact plate 103a and the second stationary contact plate 105a by the centrifugal force, and the metal sphere 101b continues contacting in the other first and second stationary contact plates 103b and 105b, so that the high-speed rotation of the rotor 10 is maintained. The user can develop various kinds of tricks with the electric yo-yo toy 1 since the pair of rotors 10 and 60 continues rotating in a state where they are hanging on the string member 2.

In the electric yo-yo toy 1, in a state where the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is hanging on the string member 2 while continuously rotating, when the string member 2 is pulled slightly upward, the string member 2 slackens and comes into contact with the resistance plates 18 and 18 fixed to the rotors 10 and 60. The rotors 10 and 60 rise while winding the string member 2 by the frictional resistance between the string member 2 and the resistance plates 18. At the time of rise, the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is held by a hand, so that the rotation of the pair of rotors 10 and 60 stops. When the rotation of the rotor 10 stops, the centrifugal force stops working on the metal sphere 101, the metal sphere 101 returns to the non-contact position apart from the contact part 120 of the second stationary contact plate 105 by the magnetic force of the magnet 115, and the driving of the drive motor 130 stops.

When the electric yo-yo toy 1 is pushed downward, the pair of rotors 10 and 60 rotates in the counterclockwise direction and descends while loosening the string member 2 from the rotary shaft 122. In FIG. 15, when the rotor 10 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the metal sphere 101 rolls in the clockwise direction against the magnetic force of the magnet 115 by the inertia force, the metal sphere 101a positioned above moves to the contact position P2 where it simultaneously comes into contact with the first stationary contact plate 103a and the other second stationary contact plate 105b, and the metal sphere 101b positioned below moves to the contact position P2 where it simultaneously comes into contact with the other first stationary contact plate 103b and the second stationary contact plate 105a.

The current of the cells 81 and 82 flows in the negative-electrode contact terminal 87 of the cells 81 and 82 via the positive-electrode contact terminal 85, the conductive band 36 of the other rotor 60, the conductive cylindrical body (outer conduction shaft) 121, the conductive band 36 of the rotor 10, the second stationary contact plate 105a, the metal sphere 101b, the other first stationary contact plate 103b, the terminal 130b of the drive motor 130, the terminal 130a of the drive motor 130, the first stationary contact plate 103a, the metal sphere 101a, the other second stationary contact plate 105b, the metal tongue piece 30 of the rotor 10, the fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft) 41, and the metal tongue piece 70 of the other rotor 60, and the drive shaft 131 of the drive motor 130 rotates in the clockwise direction.

When the drive shaft 131 rotates in the clockwise direction, the drive gear 132 attached to the drive shaft 131, the spur gear 135 that engages with the drive gear 132, the intermediate shaft 133 fixing the spur gear 135, the pinion 136 fixed to the intermediate shaft 133, and the driven gear 124 that engages with the pinion 136 rotate, and the rotary shaft 122 tries to rotate in the clockwise direction. However, the rotary shaft 122 is coupled and fixed to the lower part of the string member 2 and does not rotate. Therefore, the rotor 10 rotates at high speed in the counterclockwise direction around the rotary shaft 122 as a center.

As long as the rotor 10 rotates, the metal sphere 101a simultaneously comes into contact with the first stationary contact plate 103a and the other second stationary contact plate 105b by the centrifugal force, and the metal sphere 101b continues contacting in the other first stationary contact plate 103b and the second stationary contact plate 105a, so that the high-speed rotation of the rotor 10 is maintained. As described above, the user can develop various kinds of tricks with the electric yo-yo toy 1 since the pair of rotors 10 and 60 continues rotating in a state where they are hanging on the string member 2.

In the electric yo-yo toy 1, in a state where the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is hanging on the string member 2 while continuously rotating, when the string member 2 is pulled slightly upward, the string member 2 slackens and comes into contact with the resistance plates 18 and 18 fixed to the rotors 10 and 60. The rotors 10 and 60 rise while winding the string member 2 by the frictional resistance between the string member 2 and the resistance plates 18. At the time of rise, the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is held by a hand, so that the rotation of the pair of rotors 10 and 60 stops. When the rotation of the rotor 10 stops, the centrifugal force stops working on the metal sphere 101, the metal sphere 101 returns to the non-contact position apart from the contact part 120 of the second stationary contact plate 105 by the magnetic force of the magnet 115, and the driving of the drive motor 130 stops.

Although the rolling contact 101 using the metal sphere has been described, the detecting device 100 may be constructed by the metal oscillating contact 151 as illustrated in FIG. 16 to FIG. 19. The detecting device 150 attached to the rotor 10 includes the oscillating contact 151, a guide member 152 for swingably pivoting the oscillating contact 151, and the stationary contact plates 105 provided apart on both of the oscillating contact 151. As shown in FIGS. 17(a)-17(f), the guide member 152 includes an attachment plate 156, a shaft hole 157 formed in one end of the attachment plate 156, and a magnet attachment frame 160 formed on the other end of the attachment plate 156. To the magnet attachment frame 160, the magnet 165 is attached.

The guide member 152 is disposed opposed to the inside face 12b side of the rotation case 11. By adjusting the shaft hole 157 to the screw hole 23a in the projection 23 formed facing the rotation case 11 shown in FIG. 16(a), inserting a screw part 154 of a pivot 153 into the shaft hole 157, and screwing the screw part 154, the guide member 152 is fixed so as to be face the inside face 12b of the rotation case 11. Since the magnet attachment frame 160 is fit in the guide recess 33 in the attachment plate 27 of the main shaft member 25 and the guide recess 57 in the motor attachment plate 50, the guide member 152 is fixed by the pivot 153 unswingably. As shown in FIG. 18(a), the oscillating contact 151 is attached swingably by the pivot 153.

When the guide member 152 is fixed to the rotation case 11 by the pivot 153, a contact piece 166 is fixed to the guide member 152 by the pivot 153. As shown in FIG. 18(b), the contact piece 166 is made by a board 167 having an almost semicircular shape and a bent piece 168 which is bent at almost right angle at one end of the board 167. The oscillating contact 151 is always in contact with the board 167 (contact piece 166) via the metal pivot 153 and the screw part 154. A front part 163 is stably held in an almost center by the magnet 165 and is usually not in contact with the stationary contact plates 105 on both sides. The stationary contact plate 105 is as described above.

The electric configuration of the electric yo-yo toy 1 is as follows. As shown in FIG. 19, the positive-electrode contact terminal 85 of each of the cells 81 and 82 is connected to the stationary contact plate 105a via the conductive band 36 of the other rotor 60, the conductive cylindrical body (outer conduction shaft) 121, and the conductive band 36 of the rotor 10. The negative-electrode contact terminal 87 of each of the cells 81 and 82 is connected to the other stationary contact plate 105b via the metal tongue piece 70 of the other rotor 60, the fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft) 41, and the metal tongue piece 30 of the rotor 10. The contact piece 166a is connected to the terminal 130a of the drive motor 130, and the other contact piece 166b is connected to the other terminal 130b of the drive motor 130.

The electric yo-yo toy 1 can be used as follows. When the electric yo-yo toy 1 does not rotate, the oscillating contact 151 is held in the position (non-contact position) apart from the contact part 120 in the stationary contact plate 105 by the magnet 165, and the current from the cells 81 and 82 does not flow to the drive motor 130, so that the drive motor 130 is in a non-drive state. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the lower part of the string member 2 is coupled and fixed to the rotary shaft 122, and the string member 2 is wound around the rotary shaft 122. When the user holds the electric yo-yo toy 1 by inserting his/her middle finger in a loop formed in an upper part of the string member 2 and pushes the electric yo-yo toy 1 downward, the pair of rotors 10 and 60 rotates and descends while loosening the string member 2 from the rotary shaft 122.

When the rotor 10 rotates, the drive motor 130 operates. Specifically, in FIG. 19, when the rotor 10 rotates clockwise, the oscillating contact 151 oscillates against the magnetic force of the magnet 165 by the inertia force, the oscillating contact 151a positioned above comes into contact with the stationary contact plate 105a, and the stationary contact 151b positioned below comes into contact with the other stationary contact plate 105b.

The current of the cells 81 and 82 flows in the negative-electrode contact terminal 87 of the cells 81 and 82 via the positive-electrode contact terminal 85, the conductive band 36 of the other rotor 60, the conductive cylindrical body (outer conduction shaft) 121, the conductive band 36 of the rotor 10, the stationary contact plate 105a, the oscillating contact 151a, the contact piece 166a, the terminal 130a of the drive motor 130, the terminal 130b of the drive motor 130, the other contact piece 166b, the oscillating contact 151b, the other stationary contact plate 105b, the metal tongue piece 30 of the rotor 10, the fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft) 41, and the metal tongue piece 70 of the other rotor 60, and the drive shaft 131 of the drive motor 130 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. When the drive shaft 131 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, as described above, the rotor 10 rotates at high speed in the clockwise direction around the rotary shaft 122 as a center.

As long as the rotor 10 rotates, the oscillating contact 151a comes into contact with the stationary contact plate 105a by the centrifugal force, and the oscillating contact 151b continues contacting in the other stationary contact plate 105b, so that the high-speed rotation of the rotor 10 is maintained. The user can develop various kinds of tricks with the electric yo-yo toy 1 since the pair of rotors 10 and 60 continues rotating in a state where they are hanging on the string member 2.

In the electric yo-yo toy 1, in a state where the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is hanging on the string member 2 while continuously rotating, when the string member 2 is pulled slightly upward, the string member 2 slackens and comes into contact with the resistance plates 18 and 18 fixed to the rotors 10 and 60. The rotors 10 and 60 rise while winding the string member 2 by the frictional resistance between the string member 2 and the resistance plates 18. At the time of rise, the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is held by a hand, so that the rotation of the pair of rotors 10 and 60 stops. When the rotation of the rotor 10 stops, the centrifugal force stops working on the oscillating contact 151, the oscillating contact 151 returns to the non-contact position apart from the contact part 120 of the stationary contact plate 105 by the magnetic force of the magnet 165, and the driving of the drive motor 130 stops.

When the electric yo-yo toy 1 is pushed downward, the pair of rotors 10 and 60 rotates in the counterclockwise direction and descends while loosening the string member 2 from the rotary shaft 122. In FIG. 19, when the rotor 10 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the oscillating contact 151 oscillates against the magnetic force of the magnet 165 by the inertia force, the oscillating contact 151a positioned above comes into contact with the other stationary contact plate 105a, and the oscillating contact 151b positioned below comes into contact with the stationary contact plate 105a.

The current of the cells 81 and 82 flows in the negative-electrode contact terminal 87 of the cells 81 and 82 via the positive-electrode contact terminal 85, the conductive band 36 of the other rotor 60, the conductive cylindrical body (outer conduction shaft) 121, the conductive band 36 of the rotor 10, the stationary contact plate 105a, the oscillating contact 151b, the other contact piece 166b, the terminal 130b of the drive motor 130, the terminal 130a of the drive motor 130, the contact piece 166a, the oscillating contact 151a, the other stationary contact plate 105b, the metal tongue piece 30 of the rotor 10, the fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft) 41, and the metal tongue piece 70 of the other rotor 60, and the drive shaft 131 of the drive motor 130 rotates in the clockwise direction. When the drive shaft 131 rotates in the clockwise direction, as described above, the rotor 10 rotates at high speed in the counterclockwise direction around the rotary shaft 122 as a center.

As long as the rotor 10 rotates, the oscillating contact 151a comes into contact with the other stationary contact plate 105b by the centrifugal force, and the oscillating contact 151b continues contacting the stationary contact plate 105a, so that the high-speed rotation of the rotor 10 is maintained. As described above, the user can develop various kinds of tricks with the electric yo-yo toy 1 since the pair of rotors 10 and 60 continues rotating in a state where they are hanging on the string member 2.

In the electric yo-yo toy 1, in a state where the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is hanging on the string member 2 while continuously rotating, when the string member 2 is pulled slightly upward, the string member 2 slackens and comes into contact with the resistance plates 18 and 18 fixed to the rotors 10 and 60. The rotors 10 and 60 rise while winding the string member 2 by the frictional resistance between the string member 2 and the resistance plates 18. At the time of rise, the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is held by a hand, so that the rotation of the pair of rotors 10 and 60 stops. When the rotation of the rotor 10 stops, the centrifugal force stops working on the oscillating contact 151, the oscillating contact 151 returns to the non-contact position apart from the contact part 120 of the stationary contact plate 105 by the magnetic force of the magnet 165, and the driving of the drive motor 130 stops.

In the foregoing embodiment, the shape of the external cover 22 of the rotors 10 and 60 projects from the shape of the drive motor 130. As shown in FIGS. 20(a)-20(h), by changing the shape of the drive motor 130, the projection height of the shape of the external cover 22 from the rotors 10 and 60 can be suppressed, and the rotors 10 and 60 become lighter and more compact.

As described above, with the electric yo-yo toy 1, since the rotors 10 and 60 are forcedly rotated by the drive motor 130 internally stored, even young children and beginners can perform high-level tricks. Examples of the high-level tricks include “walk-the-dog trick”, “sleeper trick”, “rock the baby trick”, and “breakaway trick”. The high-level tricks are performed basically by making the rotors 10 and 50 rotate at high-speed in a state where they hang on the string member. The high-speed rotation of the rotors 10 and 50 can be achieved by the drive motor 130 as described above. After performing the above trick, the electric yo-yo toy 1 is pulled back to your hand, thereby finishing the trick.

In the electric yo-yo toy 1, in a tension state where the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is hanging on the string member 2 while continuously rotating, when the string member 2 is pulled slightly upward, the string member 2 slackens and comes into contact with the resistance plates 18 and 18 fixed to the rotors 10 and 60. The rotors 10 and 60 rise while winding the string member 2 by the frictional resistance between the string member 2 and the resistance plates 18. The operation of slightly pulling the string member 2 upward to generate the frictional resistance between the string member 2 and the resistance plate 18 is very difficult for young children and beginners. That is to say, the string member 2 used for the electric yo-yo toy 1 has a slippery property. Even when the string member 2 slides along the resistance plate 18, the frictional resistance does not easily occur.

In the electric yo-yo toy 1 according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 21(a)-22(b), a flexible pipe 3 is slidably attached to the string member 2. Preferably, the flexible pipe 3 is made of a material having elasticity, restorability, and flexibility such as soft synthetic resin, urethane, or rubber. With such a material, the flexible pipe 3 can follow the string member 2 even when it is wound around the rotary shaft 122 together with the string member 2 or stretched. No adverse influence is exerted on the operation of the electric yo-yo toy 1. The flexible pipe 3 is used by covering the string member 2, slidable along the string member 2, and can be held in a desired position to which the flexible pipe 3 slides by frictional resistance.

As shown in FIGS. 21(a) and 22(a), in a tension state where the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is hanging on the string member 2, when the flexible pipe 3 slides to a position apart from the pair of rotors 10 and 60, the flexible pipe 3 does not come into contact with the resistance plates 18 and 18 fixed to the rotors 10 and 60. Consequently, the user has to have a technique or get used to pull the electric yo-yo toy 1 back to his/her hand.

As shown in FIGS. 21(b) and 22(b), in a tension state where the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is hanging on the string member 2, when the flexible pipe 3 slides to a position close to the pair of rotors 10 and 60, the flexible pipe 3 can come into contact with the resistance plates 18 and 18 of the rotors 10 and 60. Consequently, the user can easily pull the electric yo-yo toy 1 back to his/her hand. In this case as well, in a tension state where the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is hanging on the string member 2, the flexible pipe 3 is positioned in a space between the rotors 10 and 60 without coming into contact with the rotors 10 and 60.

In the electric yo-yo toy 1, in a tension state where the pair of rotors 10 and 60 is hanging on the string member 2 while continuously rotating, when the string member 2 is pulled slightly upward, the string member 2 slackens and the flexible pipe 3 comes into contact with the resistance plates 18 and 18 of the rotors 10 and 60. The rotors 10 and 60 rise while winding the string member 2 by the frictional resistance between the flexible pipe 3 and the resistance plates 18. Since large frictional resistance occurs between the flexible pipe 3 and the resistance plates 18 and 18, even young children and beginners can easily pull the electric yo-yo toy 1 back to his/her hand. Obviously, the flexible pipe 3 is not limited to the electric yo-yo toy but can be also used for string members of regular yo-yo toys.

As shown in FIG. 23(a), the flexible pipe 3 is formed in a pipe shape having an inside diameter 4a in which the string member 2 can be inserted and an outside diameter 4b narrower than the space between the pair of rotors 10 and 60, has elasticity that it bends together with the string member 2, and can slide along the string member 2 and can be held in a predetermined position by frictional resistance. When the flexible pipe 3 is formed shorter than the radius of the rotors 10 and 60, it is hidden on the inside of the pair of rotors 10 and 60. It looks good, and a scene that a young child or a beginner easily plays the yo-yo can make people wonder and be surprised. As shown in FIG. 23(b), when the flexible pipe 3 is formed so that a cut groove 5 which can be opened extends linearly in the axial direction, the flexible pipe 3 can be easily attached to the string member 2 by opening the cut groove 5 without inserting the string member 2. The flexible pipe 3 can be easily attached to the string member 2 already attached to the yo-yo 1.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be used for an electric yo-yo toy having therein a drive motor.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 1 electric yo-yo toy
• 2 string member
• 3 flexible pipe (rubber pipe)
• 4a inside diameter
• 4b outside diameter
• 5 cut groove
• 10 one of rotors
• 11 rotation case
• 12 side wall
• 12a outside face
• 12b inside face
• 13 curved wall
• 15 peripheral wall
• 16 opening
• 17 recess
• 18 resistance plate
• 19 bearing hole
• 21 attachment boss
• 22 external cover
• 23 projection
• 23a screw hole
• 25 main shaft member
• 26 main shaft
• 27 attachment plate
• 27a surface
• 28 through hole
• 29 insertion hole
• 30 metal tongue piece
• 31 fitting recess
• 32 insertion hole 32
• 33 guide recess
• 35 notch recess
• 36 conductive band
• 37 bent piece
• 40 conducting unit
• 41 fixing shaft (inner conduction shaft)
• 42 shaft part
• 43 flange part
• 45 screw
• 46 guide projection
• 47 projection
• 48 nut
• 50 motor attachment plate
• 50a one of faces
• 50b the other face
• 51 positioning tube
• 52 communication hole
• 53 motor attachment recess
• 55 opening
• 56 bearing hole
• 57 guide recess
• 58 screw
• 60 the other rotor
• 61 rotation case
• 62 side wall
• 62a outside face
• 62b inside face
• 63 curved wall
• 64 shaft cylindrical part
• 65 peripheral wall
• 66 bearing hole
• 67 recess
• 69 guide wall
• 70 metal tongue piece
• 72 insertion hole
• 73 attachment recess
• 75 attachment recess
• 76 attachment recess
• 77 attachment recess
• 81 cell (power supply)
• 82 cell (power supply)
• 85 contact terminal
• 86 contact terminal
• 87 contact terminal
• 90 external cover
• 91 opening
• 92 cover member
• 100 detecting device
• 101 metal sphere (rolling contact)
• 102 guide member
• 103 first stationary contact plate
• 105 second stationary contact plate
• 106 attachment plate
• 107 projection
• 108 shaft hole
• 109 guide wall
• 110 magnet attachment frame
• 111 screw
• 112 guide plate
• 113 bent piece
• 115 magnet
• 116 engagement recess
• 117 guide projection
• 118 guide projection
• 120 contact part
• 121 conductive cylindrical body (outer conduction shaft)
• 122 rotary shaft
• 123 string winding groove
• 124 driven gear
• 130 drive motor
• 130a terminal
• 130b terminal
• 131 drive shaft
• 132 drive gear
• 133 intermediate shaft
• 135 spur gear
• 136 pinion
• 140 gear mechanism
• 150 detecting device
• 151 oscillating contact
• 152 guide member
• 153 pivot
• 154 screw
• 156 attachment plate
• 157 shaft hole
• 160 magnet attachment frame
• 162 rear end
• 163 front part
• 165 magnet
• 166 contact piece
• 167 board
• 168 bent piece

Claims

1. An electric yo-yo toy comprising:

a pair of rotors;

a main shaft provided between centers of the pair of rotors; and

a rotary shaft swingably provided for the main shaft and around which a string member is wound,

wherein one of the rotors is provided with a drive motor, a gear mechanism for transmitting rotation of the drive motor to the rotary shaft, and a detecting device for detecting rotation of the rotors,

the other rotor is provided with a power source, and

the main shaft is provided with a conducting unit that electrically connects the drive motor and the detecting device of one of the rotors and the power source of the other rotor.

2. The electric yo-yo toy according to claim 1, wherein the conducting unit comprises

an inner conduction shaft provided on the inside of the main shaft and

an outer conduction shaft provided on the outside of the main shaft.

3. The electric yo-yo toy according to claim 2, wherein the outer conduction shaft is formed in a cylindrical shape and provided on the outside of the main shaft, and

a rotary shaft is swingably provided for the outer conduction shaft.

4. The electric yo-yo toy according to claim 2, wherein the inner conduction shaft is a fixing shaft which is inserted in the main shaft and which fixes the pair of rotors.

5. The electric yo-yo toy according to claim 1, wherein the detecting device comprises:

a first stationary contact plate:

a second stationary contact plate provided apart from the first stationary contact plate;

a rolling contact that rolls between a contact position where it comes into contact with the first and second stationary contact plates almost simultaneously and a non-contact position where it does not come into contact with at least one of the first and second stationary contact plates; and

a magnet which holds the rolling contact in the non-contact position, and

the rolling contact rolls against magnetic force of the magnet by inertia force generated by rotation of the rotors and comes into contact with the first and second stationary contact plates almost simultaneously to drive the drive motor.

6. The electric yo-yo toy according to claim 5, wherein the second stationary contact plates are provided on both sides of the first stationary contact plate,

when the rolling contact comes into contact with the first stationary contact plate and one of the second stationary contact plates, the drive motor drives in one direction, and when the rolling contact comes into contact with the first stationary contact plate and the other second stationary contact plate, the drive motor drives in the other direction.

7. The electric yo-yo toy according to claim 1, wherein the detecting device comprises:

an oscillating contact whose one end is pivoted and capable of oscillating like a pendulum:

a stationary contact plate provided apart from the oscillating contact and coming into contact when the oscillating contact oscillates; and

a magnet which holds the oscillating contact in a position of non-contact with the stationary contact plate, and

the oscillating contact oscillates against magnetic force of the magnet by inertia force generated by rotation of the rotors and comes into contact with the stationary contact plate to drive the drive motor.

8. The electric yo-yo toy according to claim 7, wherein the stationary contact plates are provided on both sides of the oscillating contact,

when the oscillating contact comes into contact with one of the stationary contact plates, the drive motor drives in one direction, and when the oscillating contact comes into contact with the other stationary contact plate, the drive motor drives in the other direction.

9. The electric yo-yo toy according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of detecting devices is provided so as to face one of the rotors and, when both of the detecting devices detect rotation, the drive motor is driven.