JP7724896B2 - luminous toys - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a light-emitting toy.

The toy described in Patent Document 1 comprises a translucent, disc-shaped case, a disc-shaped rotating body rotatably supported within the case, and a drive means for rotating the rotating body. The rotating body has multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a detection means for detecting the rotation of the rotating body, and a control means for controlling the light emission of the LEDs. When the rotating body is rotated by the drive means, which can be operated from outside the case, the control means causes the LEDs to emit light based on the detection result of the detection means.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-70555

In the rotating toy described in Patent Document 1, the LEDs rotate integrally with the rotating body, and in order to utilize the LED light emission to create a variety of effects, a large number of LEDs are required, making the toy expensive. Furthermore, the LEDs, detection means, and control means are mounted on the rotating body, and a battery that supplies power to the LEDs, detection means, and control means is also mounted on the rotating body. This makes the rotating body heavy, placing a strain on the support section and drive means of the rotating body, raising concerns about reduced durability. Mounting the detection means, control means, and battery in a case could reduce the weight of the rotating body, but would place a strain on the wiring that supplies power to the LEDs, again raising concerns about reduced durability.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting toy that is highly durable.

A light-emitting toy according to the present invention comprises a light-emitting unit having one or more light-emitting elements, and a movable unit that is optically transparent and has a first surface on which light emitted from the light-emitting elements intersects with and enters the movable unit, and a second surface that intersects with the first surface, and a plurality of recesses formed on the second surface, wherein the movable unit is movable in a direction across the light. Also, a light-emitting toy according to the present invention comprises a handle that can be operated by a user, a light-emitting unit having one or more light-emitting elements, and a light-transmitting movable unit that is optically transparent and on which light emitted from the light-emitting elements intersects with and enters the movable unit, and has a plurality of recesses formed thereon, wherein the movable unit is formed in the shape of an annular plate and rotatable about a central axis, the plurality of recesses forming one or more groups, each group of recesses being arranged at intervals on a spiral line extending radially outward from the central axis of the movable unit, the movable unit being moved when the handle is operated by a user, and the plurality of recesses scatter the light traveling inside the movable unit and move in a direction across the light when the movable unit is moved. In addition, the light-emitting toy of the present invention comprises a handle that can be operated by a user, a light-emitting unit having one or more light-emitting elements, and a movable unit that is optically transparent and into which light emitted from the light-emitting elements intersects and enters, and in which a plurality of recesses that are through holes are formed, and the movable unit moves when the handle is operated by the user, and the plurality of recesses scatter the light traveling inside the movable unit and move in a direction crossing the light as the movable unit moves.

Furthermore, in the light-emitting toy according to the present invention, the plurality of recesses may be configured to form one or more groups, and the recesses in one group may be arranged at intervals on a line inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable part and the direction of travel of the light.

In addition, in the light-emitting toy according to the present invention, the movable part may be formed in the shape of an annular plate, the light-emitting part may be arranged toward the center of the movable part, the light-emitting element may emit the light in the radial direction of the movable part, the first surface may be the inner peripheral surface of the movable part, the second surface may be an end surface on one axial side of the movable part, and the movable part may rotate around a central axis.

Furthermore, in the light-emitting toy according to the present invention, the plurality of recesses may be configured into one or more groups, and each group of recesses may be arranged at intervals on a spiral line extending radially outward from the central axis of the movable part.

Furthermore, in the light-emitting toy according to the present invention, the light-emitting unit may have a plurality of light-emitting elements, and the plurality of light-emitting elements may be arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the movable unit.

Furthermore, in the light-emitting toy according to the present invention, the multiple recesses may be through holes.

Furthermore, in the light-emitting toy according to the present invention, the light-emitting element may blink.

Furthermore, in the light-emitting toy of the present invention, the light-emitting element may flash in multiple colors.

The light-emitting toy according to the present invention includes a mounting part to which a sub-toy having identification information is detachably mounted, and a reading part that reads the identification information of the sub-toy mounted on the mounting part.
The electronic device may further include a control unit that changes the blinking pattern of the light-emitting element based on the identification information read by the reading unit.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a light-emitting toy with excellent durability.

1 is a perspective view of an example of a light-emitting toy for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light-emitting toy of FIG. 1 taken along line II-II. FIG. 2 is a front view of the movable part of the light-emitting toy of FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drive unit of the light-emitting toy of FIG. 1 . 2 is a perspective view showing the operation of a drive unit of the light-emitting toy of FIG. 1. FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a presentation mode in a state where a movable part of the light-emitting toy of FIG. 1 is stopped. 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the movable part of the light-emitting toy of FIG. 1 rotates at a low speed. 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the movable part of the light-emitting toy of FIG. 1 rotates at a medium speed. 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the movable part of the light-emitting toy of FIG. 1 rotates at high speed. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a modified example of the light-emitting toy of FIG. 1 . 11 is a perspective view of an example of a sub-toy body used in the light-emitting toy of FIG. 10. FIG. FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the mounting portion of the light-emitting toy of FIG. 10 . 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams of another example of a luminous toy for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show an example of a light-emitting toy to explain an embodiment of the present invention.

The light-emitting toy 1 comprises a movable part 101 and a light-emitting part 102. The movable part 101 is optically transparent and formed in the shape of a circular ring. The light-emitting part 102 has a plurality of light-emitting elements 103. The light-emitting elements 103 are, for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

The movable part 101 is fixed to a rotating table 105 housed in the housing 104 of the light-emitting toy 1. The rotating table 105 is provided with a rotation axis 106 that coincides with the central axis of the movable part 101, and the movable part 101 and rotating table 105 are supported by the housing 104 so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis 106. Note that the movable part 101 and rotating table 105 may be formed integrally.

In this example, the movable part 101 is rotated by manual operation, and the housing 104 is provided with a pair of handles 107a, 107b as operating parts. The housing 104 is provided with an opening that allows the surface 101b, which is the end face on one axial side of the movable part 101, to be viewed, and the pair of handles 107a, 107b are positioned on either side of this opening and are supported by the housing 104 so that they can move linearly left and right.

The light-emitting unit 102 is housed in a case 108, which is arranged toward the center of the movable unit 101 without contacting the movable unit 101 or the rotating table 105. The case 108 is fixed to the housing 104 via a pair of support plates 109 that are placed on the surface 101b of the movable unit 101 between the case 108 and the edge of the opening of the housing 104. The light-emitting element 103 is arranged to emit light in the radial direction of the movable unit 101.

Light emitted from the light-emitting element 103 is incident on the inner circumferential surface (first surface) 101a of the movable part 101. The peripheral wall of the case 108, which is interposed between the light-emitting element 103 and the inner circumferential surface 101a of the movable part 101, is optically transparent or has openings to allow light to pass through. A plurality of recesses 110 are formed on the surface (second surface) 101b of the movable part 101, which intersects with the inner circumferential surface (first surface) 101a onto which the light is incident. These recesses 110 move circumferentially as the movable part 101 rotates, crossing the light that has entered the inner circumferential surface 101a and is traveling inside the movable part 101. In particular, in this embodiment, these recesses 110 move circumferentially as the movable part 101 rotates, crossing the light that has entered the inner circumferential surface 101a and is traveling inside the movable part 101 along a plane parallel to the surface 101b.

Figure 3 shows an example of the arrangement of the recesses 110.

In the example shown in Figure 3, the multiple recesses 110 form multiple recess groups 111, and the multiple recesses 110 included in one recess group 111 are arranged at intervals on a spiral line L1 centered on the central axis of the movable part 101. The number of recess groups 111 is not limited and may be one. The movable part 101 rotates in a rotation direction A when tracing the spiral line L1 from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side.

Figures 4 and 5 show an example of a drive unit that rotates the movable part 101.

As described above, the movable part 101 is rotated by manual operation, and the pair of handles 107a, 107b serving as the operating parts are connected to the drive part 112. The drive part 112 includes a rack 113, multiple intermediate gears 114a-114c, and an output gear 115 fixed to the rotation shaft 106 of the movable part 101.

The rack 113 is fixed to one of the handles 107a and moves integrally with the handle 107a. The handles 107a and 107b are connected via a connecting member 116, and are interlocked to move toward or away from each other. Therefore, when the other handle 107b is operated, the handle 107a moves in conjunction with the handle 107b, and the rack 113 moves integrally with the handle 107a. The linear movement of the rack 113 is converted into rotation by the intermediate gear 114a, which meshes with the rack 113. The rotation is then accelerated appropriately by multiple intermediate gears 114a-114c and transmitted to the output gear 115, which is fixed to the rotating shaft 106. This rotates the movable part 101.

When the pair of handles 107a, 107b are operated to move away from each other, the rack 113, the multiple intermediate gears 114a-114c, and the output gear 115 mesh sequentially, causing the movable part 101 to rotate in rotation direction A (see Figures 3 and 5). On the other hand, when the pair of handles 107a, 107b are operated to move toward each other, one of the multiple intermediate gears 114a-114c is configured to disengage from the meshing. For example, the intermediate gear 114c is biased by a spring (not shown) in a direction to mesh with the adjacent intermediate gear 114b and output gear 115, and when the pair of handles 107a, 107b are operated to move toward each other, the rotation of the intermediate gear 114b causes it to be ejected from the meshing with the intermediate gear 114b and output gear 115. One intermediate gear disengages, causing the output gear 115 to spin freely and the movable part 101 to continue rotating in the direction A due to inertia.

Note that rotation of the movable part 101 is not limited to manual operation, but may also be rotated by a motor.

Figures 6 to 9 show schematic illustrations of the effects that occur when the movable part 101 starts from a stationary state and gradually increases its rotational speed as it rotates. Note that, in the following, it is assumed that the light-emitting element 103 of the light-emitting part 102 is lit intermittently.

Figure 6 shows the movable part 101 in a stationary state. Light emitted from the light-emitting element 103 of the light-emitting part 102 is incident on the inner circumferential surface (first surface) 101a of the movable part 101 and travels radially inside the movable part 101 while spreading at an appropriate light distribution angle. The light traveling radially inside the movable part 101 is scattered by recesses 110 provided on the surface (second surface) 101b of the movable part 101 that are located on the optical path. This makes the recesses 110 located on the optical path appear to be emitting light. The shape of the recesses 110 is not particularly limited and may be hemispherical, cylindrical, conical, polygonal prism, or polygonal pyramid. The recesses 110 may also be holes with a bottom or through-holes.

The number of light-emitting elements 103 is not limited, but preferably the light-emitting unit 102 is equipped with multiple light-emitting elements 103, which are arranged at equal intervals around the circumference of the movable unit 101. This makes it possible to illuminate all of the recesses 110, for example, even when the movable unit 101 is stationary, thereby enhancing the splendor of the presentation. Note that the recesses 110 that are illuminated when the movable unit 101 is stationary can be set appropriately by adjusting the number (spacing) and light distribution angle of the light-emitting elements 103 in relation to the arrangement of the recesses 110.

As shown in Figure 7, when the movable part 101 is rotated, the light emitted from each recess 110 extends in the direction of rotation due to the afterimage effect and is perceived as an arc-shaped band 117. Then, as shown in Figure 8, as the rotation speed of the movable part 101 increases, the length of the arc-shaped band 117 increases, and as shown in Figure 9, it is perceived as a circular band 118. In this way, the effects that utilize the light emitted from the recesses 110 change in a variety of ways depending on the rotation speed of the movable part 101.

In this example, the multiple recesses 110 included in one recess group 111 are arranged at intervals on the spiral line L1, and the movable part 101 rotates in a rotation direction A when tracing the spiral line L1 from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side. Therefore, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the arc-shaped band of light 117 on the inner diameter side precedes the arc-shaped band of light 117 on the outer diameter side in the rotation direction A. This makes it possible to emphasize the rotation of the movable part 101.

Furthermore, the multiple recesses 110 arranged at intervals on the spiral line L1 are arranged circumferentially offset relative to the light-emitting element 103. This prevents light reaching the recesses 110 arranged on the outer diameter side from being attenuated by the recesses 110 arranged on the inner diameter side, and makes it possible to uniformize the brightness of the multiple recesses 110 compared to when the multiple recesses 110 are arranged in a straight line radially relative to the light-emitting element 103.

Note that the light-emitting element 103 may be lit continuously or may flash during the lighting period. When the light-emitting element 103 flashes, the light emitted from the recess 110 when lit appears continuous when the movable part 101 is rotating at a slow speed, and when the movable part 101 is rotating at a high speed, the light emitted from the recess 110 when lit appears interrupted. This emphasizes the increased rotational speed of the movable part 101. Furthermore, the light-emitting element 103 may be capable of emitting light in multiple colors (e.g., red and white) and may flash in multiple colors. In this case, the arc-shaped light band 117 and the circular light band 118 will be bands composed of multiple colors corresponding to the light-emitting color of the light-emitting element 103 (for example, if the light-emitting element 103 is capable of emitting light in red and white, the arc-shaped light band 117 and the circular light band 118 will be composed of alternating red and white portions). This allows for more diverse and varied effects utilizing the light emitted from the recess 110.

With the light-emitting toy 1 configured as described above, the light-emitting elements 103 are not provided on the movable part 101, which rotates relative to the housing 104, but are fixedly provided on the housing 104. This frees the wiring for supplying power to the light-emitting elements 103 from the load caused by the rotation of the movable part 101, improving durability. Furthermore, the weight of the movable part 101 can be reduced, reducing the load on the support part of the housing 104 that rotatably supports the movable part 101 and the drive part 112 that rotates the movable part 101, improving durability. Furthermore, depending on the number and arrangement of the recesses 110 provided in the movable part 101, a variety of effects can be produced without using a large number of light-emitting elements 103, allowing the light-emitting toy to be made inexpensively.

Figure 10 shows a modified example of the light-emitting toy 1.

In this modified example, the light-emitting toy 1 uses the identification information ID held by the sub-toy body 2 to create a more diverse presentation that utilizes the light emitted from the recess 110.

The light-emitting toy 1 further includes a reading unit 120 that reads the identification information ID held by the sub-toy body 2, and a control unit 121 that operates the light-emitting unit 102 based on the identification information ID read by the reading unit 120.

The control unit 121 has a storage medium 122 and a processor 123. The storage medium 122 is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory), and stores a program executed by the processor 123 and control data that controls the lighting of the light-emitting element 103. The processor 123 reads the control data from the storage medium 122 and operates the light-emitting unit 102 based on the read control data.

Figure 11 shows an example of a secondary toy body 2.

The secondary toy body 2 has an information storage unit 125 that has at least one element that constitutes the identification information. In this example, the element that constitutes the identification information is a protrusion 126 arranged on the surface of the secondary toy body 2, and the arrangement pattern of the protrusions 126 constitutes the identification information ID.

Figure 12 shows the configuration of the reading unit 120 that reads the identification information ID of the sub-toy object 2 shown in Figure 11.

The light-emitting toy 1 has an attachment section 127 to which the sub-toy body 2 holding the identification information ID is detachably attached. In this example, the attachment section 127 is provided on the front of the case 108 that houses the light-emitting section 102. The reading section 120 that reads the identification information ID of the sub-toy body 2 is provided in the attachment section 127.

The reading unit 120 has a detection unit 128 that detects the protrusions 126 on the secondary toy body 2, and the detection unit 128 includes a switch 129 that can be pressed down by the protrusions 126. When the secondary toy body 2 is attached to the attachment portion 127, the protrusions 126 on the secondary toy body 2 are detected by the switch 129, and the identification information ID is read based on the arrangement pattern of the protrusions 126.

The processor 123 of the control unit 121 reads from the storage medium 122 the control data corresponding to the identification information ID read by the reading unit 120, and operates the light-emitting unit 102 based on the read control data, changing the presentation utilizing the light emitted from the recess 110 of the movable unit 101. Examples of changes in presentation include changes in the lighting cycle of the intermittently lit light-emitting element 103, changes in the blinking speed during the lighting period of the light-emitting element 103, and, if the light-emitting element 103 is capable of emitting light in multiple colors, a change in the light color can also be an example. Note that the manner in which the identification information ID is stored in the sub-toy body 2 and the method for reading the identification information ID are not limited to those described above.

Up to this point, we have described the movable part 101 as being rotatable, but the movable part 101 is not limited to being rotatable. In the example shown in Figure 13, the movable part 201 is optically transparent and formed in the shape of a rectangular plate. The movable part 201 is then moved back and forth linearly in the direction indicated by arrow B, which is parallel to the surface 201b.

Light emitted from the light-emitting element 203 of the light-emitting unit 202 is incident on the side surface (first surface) 201a, which is approximately parallel to the movement direction B of the movable unit 201. A plurality of recesses 210 are formed on the surface (second surface) 201b of the movable unit 201, which intersects with the side surface 201a onto which the light is incident. These recesses 210 cross the light that is incident on the side surface 201a and travels inside the movable unit 201 as the movable unit 201 moves back and forth linearly. In particular, in this embodiment, these recesses 210 are designed to cross the light that is incident on the side surface 201a and travels inside the movable unit 201 along a plane parallel to the surface 201b as the movable unit 201 moves back and forth linearly.

When the movable part 201 is moved, the afterimage effect causes the light emitted from each recess 210 to be seen as a band extending in the direction of movement. As the speed of movement of the movable part 201 increases, the length of the band increases. In this way, the effects utilizing the light emitted from the recesses 210 change in a variety of ways depending on the speed of movement of the movable part 201.

In this example, the multiple recesses 210 also form one recess group, and these recesses 210 are arranged at intervals on a line L2 that is inclined with respect to the movement direction B of the movable part 201 and the direction of light travel. This prevents light that reaches recesses 210 located away from the light-emitting element 203 from being attenuated by recesses 210 located close to the light-emitting element 203, and makes it possible to uniform the brightness of the multiple recesses 210.

1 Light-emitting toy 2 Sub-toy body 101 Movable part 101a Inner peripheral surface (first surface) of the movable part
101b: Surface of the movable part (second surface)
102 Light emitting unit 103 Light emitting element 104 Housing 105 Rotating table 106 Rotating shafts 107a, 107b Handle 108 Case 109 Support plate 110 Recess 111 Recess group 112 Drive unit 113 Rack 114a to 114c Intermediate gear 115 Output gear 116 Connecting member 117 Light band 118 Light band 120 Reading unit 121 Control unit 122 Storage medium 123 Processor 125 Information storage unit 126 Protrusion 127 Mounting unit 128 Detection unit 129 Switch 201 Movable unit 201a Side surface (first surface) of the movable unit
201b Surface of the movable part (second surface)
202 Light emitting portion 203 Light emitting element 210 Recess A Rotation direction B Movement direction ID Identification information L1 Line L2 Line

Claims (12)

A handle that can be operated by a user;
a light-emitting unit having one or more light-emitting elements;
a movable portion that is optically transparent, into which light emitted from the light emitting element intersects and into which the light is incident, and that has a plurality of recesses formed therein;
Equipped with
the movable portion is formed in a circular plate shape and is rotatable around a central axis,
the plurality of recesses form one or more groups, and each group of recesses is arranged at intervals on a spiral line extending from a central axis of the movable part to an outer diameter side,
The movable part moves when the handle is operated by a user,
The plurality of recesses scatter light traveling inside the movable part, and move in a direction crossing the light as the movable part moves. The light-emitting toy according to claim 1,
The group of recesses is arranged at intervals on a line inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the movable part and the direction of travel of the light. The light-emitting toy according to claim 1 or 2 ,
the light emitting unit is disposed on the center side of the movable unit,
The light-emitting element emits light in a radial direction of the movable part. The light-emitting toy according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
the light-emitting unit has a plurality of light-emitting elements,
The light-emitting toy has a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the movable part. The light-emitting toy according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The plurality of recesses are through holes. The light-emitting toy according to claim 1 or 5 ,
The light-emitting element is a flashing light-emitting toy. The light-emitting toy according to claim 6 ,
The light-emitting element is a light-emitting toy that flashes in multiple colors. The light-emitting toy according to claim 6 or 7 ,
a mounting portion to which a sub-toy having identification information is detachably mounted;
a reading unit that reads the identification information of the sub-toy attached to the attachment unit;
a control unit that changes a blinking pattern of the light-emitting element based on the identification information read by the reading unit;
A luminous toy comprising: A handle that can be operated by a user;
a light-emitting unit having one or more light-emitting elements;
a movable portion that is optically transparent, into which light emitted from the light emitting element intersects and into which the light is incident, and that has a plurality of recesses that are through holes ;
Equipped with
The movable part moves when the handle is operated by a user,
The plurality of recesses scatter light traveling inside the movable part, and move in a direction crossing the light as the movable part moves. The light-emitting toy according to claim 9 ,
The light-emitting element is a flashing light-emitting toy. The light-emitting toy according to claim 10 ,
The light-emitting element is a light-emitting toy that flashes in multiple colors. The light-emitting toy according to claim 9 or 10 ,
a mounting portion to which a sub-toy having identification information is detachably mounted;
a reading unit that reads the identification information of the sub-toy attached to the attachment unit;
a control unit that changes a blinking pattern of the light-emitting element based on the identification information read by the reading unit;
A luminous toy comprising: