DRIVING DEVICE FOR TOY VEHICLE AND TOY VEHICLE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Abstract

A driving device for a toy vehicle according to the present disclosure is a driving device for a toy vehicle, and includes: a first rotating body configured to be rotatable around a first rotation axis by a motor, the first rotating body having a wall portion formed to have a surface whose distance from the first rotation axis gradually decreases along a circumferential direction about the first rotation axis; a second rotating body configured to be rotatable around a second rotation axis by being pressed by the surface of the wall portion that rotates; and a third rotating body configured to be rotatable around a third rotation axis by the second rotating body.

Claims

1. A driving device for a toy vehicle, the driving device comprising: a first rotating body configured to be rotatable around a first rotation axis by a motor, the first rotating body having a wall portion formed to have a surface whose distance from the first rotation axis gradually decreases along a circumferential direction about the first rotation axis; a second rotating body configured to be rotatable around a second rotation axis by being pressed by the surface of the wall portion that rotates; and a third rotating body configured to be rotatable around a third rotation axis by the second rotating body.

2. The driving device for a toy vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the wall portion includes: a first end portion at which a distance between the first rotation axis and a wall surface is maximum; and a second end portion at which the distance between the first rotation axis and a wall surface is minimum; and a connection portion formed to connect the first end portion and the second end portion and having a wall surface whose distance from the first rotation axis decreases as the wall surface is farther away from the first end portion and approaches the second end portion along the circumferential direction about the first rotation axis.

3. The driving device for a toy vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the second rotating body includes a gear having a plurality of teeth, and the wall portion is configured to pass through a space between two adjacent teeth while pressing the teeth to rotate the second rotating body every time the first rotating body makes one rotation.

4. The driving device for a toy vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the second rotating body includes a gear having a plurality of teeth, and a difference between a distance between the first rotation axis and the first end portion and a distance between the first rotation axis and the second end portion is larger than a pitch of the teeth of the gear.

5. A toy vehicle comprising: a toy vehicle main body on which a motor and the driving device according to claim 2 are mounted; and a wheel configured to rotate by rotation of the third rotating body.

6. The toy vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the first rotation axis is parallel to a traveling direction of the toy vehicle, and the second rotation axis and the third rotation axis are perpendicular to the traveling direction of the toy vehicle.

7. The toy vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the first rotating body is configured to be rotatable in a first rotation direction and a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, the toy vehicle being configured to move forward when the first rotating body rotates in the first rotation direction, and move rearward when the first rotating body rotates in the second rotation direction.

8. The driving device for a toy vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the wall portion of the first rotating body is formed to stand in a direction approaching the motor, and the second rotating body is arranged between the motor and the wall portion of the first rotating body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1A is a side view of a driving device for a toy vehicle according to an embodiment;

[0008] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the driving device for a toy vehicle according to the embodiment;

[0009] FIG. 1C is a front view of the driving device for a toy vehicle according to the embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 2A is an explanatory view for describing a position of a base portion and the like as viewed from a first rotation axis direction in the driving device for a toy vehicle according to the embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a rib taken along a virtual plane passing through each position in FIG. 2A and a first rotation axis AX1;

[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a conventional toy vehicle;

[0013] FIG. 3A is an assembly view of the conventional toy vehicle;

[0014] FIG. 3B is an assembly view of the conventional toy vehicle;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view comparing a conventional driving device for a toy vehicle with the driving device for a toy vehicle according to the embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the driving device for a toy vehicle according to the embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the driving device for a toy vehicle according to the embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 6A is a side view illustrating main parts of a toy vehicle according to another embodiment; and

[0019] FIG. 6B is a perspective view illustrating main parts of the toy vehicle according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples for describing the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention only to the embodiments.

[Configuration of Driving Device]

[0021] First, a configuration of a driving device mounted on a toy vehicle will be described. FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are a side view, a perspective view, and a front view of a driving device 100 for a toy vehicle according to the present embodiment as viewed from a side direction, obliquely from the front, and from the front, respectively.

[0022] As illustrated in the drawings, the driving device 100 includes a first rotating body 1001 that rotates around a first rotation axis AX1 by a drive motor 116 (FIG. 4A) to be described later, a gear 1002 (an example of a second rotating body) that rotates around a second rotation axis AX2 by being pressed by a surface of a rib 1001R (an example of a wall portion) of the first rotating body 1001 that rotates by the drive motor 116, and a gear 1003 (an example of a third rotating body) that meshes with the gear 1002 and rotates around a third rotation axis AX3 by the gear 1002. In such a configuration, the rib 1001R is formed to have the surface whose distance from the first rotation axis AX1 gradually decreases along a circumferential direction about the first rotation axis AX1. Hereinafter, each configuration will be described in detail.

[0023] The first rotating body 1001 in the present embodiment includes a disc portion 1001D and a rib 1001R formed to stand from the disc portion 1001D.

[0024] The disc portion 1001D is a member configured to transmit a rotational force of the drive motor 116 to the rib 1001R. However, the disc portion 1001D may be formed in a shape other than a disc (for example, a rectangular shape) as long as the member is capable of supporting the rib 1001R.

[0025] A hole (FIG. 1B) extending in the thickness direction is formed at the center of the disc portion 1001D of the present embodiment, and an output shaft of the drive motor 116 (FIG. 3) is inserted into the hole. With such a configuration, the first rotating body 1001 is directly connected to the drive motor 116, and is configured to be rotatable in both directions by the drive motor 116. However, the first rotating body 1001 does not need to be directly connected to the drive motor 116, and may be configured to be rotatable by being indirectly connected to the drive motor 116 via another gear or the like.

[0026] The rib 1001R is a member having a surface that approaches the first rotation axis AX1 with the rotation (or a surface that is farther away from the first rotation axis AX1 with the rotation as will be described later) in order to press and rotate the gear 1002. In the present embodiment, the rib 1001R and the disc portion 1001D are integrally formed, but are not limited thereto, and may be formed of separate parts that can be separated or may include other parts.

[0027] As illustrated in the front view of FIG. 1C and the like, the rib 1001R of the present embodiment is formed to stand in a direction of the first rotation axis AX1 from the disc portion 1001D, and includes a first end portion 1001R1 corresponding to one end portion in the circumferential direction and having an inner wall surface on which a distance R1 from the first rotation axis AX1 is the maximum, a second end portion 1001R2 corresponding to the other end portion in the circumferential direction and having an inner wall surface on which a distance R2 from the first rotation axis AX1 is the minimum, and a connection portion 1001RC that connects both the end portions, is formed along the circumferential direction (that is, the rotation direction) around the first rotation axis AX1, has an inner wall surface on which a distance from the first rotation axis AX1 decreases (gradually decreases) as being farther away from the first end portion 1001R1 and approaching the second end portion 1001R2 with progress in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1C.

[0028] According to such a configuration, since the distance between the surface of the rib 1001R and the first rotation axis AX1 periodically changes for each rotation as the first rotating body 1001 rotates, the gear 1002 can be rotated around the second rotation axis AX2 by arranging teeth T of the gear 1002 at a position facing the surface of the rib 1001R moving in a radial direction approaching the first rotation axis AX1 (alternatively, in a radial direction away from the first rotation axis AX1 when the first rotating body 1001 rotates in the opposite direction).

[0029] Here, the connection portion 1001RC of the rib 1001R in the present embodiment is formed so as to substantially make one rotation around the first rotation axis AX1, that is, so as to have a central angle of 360 degrees or approximately 360 degrees (for example, 360 degrees 15 degrees) as the entire rib 1001R. Therefore, as viewed from the direction of the first rotation axis AX1, directions of a straight line connecting one point of the first end portion 1001R1 and the first rotation axis AX1 and a straight line connecting one point of the second end portion 1001R2 and the first rotation axis AX1 substantially coincide with each other, and an angle formed by both the straight lines is, for example, within 15 degrees.

[0030] According to such a configuration of the connection portion 1001RC, the rib 1001R presses the teeth T of the gear 1002 at all times or for most of the time during the rotation of the first rotating body 1001, so that the rotational speed of the gear 1002 can be stabilized.

[0031] A difference (R1R2) in the distance in the radial direction between the inner wall surface of the first end portion 1001R1 and the inner wall surface of the second end portion 1001R2 in the present embodiment is equal to or larger than an interval in the circumferential direction between two adjacent teeth of the gear 1002.

[0032] According to such a configuration, when the second end portion 1001R2 presses and pushes out the tooth T, it is possible to suppress the first end portion 1001R1 from colliding with an unintended portion such as an end surface, oriented in a direction of the second rotation axis AX2, of the next adjacent tooth T and to suitably start pressing the next tooth T.

[0033] The amount of variation in the distance between the inner wall surface of the connection portion 1001RC and the first rotation axis AX1 and configurations of various modifications of a wall portion, which is included in a first rotating body of the present invention and has a surface whose distance from a rotation axis varies, will be described later.

[0034] The gear 1002 is a member configured to transmit the rotational force of the drive motor 116 to the gear 1003 which is the third rotating body by being pressed by the rib 1001R of the first rotating body 1001 and rotating around the second rotation axis AX2.

[0035] The gear 1002 of the present embodiment is a spur gear having ten teeth, and is configured to be rotatable around the second rotation axis AX2 having a direction orthogonal to the direction of the first rotation axis AX1 in the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, adjacent teeth T of the gear 1002 may be referred to as a tooth T1, a tooth T2, a tooth T3, and the like, and these may be simply referred to as the teeth T when these are not distinguished from each other.

[0036] The gear 1002 is arranged such that a part of the rib 1001R is inserted between the adjacent teeth T. With such an arrangement, a part of an inner wall surface of the rib 1001R abuts on or closely faces the teeth T of the gear 1002.

[0037] According to such a configuration, since a radial force from the inner wall surface of the rib 1001R toward the first rotation axis AX1 acts on the teeth T with the rotation of the rib 1001R, a rotational moment about the second rotation axis AX2 can be applied from the rib 1001R to the teeth T. Therefore, the gear 1002 can rotate around the second rotation axis AX2 by the rotational force of the drive motor 116.

[0038] As described above, a pitch of the adjacent teeth T on a pitch circle where the teeth of the gear 1002 abut on the rib 1001R is smaller than the difference (R1R2) in the radial distance between the inner wall surface of the first end portion 1001R1 and the inner wall surface of the second end portion 1001R2 with the first rotation axis AX1 as a reference when viewed from the direction of the first rotation axis AX1 (in other words, the difference in the distance (R1R2) is larger than the pitch of the teeth T of the gear 1002 as viewed from the direction of the first rotation axis AX1). Therefore, when the second end portion 1001R2 presses the teeth T to push out the tooth T, the first end portion 1001R1 can enter a space between the next two adjacent teeth T to start pressing the next tooth T.

[0039] Although the present embodiment adopts a configuration in which the direction of the first rotation axis AX1 and the direction of the second rotation axis AX2 are orthogonal to each other in order to efficiently transmit the rotational force of the drive motor 116, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the gear 1002 may be arranged such that the direction of the first rotation axis AX1 and the direction of the second rotation axis AX2 intersect at an acute angle.

[0040] The gear 1003 is a driven gear that meshes with the gear 1002, which is a driving gear, and rotates around the third rotation axis AX3 by the gear 1002 (for this reason, the gear 1002 may be referred to as the driving gear 1002, and the gear 1003may be referred to as the driven gear 1003).

[0041] The gear 1003 of the present embodiment is a spur gear having 45 teeth, and is configured to be rotatable around the third rotation axis AX3 whose direction is orthogonal to the direction of the first rotation axis AX1 and parallel to the direction of the second rotation axis AX2 in the present embodiment. Therefore, a gear ratio between the gear 1002 and the gear 1003 is (10/45), and a transmission ratio is (45/10).

[Operation of Driving Device]

[0042] The operation of the driving device 100 having the above configuration will be described hereinafter.

[0043] First, the drive motor 116 starts to rotate. Accordingly, the first rotating body 1001 connected to the output shaft of the drive motor 116 starts to rotate around the first rotation axis AX1, for example, in the counterclockwise direction (an arrow AR1) on the drawing plane of FIG. 1C.

[0044] The rib 1001R of the first rotating body 1001 is arranged such that a part thereof is inserted into a space between, for example, the tooth T1 and the tooth T2, which are two adjacent teeth T of the gear 1002. Further, the rib 1001R has the inner wall surface formed such that the distance from the first rotation axis AX1 decreases (gradually decreases) as being farther away from the first end portion 1001R1 and approaching the second end portion 1001R2.

[0045] Under such a configuration, when the rib 1001R starts to rotate around the first rotation axis AX1, the inner wall surface of the rib 1001R passing through the space between the tooth T1 and T2 is displaced in a direction approaching the first rotation axis AX1. For this reason, the inner wall surface of the connection portion 1001RC comes into contact with the tooth T1 of the gear 1002, and continues to rotate while applying a force toward the direction (upward on the drawing plane in FIG. 1A) approaching the first rotation axis AX1 in contact with the tooth T1.

[0046] The direction in which the inner wall surface of the rib 1001R is displaced is substantially perpendicular to the second rotation axis AX2 (or includes a vertical component). Therefore, the gear 1002 rotates in a rotation direction indicated by an arrow AR2 around the second rotation axis AX2 by the force (rotational moment) that the tooth T1 receives from the inner wall surface of the rib 1001R, and the driven gear 1003 meshing with the gear 1002 also rotates in a rotation direction indicated by an arrow AR3 around the third rotation axis AX3.

[0047] When the second end portion 1001R2 corresponding to a terminal end of the rib 1001R passes through the space between the tooth T1 and the tooth T2, the tooth T1 and the rib 1001R are separated from each other, so that the pressing of the rib 1001R on the tooth T1 ends. However, at this time, since the first end portion 1001R1 corresponding to a starting end of the rib 1001R enters between the tooth T2 and the tooth T3 which are the next two teeth T, the gear 1002 continues to rotate by a force (rotational moment) that the tooth T2 receives from the inner wall surface of the rib 1001R.

[0048] As described above, every time the first rotating body 1001 makes one rotation, the rib 1001R causes the gear 1002 to continuously rotate by repeating the operation of passing through a space between two adjacent teeth T while pressing one tooth T and rotating the gear 1002 and then passing through a space between the next two adjacent teeth T while pressing another adjacent tooth T and rotating the gear 1002.

[0049] Next, a case where the drive motor 116 rotates in the opposite direction will be described.

[0050] When the drive motor 116 starts to rotate in the opposite direction, the first rotating body 1001 connected to the output shaft of the drive motor 116 starts to rotate around the first rotation axis AX1 clockwise in FIG. 1C, for example.

[0051] As described above, the first rotating body 1001 is arranged such that a part of the rib 1001R is inserted between the adjacent teeth T. For example, in a case where a part of the rib 1001R is inserted into a space between the tooth T2 and the tooth T3, when the rib 1001R starts to rotate around the first rotation axis AX1, the inner wall surface of the rib 1001R passing through the space between the tooth T2 and the tooth T3 is displaced in a direction away from the first rotation axis AX1. For this reason, the inner wall surface of the connection portion 1001RC comes into contact with the tooth T3 of the gear 1002 and continues to rotate while applying a force toward the direction (downward on the drawing plane in FIG. 1A) away from the first rotation axis AX1 in contact with the tooth T3. Therefore, the gear 1002 rotates in a rotation direction opposite to the arrow AR2 around the second rotation axis AX2 by the force (rotational moment) that the tooth T3 receives from the inner wall surface of the rib 1001R, and the driven gear 1003 meshing with the gear 1002 also rotates in a rotation direction opposite to the arrow AR3 around the third rotation axis AX3.

[0052] When the first end portion 1001R1 corresponding to a terminal end of the rib 1001R passes through the space between the tooth T2 and the tooth T3 during the rotation in the opposite direction, the tooth T3 and the rib 1001R are separated from each other, so that the pressing of the rib 1001R on the tooth T3 ends. However, at this time, since the second end portion 1001R2 corresponding to a starting end of the rib 1001R enters between the tooth T1 and the tooth T2 which are the next two teeth T, the gear 1002 continues to rotate by a force (rotational moment) that the tooth T2 receives from the inner wall surface of the rib 1001R. Therefore, in a case where the first rotating body 1001 rotates in the opposite direction, the gear 1002 and the gear 1003 can be rotated in opposite rotation directions.

[0053] With the driving device 100 according to the present embodiment, since the number of parts can be reduced as compared with a driving device described in Japanese Patent No. 5373013, a toy vehicle can be further miniaturized. For example, since it is possible to reduce the number of parts such as gears provided in conventional driving devices for toy vehicles, it is possible to shorten a dimension in the front-rear direction (the direction of the first rotation axis AX1).

[Detailed Structure of Rib]

[0054] In the above configuration, the inventor of the present application have conceived that the gear 1002 can be rotated more smoothly by changing a cross-sectional structure of the rib 1001R.

[0055] Specifically, in a configuration in which the rib 1001R (an example of the wall portion) has two portions of a base portion (for example, a base portion B1 of FIG. 2B) that is connected to the disc portion 1001D (or another member connected to the drive motor 116) and does not come into contact with the teeth T of the gear 1002, and a pressing portion connected to the base portion and having an inner wall surface formed to press the teeth T of the gear 1002, the rib 1001R may be formed such that the pressing portion (for example, a pressing portion PU1 in FIG. 2B) of the first end portion 1001R1 is inclined in the direction away from the first rotation axis AX1 as compared with the pressing portion (for example, a pressing portion PU4 in FIG. 2B) of the connection portion 1001RC in the vicinity of the center of both the end portions, and the pressing portion (for example, a pressing portion PU7 in FIG. 2B) of the second end portion 1001R2 is inclined in the direction approaching the first rotation axis AX1 as compared with the pressing portion (for example, the pressing portion PU4 in FIG. 2B) of the connection portion 1001RC in the vicinity of the center of both the end portions.

[0056] According to such a configuration, since the pressing portion of the first end portion 1001R1, which corresponds to the vicinity of a starting end portion where the pressing on the teeth T of the gear 1002 is started, is inclined in the direction away from the first rotation axis AX1, a situation in which the rib 1001R collides with an unintended portion such as the end surface of the tooth T of the gear 1002 so that a force that hinders the rotation acts can be suppressed as compared with a case where a wall portion standing straight is provided on a base portion, and it is possible to smoothly start the pressing of the rib 1001R on the teeth T of the gear 1002. Further, since the pressing portion of the second end portion 1001R2 is inclined in the direction approaching the first rotation axis AX1, in the process of pushing out the teeth T of the gear 1002 by the pressing portion of the first end portion 1001R1, the pressing portion (for example, pressing portions PU2 to PU6 in FIG. 2B) of the connection portion 1001RC, and then the second end portion 1001R2, a distance by which the inner wall surface of the pressing portion moves in the radial direction of the first rotation axis AX1 can be increased as compared with the case where the wall portion standing straight is provided on the base portion, so that the teeth T of the gear 1002 can be suitably pushed out.

[0057] FIG. 2A is an explanatory view for describing a position of a base portion B and the like as viewed from the direction of the first rotation axis AX1 as an example of the above-described configuration. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the rib 1001R taken along a virtual plane passing through positions P1 to P7 and the first rotation axis AX1 in the configuration of FIG. 2A. However, in any cross-sectional view, the first rotation axis AX1 exists on the right side of the rib 1001R on the drawing plane.

[0058] In FIG. 2A, the position P1 indicates a radially central portion of the base portion B1 (hereinafter, the base portion and the pressing portion at the position P1 may be referred to as the base portion B1 and the pressing portion PU1, and the base portion and the pressing portion at the position P2 may be referred to as a base portion B2, the pressing portion PU2, and the like) in the first end portion 1001R1 of the rib 1001R with the first rotation axis AX1 as a reference. The position P7 indicates a radially central portion of a base portion B7 in the second end portion 1001R2 of the rib 1001R with the first rotation axis AX1 as a reference. Similarly, the positions P2 to P6 indicate radially central portions of the base portions B2 to B6 in the connection portion 1001RC at every 60 degrees. Further, a circle C1 is a circle centered on the first rotation axis AX1 and passing through the position P1, and a circle C2 is a circle centered on the first rotation axis AX1 and passing through the position P7.

[0059] Radii of the circles C1 and C2 are defined such that an inner wall surface S1 of the pressing portion PU1 of the first end portion 1001R1 of the rib 1001R comes into contact with the next tooth T of the gear 1002 when an inner wall surface S7 of the pressing portion PU7 of the second end portion 1001R2 of the rib 1001R is separated from the tooth T of the gear 1002 as described above. For example, the radius of the circle C1 may be 11.3 mm, and the radius of the circle C2 may be 8.5 mm. Distances from the first rotation axis AX1 to the positions P2 to P6 may be set so as to divide a difference between the radii of the circle C1 and the circle C2 into six equal parts. For example, the distance between the position P2 and the first rotation axis AX1 may be about 10.8 (=8.5+2.856) mm, and the distances may be similarly set for the other positions P3 to P6 thereafter. Then, a spline curve passing through these positions P1 to P7 is set, whereby it is possible to set a curve passing through the center of the base portion B of the rib 1001R.

[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the pressing portion PU1 is inclined in the direction away from the first rotation axis AX1 as compared with the pressing portion PU4, which is the pressing portion of the connection portion 1001RC in the vicinity of the center of both the end portions, and the pressing portion PU7 is inclined in the direction approaching the first rotation axis AX1 as compared with the pressing portion PU4.

[0061] Further, the inner wall surface S, which includes inner wall surfaces S2 to S6 that come into contact with the teeth of the gear 1002, of the pressing portion PU including the pressing portions PU2 to PU6 provided along the circumferential direction about the first rotation axis AX1 may be formed such that the relative position with respect to the base portion B is displaced to a position approaching the first rotation axis AX1 as the inner wall surface S is farther away from the first end portion 1001R1 and approaching the second end portion 1001R2.

[0062] In the present embodiment, a cross-sectional shape of the first end portion 1001R1 and a cross-sectional shape of the second end portion 1001R2 are formed symmetrically. The rib 1001R is formed to have a spline curved surface that smoothly connects the first end portion 1001R1 and the second end portion 1001R2 having the two cross-sectional shapes. Further, when a mold is designed for mass production, the pressing portion PU that requires accuracy is defined by the mold, and the mold is omitted for the base portion B on which the teeth T of the gear 1002 are not caught, whereby a thickness of the pressing portion PU can be reduced.

[0063] In the present embodiment, the base portion is provided such that the distance from the first rotation axis AX1 gradually decreases along the circumferential direction about the first rotation axis AX1. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and includes other configurations in which the surface that presses the gear 1002 has a surface whose distance from the first rotation axis AX1 gradually decreases. For example, the wall portion of the present invention may include a base portion provided on a concentric circle centered on the first rotation axis AX1 and a pressing portion in which an inner wall surface having a surface whose distance from the first rotation axis AX1 gradually decreases is formed.

[Toy Vehicle]

[0064] Next, an embodiment in which the driving device 100 of the present embodiment is mounted on a toy vehicle will be described. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a toy vehicle 101 described in Japanese Patent No. 5373013 which is a comparative example. Further, FIGS. 3A and 3B are assembly views of the toy vehicle 101 described in Japanese Patent No. 5373013 which is the comparative example. As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 3A, and 3B, the toy vehicle 101 includes, as a toy vehicle main body 102, a chassis 103, a vehicle body 105 attached to the chassis 103, two truck frames 71 attached to the front and rear of the chassis 103, a wheel device 1 and a wheel device 31 provided on the truck frames 71, a drive motor 116 attached to the chassis 103, a final gear 130 for transmitting a rotational force of the drive motor 116 to a gear 8 of the wheel device 1 to rotate a wheel main body 21, a driving gear 121 for transmitting the rotational force of the drive motor 116 to the final gear 130, a crown gear 122, a small gear 123 integrated with the crown gear 122, a large gear 125, a small gear 126 integrated with the large gear 125, a large gear 127, a small gear 128 integrated with the large gear 127, and a large gear 129 meshing with the small gear 128, and a gear box 131 that rotatably supports these gears. Since the other configurations are known configurations, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0065] In such a configuration, the wheel main body 21 on a rail (not illustrated) can be rotated by adopting a configuration in which the driving gear 121 is replaced with the first rotating body 1001 of the driving device 100, the configuration from the crown gear 122 to the large gear 129 is replaced with the gear 1002, and the gear 1002 and the final gear 130 (an example of the third rotating body) are meshed with each other.

[0066] FIG. 4 is a perspective view for comparing a driving device for the toy vehicle 101, which is the comparative example, with the driving device 100 of the present embodiment. Here, two toy vehicles 101 respectively in a state where the vehicle body 105 is attached to the chassis 103 and in a state where the vehicle body 105 is detached and the final gear 130 and the like are exposed are illustrated on the back side on the drawing plane, and the driving device 100 of the present embodiment is illustrated on the front side on the drawing plane.

[0067] As is apparent from the drawing, according to the driving device 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and to shorten the dimension in the front-rear direction (the direction of the first rotation axis AX1).

[0068] In such a configuration, the toy vehicle 101 can be made to move forward along the rail when the first rotating body 1001 rotates in one rotation direction, and the toy vehicle 101 can be made to move rearward along the rail when the first rotating body 1001 rotates in the opposite rotation direction.

[0069] At this time, the first rotation axis AX1 of the driving gear 121 is parallel to the front-rear direction which is a traveling direction of the toy vehicle 101, and the second rotation axis AX2 and the third rotation axis AX3 are perpendicular to the traveling direction of the toy vehicle 101.

[0070] FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views in a state where the gear 1003 of the driving device 100 is attached to the truck frame 71 which is a bogie truck. In the rib 1001R of the driving device 100 illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a position of the first end portion 1001R1 having the inner wall surface on which the distance R1 from the first rotation axis AX1 is the maximum and a position of the second end portion 1001R2 having the inner wall surface on which the distance R2 from the first rotation axis AX1 is the minimum are opposite to those in the rib 1001R of the driving device 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C.

[0071] However, since the present invention can also be implemented in configurations of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the same reference signs as those of the driving device 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C are used to describe the operation.

[0072] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the driving device 100 in a state where the first end portion 1001R1 of the rib 1001R is inserted into the space between two teeth T, for example, the tooth T2 and the tooth T3, and the inner wall surface of the first end portion 1001R1 or the connection portion 1001RC close thereto starts to come into contact with the tooth T2 of the gear 1002. At this time, the second end portion 1001R2 of the rib 1001R presses and pushes out the tooth T1.

[0073] Thereafter, when the rotation is continued, the inner wall surface of the rib 1001R is displaced in the direction approaching the first rotation axis AX1. Therefore, the inner wall surface of the connection portion 1001RC can cause the gear 1002 to continuously rotate while applying a force toward the direction approaching the first rotation axis AX1 in contact with the tooth T2 of the gear 1002.

[0074] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the driving device 100 in a state where the first end portion 1001R1 of the rib 1001R has rotated by about 180 degrees from the state in FIG. 5A. At this time, a central portion of the connection portion 1001RC comes into contact with the tooth T2 of the gear 1002. A state where the gear 1002 has rotated is illustrated in comparison with FIG. 5A.

[0075] The second rotating body 1002 having a different rotation axis can be rotated by rotating the first rotating body 1001 including the rib 1001R as described above.

[0076] As described above, according to the driving device illustrated in the present embodiment, since it is possible to omit a large number of gears required for the toy vehicle described in Japanese Patent No. 5373013, it is possible to achieve further miniaturization and simplification of the configuration of the toy vehicle, and to reduce the manufacturing cost with a decrease in the number of parts. For example, since it is possible to reduce the number of parts such as gears provided in conventional driving devices for toy vehicles, it is possible to shorten a dimension in the front-rear direction (the direction of the first rotation axis AX1). The inventor of the present application have made a prototype of the driving device 100 according to the present embodiment. When the drive motor 116 was turned on to rotate, it was confirmed that the first rotating body 1001 connected to the output shaft of the drive motor 116 rotated around the first rotation axis AX1, the gear 1002 rotated around the second rotation axis AX2, and the gear 1003 rotated around the third rotation axis AX3. When a rotational speed of the drive motor 116 was increased and decreased, it was confirmed that rotational speeds of the first rotating body 1001, the gear 1002, and the gear 1003 were also increased with the increase in the rotational speed of the drive motor 116, and the rotational speeds of the first rotating body 1001, the gear 1002, and the gear 1003 were also decreased with the decrease in the rotational speed of the drive motor 116. Then, when the drive motor 116 was made to rotate in the opposite direction, it was confirmed that each of the first rotating body 1001, the gear 1002, and the gear 1003 rotated in the opposite direction. Therefore, the practicality of the driving device 100 according to the present embodiment has been confirmed.

MODIFICATIONS

[0077] Hereinafter, modifications of the driving device 100 will be described.

[0078] The surface whose distance from the first rotation axis gradually decreases of the present invention is not necessarily provided on the inner wall surface. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the surface whose distance from the first rotation axis gradually decreases is formed on an outer wall surface of the rib 1001R, and the second rotating body such as the gear 1002 is rotated using the outer wall surface.

[0079] In addition, the wall portion of the present invention may include a plurality of wall portions provided along the circumferential direction and separate from each other. For example, the rib 1001R may include four wall portions each having a central angle of 80 degrees to 90 degrees.

[0080] Even with such a configuration, the gear 1002 can be rotated by the rib 1001R with the rotation of the first rotating body 1001 by forming each of the wall portions such that the distance between the wall surface and the first rotation axis AX1 periodically varies.

[0081] In the present embodiment, the rib 1001R is configured to pass through the space between two adjacent teeth once every time the rib 1001R, which is the first rotating body, makes one rotation, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the rib 1001R may be modified such that two separate wall portions each having a central angle of less than about 180 degrees are provided, and one wall portion passes through the space between two adjacent teeth of the gear 1002, which forms the second rotating body, once every half rotation. In such a configuration, when an end portion of the one wall portion pushes out the tooth T1 of the gear 1002 and passes through the space between the tooth T1 and the tooth T2, for example, an end portion of the other wall portion enters the space between the tooth T2 and the tooth T3 and starts to press the tooth T2, whereby the gear 1002 as the second rotating body can be stably rotated.

[0082] Similarly, the rib 1001R may be divided into three or more wall portions.

[0083] The first end portion 1001R1 and the second end portion 1001R2 are not limited to only the circumferential edge of the wall portion. For example, in a configuration in which the rib 1001R is formed long along the circumferential direction so as to come into contact with the teeth T of the gear 1002 with a margin, and the tooth T of the gear 1002 and the rib 1001R first come into contact with each other at a position slightly moved to the center side from the circumferential edge of the rib 1001R, the position at which the tooth T of the gear 1002 and the rib 1001R first come into contact with each other is understood to be included in the first end portion 1001R1 (or the second end portion 1001R2). Similarly, a position where the rib 1001R pushes out the tooth T of the gear 1002 and is separated therefrom is understood to be included in the second end portion 1001R2 (or the first end portion 1001R1).

[0084] Further, an increase rate or a decrease rate of a distance between a region of the inner wall surface of the rib 1001R in contact with the teeth T and the first rotation axis AX1 with respect to the change in the circumferential direction of the first rotation axis AX1 may be constant. When the increase rate or the decrease rate is constant, the gear 1002 as the second rotating body can be rotated at a stable speed.

[0085] Further, a height (for example, height from the disc portion 1001D) of a position that comes into contact with the second rotating body, such as the gear 1002, on the surface of the wall portion, such as the rib 1001R, may be formed to vary in the circumferential direction.

[0086] When the inner wall surface of the surface of the wall portion such as the rib 1001R is in contact with the second rotating body such as the gear 1002, a shape of the outer wall surface of the wall portion is not limited to the configuration illustrated in the present embodiment. For example, a thickness of the rib 1001R may vary in the circumferential direction.

[0087] Further, the first rotating body such as the rib 1001R may be configured to be rotatable only in one direction instead of two directions.

Second Embodiment

[0088] Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same or similar configurations as those of the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified, and different points will be mainly described.

[0089] In the driving device 100 of the first embodiment, the drive motor 116, the first rotating body 1001, the gear 1002, which is the second rotating body, and the gear 1003, which is the third rotating body, are arranged in this order on the front side in the axial direction of the first rotation axis AX1. That is, with the axial direction of the first rotation axis AX1 as a reference, the first rotating body 1001 is arranged in front of the drive motor 116 (more specifically, a rotor of the drive motor 116), the gear 1002 (more specifically, a rotation center of the gear 1002) is arranged in front of the first rotating body 1001, and the gear 1003 (more specifically, a rotation center of the gear 1003) is arranged in front of the gear 1002. More specifically, the rib 1001R, which is the wall portion of the first rotating body 1001, is arranged in front of the disc portion 1001D, and is formed to stand forward (in a direction away from the drive motor 116) from the disc portion 1001D.

[0090] The inventor of the present application have conceived, as a configuration for further shortening the dimension of the driving device 100 in the front-rear direction (the direction of the first rotation axis AX1), a configuration in which the rib 1001R, which is the wall portion of the first rotating body 1001, is formed to stand in a direction approaching the drive motor 116 (for example, rearward in the axial direction of the first rotation axis AX1), and the gear 1002, which is the second rotating body, is arranged between the drive motor 116 and the rib 1001R of the first rotating body 1001. That is, it may be said that the gear 1002, which is the second rotating body, is reversely arranged as compared with the first embodiment. The gear 1003, which is the third rotating body, only needs to be arranged at a position to engage (mesh) with the gear 1002, and is typically arranged between the drive motor 116 and the gear 1002.

[0091] According to such a configuration, since power can be transmitted to the lower side of the drive motor 116 or to the lower side of a region between the drive motor 116 and the first rotating body 1001, the dimension of the driving device 100 in the front-rear direction (the direction of the first rotation axis AX1) can be further shortened.

[0092] Note that the gear 1003 as the third rotating body is preferably arranged so as not to interfere with the output shaft of the drive motor 116, and a known configuration may be adopted for this purpose.

[0093] For example, the gear 1003 may be formed to have a small diameter so as not to interfere with the output shaft of the drive motor 116. Further, the gear 1002 and the gear 1003, or at least the gear 1003 may be displaced in a direction of the third rotation axis AX3 so as not to interfere with the output shaft of the drive motor 116. Here, in a case where the gear 1002 and the gear 1003 are spur gears, the rotational force of the drive motor 116 can be transmitted even if relative positions thereof are different in the direction of the third rotation axis AX3.

[0094] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the driving device of the present embodiment is mounted on a toy vehicle 121 will be described. Note that configurations same as or similar to the configurations described in the first embodiment are appropriately denoted by the same or similar names, and description thereof will be omitted or simplified. Further, for convenience of description, configurations (for example, a bearing and a shaft for holding a gear, and the like) other than main parts are appropriately omitted.

[0095] FIG. 6A is a side view illustrating the main parts of the toy vehicle 121. FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a portion of the toy vehicle 121 as viewed from below in order to illustrate the positional relationship among a wheel 51A of the toy vehicle 121, a gear 1022A which is a second rotating body, and a gear 1023A which is a third rotating body.

[0096] As illustrated in FIG. 6A, a driving device 120 of the toy vehicle 121 includes a first drive motor 136A, a first rotating body 1021A configured to be rotatable around the first rotation axis AX1 by the first drive motor 136A, the gear 1022A configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis AX2A (an example of a second rotation axis) by being pressed by a surface of a rib 1021RA, which is a rotating wall portion of the first rotating body 1021A, the gear 1023A configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis AX3A (an example of a third rotation axis) by the gear 1022A, and the wheel 51A configured to be rotatable by the gear 1023A.

[0097] The first rotating body 1021A is common with the first rotating body 1001 in terms of including the rib 1021RA which is the wall portion formed to have the surface whose distance from the first rotation axis AX1 gradually decreases along a circumferential direction about the first rotation axis AX1.

[0098] However, there is a difference from the first rotating body 1001 in that the rib 1021RA is formed to stand in a direction approaching the first drive motor 136A instead of a direction away from the first drive motor 136A.

[0099] The gear 1022A is arranged between the first drive motor 136A and the rib 1021RA, which is a difference from the driving device 100 in which the rib 1001R is arranged between the gear 1002 and the drive motor 116.

[0100] The wheel 51A includes a gear 51GA that is provided on an axle of the wheel 51A to be rotatable coaxially with the wheel 51A and meshes with the gear 1023A.

[0101] According to such a configuration, since power can be transmitted to a region below the first drive motor 136A, dimensions of the driving device 120A and the toy vehicle 121 in the front-rear direction can be further shortened.

[0102] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the toy vehicle 121 having a short dimension in the front-rear direction does not necessarily require a bogie truck. For this reason, it is possible to reproduce an initial tram not including a bogie truck or a locomotive with a short vehicle length, typified by YOSHITSUNE Steam Locomotive, with the same configuration as the toy vehicle 121.

[0103] As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the toy vehicle 121 may include a plurality of drive motors. For example, the toy vehicle 121 includes the first drive motor 136A having an output shaft 1360A extending in a forward direction (which may be referred to as a first direction), the first rotating body 1021A configured to be rotatable around the first rotation axis AX1 by the first drive motor 136A and having the rib 1021RA, which is formed to have a surface whose distance from the first rotation axis AX1 gradually decreases along the circumferential direction about the first rotation axis AX1 and stands in a rearward direction (which may be referred to as a second direction, and corresponds to the direction approaching the first drive motor 136A), the gear 1022A arranged between the first rotating body 1021A and the first drive motor 136A and configured to be rotatable around the rotation axis AX2A, which is an example of the second rotation axis, by being pressed by the surface of the rib 1021RA that rotates, the gear 1023A configured to be rotatable around the rotation axis AX3A, which is an example of the third rotation axis, by the gear 1022A, and the wheel 51A configured to be rotatable by the gear 1023A.

[0104] Further, the toy vehicle 121 includes a second drive motor 136B having an output shaft 1360B extending in the rearward direction (which may be referred to as the second direction), a first rotating body 1021B configured to be rotatable around the first rotation axis AX1 by the second drive motor 136B and having a rib 1021RB, which is formed to have a surface whose distance from the first rotation axis AX1 gradually decreases along the circumferential direction about the first rotation axis AX1 and stands in the forward direction (which may be referred to as the first direction, and corresponds to a direction approaching the second drive motor 136B), a gear 1022B arranged between the first rotating body 1021B and the second drive motor 136B and configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis AX2B, which is an example of the second rotation axis, by being pressed by the surface of the rib 1021RB that rotates, a gear 1023B configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis AX3B, which is an example of the third rotation axis, by the gear 1022B, and a wheel 51B configured to be rotatable by the gear 1023B. The wheel 51B includes a gear 51GB that is provided on an axle of the wheel 51B to be rotatable coaxially with the wheel 51B and meshes with the gear 1023B.

[0105] According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide the toy vehicle improved in output and shortened in the dimension in the front-rear direction by including the two drive motors.

[0106] In addition, the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, some components in an embodiment can be replaced with other known configurations within the ordinary creativity of a person skilled in the art.