Transformable toy

Abstract

A transformable toy which has a playful aspect in that an additional movement is produced in a process of transformation, although the movement is not directly related to the transformation, as well as which has portions which can be transformed without being manually operated by the user. The transformable toy, which is reversibly transformed between a first configuration and a second configuration, includes a first member and a second member. The second member is connected to the first member in a vertically pivotable manner through a connecting member. When a lock member provided on the first member is functioning, the second member constitutes a first configuration with the first member in a fore-and-aft positional relationship. When the locking function is released, the second member pivots downwardly under its own weight and constitutes a second configuration with the first member in a vertical positional relationship.

1 . A transformable toy reversibly transformed between a first configuration and a second configuration; comprising:
 a first member;   a second member;   a connecting member for connecting the second member to the first member in a vertically pivotable manner; and   a lock member provided on one of the first member and the second member, the lock member releasably locking the second member to the first member,   wherein, when the lock member is functioning, the second member constitutes a first configuration with the first member in a fore-and-aft positional relationship; when the locking function of the lock member is released, the second member pivots downwardly under its own weight and constitutes a second configuration with the first member in a vertical positional relationship; and the connecting member has a rotation mechanism for rotating the second member about a predetermined axis, the rotation mechanism causing the second member to axially rotate about the predetermined axis when the second member pivots downwardly under its own weight.   
   
   
       2 . The transformable toy according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spring member provided between the connecting member and the first member, the spring member urging the second member to pivot downwardly.   
   
   
       3 . The transformable toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the first configuration is a running-object configuration; the second configuration is a robot configuration; and the first member and the second member form a driver's cab and a chassis of a tractor in the running-object configuration, respectively, and form an upper body and a lower body of a robot in the robot configuration, respectively. 
   
   
       4 . The transformable toy according to  claim 2 , wherein the first configuration is a running-object configuration; the second configuration is a robot configuration; and the first member and the second member form a driver's cab and a chassis of a tractor in the running-object configuration, respectively, and form an upper body and a lower body of a robot in the robot configuration, respectively. 
   
   
       5 . The transformable toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the second member includes two sections, and
 wherein the connecting member includes a base; supporting members mounted in a forwardly and backwardly pivotable manner at both side portions of the base, respectively; and connectors for connecting the respective sections of the second member, the connectors being supported on the supporting members in a laterally pivotable manner, the two sections of the second member each being forwardly, backwardly, and laterally pivotable with respect to the base.   
   
   
       6 . The transformable toy according to  claim 2 , wherein the second member includes two sections, and
 wherein the connecting member includes a base; supporting members mounted in a forwardly and backwardly pivotable manner at both side portions of the base, respectively; and connectors for connecting the respective sections of the second member, the connectors being supported on the supporting members in a laterally pivotable manner, the two sections of the second member each being forwardly, backwardly, and laterally pivotable with respect to the base.   
   
   
       7 . The transformable toy according to  claim 5 , wherein the rotation mechanism includes a gear unit, the gear unit including: a unit case pivotably journaled on the first member; a crown gear disposed inside the unit case; a driving gear coaxial with the crown gear and disposed outside the unit case; and a pinion meshing with the crown gear, the pinion having a shaft protruding from the unit case and fixed to the base; the transformable toy further comprises a rack fixed to the first member, the rack being formed in a curved manner in a shape of an arc of a circle concentric with a center of pivoting of the unit case; and the driving gear is adapted to mesh with the rack, and, when the second member pivots downwardly under its own weight and the unit case pivots, the driving gear is rotated by meshing of the driving gear with the rack, whereby the second member is caused to axially rotate through the crown gear and the pinion. 
   
   
       8 . The transformable toy according to  claim 6 , wherein the rotation mechanism includes a gear unit, the gear unit including: a unit case pivotably journaled on the first member; a crown gear disposed inside the unit case; a driving gear coaxial with the crown gear and disposed outside the unit case; and a pinion meshing with the crown gear, the pinion having a shaft protruding from the unit case and fixed to the base; the transformable toy further comprises a rack fixed to the first member, the rack being formed in a curved manner in a shape of an arc of a circle concentric with a center of pivoting of the unit case; and the driving gear is adapted to mesh with the rack, and, when the second member pivots downwardly under its own weight and the unit case pivots, the driving gear is rotated by meshing of the driving gear with the rack, whereby the second member is caused to axially rotate through the crown gear and the pinion. 
   
   
       9 . The transformable toy according to  claim 7 , wherein the rack is formed so that meshing between the driving gear and the rack is released when the second member has pivoted into a vertical state; and the second member is freely rotatable with respect to the first member when the meshing between the driving gear and the rack is released. 
   
   
       10 . The transformable toy according to  claim 8 , wherein the rack is formed so that meshing between the driving gear and the rack is released when the second member has pivoted into a vertical state; and the second member is freely rotatable with respect to the first member when the meshing between the driving gear and the rack is released. 
   
   
       11 . The transformable toy according to  claim 5 , wherein the lock member includes a latching claw and is pivotably journaled on the first member; and the base has a latching recess with which the latching claw of the lock member engageably and disengageably meshes. 
   
   
       12 . The transformable toy according to  claim 6 , wherein the lock member includes a latching claw and is pivotably journaled on the first member; and the base has a latching recess with which the latching claw of the lock member engageably and disengageably meshes. 
   
   
       13 . A transformable toy reversibly transformed between a first configuration and a second configuration; comprising:
 a first member;   a second member;   a connecting member for movably connecting the second member to the first member; and   a lock member provided on one of the first member and the second member, the lock member releasably locking the second member and the first member to each other,   wherein, when the lock member is engaged, the second member constitutes a first positional configuration with the first member; when the lock member is released, the second member moves relative to the first member to constitute a second positional configuration with the first member; and the connecting member has a rotation mechanism for rotating the second member about a predetermined axis, the rotation mechanism causing the second member to axially rotate about the predetermined axis when the second member moves.   
   
   
       14 . The transformable toy according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spring member provided between the connecting member and the first member, the spring member urging the second member to move.   
   
   
       15 . The transformable toy according to  claim 13 , wherein the second member includes two sections, and
 wherein the connecting member includes a base; supporting members mounted in a pivotable manner at side portions of the base, respectively; and connectors for connecting the respective sections of the second member, the connectors being supported on the supporting members in a pivotable manner.   
   
   
       16 . The transformable toy according to  claim 13 , wherein the rotation mechanism includes a gear unit including a unit case pivotably journaled on the first member; a crown gear disposed inside the unit case; a driving gear coaxial with the crown gear and disposed outside the unit case; and a pinion meshing with the crown gear, the pinion having a shaft protruding from the unit case and fixed to the base;
 wherein the transformable toy further includes a rack fixed to the first member, the rack being formed in a curved manner; and the driving gear is adapted to mesh with the rack, and,   wherein, when the second member pivots and the unit case pivots, the driving gear is rotated by meshing of the driving gear with the rack, whereby the second member is caused to axially rotate through the crown gear and the pinion.   
   
   
       17 . The transformable toy according to  claim 16 , wherein the rack is formed so that meshing between the driving gear and the rack is released when the second member has moved into the second positional configuration; and the second member is freely rotatable with respect to the first member when the meshing between the driving gear and the rack is released. 
   
   
       18 . The transformable toy according to  claim 13 , wherein the lock member includes a latching claw and is pivotably journaled on the first member; and the base has a latching recess with which the latching claw of the lock member engageably and disengageably meshes. 
   
   
       19 . A transformable toy reversibly transformed between a first configuration and a second configuration; comprising:
 a first member;   a second member;   a connecting member for movably connecting the second member to the first member; and   a lock member provided on one of the first member and the second member, the lock member releasably locking the second member and the first member to each other,   wherein, when the lock member is engaged, the second member constitutes a first positional configuration with the first member; when the lock member is released, the second member moves relative to the first member to constitute a second positional configuration with the first member; and the connecting member has a rotation mechanism for rotating the second member about a predetermined axis, the rotation mechanism causing the second member to axially rotate about the predetermined axis when the second member moves, wherein the rotation mechanism includes a gear unit including a unit case pivotably journaled on the first member; a crown gear disposed inside the unit case; a driving gear coaxial with the crown gear and disposed outside the unit case; and a pinion meshing with the crown gear, the pinion having a shaft protruding from the unit case and fixed to the base,   wherein the transformable toy further includes a rack fixed to the first member, the rack being formed in a curved manner; and the driving gear is adapted to mesh with the rack, and,   wherein, when the second member pivots and the unit case pivots, the driving gear is rotated by meshing of the driving gear with the rack, whereby the second member is caused to axially rotate through the crown gear and the pinion.   
   
   
       20 . The transformable toy according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a spring member provided between the connecting member and the first member, the spring member urging the second member to move.   
   
   
       21 . The transformable toy according to  claim 19 , wherein the second member includes two sections, and
 wherein the connecting member includes a base; supporting members mounted in a pivotable manner at side portions of the base, respectively; and connectors for connecting the respective sections of the second member, the connectors being supported on the supporting members in a pivotable manner.   
   
   
       22 . The transformable toy according to  claim 19 , wherein the rack is formed so that meshing between the driving gear and the rack is released when the second member has moved into the second positional configuration; and the second member is freely rotatable with respect to the first member when the meshing between the driving gear and the rack is released. 
   
   
       23 . The transformable toy according to  claim 19 , wherein the lock member includes a latching claw and is pivotably journaled on the first member; and the base has a latching recess with which the latching claw of the lock member engageably and disengageably meshes.