Joint apparatus for a toy

Abstract

A joint apparatus for a toy is provided that, by changing the planes of motion of the rotating members, enables one toy to be moved in many ways in order to move the rotating members, and provides various forms that can be simulated. The joint apparatus comprises a pivoting mechanism 22 that allows a rotating-member support 5 , which supports a rotating member 4 and functions as the rotation shaft of the rotating member 4 , to move relative to a base member 3 . Moreover, the joint apparatus comprises a rotation mechanism 21 that is linked to the pivoting mechanism 22 , and allows the pivoting mechanism 22 to rotate inside thereof, which includes the rotation shaft, with respect to the base member 3 , wherein the rotation mechanism 21 comprises a rotation-locking means that locks the rotation mechanism 21 in the direction of rotation thereof. The rotation-locking means comprises a restraining means 14 that restrains the rotation mechanism 21 from one of the outside end surfaces, and a biasing means 11 that applies a bias to the rotation mechanism 21 from the other outside end surface, with friction forces being generated on both end surfaces of the rotation mechanism 21.

1 . A joint apparatus for a toy having a rotating member that rotates freely with respect to a base member of the toy, comprising
 a pivoting mechanism that enables a rotating-member support, which supports said rotating member and becomes a rotation shaft for said rotating member, to move relative to said base member.   
   
   
       2 . The joint apparatus for a toy of  claim 1  further comprising pivot-locking means for locking said pivoting mechanism in the pivoting direction thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The joint apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a rotation mechanism that is linked to said pivoting mechanism and enables said pivot mechanism to rotate with respect to said base member. 
   
   
       4 . The joint apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising
 rotation-locking means for locking said rotation mechanism in the direction of rotation thereof.   
   
   
       5 . The joint apparatus of  claim 3  wherein
 said rotation-locking means comprises:   restraining means for restraining said rotation mechanism from one outside end surface; and   biasing means for applying bias to said rotation mechanism from the other outside end surface;   with friction forces being generated on both end surfaces of said rotation mechanism.   
   
   
       6 . The joint apparatus of  claim 3  wherein
 said biasing means comprises rotation-prevention means for preventing rotation of said rotation mechanism.   
   
   
       7 . The joint apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a rotation mechanism that is linked to said pivoting mechanism and enables said pivot mechanism to rotate with respect to said base member. 
   
   
       8 . The joint apparatus of  claim 4  wherein
 said rotation-locking means comprises:   restraining means for restraining said rotation mechanism from one outside end surface; and   biasing means for applying bias to said rotation mechanism from the other outside end surface;   with friction forces being generated on both end surfaces of said rotation mechanism.   
   
   
       9 . The joint apparatus of  claim 4  wherein
 said biasing means comprises rotation-prevention means for preventing rotation of said rotation mechanism.   
   
   
       10 . The joint apparatus of  claim 5  wherein
 said biasing means comprises rotation-prevention means for preventing rotation of said rotation mechanism.