Top Toy Game Board

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-226468 filed on Dec. 23, 2024. The entire content of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-226468 is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a top toy game board.

Conventionally, as a top toy game board to play with a top toy, which has a shaft with a gear, by spinning and releasing the top toy thereon, there is a known top toy game board that has a rack, along an outer edge of a floor of the board, to be meshed with the gear (see Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-62987 With this top toy game board, when the gear of the top toy spinning around on the floor comes into contact with the rack, the gear and rack mesh with each other, and the rotational force of the top toy causes the gear to roll on the rack, accelerating the movement of the top to toy.

However, the above-mentioned top toy game board only accelerates the top toy on the floor where the top toy spins around, and the area in which the top toy can move around is limited.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a top toy game board that allows a top toy to move around not only in a two-dimensional space but also in a three-dimensional space.

A top toy game board for a top toy which includes a shaft and a gear being attached to the shaft includes a floor, a slope, and a rack. The top toy is spun and released to play in the floor. The top toy moves up in the slope. The rack is configured to mesh with the gear. The top toy runs up the slope when the rack meshes with the gear.

Hereinafter, a top toy game board according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 FIG. 10 50 is a perspective view illustrating a top toy game boardand a top toy.

10 50 50 50 10 50 The top toy game boardis used for a battle of top toys, for example. In a battle, for example, each of two players sets their top toyon a launcher, spins and releases the top toyusing the launcher into a field of the top toy game board. Then, the top toyscollide with each other on the field.

50 51 52 51 50 50 50 51 The top toyis composed of a bodyand a shaft. The bodyis, for example, composed of a plurality of separable layers, and the layers can be separated by collision with another top toy. When the top toyscollide with each other, depending on which part is hit, an impact that causes a rotation relative to a direction opposite to the spinning of the top toysis applied to at least one of the layers of the body, thereby the layers are separated.

52 50 The shaftis formed in a rod-shape and has a flat shaft tip. The shaft tip can be made sharp, but the top toyspins around on the field more easily with a flat tip.

53 52 50 50 53 15 53 15 53 15 50 50 In addition, a gearis fixed to the shaftof the top toyat a predetermined height from the shaft tip. As the top toyspins around, the gearmeshes with a rack, which will be described later. When the gearmeshes with the rackand the gearrolls on the rackdue to the rotational force of the top toy, the moving speed of the top toyincreases.

2 FIG. 3 FIG. 10 10 is an exploded perspective view of the top toy game board, andis a top view of the top toy game board.

10 12 13 50 12 12 14 50 12 a a. The top toy game boardis mainly composed of a basethat constitutes the field, and a coverthat encloses the periphery and above of the field to prevent the top toysfrom jumping out of the field. The baseis formed with a floorthat serves as a main battlefield during battles, and slopesfor letting the top toymove up from the floor

14 14 14 14 The slopeis formed along an edge of the field in a top view. The slopeis configured, for example, to become higher as approaching a terminal end thereof. In other words, it is preferable that the slopehas an upward gradient from the starting end to the terminal end (monotonically increasing). However, there may be a flat section or a downward section in the middle of the slope.

10 14 50 50 14 14 The top toy game boardaccording to the embodiment has two slopesto be suitable for not only top toysfor clockwise rotation in a top view, but also top toysfor counterclockwise rotation in a top view. Since the two slopeshave a mirror symmetrical structure, description for only one of the slopsis given and description for the other is omitted.

15 14 14 15 53 50 12 50 14 16 14 50 14 16 12 50 12 a a a The rackis formed along the slopeon the outer side in the width direction of the slope. The rackmeshes with the gearof the top toyspinning around on the floorto cause the top toyto run up the slope. A cliffis formed at an upper portion of the slope. With this structure, the top toythat reaches the upper portion of the slopefalls from the cliffto the floorand attacks another top toyon the floorfrom above.

15 14 12 a The racksthat correspond to the two slopes, respectively, extend in an arc shape along the edge of the circular floorand are connected to each other at the bottom of the slopes.

12 17 17 12 17 17 a a b a a b The flooris concave in a bowl shape and formed in a circular shape in a top view. Two steps,are formed in the floor. For example, the steps,are formed by walls standing vertically so that the inside thereof is lower, and extend in an arc shape (C-shape) which is a circular shape with a partially open circumference in a top view.

17 17 17 12 14 17 17 a b a a a a The radius of stepis larger than that of step. The stepis formed at a position offset from the center of the floortoward the downward side of the slopein a top view, and has an open circumference toward the downward side. At this open section of the circumference, the floor portion surrounded by the stepand the floor portion outside the stepare continuous.

17 50 a The area enclosed by the stepis large enough for the top toysto move around.

17 17 17 17 17 b a b b b The stepis formed in the center of the area defined by the step. The stephas an open circumference in the upper portion side of the slope in a top view. At the section where the circumference is open, the floor portion surrounded by the stepand the floor portion outside the stepare continuous.

17 50 b Furthermore, the area enclosed by the stepis large enough for the top toysto move around.

17 17 53 50 50 17 17 50 50 17 17 17 50 17 50 14 50 14 50 14 53 50 53 17 17 a b a b b b b a a b. It is preferable that the steps,have a height sufficient to contact an outer periphery of the shaft tip portion below the gearof the top toy. While the top toyspins around, when the outer periphery of the shaft tip portion comes into sliding contact with the steps,, the moving speed of the top toyincreases. For example, the top toyspinning around inside the stepis accelerated when the outer periphery of the shaft tip portion comes into sliding contact with the step, and moves out of the step. Then, as the outer periphery of the shaft tip portion of the top toycomes into sliding contact with the step, the top toyis further accelerated and sent toward the slope. In this manner, since the top toyis sent to the slopewith momentum, the top toyeasily moves up the slope. In addition, in a case where the shaft tip may not extend below the gearof the top toy, the outer periphery of the gearmay directly contact the steps,

4 FIG. 14 14 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the slopesand the upper portions of the slopes.

14 18 50 14 16 15 18 18 14 15 18 53 50 a a a a At the upper portion of each slope, a passagethat guides a path of the top toycoming up the slopetoward the cliffis formed. Unlike the rack, an outer wall of the passageis not provided with teeth. The passageforms a sharp curve with respect to the slope, and in a case where teeth similar to those of the rackare provided on the outer wall of the passage, the gearof the top toymay be bounced off by the teeth.

53 50 18 18 50 16 a a The outer periphery of the shaft tip portion or the outer periphery of the gearof the top toycomes into sliding contact with the outer wall of the passage. In this manner, the passageguides the toy top toyto the cliff.

14 19 16 14 18 19 19 a a b a. On the inner side of the terminal end of each slope, an inclined surfaceis formed with a downward slope toward the cliff, and on the slopeside of each of the passageat the upper portion, an inclined surfaceis formed with a downward slope that continues to the inclined surface

19 50 12 50 14 14 19 50 19 50 14 16 a a b a Each inclined surfaceis for dropping the top toyonto the floorwhen the top toymoving up the slopeloses momentum and is unable to reach the upper portion of the slope, and each inclined surfaceis for guiding the top toyto the inclined surfacewhen the top toyhaving reached the upper portion of the slopeloses momentum and is unable to reach the cliff.

5 FIG. 6 FIG. 10 10 is an exploded perspective view of the top toy game boardin a use state, andis an exploded perspective view of the top toy game boardin a storage state.

13 12 13 13 12 12 12 13 a 5 FIG. The covercovers the baseand has a circular openingin its center. The coveris configured to be detachable from the base, and is attached to the basein different orientations in the use state and in the storage state. In the following description of the baseand the cover, the front, rear, right, and left refer to the front, rear, right, and left indicated by the arrows in.

13 12 12 24 5 FIG. 8 9 FIGS.and In the use state, the coveris attached to the basein the orientation illustrated inand fixed to the baseby fasteners().

13 12 13 12 12 13 6 FIG. 5 FIG. 7 FIG. On the other hand, in the storage state, the coveris attached to the base, as illustrated in, in the orientation that right and left sides are reversed from the orientation illustrated in. In the storage state, the coveris deeply fitted to the base(). With this structure, the height from a bottom surface of the baseto an upper end of the covercan be made lower in the storage state compared to that in the use state.

12 20 20 20 Specifically, the baseis formed with an enclosing bodythat is rectangular in a top view and defines the field. The enclosing bodybulges upward and is hollow underneath. In a top view, the enclosing bodyhas right and left sides that are undulating along the front-to-rear direction.

12 12 21 21 12 21 a b c. In the undulating portion on the left side of the base, corner portions of the basein the front-to-rear direction form, respectively, upward convex portions,that protrude upward, and a central portion of the basein the front-to-rear direction forms an upward concave portion

12 21 21 12 21 d e f. In addition, in the undulating portion on the right side, corner portions of the basein the front-to-rear direction form upward concave portions,, respectively, and a central portion of the basein the front-to-rear direction forms an upward convex portion

21 21 21 22 22 22 22 22 22 12 13 22 22 22 22 22 22 24 a b f a b f a b f a b f a b f The upward convex portions,,are formed with first contact portions,,, respectively. The first contact portions,,are formed at the same height from the bottom surface of the base. In the use state, third contact portions of the cover, which will be described later, contact the first contact portions,,, respectively. Furthermore, the first contact portions,,are formed with rectangular holes to which the later described fastenersare attached, respectively.

12 22 25 13 22 g g g. In addition, on the bottom of the base, a protruding portion (second contact portion)protruding outward in the horizontal direction is formed. In the storage state, a protruding portion (fourth contact portion)of the cover, which will be described later, contacts the second contact portion

13 13 On the other hand, the coverbulges upward and is hollow underneath. An upper wall of the coverhas left and right sides that are undulating along the front-to-rear direction in a bottom view.

13 25 25 25 a b c. In the undulating portion on the left side of the cover, upper walls at corner portions in the front-to-rear direction forms, respectively, downward convex portions,that protrude downward, and an upper wall at a central portion in the front-to-rear direction forms a downward concave portion

13 25 25 25 d e f In addition, in the undulating portion on the right side of the cover, upper walls at corner portions in the front-to-rear direction form downward concave portions,, respectively, and an upper wall at a central portion in the front-to-rear direction forms a downward convex portionthat protrudes downward.

25 25 25 13 22 22 22 24 a b f a b f The third contact portions (not illustrated) are formed on lower surfaces of the downward convex portions,,, respectively. The third contact portions are formed at the same height from a bottom surface of the cover. In the use state, the third contact portions contact the upper surfaces of the first contact portions,,, respectively. The third contact portions are formed with rectangular holes to which the fastenersare attached, respectively.

13 25 25 22 12 g g g In addition, a lower end of the coveris formed with the protruding portion (fourth contact portion)that protrudes outward. In the storage state, the protruding portion (fourth contact portion)contacts the protruding portion (second contact portion)of the basedescribed above.

8 FIG. 9 FIG. 24 24 is a perspective view illustrating the fastener, andis a front view of the fastener.

24 13 12 13 22 22 22 12 22 22 22 a b f a b f In the use state, the fastenersfasten the coverto the basewith the lower surfaces of the third contact portions of the covercontacting the upper surfaces of the first contact portions,,of the base, respectively. At this time, the rectangular holes of the third contact portions are aligned with the rectangular holes of the first contact portions,, and, respectively.

24 24 13 24 24 24 22 22 22 a b b a a b f. Each of the fastenersis composed of a contact platethat comes contact with the upper surface of each of the third contact portions of the cover, and a pair of elastic locking claws,formed on the lower surface of the contact plateand to be inserted into each of the rectangular holes in the third contact portions and each of the rectangular holes of the first contact portions,,

24 24 24 24 22 22 22 24 24 b c b b a b f b b Each of the elastic locking clawsis formed with an inclined portion. When each of the pairs of elastic locking claws,are inserted into each of the rectangular holes of the third contact portions and each of the rectangular holes of the first contact portions,,, the elastic locking claws,come into sliding contact with the edges of the rectangular holes of the third contact portions as narrowing in the direction of approaching each other.

24 24 22 22 22 24 24 24 24 22 22 22 b b a b f b b b b a b f When each of the pair of elastic locking claws,is completely inserted into each of the rectangular holes of the third contact portions and each of the rectangular holes of the first contact portions,,, the elastic force of the elastic locking claws,engages the pairs of elastic locking claws,under the edges of the rectangular holes of the first contact portions,,, respectively.

10 According to the top toy game boardof the embodiment configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

14 50 15 50 14 53 50 50 12 14 a First, since the field is provided with the slopeson which the top toymoves up, and the racksthat guide the top toyto run up the slopeby meshing with the gearas the top toyrotates, the top toycan not only move along the floor, but also run up the slopesby its own rotational force.

16 14 50 16 12 50 a Secondly, the cliffis formed at the upper portions of the slopes, and the top toyis configured to fall from the cliffonto the floor, so that the top toycan be moved three-dimensionally in the field. In addition, in battles, the range of attacks can be increased by attacking from above and the like.

15 53 50 15 50 14 Thirdly, since each tooth of the rackextends vertically, the gearof the top toycan easily mesh with the rackwithout being bounced off, so that the top toycan surely run up the slope.

18 14 52 50 50 16 50 16 a Fourthly, the passageis formed at the upper portion of the slope, which comes into sliding contact with the shaftof the top toythat has moved up to guide the top toyto the cliff, so that the top toyis guided smoothly to the cliffwithout being bounced off.

14 19 16 14 50 50 12 a a. Fifth, at the terminal end of the slope, the slope surface serves as the inclined surfacewith a downward gradient toward the cliff, so that if the momentum of moving up the slopeis lost and the top toyis unable to reach the upper portion of the slope, the top toycan be dropped onto the floor

17 12 50 17 50 14 50 14 a a a Sixth, since the stepextending in a C-shape in a top view is formed on the floor, when the outer periphery of the shaft tip portion of the top toycomes into sliding contact with the step, the top toyis accelerated and sent toward the slope, making it easier for the top toyto move up the slope.

17 12 17 50 50 14 a a b Seventh, in addition to the step, since the flooris formed with the stepextending in a C-shape in a top view, the top toyis accelerated in two stages, making it even easier for the top toyto move up the slope.

13 12 12 13 10 Eighth, the coveris attached to the basein different orientations in the use state and in the storage state so that the height from the bottom surface of the baseto the upper end of the covercan be lowered in the storage state, making it easier to handle the top toy game boardwhen shipped or stored.

10 Although the top toy game boardaccording to the embodiment has been described above, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible.

18 14 16 14 a For example, according to the above embodiment, the passageis continuously provided to the upper end of the slope, but the cliffmay be provided at the upper end of the slope.

17 17 15 53 a b Furthermore, the steps,according to the above embodiment may or may not be provided with a rack similar to the rackthat meshes with the gear. According to the preferred embodiments, as the gear and the rack mesh with each other, the rotational force of the top toy itself accelerates the top toy as to run up the slope, and this causes that the range in which the top toy moves around can be three-dimensional (stereoscopic) and a highly entertaining top toy game board is provided.