Toy for playing imitation scooping and hooking games

Abstract

 A toy for playing imitation scooping and hooking games, wherein either a means (26) for scooping an imitation goldfish (1) out of a vessel (2) or a means (28) for hooking such an imitation goldfish (1) is connected to a vibrator-containing grip member (6), the grip member (6) being held by the hand to scoop or hook an imitation goldfish (1) with the vibration of the vibrator (5) transmitted to the scooping means (26) or hooking means (28). Players may compete with one another in taking in a larger number of imitation goldfishes (1).

Description

Background of the Invention:

(Field of the Invention)

[0001] This invention relates to a toy capable of playing both an imitation fish-scooping game and an imitation fish-hooking game.

(Prior Art)

[0002] As disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 122688/1987, and British patent specification no. 2 185 892, the inventor of the present invention devised a toy for playing imitation fish-scooping games, consisting of imitation fishes, a vessel for use in placing the imitation fishes therein, and a vibrator containing scooping means having an imitation fish-scooping or netting member. United States Patent No. 4,650,192 has been granted for an invention which is the same as this device.

[0003] In the toy for playing imitation fish-scooping games described above, the vibration of the vibrator is transmitted to the fish-scooping member to intentionally make it difficult to scoop up an imitation fish, and enable a player to enjoy the game. However, a toy has not yet been proposed, for playing imitation fish-hooking games, in which the vibration of a vibrator is also transmitted to a fish-hooking member to intentionally make it difficult to hook an imitation fish, and enable a player to enjoy the game.

[0004] In the above-described toy for playing imitation fish-scooping games, the scooping means comprises parts identical with those shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, i.e. a fixed front grip, or handle, portion 8, a rotatable rear grip, or handle, portion 10 joined to the rear end of the fixed portion 8 and a scooping or netting member 4 connected to the front end of the fixed grip portion 8 via a shank 7. A vibrator 5 and a miniaturized vibrator-driving motor 12 are housed in the fixed grip portion 8. A battery 16 is inserted in the rotatable grip portion 10 so that a positive pole 14 thereof contacts one electric terminal 15 of the motor 12, and a switch 20 is also inserted in the rotatable grip portion 10, contacting a negative pole 17 of the battery 16 through a conductive spring 18 and adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the other electric terminal 19 of the motor 12 in accordance with the rotation of the rotatable grip portion 10. However, if a contact 20′ of the switch 20 faces radially outwardly, that is, faces the inner surface of the rotatable grip portion 10 with the electric terminal 19 projecting so as to be inserted between the inner surface of the rotatable grip portion 10 and the contact 20′ as shown in Fig. 8, the following inconveniences occur. When a child carelessly turns the rotatable portion 10 relative to the fixed portion 8, with the axis of the former deviating even a little from that of the latter during a handle portion-connecting step, the electric terminal 19 collides with the front end of the rotatable portion 10, and it is then deformed to enter a space between the outer surface of a joint portion of the rotatable portion 10 and the inner surface of a joint portion 22 of the fixed portion 8. As a result, switch malfunction occurs in which the electric terminal 19 does not contact the switch 20. It is difficult to restore an electric terminal 19, once deformed in this way, to its original shape, and such an electric terminal becomes unusable.

Summary of the Invention:

[0005] The present invention has been created in view of these points. A first object of the present invention is to provide a toy for playing imitation goldfish scooping or netting and hooking games, which is capable of fixing a scooping or netting means and a hooking means interchangeably to the same vibrator-containing grip member and playing selectively either an imitation fish-scooping game or an imitation fish-hooking game, and which requires special imitation fish-scooping and fish-hooking techniques, by which the fun of playing these games can be increased.

[0006] A second object of the present invention is to provide a toy for playing imitation fish-scooping and hooking games, capable of preventing a switch from going wrong during a tubular grip member connecting operation.

[0007] The present invention provides a toy as claimed in each of claims 1 to 7, to which reference is directed.

[0008] The above and other objects as well as characteristic features of the invention will be fully understood from the following description of an embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings:

[0009] The accompanying drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of use of the embodiment in an imitation goldfish scooping game;

Fig. 2 illustrates an example of use of the embodiment in an imitation goldfish hooking game;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of a grip member separated into two parts at the joint portions thereof;

Fig. 4 is a partially-sectional front elevation of a scooping means:

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, which is taken from the side of a vibrator, of the grip;

Fig. 6 shows the construction of a switch;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section of a prior art fixed portion and a rotatable portion of the grip member, separated from each other with the switch members positioned close to the inner surfaces of the fixed and rotatable tubes; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section illustrating a switch malfunction occurring during an operation for connecting together the two prior art grip portions of Fig. 7.

Detailed Description of the Invention:

[0010] To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present invention provides a toy for playing imitation goldfish scooping and hooking games, comprising imitation goldfishes 1; a vessel 2 for use in placing the imitation goldfishes 1 therein; a vibrator containing grip member 6 having a joint portion at a front end section thereof; a scooping means 26 composed of a shank 7, an imitation goldfish scooping portion 4 provided at the front end section of the shank 7, and a joint portion 27 provided at the rear end section of the shank 7 and adapted to be connected detachably to a joint portion 25 of the grip member 6; a hooking means 28 composed of an imitation fishing rod 29 having at its rear end section a joint portion adapted to be connected detachably to the joint portion of the grip member, an imitation fishing line 30, one end of which is connected to the front end of the imitation fishing rod 29, and a hook member 33 connected to the other end of the fishing line 30. The grip member 6 is composed of a fixed portion 8 and a rotatable portion 10 which is joined to the rear end portion of the fixed portion 8. The fixed portion 8 houses therein a vibrator 5 and a miniaturized vibrator-driving motor 6. The rotatable portion 10 houses therein a battery 16, and a switch 20 adapted to be connected to and disconnected from an electric terminal 19 of the miniaturized motor in accordance with rotational movement of the rotatable portion 10. A contact 20′ of the switch 20 projects in a radially inward direction away from the inner surface of the rotatable tube, portion 10. The electric terminal 19 of the motor projects so as to be spaced from the inner surface of the fixed portion 10.

Operation:

[0011] A plurality of imitation goldfishes 1 are placed in the vessel 2, and either the scooping means or the hooking means is selected and connected to the grip member.

[0012] In the case where the scooping means 26 is connected to the grip member 6, the grip member 6 is grasped by the hand, and the rotatable portion 10 is turned to a position in which the switch 20 is turned on. Consequently, the motor 12 is rotated with the vibrator 5 also turned simultaneously, and the slight vibration of the vibrator 5 is transmitted to the scooping portion 26. The scooping portion 26 is then brought close to an imitation goldfish 1. When the scooping portion 26 contacts the imitation goldfish 1, the latter is jerked due to the slight vibration of the former, i.e., the imitation goldfish 1 moves as if it were a living goldfish escaping from place to place. A player tries to scoop up this imitation goldfish 1 skilfully with the scooping portion 26 and places it into a container (not shown) prepared at hand in advance. The imitation goldfish 1 successfully scooped up receives the slight vibration of the scooping portion 26 and springs up repeatedly thereon as if it were a live goldfish. Therefore, all the imitation goldfishes 1 scooped up can not be placed successfully into the container; a scooped imitation goldfish 1 often drops from the scooping portion 26 while it is being carried to the container.

[0013] In the case where the hooking means 28 is connected to the grip member 6, the grip member 6 is grasped by the hand, and the rotatable portion 10 is turned to a position in which the switch 20 is turned on. Consequently, the slight vibration of the vibrator 5 is transmitted to the hook member 33 via the fishing line 30. A player then tries to hook an imitation goldfish on the hooking portion thereof, and, during this hooking operation, the hooking portion 33 being vibrated by the vibrator 5 make it difficult for the player to hook up the imitation goldfish 1 successfully. If the above-described operations are repeated, the player can enjoy an imitation goldfish scooping game and an imitation goldfish hooking game. The electric terminal 19 and the switch 20 project inwardly away from the inner surfaces of the fixed and rotatable portions 8, 10 with clearances left therebetween. Accordingly, even when the axes of the fixed and rotatable portions 8, 10 of the grip member 6 deviate slightly from each other while these portion 8, 10 are brought close to each other to be connected together, the electric terminal 19 of the motor reaches a position in which the terminal 19 contacts the switch 20 without colliding with the front end of the rotatable portion 10.

[0014] Continuing the description of the embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 1 denotes imitations suitably selected from among the imitation goldfishes, imitation goldfishes with swinging tail and fin, and imitations of various kinds of living things other than goldfishes, and 2 the vessel, which is molded so as to have a recessed portion which hold the imitations 1 therein, and which may have a round contour, an angular contour or a contour of any other shape. The bottom surface of this recessed portion of the vessel 2 may have projections and grooves which look like ripples, and various other types of designs. The peripheral portion of the upper surface of the vessel 2 may be provided with a molded imitation fence. Not only a vessel 2 in which the imitations 1 only are placed but also a vessel 2 in which a rotatable disc with the imitations 1 placed thereon may be used in some cases. Reference numeral 6 denotes the grip member molded out of plastic and consisting of fixed hollow casing portion 8, and rotatable hollow casing portion 10 joined to the rear end portion of the fixed portion 8, the joint portions of these tubes being composed as shown in, for example, Fig. 3 of an annular projection 23 provided on the inner surface of the rear end portion of the fixed portion 8, and an annular groove 24 provided in the outer surface of the front end of the rotatable portion 10 so that the annular groove 24 can be engaged rotatably with the annular projection 23. The engaging and disengaging of the annular projection and groove are done forcibly by applying a force to the two portions 8, 10. A connecting member 25 is provided on the outer side of the fixed portion 8, and the miniaturized motor 12 is fitted fixedly in the interior of the fixed portion 8 so that a rotary shaft 11 extends toward the front end of the grip member 6. The vibrator 5, consisting of an eccentric weight, is attached to the front end portion of the rotary shaft 11. The rotatable portion 10 contains therein the battery 16, the positive pole of which constantly contacts one electric terminal 15 of the motor 12, and a switch 20 connected to the negative pole 17 of the battery 16 through a conductive spring 18 and adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the other electric terminal 19 of the motor 12 in accordance with the turning of the rotatable portion 10. Contact 20′ of the switch 20 projects away from the inner surface of the rotatable portion 10 in a radially inward direction, and the electric terminal 19 from the motor 12 is positioned with a clearance left between itself and the inner surface of the fixed portion 8. A plurality of ribs 35 project from the inner surface of the rotatable portion 10 so as to contact the outer circumferential surface of the battery 16. Marks 36, 37 on the positions on the joint portions of the two portions 8, 10 are aligned with each other when the switch 20 is turned on. A scooping means 26 consists of a shank 7, a scooping portion 4 provided at the front end of the shank 7, and a joint portion 27 provided at the rear end of the shank 7 and engaged removably with the joint portion 25 of the grip member 6. The scooping portion 4 in use is molded so as to have a slightly concave upper surface, and/or molded with a plurality of through bores formed therein in imitation of the meshes of a net. Reference numeral 28 denotes a hooking means consisting of an imitation fishing rod 29, a fishing line 30 one end of which is connected to the front end of the imitation fishing rod 29, a hooking member 33 connected to the other end of the fishing line 30 and provided with a magnet 32 for attracting a magnetic piece, such as an iron piece attached to an imitation fish 1, and a joint member 34 provided at the rear end of the imitation fishing rod 29 and engaged removably with the joint portion 25 of the grip member 6. The hooking member 33 can be replaced by a fishing hook or some other part suitable for hooking an imitation 1.

Effect of the Invention:

[0015] Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it can provide a toy for playing imitation goldfish scooping and hooking games, capable of playing either of an imitation goldfish scooping game and an imitation goldfish hooking game by using the same vibrator-containing grip member; requiring special techniques for successfully carrying out the imitation goldfish scooping and hooking operations, whereby the fun of playing these games can be increased; and capable of preventing a switch trouble from occurring during an operation for connecting the tubes of the grip member.

Claims

1. A toy for playing imitation scooping and hooking games, comprising imitation things (1) a vessel (2) in which said imitation things (1) are placed; a vibrator-containing grip member (6) having a joint portion (25) at a front end section thereof; a scooping means (26) having an imitation scooping portion (4), and a joint portion (27) removably connected or connectible to said joint portion (25) of said grip member (6); and a hooking means (28) having an imitation hooking member (33), and a joint portion (34) removably connected or connectible to said joint portion (25) of said grip member (6).

2. A toy for playing imitation scooping and hooking games according to Claim 1, wherein each of said imitation things (1) is formed in the shape of a fish such as a goldfish.

3. A toy for playing imitation scooping and hooking games according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said scooping means (26) further has a shank (7) at the front end of which said scooping portion (4) is provided, and at the rear end of which said joint portion (27) is provided.

4. A toy for playing imitation scooping and hooking games according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said hooking means (28) further comprises an imitation fishing rod (29), and a fishing line (30) one end of which is connected to the front end of said imitation fishing rod (29), said imitation hooking member (33) being connected to the other end of said fishing line (30), said joint portion (34) of said hooking means (28) being provided at the rear end of said imitation fishing rod (29).

5. A toy for playing imitation scooping and hooking games according to any preceding claim, wherein said grip member (6) comprises a fixed portion (8), said joint portion (25) being provided at a front end of said fixed portion (8), and a rotatable portion (10) joined rotatably to a rear end portion of said fixed portion (8).

6. A toy for playing imitation scooping and hooking games according to Claim 5, wherein said fixed portion (8) contains therein a vibrator (5), and a miniaturized vibrator-driving motor (6), said rotatable portion (10) containing therein a battery (16), and a switch (20) adapted to be connected to an electric terminal (19) of said motor (6) in accordance with the turning of said rotatable portion (10), a contact (20′) of said switch (20) projecting in a radially inward direction away from the inner surface of said rotatable portion (10), said electric terminal (19) projecting with a clearance left between itself and the inner surface of said fixed portion (8).

7. A toy for playing imitation scooping and hooking games according to Claim 6, wherein said vibrator (5) is provided with an eccentric weight fixed to a rotary shaft (11) of said miniaturized motor (6), said battery (16) being connected to said miniaturized motor (6) through said switch (20).

Drawing