JP2010213954A - Turning teeter-totter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a teeter-totter capable of obtaining safe and attractive movements. <P>SOLUTION: The teeter-totter 11 includes the center part C of an arm 13 supported rotatably around a horizontal axis and turnably around a vertical axis on a leg 12 vertically provided on an installation face, a mechanism (a worm wheel 20 and a worm gear 21) for changing rotational movements of the arm 13 around the horizontal axis to turning movements around the vertical axis and a ratchet or a one-way clutch for restricting a rotary direction of the worm gear 21 to one direction. The arm 13 is supported rotatably around the horizontal axis by a four-section link mechanism 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a seesaw that is one of typical playground equipment installed in a children's park, an amusement park, or the like.

  The seesaw that has been commercially available is a “playing equipment in which arm portions each having a seating portion at each end are balanced with a center portion as a fulcrum”. FIG. 4 is a side view of a conventional general seesaw 51. As shown in the figure, the seesaw 51 is composed of a leg portion 52, an arm portion 53, two seating portions 54, 54, grips 55, 55, and the like. On 52, the center part C of the arm part 53 is supported in a rotatable state.

JP 2004-81817 A International Publication WO2007 / 01618A1

  The conventional seesaw can only repetitively move on a two-dimensional trajectory, is very monotonous, and has a problem of getting bored in a relatively short time. Therefore, there has been a proposal to develop a seesaw with a structure in which the seating part swivels around the legs so that the operation mode is a little more complicated. If you can turn freely, there is a risk that a third party will push the seating part etc. from the outside of the orbit, or enter the orbit and push around the base end of the arm to rotate at high speed There is a problem that it can develop into a fun game.

  The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a seesaw that can realize a safe and attractive operation.

  The seesaw according to the present invention is supported on the leg portion standing on the installation surface in a state where the central portion of the arm portion is rotatable around the horizontal axis and the vertical axis, and around the horizontal axis of the arm portion. It is characterized by having a mechanism for converting the rotational motion into a rotational motion around the vertical axis.

  As a mechanism for converting the rotational motion of the arm portion around the horizontal axis into the rotational motion around the vertical axis, the worm wheel fixed to the upper portion of the leg portion and the rotational motion of the arm portion around the horizontal axis. Therefore, it is preferable to have a ratchet or a one-way clutch that regulates the rotation direction of the worm gear in one direction. Furthermore, it is preferable that the arm portion is supported by a four-bar linkage mechanism so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis.

  The seesaw according to the present invention operates in three dimensions, can realize a very attractive operation for infants and children, and can play happily without getting tired. In addition, the arm portion is configured to pivot mechanically in conjunction with the vertical movement, so the rotation speed is restricted, and a third party or the like applies an external force to rotate at high speed. Such a danger can be suitably avoided.

  In addition, when a four-bar linkage mechanism is adopted as a mechanism for supporting the arm portion, the rotation fulcrum around the horizontal axis can be shifted from the center of the arm portion, and a rotational motion conversion mechanism comprising a worm gear and a worm wheel is provided. When assembled, a suitable relative positional relationship can be realized, which is very advantageous in design.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seesaw 11 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the seesaw 11 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a main part of the characteristic structure of the seesaw 11 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of a conventional general seesaw 51.

  The seesaw according to the present invention includes a leg portion (post) erected on the installation surface, and an arm portion whose central portion is supported so as to be balanced on the leg portion (so that the height positions of both ends are aligned). The arm portion is composed of a seating portion and a grip formed on the upper surface of both end portions, respectively, so that the arm portion can be rotated around the horizontal axis, that is, like the conventional seesaw, both end portions Is configured to move up and down.

  The seesaw according to the present invention is configured so that the arm portion can also rotate around the vertical axis, that is, is configured to pivot in the horizontal direction around the leg portion, and the horizontal axis line of the arm portion. It has a mechanism that converts the surrounding rotational movement (the movement in which both ends move up and down) into the rotational movement around the vertical axis. Hereinafter, specific mechanisms and structures for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail as embodiments of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seesaw (Example 1) according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof. In the present embodiment, the arm portion 13 of the seesaw 11 is supported on the upper portion of the leg portion 12 via a four-bar linkage mechanism 16. The four-bar linkage mechanism 16 is configured by connecting a rotary base 17, four swing arms 18, and a central portion C of the arm portion 13 so as to be rotatable.

  The rotary base 17 is attached to the upper end portion of the leg portion 12 and supported so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis. Two shafts 19 and 19 (see FIG. 2) are attached to the rotary base 17. These shafts 19 and 19 are held in directions parallel to each other at positions facing each other across the upper end portion of the leg portion 12.

  The upper ends of the four swing arms 18 are fixed to both ends of the shafts 19, 19, respectively, and the one shaft 19 and the two swing arms 18, 18 at both ends rotate around the horizontal axis. The rotary base 17 is held in a movable state. The same applies to the other shaft 19 and the two swinging arms 18 and 18 at both ends thereof. And the arm part 13 is connected with each lower end part of the rocking | swiveling arm 18 in the state which can each be rotated.

  In this manner, the arm portion 13 is formed at the upper end of the leg portion 12 by the pair of four-bar linkage mechanisms including the rotary base 17, the swing arm 18, and the central portion C of the arm portion 13. The shafts 19 and 19 are supported in a rotatable manner around the shafts 19 and 19, and both end portions (end portions where the seating portions 14 and 14 are formed) are configured to move up and down.

  Since the rotary base 17 does not rotate in the vertical direction, it functions as a “fixed node” in the four-bar linkage mechanism, the swing arm 18 as a “swing node”, and the central portion C of the arm portion 13 is “ Acts as a "joint clause". It should be noted that the distance between the connecting point on the upper end side and the connecting point on the lower end side in each swing arm 18 is set to the same length, and two adjacent two-way link mechanisms are formed. The two swing arms 18 and 18 have a separation dimension between the connection points on the lower end side (connection point with the arm part 13) from a separation dimension between the connection points on the upper end part side (connection point with the rotary base 17). Is also set larger.

  Therefore, as shown in the figure, the swing arms 18 and 18 are in the shape of “C”, and in the no-load state, the arm portion 13 is stable in a balanced state (horizontal posture) and on one side (for example, When a larger load is applied to the right side seating portion 14 shown in FIG. 2, an inclined state as shown by a broken line in FIG. 2 is obtained. When released from the load, the restoring force works and the arm portion 13 returns to an equilibrium state where the arm portion 13 becomes horizontal, and the vertical movement is repeated by alternately applying a load to the left and right seating portions 14. Let me play.

  Further, the seesaw 11 according to the present invention is not limited to the vertical movement of the arm portion 13 or the seating portion 14 but can move up and down (that is, the rotational movement of the arm portion 13 around the horizontal axis) around the vertical axis. The arm portion 13 is configured to be converted into a dynamic motion so that the arm portion 13 can be turned in the horizontal direction around the leg portion 12.

  As a specific mechanism for this purpose, in the present embodiment, a mechanism in which a worm wheel and a worm gear are engaged is adopted. FIG. 3 shows the main part of the structure. As shown in this figure, at the upper part of the leg part 12, the worm wheel 20 is in a direction in which all teeth formed on the peripheral surface are exposed to the side (that is, in a direction in which the central axis is vertical). It is installed. The worm wheel 20 is firmly fixed to the leg portion 12 and is configured not to rotate even when an external force is applied.

  On the other hand, the worm gear 21 is mounted on the shaft 19 and is held in the rotary base 17 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. As described above, since the shaft 19 is supported horizontally by the rotary base 17, the worm gear 21 is also supported in a direction in which the central axis is horizontal.

  The worm gear 21 and the shaft 19 are connected via a ratchet (not shown). Accordingly, when the shaft 19 rotates in either direction, the worm gear 21 also rotates in the same direction together with the shaft 19, and does not rotate when the shaft 19 rotates in the opposite direction. Will idle. That is, the rotation direction of the worm gear 21 is restricted to one direction by the ratchet.

  As described above, since the rotary base 17 on which the worm gear 21 is supported is supported on the leg portion 12 so as to be rotatable around the vertical axis, when the arm portion 13 is moved up and down, The oscillating arm 18 that supports the portion 13 rotates, and the rotational force is transmitted to the shaft 19. Further, the rotational force is transmitted to the worm gear 21 only when the ratchet rotates in the meshing direction.

  When the worm gear 21 rotates, the worm wheel 20 meshes with the worm wheel 20 fixed to the leg portion 12, and the rotational force (rotational force around the horizontal axis) is the rotational force around the central axis of the worm wheel 20, that is, the vertical axis. The rotary base 17 that supports the worm gear 21 rotates around the vertical axis, and the arm 13 supported by the rotary base 17 turns in the same direction. On the other hand, when the shaft 19 rotates in the direction in which the ratchet rotates idly, no rotational force is transmitted to the worm gear 21 and the arm portion 13 does not turn.

  In this embodiment, the worm gear 21 is attached to only one of the two shafts 19, 19 supported by the rotary base 17. Therefore, the turning motion associated with the vertical movement of the arm portion 13 is intermittent. For example, when one seating portion 14 of the arm portion 13 is lowered and the shaft 19 is set to rotate in a direction in which the ratchet is engaged, the arm portion 13 turns as the seating portion 14 is lowered. However, when the seating portion 14 rises, the ratchet idles and the arm portion 13 does not turn.

  Note that one worm gear 21 may be mounted on each of the two shafts 19 and 19. In this case, if the direction of rotation is set so that the worm gears 21 operate alternately, the arm portion 13 turns when the one seating portion 14 is lowered or raised.

  In the present embodiment, a mechanism in which a worm wheel and a worm gear are engaged with each other is employed as a mechanism for converting the rotational motion of the arm portion 13 around the horizontal axis into the rotational motion around the vertical axis. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a mechanism, and any mechanism can be adopted as long as the same conversion can be realized.

  By the way, in this embodiment, although a ratchet is used as a mechanism for restricting the rotation direction of the worm gear 21 to one direction, a one-way clutch can be used instead. In addition, any other mechanism can be suitably used as long as it can achieve the same purpose. If a mechanism for restricting the rotational direction of the worm gear 21 to one direction is not used, the rotational force is transmitted to the worm gear 21 even when one of the seating portions 14 descends or rises. However, since the rotation direction is reversed between descending and ascending, the turning direction of the arm portion 13 is also reversed, and the seating portion 14 reciprocates on the same orbit in the oblique direction within a certain angular range. It will be. In this case, the fun as a playground equipment is reduced.

  As described above, the seesaw 11 according to the present embodiment can be developed into a movement in which the seat portion 14 circulates around the leg portion 12 by repeating the up and down movement, and is enjoyable without getting tired by the user. And you can play safely.

11, 51: Seesaw,
12, 52: leg,
13, 53: arms,
14, 54: seating part,
15, 55: grip,
16: Four-bar linkage mechanism,
17: Rotary base,
18: swing arm,
19: shaft,
20: Worm wheel
21: Worm gear,
C: Central part

Claims (4)

On the leg part standing on the installation surface, the center part of the arm part is supported in a state of being rotatable around the horizontal axis and the vertical axis,
A seesaw having a mechanism for converting a turning motion of the arm portion around a horizontal axis into a turning motion around a vertical axis.   As a mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the arm portion around the horizontal axis into the rotational motion around the vertical axis, the worm wheel fixed to the upper part of the leg portion and the rotational movement of the arm portion around the horizontal axis The seesaw according to claim 1, further comprising a worm gear held so as to rotate in a predetermined direction.   The seesaw according to claim 2, further comprising means for restricting the rotation direction of the worm gear in one direction.   The seesaw according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the arm portion is supported by a four-bar linkage mechanism so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis.

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