DESCRIPTION

JOINT STRUCTURE FOR DOLL

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]

The present invention relates to a doll joint, and more particular, to a joint structure which is provided in the middle of a rod-shaped member extending from a torso section of a doll.

The term "doll" used in the present specification should be construed as being not limited to one such as a doll, a monster, or a robot which includes a torso section, a leg section, an arm section, and a head section and simulates the shape of the human's or animal's body, but should be interpreted to include an elementary body for the doll that does not include the head section. Also, the "doll" includes a movable doll for which necessary sections such as a hand, a foot, or a waist are configured to be freely movable. The movable doll includes substantially all of the existing dolls for which joint sections are separately provided to those constituent components that need to be movably configured; or for which constituent components are integrally formed therewith without joint sections but are configured to be

bendable at necessary sections such as knee or elbow.

The term "torso section" generally refers to sections excluding the arm sections, leg sections, and head sections of the doll. However, in the present specification, the "torso section" should be construed as being inclusive of the head section. The "rod-shaped member" generally refers to the arm section or the leg section that is attached to the torso section in a protruding manner. However, the "rod-shaped member" should be construed as being inclusive of substantially all of the constituent components such as a tail or other tentacles which are attached to the torso section so as to protrude in a rod shape.

The term "upper leg" refers to the range between a portion (a portion connected to the groin section of the waist) attached to the legs and a portion above the knee. The term "lower leg" refers to the range between a portion below the knee and the ankle.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]

Recently, in the industry of doll manufacturing, a doll called "figure" which simulates the human's (naked) body shape is especially gathering popularity from people.

Such a figure doll is usually played by girls while

holding the doll with their hands for costuming the doll. Nowadays, the figure doll is loved by a wide range of users; especially adult users are increasing without distinction of sex. Moreover, a playing method has been known in which an original doll called a "costume doll" is created by mounting a head section on the elementary body for the doll at the user' s own will and putting on various costumes; and pictures of the doll are taken with the doll posed for a picture to share the pictures with others.

Lovers of the doll think much of the poses and are likely to want that the arm's or leg's joints can be movable in a manner similar to the real human. In addition, users who think much of the poses also put importance on the degree of freedom in the" movable range of the arm or elbow in order to realize deeper expressions In particular, whether the arm's or knee's joint can be bent at an acute angle is a matter of great concern.

[0003]

Conventionally, as a spherical joint is known as the elbow's joint of the doll's arm section or the knee's joint of the doll's leg section. For example, a joint structure for the knee joint is composed of a pair of semi-spherical joint sections which are respectively connected to ends of the upper leg and the lower leg, in which the one-side semi-spherical joint section is

provided with a rotation shaft at the center of a discshaped flat surface; a concave section is disposed in a disc-shaped flat surface of the the-other-side semi- spherical joint section so as to be fitted to the rotation shaft in a sliding fit manner; the centers of the discshaped flat surfaces are rotatably connected to each other by means of the rotation shaft; and the upper leg and the lower leg are configured to be rotatable about the rotation center of the rotation shaft for bending operations thereof.

Since the upper leg and the lower leg can rotate about the rotation center of the rotation shaft at any degree of bending, the spherical joint sections can always maintain the spherical exterior appearance. Also, since the doll's upper leg and lower leg are connected to each other by the spherical member, the leg section can have a beautiful exterior appearance.

However, when the spherical joint section performs a bending operation, the rear surface on the lower side of the upper leg makes abutting contact with the rear surface on the upper side of the lower leg at a position at which the upper leg and the lower leg make about 90 degrees of bending, thereby preventing a further bending operation. Therefore, the bending angle when the rear surface on the lower side of the upper leg makes abutting contact with

the rear surface on the upper side of the lower leg corresponds to the maximum bending angle. As a result, the leg sections of the doll cannot perform a bending operation that provides a bending angle greater than the maximum bending angle. Accordingly, the poses of the dolls are restricted. [0004]

As a technical solving means for increasing the bending angle of the elbow's or knee's joint, the present inventors have designed a dual joint structure that is provided to the knee's joint section of the leg section, which is disclosed in Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2004-121494 )

The dual joint structure of Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which connecting pieces having a disc shape are disposed on both sides of a knee body; and the connecting pieces on both sides are axially bonded, respectively to a bifurcated pinch section disposed on the lower end side of the upper leg and a bifurcated pinch section disposed on the upper end side of the lower leg such that the connecting pieces are freely movable. The knee body can allow the knee joint to perform a bending operation by the pivot movement of shaft connecting sections on both sides thereof. In the dual joint structure having such a configuration, the lower-leg-side shaft connecting section pivots about a rotation center

that is displaced from the rotation center of the upper- leg-side shaft connecting section by a distance between the upper-leg-side shaft connecting section and the lower- leg-side shaft connecting section of the knee body. Therefore, when the upper-leg-side shaft connecting section of the knee body is bent for about 90 degrees, the lower-leg-side shaft connecting section is bent toward the backward side of the knee. Accordingly, the lower end of the upper leg' s rear surface is made harder to make abutting contact with the upper end of the lower leg' s rear surface than the above-described spherical joint structure. Thus, it is possible to realize a great maximum bending angle.

[0005]

According to the dual joint structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to increase the maximum bending angle of the leg section. However, the leg section is also bent in the direction for the forward bending thereof. Therefore, the reality in the poses of the doll is deficient.

The ducal joint structure of the leg section is exposed to the outside, and the beauty may be impaired.

The invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a joint structure capable of performing a bending operation at a

large bending angle while maintaining the beauty of a joint section.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006]

In order to achieve the object, according to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a joint structure for a doll which is provided to a rod-shaped member including a first member connected to a torso portion of the doll and a second member bendably connected to an end of the first member by means of the joint structure, the joint structure including: a one-side joint section provided to one of the first and second members; a the-other-side joint section provided to the other of the first and second members; and a pair of connecting sections that rotatably connect the one-side joint section and the the-other-side joint section, each of the connecting sections comprising: a one-side angle restricting mechanism that combines with the one-side joint section to constitute a one-side shaft mechanism for rotatably supporting the one-side joint section, and restricts a rotation angle of the one-side joint section; a the-other-side angle restricting mechanism that combines with the the-other-side joint section to constitute a the- other-side shaft mechanism for rotatably supporting the

the-other-side joint section, and restricts a rotation angle of the the-other-side joint section while being in parallel to the one-side shaft mechanism with a predetermined distance therebetween; and a pair of curvature sections that at least cover the one-side shaft mechanism, the the-other-side shaft mechanism, the one- side angle restricting mechanism, and the the-other-side angle restricting mechanism, and have an exterior appearance so as to form a single body along with the ends of the first and second members in a state in which the joint section enters into a bent state from an extended state. The one-side angle restricting mechanism and the the-other-side angle restricting mechanism may be configured to restrict the rotation angle so as to prevent forward bending of the second member with respect to the first member.

At least one of the pair of curvature sections may be integrally formed with one of the connecting sections. The pair of curvature sections and the pair of connecting sections may be formed in such a way that one of the curvature sections is integrally formed with one of the connecting sections; and the other curvature is integrally formed with the other connecting section.

[0007]

In the above-described joint structure, the one-side

joint section is provided with a disc-shaped one-side connecting plate, the one-side shaft mechanism including: a one-side rotating shaft that is formed in a rotation center of the one-side connecting plate and one of the pair of connecting sections; and a one-side shaft hole that is formed in the other of the pair of connecting sections so as to combine with the one-side rotating shaft in a sliding fit manner, the one-side angle restricting mechanism including: a circumferential groove that is formed in a disc-shaped surface of the one-side connecting plate and one of the pair of connecting sections and is disposed within a predetermined range of angle about the one-side rotation shaft; and a one-side angle restricting pin that is formed in the other of the pair of the connecting sections so as to combine with the circumferential groove in a sliding fit manner, and wherein the the-other-side joint section is at least provided with a pair of the-other-side connecting plates that are disposed parallel to each other with a distance therebetween corresponding to the thickness of the one- side connecting plate, the the-other-side shaft mechanism including: a the-other-side rotation shaft that is divided by the distance between the pair of the-other-side connecting plates so as to be disposed coaxially, wherein the the-other-side rotation shaft disposed on both sides

of the division being formed in the rotation center of the the-other-side connecting plate and one of the pair of connecting sections; and a the-other-side shaft hole that is formed in the other of the pair of the connecting sections so as to combine with the the-other-side rotating shaft in a sliding fit manner, and wherein the the-other- side angle restricting mechanism is constituted by: the one-side shaft mechanism; and a forward-bending abutting section that is formed in the the-other-side connecting plate so as to make abutting contact with the one-side shaft mechanism in a state in which the the-other-side connecting plate performs a forward bending at a predetermined angle.

The joint section may be provided to the rod-shaped member that forms the doll's leg section; alternatively, the joint section may be provided to the rod-shaped member that forms the doll's arm section.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a doll including the above-described joint structure in which the joint structure is at least provided to a rod-shaped member that forms the doll's leg section. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a doll including the above-described joint structure in which the joint structure is at least provided to a rod-shaped member that forms the doll's arm

section. According to a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a doll including the above- described joint structure in which the center axis of the second member is displaced from the center axis of the first member in the transversal direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008]

Fig. IA to Fig. IB are explanatory views for showing the state in which a joint section is incorporated into upper leg and lower leg, Fig. IA is a side view and Fig. IB is a side view in which upper leg and lower leg is shown by dotted-line;

Fig. 2A to Fig. 2C are explanatory views of upper-leg- side joint section, Fig. 2A is a front view, Fig. 2B is a side view and Fig. 2C is a plan view;

Fig. 3A to Fig. 3D are explanatory views of lower-leg- side joint section, Fig. 3A is a front view, Fig. 3B is a side view, Fig. 3C is a plan view and Fig. 3D is a sectional view for showing sectional shape of the front view;

Fig. 4A to Fig. 4D are explanatory views of fan-shaped member, Fig.4A is an oblique perspective view from other surface side, Fig. 4B is an oblique perspective view from one surface side, Fig. 4C is a plan view and Fig. 4D is

rear view;

Fig. 5A to Fig. 5F are explanatory views of one-side cover section and the-other-side cover section, Fig. 5A is a front view seen from the inner surface side of the one- side cover section, Fig. 5B is an oblique perspective view seen from the inner surface side of the one-side cover section, Fig. 5C is an oblique perspective view seen from the outer surface side of the one-side cover section, Fig. 5D is a front view seen from inner surface side of the- other-side cover section, Fig. 5E is an oblique perspective view seen from inner surface side of the- other-side cover section and Fig. 5F is an oblique perspective view seen from outer surface side of the- other-side cover portion;

Fig. 6 is an explanatory-oblique perspective view for showing relationship of each member constituting joint section;

Fig. 7 is an explanatory-oblique perspective view for showing relationship of each member constituting joint section seen from the opposite side of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an explanatory-oblique perspective view for showing assembling state of joint section;

Fig. 9A to Fig. 9B are explanatory views of assembled joint section, Fig. 9A is an oblique perspective view seen from front side and Fig. 9B is an oblique perspective view

seen from the opposite side of Fig. 9A;

Fig. 1OA to Fig. 1OB are explanatory views for showing movement of upper-leg-side joint section, Fig. 1OA shows anteflexed state and Fig. 1OB shows crooked state;

Fig. HA to Fig. HB are explanatory views for showing movement of lower-leg-side joint section, Fig. HA shows anteflexed state and Fig. HB shows crooked state;

Fig. 12 is a side perspective view for showing anteflexed state of joint section;

Fig. 13 is a side perspective view for showing retroflexed state of upper-leg-side joint section;

Fig. 14 is a side perspective view for showing retroflexed state of both upper-leg-side joint section and lower-leg-side joint section together;

Fig. 15 is an oblique perspective view for showing retroflexed state of both upper-leg-side joint section and lower-leg-side joint section together;

Fig. 16 is whole view of leg portion that joint section is incorporated into upper leg and lower leg, which is seen from rear side;

Fig. 17A to Fig. 17B are explanatory views for showing state in which joint section defined by the secondary embodiment is incorporated into upper leg and lower leg, Fig. 17A is a side view and Fig. 17B is a side view for showing upper leg and lower leg by the dotted-line;

Fig. 18A to Fig. 18B are explanatory views of upper- leg-side joint section of joint section defined by the secondary embodiment, Fig. 18A is a front view and Fig. 18B is a side view;

Fig. 19A to Fig. 19C are explanatory views of lower- leg-side joint section of joint section defined by the secondary embodiment, Fig. 19A is a front view, Fig. 19B is side view and Fig. 19C is a sectional view of Fig. 19A;

Fig. 2OA to Fig. 2OB are explanatory views of cover section of one-side cover section defined the secondary embodiment, Fig. 2OA is a front view seen from the inner surface side and Fig. 2OB is a explanatory view seen from the outer surface side;

Fig. 21A to Fig. 21B are explanatory views of cover section of the-other-side defined by the secondary embodiment, Fig. 21A is a front view seen from the inner surface side, and Fig. 21B is an explanatory view seen from the outer surface side;

Fig. 22A to Fig. 22B are explanatory views of pressing member, Fig. 22A is a front view and Fig. 22B is side view;

Fig. 23 is an explanatory oblique perspective view for showing relationship of each member constituting joint section defined by the secondary embodiment;

Fig. 24 is an explanatory oblique perspective view

for showing relationship of each member constituting joint section defined by the secondary embodiment, which is seen from the opposite side of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a side perspective view for showing retroflexed state of joint section defined by the secondary embodiment;

Fig. 26 is a side perspective view for showing anteflexed state of joint section defined by the secondary embodiment;

Fig. 27 is a side perspective view for showing enteflexed state of both upper-arm-side joint section and lower-arm-side joint section of the joint section together defined by the secondary embodiment; and

Fig. 28 is a perspective view for explaining gap between upper arm and lower arm of joint section defined by the secondary embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0009]

Hereinafter, one of the best mode embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described. The present embodiment is merely an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Characteristic configurations of the invention relate to a joint structure of a rod-shaped member that is provided to a doll. Requirements on other constituents of

the doll other than the joint structure should not be interpreted in a limiting sense, but may be modified within the scope of the invention.

In the present embodiment described later, an elementary body for the movable doll which is called a figure that particularly does not have a head section (facial section) is illustrated as an exemplary embodiment. However, the invention should not be interpreted as being limited to this. A doll that has the head section is also included in the scope of the invention. That is, the term "doll" used in the invention should be construed as being inclusive of substantially all of the ordinary dolls which are provided with a rod-shaped member that is attached to the torso section and in which the rod-shaped member includes a joint structure. For example, the doll is not limited to one that simulates the male or female human, but may be one that simulates animals, fictional creatures, or robots.

First Embodiment

[0010]

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in Figs. IA and IB and Fig. 16, a leg section attached to a torso section of a doll is illustrated as an example of the rod- shaped member. The leg section includes a first member 7

that is attached to a groin section of the torso section (not shown) so as to be freely movable; a second member 8 that is attached to the first member 7; and a joint section 1 that rotatably connects the first member 7 and the second member 8 to each other.

In the following descriptions, the first member 7 and the second member 8 will be referred to as an upper leg 7 and a lower leg 8, respectively.

[0011]

The upper leg 7 is formed, for example, in a hollow rod-like shape having an exterior appearance that simulates a real human's upper leg section. The upper leg 7 is provided with a connecting structure (not shown) that is disposed in the upper end of the upper leg 7 to connect the upper end to the groin section of the torso section so as to be freely movable; and an upper-leg-side fitting hole section 71 that is disposed in the lower end of the upper leg 7 such that a the-other-side joint section 3 of the joint section 1 described later is detachably fitted to the upper-leg-side fitting hole section 71. ■ [0012]

The lower leg 8 is formed, for example, in a hollow rod-like shape having an exterior appearance that simulates a real human's lower leg section. The lower leg 7 is provided with a connecting structure (not shown) that

is disposed in the lower end of the lower leg 8 to connect the lower end to a foot section so as to be freely movable; and a lower-leg-side fitting hole section 81 that is disposed in the upper end of the lower leg 8 such that a one-side joint section 2 of the joint section 1 described later is detachably fitted to the lower-leg-side fitting hole section 81.

The joint section of the doll's leg section has a symmetrical structure. That is, the left leg's joint section is symmetrical to the right leg's joint section. Therefore, in the following descriptions, only the joint section of the doll's left leg will be described, and descriptions on the right leg's joint section will be omitted.

[0013]

For example, in the present embodiment, the joint section 1 includes the one-side joint section 2 disposed in the lower end of the upper leg 7; the the-other-side joint section 3 disposed in the upper end of the lower leg 8; and a pair of connecting sections for rotatably connecting the one-side joint section 2 and the the-other- side joint section 3 to each other. By connecting the one-side joint section 2 and the the-other-side joint section 3 to each other by means of the connecting sections, the upper leg 7 and the lower leg 8 are

rotatably connected to each other and thus forming the rod-shaped leg section.

In the following descriptions, the one-side joint section 2 and the the-other-side joint section 3 will be referred to as an upper-leg-side joint section 2 and a the-other-side joint section 3, respectively.

[0014]

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in Figs. 2A to 2C, Figs. 6 to 8, Figs. 9A and 9B, Figs. 1OA and 1OB, Figs. HA and HB, and Figs. 12 to 14, the upper-leg-side joint section 2 includes an upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21 that is detachably fitted to the upper- leg-side fitting hole section 71 of the upper leg 7; and a circular-shaped one-side connecting plate 22 (hereinafter, will be referred to as an upper-leg-side connecting plate) that is integrally connected to a section opposite the fitting section of the upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21 (the section will be referred to as an opposite fitting section) . In the present embodiment, the upper- leg-side supporting shaft section 21 and the upper-leg- side connecting plate 22 are formed of the same materials and are incorporated therewith.

[0015]

For example, in the present embodiment, the upper- leg-side supporting shaft section 21 is formed in a

circular column shape having an outer diameter such that the upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21 can be fitted to the upper-leg-side fitting hole section 71 of the upper leg (see the broken line portion in Fig. 2) .

The total length of the upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21 is not particularly limited as long as the upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21 is fitted to the upper-leg-side fitting hole section 71 and has a fitting length such that they are not easily disengaged from each other. In the present embodiment, a circular column-shaped configuration is illustrated as an exemplary configuration of the upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21. However, the upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21 may have a predetermined shape such as a rectangular column shape, as an exterior shape such that the upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21 can be detachably fitted into the upper-leg-side fitting hole section 71. The upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21 having such an exterior shape is also included in the scope of the invention. In addition, the upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21 may be formed in a bifurcated shape so as to be fitted to the upper-leg-side fitting hole section 71 while resisting against the elastic force of the bifurcated upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21, thereby providing a secure fit therebetween by the

elastic force. In addition, in the present embodiment, a non-hollow, column-shaped configuration is illustrated as an exemplary configuration of the upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21, but a hollow, column-shaped configuration may be applied.

[0016]

The upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 is formed in a disc-shaped plate having a predetermined thickness Dl. A portion of an outer peripheral surface 22a is ' integrally and perpendicularly connected to the opposite fitting section 24 of the upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21 such that the center 26 of the disc-shaped plate is placed on the axial center line 28 of the upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21 (see Fig. 2A) .

A shaft hole 29 is formed in the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 such that the shaft hole 29 perpendicularly passes through central portions of the top and rear surfaces of the disc-shaped plate. A circumferential groove 25 is formed in a portion of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 disposed close to the outer periphery 22a of the disc-shaped plate such that the circumferential groove 25 is within a predetermined range of angle 01 with respect to the shaft hole 29.

[0017]

In the present embodiment , the circumferential

groove 25 is formed as an elongated hole 25 that perpendicularly passes through the top and rear surfaces of the disc-shaped plate so as to extend in a circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, the predetermined range of angle θ 1 corresponds to the range of about 55 degrees that is from one end 25a of the upper- leg-side supporting shaft section 21 disposed on the axial center line 28 to the other end 25b in the backward (on the left side of Fig. 2A) of the upper leg. In the present embodiment, the angle θl of the circumferential elongated hole 25 is formed to correspond to the range of about 55 degrees backward from the axial line 28 of the upper-leg-side supporting shaft section 21. However, the direction or angle of the circumferential elongated hole 25 is not limited to this, but may be modified within the scope of the invention.

[0018]

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in Figs. 3A to 3D, Figs. 6 to 8, Figs. 9A and 9B, Figs. 1OA and 1OB, Figs. HA and HB, and Figs. 12 to 14, the lower-leg-side joint section 3 includes an lower-leg-side supporting shaft section 31 that is detachably fitted to the lower- leg-side fitting hole section 81 of the lower leg 8; and a pair of the-other-side connecting plates 32 and 33 (hereinafter, will be referred to as lower-leg-side

connecting plates) that are integrally connected to an opposite fitting side of the lower-leg-side supporting shaft section 31.

In the present embodiment, the lower-leg-side supporting shaft section 31 and the pair of lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are formed of the same materials and are incorporated therewith.

For example, in the present embodiment, the lower- leg-side supporting shaft section 31 is formed in a circular column shape having an outer diameter such that the lower-leg-side supporting shaft section 31 can be fitted to the lower-leg-side fitting hole section 81 of the lower leg 8. An extension section 36 is integrally formed in a section on the opposite fitting side of the lower-leg-side supporting shaft section 31 (the section will be referred to as an upper end section) so as to extend in the oblique upward direction from the upper end section 34 toward a forward side of the extension section 36 (i.e., in the arrow direction in Fig. 3A).

[0019]

The forward side portion (the right side of the drawing) of the extension section 36 is formed in a convex curved surface 36b having a circular arc shape with a predetermined center 37.

The backward side portion (the left side of the

drawing) of the extension section 36 is formed in a concave curved surface 3βc declining in the oblique downward direction toward the lower-leg-side supporting shaft section 31 with a gentle slope. The rear end 36d of the concave curved surface 3βc adjoins with a rising slope surface 36f that stretches with a rising inclination in the oblique upward direction from the lower-leg-side supporting shaft section 31 toward the backward side. The adjoining position is at a position located further out toward the backward side than the lower-leg-side supporting shaft section 31.

The concave curved surface 36c of the extension section 36 is formed in a curved surface shape on the backward side of the second member 8 to which the lower- leg-side joint section 3 is attached; that is, the concave curved surface 36c is formed in a curved surface so as to correspond to the extension of the calf's swelled portion.

[0020]

As illustrated in Fig. 3D, an upper end surface 36a of the extension section 36 has its center 26 which is the same as the center of the outer periphery 22a of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22, and forms a curved surface having a diameter slightly larger than that of the outer periphery 22a. With such a configuration, even when the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 (see the broken

lines in Fig. 3D) is rotated in a state in which the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 combines with the extension section 36 so as to be displaced a predetermined distance relative to each other in the oblique upward direction toward the forward side, the curved surface of the upper end surface 36a of the extension section 36 does not collide with the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22. [0021]

The center line 38a of the extension section 36 is displaced a predetermined distance D2 (see Fig. 3B) in the transverse direction (in the present embodiment, toward the right side of the drawing) from the center line 38b of the lower-leg-side supporting shaft section 31.

That is, the extension section 36 is formed to stretch out in the single sided transverse direction (in the direction crossing the perpendicular direction) ; a protruding side surface 36g of the extension section 36 protrudes out a predetermined distance D6 from the lower- leg-side supporting shaft section 31; and the lower end of the convex curved surface 36b forms a step section 36e.

[0022]

The lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are plate-like members that extend upward from the upper end surface 36a of the extension section 36 in parallel to each other with a distance therebetween corresponding to

the thickness Dl (see Figs. 2C and 3B) of the upper-leg- side connecting plate 22. The lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are similar in their shapes and have the same thicknesses D3.

The forward side portions of the lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are formed, respectively, as curved surfaces 32a and 33a that are continuous with the convex curved surface 36b of the extension section 36 so as to have a circular arc shape with the same center 37 as the concave curved surface 36c. When the lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 combines with the upper-leg- side connecting plate 22 (see the broken lines in Fig. 3D) , the forward side portions of the lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are at positions located above the shaft hole 29 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22.

The lower end portions of the lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are formed in a circular arc shape with its center concentric to the center 26 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22, and are integrally connected to the upper end surface 36a of the extension section 36.

[0023]

The upper end portions of the lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are formed, respectively, as concave curvature sections 32c and 33c having a diameter

slightly larger than the outer diameter Rl (see Figs. 4C and 4D) of a cylinder section 43 of a fan-shaped member 4 described later. Also, convex curvature sections 32d and 33d are provided on the backward sides of the concave curvature sections 32c and 33c, and their centers are at the rotation center 37 of the lower-leg-side joint section 3. In this manner, the upper end portions of the lower- leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are bent in an approximately S shape.

Shaft holes 39a and 39b are formed in the center 37 of the curved surfaces 32a and 33a of the lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 and the convex curved surface 36b of the extension section 36. The shaft holes 39a and 39b are fitted to a shaft for rotatably supporting the lower-leg-side joint section 3. The shaft holes 39a and 39b have the same center axis 37 and serve as a rotation center of the lower-leg-side joint section 3.

[0024]

Each of the pair of connecting sections includes a one-side angle restricting mechanism that combines with the upper-leg-side joint section 2 to constitute a one- side shaft mechanism for rotatably supporting the upper- leg-side joint section 2, and restricts the rotation angle of the upper-leg-side joint section 2; a the-other-side angle restricting mechanism that combines with the lower-

leg-side joint section 3 to constitute a the-other-side shaft mechanism for rotatably supporting the lower-leg- side joint section 3, and restricts a rotation angle of the lower-leg-side joint section 3 while being in parallel to the one-side shaft mechanism with a predetermined distance therebetween; and a pair of curvature sections that at least cover the one-side shaft mechanism, the the- other-side shaft mechanism, the one-side angle restricting mechanism, and the the-other-side angle restricting mechanism, and have an exterior appearance so as to form a single body along with the end 7a of the upper leg 7 and the end 8a of the lower leg 8 in a state in which the joint section 1 enters into a bent state from an extended state .

[0025]

The one-side shaft mechanism includes a shaft that passes through the shaft hole 29 formed in the upper-leg- side connecting plate 22 of the upper-leg-side joint section 2; and a hole for receiving the shaft. Specifically, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in Figs. 4A to 4D, Figs. 5A to 5F, and Figs. 6 to 8, the one- side shaft mechanism includes a lower-leg-side shaft 51 that protrudes out from the inner surface side of a one- side cover section 5; and a inner hole 43a of the cylinder section 43 of the fan-shaped member 4, the inner hole 43a

being fitted to the lower-leg-side shaft 51 passing through the shaft hole 29 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22.

The one-side angle restricting mechanism includes a pin that passes through the shaft hole 29 formed in the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 of the upper-leg-side joint section 2; and a hole for receiving the pin. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the one-side angle restricting mechanism includes a pin 52 that protrudes out from the inner surface side of the one-side cover section 5; and a pin hole 62 formed in a the-other- side cover section 6 so as to be fitted to the pin 52 passing through the circumferential groove 25 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22.

The the-other-side shaft mechanism includes the shaft holes 39a and 39b of the lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33; and a pair of lower-leg-side shafts fitted to the shaft holes 39a and 39b, respectively. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the the-other- side shaft mechanism includes a lower-leg-side shaft 53 that protrudes out from the inner surface side of the one- side cover section 5; and a lower-leg-side shaft 45 of the fan-shaped member 4, the shaft 45 being fitted to the shaft hole 39b. In this manner, the the-other-side shaft mechanism is constructed in such a manner that the shaft

mechanism is divided by the distance between the pair of lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 so as to be disposed coaxially.

The the-other-side angle restricting mechanism includes the concave curved surface 33c on the upper end side of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33; and a member that makes abutting contact with the concave curved surface 33c to restrict rotation of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the the-other-side angle restricting mechanism includes the concave curved surface 33c; and the cylinder section 43 of the fan-shaped member 4.

The curvature section covers the one-side shaft mechanism, the the-other-side shaft mechanism, the one- side angle restricting mechanism, and the the-other-side angle restricting mechanism. In the present embodiment, the curvature section includes an outer surface 55 of the cover section 5; and an outer surface 65 of the cover section 6.

Hereinafter, the fan-shaped member 5, the cover section 5, and the cover section 6 will be described to which are disposed constituent components of the above- mentioned mechanisms.

[0026]

As illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8, the fan-shaped

member 4 includes constituent components of the the-other- side connecting section, which are disposed on the other sides (the right side of Figs. 6 and 8) of both the upper- leg-side connecting plate 22 of the upper-leg-side joint section 2 and the pair of lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 of the lower-leg-side joint section 3.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the fan-shaped member 4 has an exterior shape that resembles a so-called fan shape obtained by cutting about a one-fourth portion (about 90- degree portion) of a disc-shaped plate in a radial direction .

On one surface side 41a of the fan-shaped member 4, the cylinder section 43 is formed in a key portion (pivotal portion) of the fan shape so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the one surface 41a. The cylinder section 43 has a predetermined outer diameter Rl and has a height equal to the thickness D3 (see Figs. 3B, 4A, and 4C) of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33.

[0027]

The inner hole 43a of the cylinder section 43 has an inner diameter R2.

On the other surface side 41b of the fan-shaped member 4, a cylinder section 42 having the same diameter Rl as the cylinder section 43 is formed continuous with the cylinder section 43. On the lower edge portion on the

other surface side 41b of the fan-shaped member 4 disposed on a perpendicular line 41d (see Fig. 4B) passing the center of the cylinder section 42, a pin 44 is formed to extend from the other surface 41b in a direction perpendicular to the surface 41b.

A hole 41c is formed in the axial center of the cylinder section 42 and the cylinder section 43 (inner hole 43a) so as to pass through the one surface side 41a and the other surface side 41b in a perpendicular direction.

[0028]

The lower-leg-side shaft 45 is disposed at a position (see Fig. 4D) located close to the edge portion of the one surface side 41a and shifted (rotated) a predetermined angle θ2 in the clock-wise direction (in the left direction) from the perpendicular line 41d passing the center of the cylinder section 43. The lower-leg-side shaft 45 is formed to extend from the one surface 41a in a direction perpendicular to the surface 41a. In the present embodiment, the predetermined angle θ2 is set to 75 degrees. The diameter of the lower-leg-side shaft 45 is slightly smaller than that of the shaft hole 39b of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33.

As described above, in the fan-shaped member 4, the lower-leg-side shaft 45 is disposed at a position located

close to the edge portion shifted 75 degrees with respect to the cylinder section 43 disposed in the key portion (pivotal portion) . Therefore, the upper-leg-side shaft mechanism and the lower-leg-side shaft mechanism constituted by the cylinder section 43 and the lower-leg- side shaft 45 are parallel to each other with a predetermined distance DS (see Fig. 4B) therebetween.

The distance DS between the upper-leg-side shaft mechanism and the lower-leg-side shaft mechanism may be freely set in accordance with design requirements for bending operations of the upper-leg-side joint section 2 and the lower-leg-side joint section 3. For example, if the distance is small, the upper-leg-side joint section 2 and the lower-leg-side joint section 3 perform a bending operation similar to that of a single articulated structure (single joint structure). Meanwhile, if the distance is large, the upper-leg-side joint section 2 and the lower-leg-side joint section 3 perform a bending operation similar to that of the conventional dual joint structure .

The length (height) of the cylinder section 43 and the lower-leg-side shaft 45 is set equal to the thickness D3 (see Figs. 3B, 4A, and 4C) of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33.

The outer diameter of the cylinder section 42 and

the cylinder section 43 is set slightly smaller than that of the concave curvature section 33c on the upper end side of the lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33. [0029]

As illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8, the one-side cover section 5 includes constituent components of the one-side connecting section, which are disposed on the one sides

(the left side of Figs. 6 and 8) of both the upper-leg- side connecting plate 22 of the upper-leg-side joint section 2 and the pair of lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 of the lower-leg-side joint section 3.

As illustrated in Figs. 5A, 5B, and 5C, the outer diameter shape of the one-side cover section 5 corresponds to a so-called bead-shaped edge section 54 including: a semi-circular section 54a having an upper shape resembling the outer periphery of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22; a circular arc section 54b that extends continuously in the oblique downward direction from the forward side

(the right side of the drawing) of the semi-circular section 54a so as to form a curved surface having a diameter larger than that of the curved surface 32a on the forward side of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32; and a rear end section 54c that extends continuously from both the backward side (the left side of the drawing) of the semi-circular section 54a and the lower end of the

circular arc section 54b so as to be stretched to have a taper shape. In addition, the edge section 54 has a predetermined thickness along the exterior shape.

On the inner surface side of the one-side cover section 5, there are formed the upper-leg-side shaft 51 that is fitted to the shaft hole 29 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 so as to enable rotation of the upper- leg-side connecting plate 22 at the time of assembling the joint section 1, and constitutes the shaft of the one-side shaft mechanism; the pin 52 that is inserted into the circumferential groove 25 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22; and the lower-leg-side shaft 53 that is inserted into the shaft hole 39a of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32.

[0030]

Specifically, the upper-leg-side shaft 51 extends from the center of the semi-circular section 54a so as to have a length D4 sufficient for being fitted to the inner hole 43a of the cylinder section 43 of the fan-shaped member 4 at the time of assembling the joint section 1. In the present embodiment, the length D4 thereof from the edge section 54 (semi-circular section 54a) is set slightly smaller than the sum of the thickness D3 of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33 and the thickness Dl of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22.

The outer diameter of the upper-leg-side shaft 51 is set slightly smaller than the inner diameter R2 (see Figs. 4B and 4D) of the inner hole 43a formed in the cylinder section 43 of the fan-shaped member 4. A screw hole 51a is formed on the front end side of the upper-leg-side shaft 51 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the upper-leg-side shaft 51.

[0031]

The pin 52 is disposed backward (toward the left side of Fig. 5A) from a position which is located close to the outer periphery 54 of the semi-circular section 54a and is shifted (rotated) a predetermined angle θl in the clock-wise direction (in the left direction in Fig. 5A) from the perpendicular line 58 passing the center of the upper-leg-side shaft 51. The pin 52 has a length D5 sufficient for being inserted into the circumferential groove 25 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22. In the present embodiment, the length D5 thereof from the edge section 54 (semi-circular section 54a) is set equal to the sum of the thickness D3 of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33, the thickness Dl of the upper-leg- side connecting plate 22, and the thickness D3 of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33.

In the present embodiment, the angle θl is set to about 55 degrees. That is, the angle θl is set equal to

the angle range θl of the circumferential groove 25 formed in the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22. Therefore, when the angle range θ 1 of the circumferential groove 25 is changed, the angle θ 1 of the pin 52 relative to the perpendicular line 58 needs to be changed in accordance with the angle range changed.

The diameter of the pin 52 is set smaller than the width of the circumferential groove 25 in the radial direction of the connecting plate 22.

[0032]

The lower-leg-side shaft 53 is disposed at the center of the circular arc section 54b. The arc's center is disposed backward (toward the left side of Fig. 5A) from a position which is located close to the outer periphery 54 of the semi-circular section 54a and is shifted (rotated) a predetermined angle θ 2 in the counter-clock-wise direction (in the right direction in Fig. 5A) from the perpendicular line 58 passing the center of the upper-leg-side shaft 51. In the present embodiment, the predetermined angle θ 2 is set to about 75 degrees. The angle θ 2 is set equal to the predetermined angle θ 2 of the lower-leg-side shaft 45 formed in the fan-shaped member 4. Therefore, when the angle range θ 2 of the lower-leg-side shaft 45 formed in the fan-shaped member 4 is changed, the angle θ 2 of the lower-leg-side shaft 53

relative to the perpendicular line 58 needs to be changed in accordance with the angle changed.

[0033]

The rear end section 54c and a portion of the semicircular section 54a of the edge section 54 disposed adjacent the lower-leg-side shaft 53 are notched toward the outer surface (toward the left side of Fig. 5B) with a size corresponding to the thickness D3 (see Fig. 3B) of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32. A step section 54d and a step section 54e are disposed at boundaries of the notch portion and the non-notch portion of the edge section 54.

The lower-leg-side shaft 53 extends from the notch portion so as to protrude out the same length D3 (see Figs 5B, 5C, 5E, and 5F) as the thickness D3 (see Fig. 3B) of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32.

The diameter of the lower-leg-side shaft 53 is set slightly smaller than that of the shaft hole 39a of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32.

The outer surface 55 of the cover section 5 protrudes outward from the edge section 54 (including the semi-circular section 54a, the circular arc section 54b, and the rear end section 54c) so as to form a smooth curved surface section having a convex shape. The inner surface of the cover section 5 protrudes outward from the

edge section 54 so as to form a concave surface.

[0034]

As described above, in the one-side cover section 5, the lower-leg-side shaft 53 is disposed in a relation with respect to the upper-leg-side shaft 51 fitted to the inner hole 43a of the cylinder section 43 of the fan-shaped member 4 such that the lower-leg-side shaft 53 is fitted to the shaft hole 39a having the same central axis 37 as the shaft hole 39b of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33 fitted to the lower-leg-side shaft 45 of the fan-shaped member 4. Therefore, the upper-leg-side shaft mechanism and the lower-leg-side shaft mechanism constituted by the upper-leg-side shaft 51 and the lower-leg-side shaft 53 are parallel to each other with a predetermined distance DS (see Fig. 5A) therebetween. As described above in connection with the relation between the cylinder section 43 and the lower-leg-side shaft 45 of the fan-shaped member 4, the distance DS may be freely set in accordance with design reguirements for bending operations of the upper-leg-side joint section 2 and the lower-leg-side joint section 3. In this case, the distance DS is preferably set such that the lower-leg-side shafts 53 and 45 are included within the range of the semi-circular section 54a. With such a configuration, the lower leg 8 can rotate about the center of the semi-circular section

54a within the range thereof. Accordingly, the lower leg 8 can perform a rotation operation similar to that of the real human's lower leg. When it is desired to preferentially set the bending angle of the lower leg 8, the distance DS needs not be set in the above mentioned manner, but may be set in such a manner that the lower- leg-side shaft 54 and 45 are outside the range of the semi-circular section 54a.

[0035]

As illustrated in- Figs. 6 to 8, the the-other-side cover section 6 is disposed on the opposite sides (the right side of Figs. 6 and 8) of both the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 of the upper-leg-side joint section 2 and the pair of lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 of the lower-leg-side joint section 3.

The outer diameter shape of the the-other-side cover section 6 resembles the above mentioned cover section 5.

As illustrated in Figs. 5D, 5E, and 5F, the outer shape of the the-other-side cover section 6 corresponds to a so-called bead-shaped edge section 64 including: a semicircular section 64a having an upper shape resembling the outer periphery of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22; a circular arc section 64b that extends continuously in the oblique downward direction from the forward side (the right side of the drawing) of the semi-circular section

64a so as to form a curved surface having a diameter larger than that of the curved surface 33a on the forward side of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33; and a rear end section 64c that extends continuously from both the backward side (the left side of the drawing) of the semicircular section 64a and the lower end of the circular arc section 64b so as to be stretched to have a taper shape. In addition, the edge section 64 has a predetermined thickness along the exterior shape.

[0036]

In a manner similar to the case of the one-side cover section 5, the rear end and the rear end section 64c of the semi-circular section 64a of the edge section 64 are notched toward the outer surface (toward the left side of Fig. 6B) with a size corresponding to the thickness D3 (see Fig. 3B) of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32. A step section 64d and a step section 64e are disposed at boundaries of the notch portion and the non-notch portion of the edge section 64.

The circular arc section 64b protrudes inward from the cover section 64 (toward the right side of Fig. 6B) with the same length Dl (see Fig. 5E) as the thickness Dl (see Fig. 3B) of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32 while leaving the inner area of an imaginary circle (see the broken lines C in Fig. 5D) concentric to and having

the same diameter as the semi-circular section 64a.

An rear-end-side area 67 of the step section 64e of the edge section 64 protrudes inward (toward the right side of Fig. 5E) from the edge section 64.

[0037]

The outer surface 65 of the cover section 6 protrudes outward from the edge section 64 (including the semi-circular section 64a, the circular arc section 64b, and the rear end section 64c) so as to form a smooth curved surface section having a convex shape. The inner surface of the cover section 6 protrudes outward from the edge section 64 so as to form a concave surface.

On the inner surface side of the cover section 6, there are formed a large-diameter hole 61 that is fitted to the cylinder section 43 of the fan-shaped member 4; a pin hole 63 that is fitted to the pin 44 of the fan-shaped member 4; and a pin hole 62 that is fitted to the pin 52 of the cover section 5.

[0038]

Specifically, the large-diameter hole 61 is formed at the center of the semi-circular section 64a so as to have a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter Rl of the cylinder section 43 of the fan-shaped member 4. The depth of the large-diameter hole 61 is set equal to the length (height) of the cylinder section 43.

The pin hole 63 is disposed at a position displaced a predetermined distance from the perpendicular line 68 (see Fig. 5D) passing the center of the semi-circular section 64a, in which the predetermined distance corresponds to the distance between the pin 44 and the cylinder section 43 of the fan-shaped member 4. The pin hole 63 has a diameter slightly larger than that of the pin 44 and has a depth equal to the length of the pin 44.

[0039]

The pin hole 62 is disposed backward (toward the right side of Fig. 5D) from a position which is located close to the outer periphery 64 of the semi-circular section 64a and is shifted (rotated) a predetermined angle θ 1 in the counter-clock-wise direction from the perpendicular line 68 passing the center of the large- diameter hole 61. That is, the pin hole 62 is disposed at a position corresponding to the position of the pin 52 of the cover section 5. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 1 of the pin hole 62 relative to the perpendicular line 68 is set about 55 degrees. The angle θ 1 is set equal to the angle range θ 1 of the circumferential groove 25 formed in the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22. Therefore, when the angle range θ 1 of the circumferential groove 25 formed in the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 is changed, the angle θ 1 of the pin hole 62 needs to be

changed in accordance with the angle range changed. In addition, the depth of the pin hole 63 is set in such a manner that the front end of the pin 52 can be fitted to the pin hole 63.

[0040]

In this way, mechanisms of the connecting sections are configured such that constituent components of the one-side connecting section formed integrally with the one-side cover section 5 and constituent components of the the-other-side connecting section formed integrally with the the-other-side cover section 6 are combined, respectively, with the upper-leg-side joint section 2 and the lower-leg-side joint section 3. The mechanisms are covered with the outer surface 55 of the one-side cover section 5 and the outer surface 65 of the the-other-side cover section 6.

[0041]

Hereinafter, an operation of assembling the joint section 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 8.

When assembling the joint section 1, the upper-leg- side connecting plate 22 of the upper-leg-side joint section 2 is first inserted between the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32 and the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33 of the lower-leg-side joint section 3 until the outer peripheral surface 22a of the upper-leg-side

connecting plate 22 reaches the upper surface 36a of the extension section 36.

Next, the one-side cover section is combined to one side (the left side of the drawing) of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 and the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32. At this time, the pin 52 of the one-side cover section 5 is inserted into the circumferential groove 25 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22; the upper-leg- side shaft 51 of the one-side cover section 5 is inserted into the shaft hole 29 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22; and the lower-leg-side shaft 53 of the one-side cover section 5 is fitted to the shaft hole 39a of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32.

[0042]

Since the length D4 of the upper-leg-side shaft 51 is slightly larger than the sum of the thickness D3 of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33 and the thickness of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22, the front end of the upper-leg-side shaft 51 is further protruded out from the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22.

Since the length of the lower-leg-side shaft 53 of the one-side cover section 5 and the thickness of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32 are set equal to D3, the front end of the lower-leg-side shaft 53 is inserted so as to reach the opposite surface of the lower-leg-side

connecting plate 32. Accordingly, the front end of the lower-leg-side shaft 53 does not make abutting contact with the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22.

Since the length D5 of the pin 52 is set equal to the sum of the thickness D3 of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33, the thickness Dl of the upper-leg- side connecting plate 22, and the thickness D3 of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33, the pin 52 is protruded a predetermined distance from the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 corresponding to the thickness D3.

Since the rear end and the rear end section 54c of the semi-circular section 54a of the one-side cover section 5 are notched with a size corresponding to the thickness D3 of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33, the notch portion makes sliding contact with the lower- leg-side connecting plate 33 and the side surface of the extension section 36.

[0043]

Next, the fan-shaped member 4 is combined to the other side (the right side of the drawing) of the upper- leg-side connecting plate 22 and the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33. At this time, the lower-leg-side shaft 53 of the cover section 5 passing the shaft hole 29 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 is fitted to the inner hole 43a of the cylinder section 43 of the fan-

shaped member 4; and the lower-leg-side shaft 45 of the fan-shaped member 4 is fitted to the shaft hole 39b of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33.

Since the length of the lower-leg-side shaft 45 of the fan-shaped member 4 and the thickness of the lower- leg-side connecting plate 33 are set equal to D3, the front end of the lower-leg-side shaft 45 is inserted so as to reach the opposite surface of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33. Accordingly, the front end of the lower-leg-side shaft 45 does not make abutting contact with the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22.

Since the length (height) of the cylinder section 43 of the fan-shaped member 4 and the thickness of the lower- leg-side connecting plate 33 are set equal to D3, the front end of the cylinder section 43 makes sliding contact with the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22; and the one surface 41a of the fan-shaped member 4 makes sliding contact with the side surface of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33.

[0044]

A screw S inserted into the hole 41c formed in the cylinder section 42 and the cylinder section 43 of the fan-shaped member 4 is screwed into the screw hole 51a of the upper-leg-side shaft 51. With such a configuration, the upper-leg-side joint section 2 can be rotatably

supported by (and slidably fitted to) the upper-leg-side shaft 51; and the lower-leg-side joint section 3 can be rotatably supported by the lower-leg-side shafts 35 and 53 In addition, since the components are in tight, sliding contact with each other, they can be securely held to each other while preventing loosely bumping into each other.

Finally, the the-other-side cover section 6 is combined to the other side (the right side of the drawing) At this time, the cylinder section 42 of the fan-shaped member 4 is fitted to the large-diameter hole 61 of the the-other-side cover section 4; and the pin 44 of the fan- shaped member 4 is fitted to the pin hole 62 of the the- other-side cover section 6.

Since the rear end and the rear end section 64c of the semi-circular section 64a of the the-other-side cover section 6 are notched with a size corresponding to the thickness D3 of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32, the notch portion makes sliding contact with the lower- leg-side connecting plate 32 and the side surface of the extension section 36.

Since the circular arc section 64b of the the-other- side cover section 6 is protruded out a predetermined length from the cover section 6 corresponding to the thickness Dl of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32, the circular arc section 64b makes close, abutting contact

with the circular arc section 54b of the one-side cover section 5.

[0045]

As illustrated in Figs. 9A and 9B, mechanisms of the joint section 1 assembled in the above manner are covered with the outer surfaces 55 and 56 having a smooth, curvature shape of the cover sections 5 and 6. At this time, in the edge sections 54 and 64 of the cover sections 5 and 6, the semi-circular section 54a of the cover section 5 and the semi-circular section 64a of the cover section 6, respectively, make sliding contact with both side surfaces of the outer peripheral surface 22a of the connecting plate 22; the circular arc section 54b of the cover section 5 makes close abutting contact with the circular arc section 64b of the cover section 6; and the rear end section 54c of the cover section 5 and the rear end section 64c of the cover section 6, respectively, make sliding contact with both side surfaces of the concave, curved surface 36c disposed on the backward side of the extension section 36 of the lower-leg-side supporting shaft section 31. In this way, the joint section 1 is formed to have an exterior shape resembling a cocoon shape ,

When the joint section 1 is combined to the ends of the upper leg 7 and the lower leg 8, as illustrated in Figs. IA, 2B, and 16, the joint section 1 is formed to

have such an exterior shape that the joint section 1 is integrally incorporated into the ends of the upper leg 7 and the lower leg 8. Accordingly, the joint section 1 can have a shape more resembling the real human's joint section.

[0046]

Hereinafter, the operation of the joint section 1 will be described.

First, the operation of the upper-leg-side joint section 2 will be described with reference to Figs. 1OA and 1OB. For the convenience of explanation, in Figs. 1OA and 1OB, the operation of the upper-leg-side joint section is illustrated in a state in which the fan-shaped member 4 and the cover section 6 are detached therefrom and the cover section 5 is fixed thereto.

The upper-leg-side joint section 2 is rotatably supported by the upper-leg-side shaft 51 fitted to the shaft hole 29 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 so as to rotate about the center 26 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22. The pin 52 is inserted into the circumferential groove 25 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22.

[0047]

When the upper-leg-side joint section 2 rotates in the direction for the forward bending (in the right

direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10A) , the pin 52 makes abutting contact with the other end 25b of the circumferential groove 25, thereby restricting the rotation for the forward bending of the upper-leg-side joint section 2.

When the upper-leg-side joint section 2 rotates in the direction for the backward bending (in the left direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10B), the pin 52 makes abutting contact with the one end 25a of the circumferential groove 25, thereby restricting the rotation for the backward bending of the upper-leg-side joint section 2.

In the present embodiment, the circumferential groove 25 is formed within the angle range of about 55 degrees so as to extend from the one end 25a to the other end 25b. Therefore, in a state in which the upper-leg- side joint section 2 performs the backward bending for that angle, further rotation for the backward bending of the upper-leg-side joint section 2 is restricted. Accordingly, the upper-leg-side joint 2 can freely rotate within that angle range. [0048]

Next, the operation of the lower-leg-side joint section 3 will be described with reference to Figs. HA and HB. For the convenience of explanation, in Figs. 1OA

and 10B, the operation of the upper-leg-side joint section is illustrated in a state in which the fan-shaped member 4 and the cover section 6 are detached therefrom and the cover section 5 is fixed thereto.

The upper-leg-side joint section 3 is rotatably supported such that the lower-leg-side shaft 53 of the cover section 5 is fitted to the shaft hole 39a; and the lower-leg-side shaft 45 of the fan-shaped member 4 is fitted to the shaft hole 39b, whereby the upper-leg-side joint section 3 can rotate about the rotation center 37 as the axial center of the lower-leg-side shaft 53 and the lower-leg-side shaft 45.

[0049]

When the lower-leg-side joint section 3 rotates in the direction for the forward bending (in the right direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 11A) , the cylinder section 43 of the fan-shaped member 4 makes abutting contact with the concave curvature section 33c of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33, thereby restricting the rotation for the forward bending of the lower-leg-side joint section 3.

When the lower-leg-side joint section 3 rotates in the direction for the backward bending (in the left direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. HB) , the rotation of the lower-leg-side joint section 3 is not

particularly restricted but the joint section 3 can freely rotate until the upper leg 7 attached to the upper-leg- side joint 2 makes abutting contact with the lower leg 8 attached to the lower-leg-side joint section 3.

[0050]

Next, the detailed operation of the joint section 1 when the upper-leg-side joint section 2 and the lower-leg- side joint section 3 are assembled thereto will be described with reference to Figs. 12 to 15. For the convenience of explanation, in Figs. 12 to 14, the cover section 6 is detached therefrom; the fan-shaped member 4 is indicated by the broken lines; and the upper leg 7 and the lower leg 8 are indicated by the one-dotted lines . Also, the operation of the upper-leg-side joint section 2 and the lower-leg-side joint section 3 is illustrated in a state in which the cover section 5 is fixed thereto.

[0051]

In the forward bending state (extension state) of the upper leg 7 and the lower leg 8, that is, in the maximum forward bending state of the joint section 1, as illustrated in Fig. 12, the pin 52 makes abutting contact with the other end 25b of the circumferential groove 25 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 so as to restrict the rotation for the forward bending of the upper-leg-side joint section 2. Meanwhile, the concave curvature section

33c of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 33 makes abutting contact with the cylinder section 43 of the fan- shaped member 4 so as to restrict the rotation for the forward bending of the lower-leg-side joint section 3. With such a configuration, the forward bending of the upper leg 7 and the lower leg 8 is restricted. At this time, since the lower end 72 on the forward side of the upper leg 7 moves toward the upper end 82 on the forward side of the lower leg 8, the joint section 1 is made invisible by the upper leg 7 and the lower leg 8.

[0052]

Next, as illustrated in Fig. 13, in a state in which only the upper leg 7 performs a backward bending (see the left directional arrow in the drawing) , the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 rotates about the center 26 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 in the direction for the backward bending. In the maximum backward bending state, the pin 52 makes abutting contact with the one end 25a of the circumferential groove 25 of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 so as to restrict the rotation for the backward bending of the upper-leg-side joint section 2. Meanwhile, the concave curvature section 33c of the lower- leg-side connecting plate 33 makes abutting contact with the cylinder section 43 of the fan-shaped member 4 so as to restrict the rotation for the forward bending of the

lower-leg-side joint section 3. At this time, the lower end 72 on the forward side of the upper leg 7 is displaced a predetermined distance from the upper end 82 on the forward side of the lower leg 8 corresponding to the backward bending of the upper leg 7. However, since the joint section 1 is covered with the cover section 5 and the cover section β, mechanisms of the joint section 1 is not exposed to the outside. Thus, the beauty is maintained.

[0053]

Next, as illustrated in Fig. 14, in a state in which both the upper leg 7 and the lower leg 8 perform backward bending (see the left directional arrow in the drawing), the lower-leg-side connecting plate 22 rotates about the axial center of the lower-leg-side shaft 53 and the lower- leg-side shaft 45 as the rotation center 37 in the direction for the backward bending. At this time, since the circular arc section 54b of the cover section 5 and the circular arc section 64b of the cover section 6 are formed so as to be concentric to the lower-leg-side shaft 53 and the lower-leg-side shaft 45, in the course of the rotation for the backward bending of the lower leg 8, the portions of the circular arc sections 54b and 64b being exposed to the outside do not change their distances relative to the lower-leg-side shafts 53 and 45.

Therefore, the circular arc section 54b of the cover section 5 and the circular arc section 64b of the cover section 6 always form a single body along with the upper end 82 of the lower leg 8.

In the maximum backward bending state, the rear side 73 of the upper leg 7 having the upper-leg-side joint section 2 attached thereto makes abutting contact with the rear section 83 of the lower leg 8 having the lower-leg- side joint section 3 attached thereto. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent further backward bending. At this time, the lower end 72 on the forward side of the upper leg 7 is greatly displaced from the upper end 82 on the forward side of the lower leg 8. However, as illustrated in Fig. 15, since the joint section 1 is covered with the outer surface 55 of the cover section 5 and the outer surface 65 of the cover section β, mechanisms of the joint section 1 is not exposed to the outside. Since the rear side (the concave curved surface 36c of the extension section 36) of the joint section 1 is formed in a curved surface so as to correspond to the extension of the calf's swelled portion of the lower leg 8, the joint section 1 seems to form a single body along with the lower leg 8. With such a configuration, the joint section 1 can form a single body along with the upper leg 7 and the lower leg 8 from the extension state to the bending state, and it is

thus possible to maintain the beauty of the doll.

[0054]

The upper-leg-side joint section 2 and the lower- leg-side joint section are combined with each other such that the center line 38a of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 of the upper-leg-side joint section 2 is displaced a distance D2 from the center line 28b of the extension section 36 of the lower-leg-side joint section 3 (see Fig. 3B) .

Fig. 16 shows the entire configurations shown from the rear side of the leg section. When the joint section 1 is combined with the upper leg 7 and the lower leg 8, the upper leg 7 and the lower leg 8 are combined with each other such that the center line 38a of the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 is displaced a distance D2 from the center line 28b of the extension section 26 of the lower- leg-side joint section 3. With such a configuration, it is possible to accomplish the doll's leg section more closer to the shape of the real human's leg section in which the lower leg is further protruded out than the upper leg.

[0055]

In the present embodiment, although the the-other- side angle restricting mechanism is configured by the cylinder section 43 making abutting contact with the

concave curvature section 33c, the configuration of the the-other-side angle restricting mechanism is not limited to this . Alternatively or additionally, the the-other- side angle restricting mechanism may be configured in such a manner that the proximal end portion of the upper-leg- side shaft 51 is formed in circular column shape having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the concave curvature section 32c on the upper end side of the lower- leg-side connecting plate 32; the proximal end portion of the upper-leg-side shaft 51 is configured to make abutting contact with the concave curvature section 32c of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32; and the rotation angle of the lower-leg-side connecting plate 32 is restricted by both the concave curvature section 32c and the concave curvature section 33c.

[0056]

The fit relation between the above-described various shafts and the shaft holes and the relation between the pin 52 and the circumferential groove 25 are not limited to those described above. If the above-described, the one-side shaft mechanism, the one-side angle restricting mechanism, the-other-side shaft mechanism, and the the- other-side angle restricting mechanism are constructed, the shaft, the shaft hole, the pin 52, and the circumferential groove 25 may be provided any one of the

one-side shaft mechanism, the one-side angle restricting mechanism, the-other-side shaft mechanism, and the the- other-side angle restricting mechanism with which the shaft hole, the pin 52, and the circumferential groove 25 are combined.

For example, the upper-leg-side shaft 51 may be provided to the fan-shaped member 4, and the cylinder section 43 may be provided to the one-side cover section 5, Alternatively or additionally, the lower-leg-side shafts 53 and 45 may be provided to the lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33, respectively, and the shaft holes 39a and 39b may be provided to the one-side cover section 5 and the fan-shaped member 4, respectively. Alternatively or additionally, the circumferential groove 25 may be provided to the one-side cover section 5, and the pin 52 to be inserted into the circumferential groove 25 may be provided to the upper-leg-side connecting plate 22.

[0057]

In the present embodiment, although the one-side cover section 5 is integrally formed with the one-side connecting section, the invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the one-side cover section 5 may be separately formed from the one-side connecting section. Also, the the-other-side cover section 6 may be integrally formed with the the-other-side connecting section (fan-

shaped member 4) . Such variations are also included in the scope of the invention.

In the present embodiment, although the upper-leg- side connecting plate 22 is composed of a sheet of plate and the lower-leg-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are composed of a pair of plates, the invention is not limited to such a configuration. The upper-leg-side connecting plate 22 may be composed of a plurality of plates. Also, the lower-leg-side connecting plate may be composed of a sheet of plate or three or more plates. In this case, such variations are also included in the scope of the invention, as long as the above-described mechanisms are provided thereto.

Second Embodiment

[0058]

Although in the first embodiment, the case in which the joint section .1 is applied to the doll's leg section is described as an example, the invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to apply the joint section 1 to other sections of the doll, for example, to the doll's arm section.

Hereinafter, the case in which the joint section 1 is applied to the doll's arm section will be described.

The joint section 1 of the present embodiment is

incorporated into the elbow section of the arm section having an inner space smaller than that of the knee section of the leg section.

For this reason, the configuration of the joint section 1 of the present embodiment is simpler than that of the first embodiment. However, the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Specifically, the one-side joint section includes the one-side connecting plate having a disc shape; and the the-other- side joint section includes two the-other-side connecting plates having the disc-shaped plate inserted therebetween. Also, the joint section 1 includes the one-side shaft mechanism that rotatably supports the one-side joint section; the the-other-side shaft mechanism that rotatably supports the the-other-side joint section and is disposed parallel to the one-side shaft mechanism so as to be displaced a predetermined distance therefrom; the one-side angle restricting mechanism and the the-other-side angle restricting mechanism; and a pair of curved surface sections that cover the above mechanisms so as to having an exterior shape in which the curved surfaces form a single body along with the ends of the first member and the second member.

In the present embodiment, therefore, those constituent components having similar shapes to those of

the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted. In the following descriptions, the simplified configuration will be described with a focus on those different from those of the first embodiment.

[0059]

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in Figs. 17A and 17B and Fig. 28, an arm section attached to a torso section of a doll is illustrated as an example of the rod-shaped member. The arm section includes a first member 70 that is attached to a shoulder section of the torso section (not shown) so as to be freely movable; a second member 80 that is attached to the first member 70; and a joint section 1 that movably connects the first member 70 and the second member 80 to each other.

In the following descriptions, the first member 70 and the second member 80 will be referred to as an upper arm 70 and a lower arm 80, respectively.

[0060]

The upper arm 70 is formed, for example, in a hollow rod-like shape having an exterior appearance that simulates a real human's upper arm section. The upper arm 70 is provided with a connecting structure (not shown) that is disposed in the upper end of the upper arm 70 to connect the upper end to the shoulder section of the torso

section so as to be freely movable; and an upper-arm-side fitting hole section 701 that is disposed in the lower end of the upper arm 70 such that a the-other-side joint section 3 of the joint section 1 described later is detachably fitted to the upper-arm-side fitting hole section 71.

The lower arm 80 is formed, for example, in a hollow rod-like shape having an exterior appearance that simulates a real human's lower arm section. The lower arm 70 is provided with a connecting structure (not shown) that is disposed in the lower end of the lower arm 80 to connect the lower end to a hand section so as to be freely movable; and a lower-arm-side fitting hole section 801 that is disposed in the upper end of the lower arm 80 such that a one-side joint section 2 of the joint section 1 described later is detachably fitted to the lower-arm-side fitting hole section 81.

The joint section of the doll's arm section has a symmetrical structure. That is, the left arm's joint section is symmetrical to the right arm's joint section. Therefore, in the following descriptions, only the joint section of the doll's left arm will be described, and descriptions on the right arm's joint section will be omitted.

[0061]

For example, in the present embodiment, the joint section 1 includes the one-side joint section 2 disposed in the lower end of the upper arm 70; the the-other-side joint section 3 disposed in the upper end of the lower arm 80; and a pair of connecting sections for rotatably connecting the one-side joint section 2 and the the-other- side joint section 3 to each other. By connecting the one-side joint section 2 and the the-other-side joint section 3 to each other by means of the connecting sections, the upper arm 70 and the lower arm 80 are rotatably connected to each other and thus forming the rod-shaped arm section.

In the following descriptions, the one-side joint section 2 and the the-other-side joint section 3 will be referred to as an upper-arm-side joint section 2 and a the-other-side joint section 3, respectively.

[0062]

The upper-arm-side joint section 2 has substantially the same configuration as the upper-leg-side joint section 2 of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in Figs. 18A and 18B and Figs. 23 to 27, the upper-arm-side joint section 2 includes an upper-arm-side supporting shaft section 21 that is detachably fitted to the upper-arm-side fitting hole section 701 of the upper arm 70; and a circular-shaped one-side connecting plate 22

(hereinafter, will be referred to as an upper-arm-side connecting plate) that is integrally connected to a section opposite the fitting section of the upper-arm-side supporting shaft section 21 (the section will be referred to as an opposite fitting section) . In the present embodiment, the upper-arm-side supporting shaft section 21 and the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 are formed of the same materials and are incorporated therewith.

The upper-arm-side supporting shaft section 21 is configured such that the center axis 70a of the upper-arm- side shaft section 21 is disposed at θ 3 in the transversal direction (in the present embodiment, toward the right side of the drawing) from the center axis 70b of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 (see Fig. 18B).

A cylinder section 27 is formed on and perpendicular to the one-surface side 22b (on the left side of the Fig. 18B) of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 so as to have a predetermined outer diameter the same as that of the the-other-side connecting plate (lower-arm-side connecting plate) 33 described later.

[0063]

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in Figs. 19A to 19C and Figs. 23 to 27, the lower-arm-side joint section 3 includes an lower-arm-side supporting shaft section 31 that is detachably fitted to the lower-arm-side

fitting hole section 801 of the lower arm 80; and a pair of the-other-side connecting plates 32 and 33 (hereinafter, will be referred to as lower-arm-side connecting plates) that are integrally connected to an opposite fitting side of the lower-arm-side supporting shaft section 31.

In the present embodiment, the lower-arm-side supporting shaft section 31 and the pair of lower-arm-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are formed of the same materials and are incorporated therewith.

For example, in the present embodiment, the lower- arm-side supporting shaft section 31 is formed in a circular column shape having an outer diameter such that the lower-arm-side supporting shaft section 31 can be fitted to the lower-arm-side fitting hole section 81 of the lower arm 80. An extension section 36 is integrally formed in a section on the opposite fitting side of the lower-arm-side supporting shaft section 31 (the section will be referred to as an upper end section) so as to extend upward from the upper end section 34.

[0064]

The backward side portion (the left side of the drawing) of the extension section 36 is formed in a convex curved surface 36b having a circular arc shape with a predetermined center 37.

The forward side portion (the right side of the

drawing) of the extension section 36 is formed in a concave curved surface 36c having a gentle slope. The front end 36d of the concave curved surface 36c adjoins with a rising slope surface 36f that stretches with a rising inclination in the oblique upward direction from the lower-arm-side supporting shaft section 31 toward the forward side. The adjoining position is at a position located further out toward the forward side than the lower-arm-side supporting shaft section 31.

The concave curved surface 36c of the extension section 36 is formed in a curved surface shape on the upper end side of the second member 80 to which the lower- arm-side joint section 3 is attached; that is, the concave curved surface 36c is formed in a curved surface so as to correspond to the extension of the lower arm' s swelled portion.

[0065]

As illustrated in Fig. 19C, an upper end surface 36a of the extension section 36 has its center 26 which is the same as the center of the outer periphery 22a of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22, and forms a curved surface having a diameter slightly larger than that of the outer periphery 22a. With such a configuration, even when the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 (see the broken lines in Fig. 19C) is rotated in a state in which the

upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 combines with the extension section 36 so as to be displaced a predetermined distance relative to each other in the oblique upward direction toward the backward side, the curved surface of the upper end surface 3βa of the extension section 36 does not collide with the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22.

The lower-arm-side supporting shaft section 31 is configured such that the center axis 80a of the lower-arm- side shaft section 31 is disposed at θ 3 in the transversal direction (in the present embodiment, toward the left side of the drawing) from the center axis 80b of the extension section 36 (see Fig. 19B) .

[0066]

The lower-arm-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are plate-like members that extend upward from the upper end surface 36a of the extension section 36 in parallel to each other with a distance therebetween corresponding to the thickness Dl of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 The lower-arm-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are similar in their shapes and have the same thicknesses D3.

The backward side portions of the lower-arm-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are formed, respectively, as curved surfaces 32a and 33a that are continuous with the convex curved surface 36b of the extension section 36 so as to have a circular arc shape with the same center 37 as

the concave curved surface 36c.

The lower end portions of the lower-arm-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are formed in a circular arc shape with its center concentric to the center 26 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22, and are integrally connected to the upper end surface 36a of the extension section 36.

[0067]

The upper end portions of the lower-arm-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are formed, respectively, as concave curvature sections 32c and 33c that can make abutting contact with the cylinder section 27 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 and a cylinder section 501 of the cover section 5 described later. Also, convex curvature sections 32d and 33d are provided on the forward sides of the concave curvature sections 32c and 33c, and their centers are at the rotation center 37 of the lower- arm-side joint section 3. In this manner, the upper end portions of the lower-arm-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are bent in an approximately S shape.

Lower-arm-side shafts 301 and 302 are formed in the center 37 of the curved surfaces 32a and 33a of the lower- arm-side connecting plates 32 and 33 and the convex curved surface 36b of the extension section 36. The shafts 301 and 302 support the rotation of the lower-arm-side joint

section 3. The lower-arm-side shafts 301 and 302 have the same center axis 37 and serve as a rotation center of the lower-arm-side joint section 3.

The positional relation between the extension section 36 and the lower-arm-side connecting plates 32 and 33 are opposite in the forward-backward direction to that of the first embodiment. This is because the leg section's joint rotates in the direction for backward bending while the arm section's joint rotates in the direction for forward bending. Therefore, the rotation center of the lower-arm-side connecting plates 32 and 33 is disposed on the forward side.

In the present embodiment, the joint section 1 is configured such that the backward bending of the joint section 1 is prevented and the rotation for the forward bending of the upper arm section is restricted.

[0068]

In the present embodiment, mechanisms of the pair of connecting sections are configured as follows (see Figs. 23 and 24) .

The one-side shaft mechanism includes a screw hole 501a formed in the cylinder section 501 so as to protrude from the inner surface of the one-side cover section 5; and a screw S passing through the shaft hole 29 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 so as to be inserted

into the screw hole 501a.

The one-side angle restricting mechanism includes a pin 503 that protrudes out from the inner surface side of the one-side cover section 5; and a pin hole 603 formed of a the-other-side cover section 6 so as to be fitted to the pin 52 passing through the circumferential groove 25 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22.

The the-other-side shaft mechanism includes a lower- arm-side shaft 301 that protrudes out from the lower-arm- side connecting plate 32; a shaft hole 502 that is formed in the one-side cover section 5 so as to be fitted to the lower-arm-side shaft 301; a lower-arm-side shaft 302 that protrudes out from the lower-arm-side connecting plate 33; and a shaft hole 602 that is formed in the one-side cover section 5 so as to be fitted to the lower-arm-side shaft 302. In this manner, the the-other-side shaft mechanism is constructed in such a manner that the shaft mechanism is divided by the distance between the pair of lower-arm- side connecting plates 32 and 33 so as to be disposed coaxially.

The the-other-side angle restricting mechanism includes the concave curved surface 32c on the upper end side of the lower-arm-side connecting plate 32; a cylinder section 501 that is disposed in the one-side cover section 5 and makes abutting contact with the concave curved

surface 32c so as to restrict the rotation of the lower- arm-side connecting plate 32; the concave curved surface 33c on the upper end side of the lower-arm-side connecting plate 33; and a cylinder section 27 that is disposed in the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 and makes abutting contact with the concave curved surface 33c so as to restrict the rotation of the lower-arm-side connecting plate 33.

The curvature section includes the curvature section includes an outer surface 55 of the one-side cover section 5; and an outer surface 65 of the the-other-side cover section 6.

[0069]

Hereinafter, the cover section 5 and the cover section 6 will be described to which are disposed constituent components of the above-mentioned mechanisms.

The outer diameter shapes of the one-side cover section 5 and the the-other-side cover section 6 are substantially the same as those of the one-side cover section 5 and the the-other-side cover section 6 according to the first embodiment. The only difference is that the shapes are opposite to each other in the forward-backward direction; and that in the first embodiment, the circular arc section 64b of the the-other-side cover section 6 has a protruding length of Dl, while in the present embodiment,

the circular arc section 64b and a circular arc section 54b of the one-side cover section have a protruding length half of Dl. Therefore, descriptions on the outer diameter shapes of the one-side cover section 5 and the the-other- side cover section 6 according to the second embodiment will be omitted.

[0070]

On the inner surface side of the one-side cover section 5, there are formed the cylinder section 501 that is inserted into the shaft hole 29 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 so as to enable rotation of the upper- arm-side connecting plate 22 at the time of assembling the joint section 1, and constitutes the shaft of the one-side shaft mechanism; the pin 503 that is inserted into the circumferential groove 25 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22; and the shaft hole 502 that is fitted to the lower-arm-side shaft 301 of the lower-arm-side connecting plate 32.

Specifically, the cylinder section 501 is disposed at the center of the semi-circular section 54a so as to have the same diameter as that of the cylinder section 27 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22. The length of the cylinder section 501 is set such that the front end of the cylinder section 501 reach the edge section 54 of the one-side cover section 5.

The pin 503 is disposed at the same position as that of the first embodiment. The length of the pin 503 is set larger than the thickness of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22.

The shaft hole 502 is disposed at the same position as that of the first embodiment. The shaft hole 502 extends from the notch section of the cover section 5 so as to have a depth equal to the thickness of the upper- arm-side connecting plate 22.

In the present embodiment, the upper-arm-side shaft mechanism and the lower-arm-side shaft mechanism are parallel to and displaced from each other by the distance between the screw hole 501a of the cover section 5 and the shaft hole 502 fitted to the lower-arm-side shaft 501. In this case, the lower-arm-side shaft mechanism is preferably set so as to be included in the range of the semi-circular section 54a. With such a configuration, the lower arm 80 can rotate about the center of the semicircular section 54a within the range thereof. Accordingly, the lower arm 80 can perform a rotation operation similar to that of the real human' s lower arm. When it is desired to preferentially set the bending angle of the lower arm 80, the distance needs not be set in the above mentioned manner, but may be set in such a manner that the lower-arm-side shaft mechanism is outside the

range of the semi-circular section 54a.

[0071]

On the inner surface side of the the-other-side cover section 6, there are formed the pin hole 603 that is fitted to the pin 503 at the time of assembling the joint section 1; the shaft hole 602 that is fitted to the lower- arm-side shaft 302 of the lower-arm-side connecting plate 33; and the pin hole 601 that is fitted to the pin 92 of a pressing member 9 described later.

Specifically, the pin hole 603 is disposed at the same position as that of the first embodiment and has a depth sufficient for being fitted to the front end of the pin 503.

The shaft hole 602 is disposed at the same position as that of the first embodiment. The shaft hole 502 extends from the notch section of the one-side cover section 5 so as to have a depth equal to the thickness of the lower-arm-side connecting plate 32.

The pin hole 601 is fitted to the pin 92 so as to enable positioning of the the-other-side cover section 6.

The pressing member 9 is a thin plate made of a resin having good slip properties. The pressing member 9 includes a hole 91 to which the screw S can be inserted; and the pin 92 that is fitted to the pin hole 601 of the the-other-side cover section 6.

The pressing member 9 is disposed along the side surface of the lower-arm-side connecting plate 33 at the time of assembling the joint section 1 and is fastened by the screw S.

[0072]

When assembling the joint section 1, the upper-arm- side connecting plate 22 of the upper-arm-side joint section 2 is first inserted between the lower-arm-side connecting plate 32 and the lower-arm-side connecting plate 33 of the lower-arm-side joint section 3 until the outer peripheral surface 22a of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 reaches the upper surface 3βa of the extension section 36, whereby the one-side cover section 5 is combined thereto. At this time, the lower-arm-side shaft 301 of the lower-arm-side connecting plate 32 is fitted to the shaft hole 502 of the one-side cover section 1; and the front end of the pin 503 is protruded out from the circumferential groove 25 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22.

Next, the shaft hole 27 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 is aligned to the hole 91 of the pressing member 9, the screw S is inserted into the hole 91 and the shaft hole 27; and the screw is inserted into the screw hole 501a of the one-side cover section 5.

[0073]

Finally, the the-other-side cover section 6 is combined thereto. At this time, the front end of the pin 503 is fitted to the pin hole 603 of the the-other-side cover section 6; and the lower-arm-side shaft 302 of the lower-arm-side connecting plate 33 is fitted to the shaft hole 602 of the the-other-side cover section 6. In addition, the pin 92 of the pressing member 9 is fitted to the pin hole 601 of the the-other-side cover section 6.

Mechanisms of the joint section 1 assembled in the above manner are covered with the outer surfaces 55 and 56 having a smooth, curvature shape of the cover sections 5 and 6. In this way, the joint section 1 is formed to have an exterior shape resembling a cocoon shape.

When the joint section 1 is combined to the ends of the upper arm 70 and the lower arm 80, as illustrated in Figs. IA, 2B, and 16, the joint section 1 is formed to have such an exterior shape that the joint section 1 is integrally incorporated into the ends of the upper arm 70 and the lower arm 80. Accordingly, the joint section 1 can have a shape more resembling the real human's joint section.

[0074]

Next, the detailed operation of the joint section 1 when the upper-arm-side joint section 2 and the lower-arm- side joint section 3 are assembled thereto will be

described with reference to Figs. 25 to 27. For the convenience of explanation, in the drawings, the cover section 6 and the pressing member 9 are detached therefrom; and the upper arm 70 and the lower arm 80 are indicated by the one-dotted lines. Also, the operation of the upper-arm-side joint section 2 and the lower-arm-side joint section 3 is illustrated in a state in which the cover section 5 is fixed thereto.

[0075]

In the forward bending state (extension state) of the upper arm 70 and the lower arm 8, that is, in the maximum forward bending state of the joint section 1, as illustrated in Fig. 25, the pin 503 makes abutting contact with the other end 25b of the circumferential groove 25 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 so as to restrict the rotation for the backward bending of the upper-arm- side joint section 2. Meanwhile, the concave curvature section 32c of the lower-arm-side connecting plate 32 makes abutting contact with the cylinder section 501 of the one-side cover section 5 and the concave ^• curvature section 33c of the lower-arm-side connecting plate 33 makes abutting contact with the cylinder section 27 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22, thereby restricting the rotation for the backward bending of the lower-arm- side joint section 3. With such a configuration, the

backward bending of the upper arm 70 and the lower arm 80 is restricted. At this time, since the lower end 702 on the backward side of the upper arm 70 moves toward the upper end 802 on the backward side of the lower arm 8, the joint section 1 is made invisible by the upper arm 70 and the lower arm 80.

[0076]

Next, as illustrated in Fig. 26, in a state in which only the upper arm 70 performs a forward bending (see the right directional arrow in the drawing) , the upper-arm- side connecting plate 22 rotates about the center 26 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 in the direction for the forward bending. In the maximum forward bending state, the pin 503 makes abutting contact with the one end 25a of the circumferential groove 25 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22 so as to restrict the rotation for the forward bending of the upper-arm-side joint section 2. Meanwhile, the concave curvature section 32c of the lower- arm-side connecting plate 32 makes abutting contact with the cylinder section 501 of the one-side cover section 5 and the concave curvature section 33c of the lower-arm- side connecting plate 33 makes abutting contact with the cylinder section 27 of the upper-arm-side connecting plate 22, thereby restricting the rotation for the forward bending of the lower-arm-side joint section 3.

At this time, the lower end 702 on the backward side of the upper arm 70 is displaced a predetermined distance from the upper end 802 of the backward side of the lower arm 80 corresponding to the forward bending of the upper arm 70. However, since the joint section 1 is covered with the cover section 5 and the cover section 6, mechanisms of the joint section 1 is not exposed to the outside. Thus, the beauty is maintained.

[0077]

Next, as illustrated in Fig. 27, in a state in which both the upper arm 70 and the lower arm 80 perform forward bending (see the right directional arrow in the drawing) , the lower-arm-side connecting plate 22 rotates in the direction for the forward bending about the axial center of the lower-arm-side shaft 301 and the lower-arm-side shaft 302 as the rotation center 37. At this time, since the circular arc section 54b of the cover section 5 and the circular arc section 64b of the cover section 6 are formed so as to be concentric to the lower-arm-side shaft 301 and the lower-arm-side shaft 302, in the course of the rotation for the forward bending of the lower arm 80, the portions of the circular arc sections 54b and 64b being exposed to the outside do not change their distances relative to the lower-arm-side shafts 301 and 302. Therefore, the circular arc section 54b of the cover

section 5 and the circular arc section 64b of the cover section 6- always form a single body along with the upper end 802 of the lower arm 80.

In the maximum forward bending state, the front side 703 of the upper arm 70 having the upper-arm-side joint section 2 attached thereto makes abutting contact with the rear section 803 of the lower arm 80 having the lower-arm- side joint section 3 attached thereto. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent further forward bending.

At this time, the lower end 702 on the backward side of the upper arm 70 is greatly displaced from the upper end 802 on the backward side of the lower arm 80. However, since the joint section 1 is covered with the outer surface 55 of the cover section 5 and the outer surface 65 of the cover section 6, mechanisms of the joint section 1 is not exposed to the outside. With such a configuration, the joint section 1 can form a single body along with the upper arm 70 and the lower arm 80 from the extension state to the bending state, and it is thus possible to maintain the beauty of the doll.

[0078]

The center axis 70a of the upper-arm-side supporting shaft section 21 of the upper-arm-side joint section 2 is disposed at θ 3 in the transversal direction (toward the right side of Fig. 28) from the center axis 70b of the

upper-arm-side connecting plate 22; and the center axis 80a of the lower-arm-side supporting shaft section 31 is disposed at θ 3 in the transversal direction (toward the left side of Fig. 28) from the center axis 80b of the extension section 36. Accordingly, when the joint section is incorporated into the upper arm 70 and the lower arm 80, the lower arm 80 is displaced a distance (see Dβ in the drawing) from the upper arm 70. With such a configuration, it is possible to accomplish the doll's arm section more closer to the shape of the real human' s arm section in which the lower arm is further protruded out than the upper arm.

[0079]

Although in the first embodiment, the case in which the joint section 1 is applied to the doll's leg section is described as an example; and in the second embodiment, the case in which the joint section 1 is applied to the doll's arm section is described as an example; the invention is not limited to this. The joint section 1 of the first embodiment may be applied to the doll's arm section; and the joint section 1 of the second embodiment may be applied to the doll's leg section. The joint section 1 can be applied to other joint structures of any rod-shaped members in addition to the doll's leg section or arm section, as long as the members are formed in a rod

shape and are provided to the doll.

Advantage of the Invention [0080]

According to the invention, it is possible to provide a joint section having a large maximum bending angle while maintaining the beauty thereof.