Ball Toss Game Silo with Restriction Member for Indoor Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ball toss games require large outdoor spaces, are not adaptable for indoor play, and do not award points for the final ball in a top position, limiting their versatility and gameplay experience.
Innovation Solution
A ball toss game design featuring two uniquely colored or patterned sets of balls and silos with a top funnel, narrow bottom base, and a tube with a restriction member, allowing multiple players to take turns tossing balls into silos, forming a stacked arrangement where points are awarded to the team with the final ball in the top position, enabling both indoor and outdoor play.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional ball toss games are designed for outdoor play with large spacing, then players have enough space to throw and retrieve balls, but the game cannot be played indoors and requires large amounts of space
Solution Approach 1:
The silo structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the target for ball tossing and the containment structure for stacked ball arrangement. The same silo structure enables both indoor and outdoor play by providing a self-contained playing mechanism that doesn't require large external space. The funnel-shaped opening and tube combination creates a versatile target that works in various playing environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from horizontal spacing requirements to vertical stacking arrangement. Instead of requiring large horizontal distance between targets, the balls are stacked vertically within the silo tube, allowing the game to be played in compact indoor spaces while maintaining the throwing distance between players.
2Productivity
If balls are tossed into traditional targets with openings, then balls can be retrieved, but points are not awarded for final ball position and gameplay is less strategic
Solution Approach 1:
Balls are nested vertically within the silo tube, forming a stacked arrangement where each ball rests on the previous one. This nested structure allows multiple balls to be contained within the same vertical space, creating a visual display of progress and enabling the final ball position to be clearly identified for scoring purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The restriction member is positioned in advance at the bottom of the tube to prevent balls from falling out during play. This preliminary action ensures balls remain stacked in position throughout the game, allowing players to strategically aim for the top position without worrying about balls dislodging, thereby enabling the scoring mechanism to function properly.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple balls are tossed into the same target, then more players can participate, but balls may scatter or fall out making retrieval difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The silo structure uses an asymmetric funnel shape with a wide opening at the top that gradually narrows toward the bottom. This asymmetric geometry guides multiple balls into a single vertical stacking path, preventing them from scattering in different directions. The narrowing tube confines the balls to a compact vertical arrangement, making retrieval simple by accessing the bottom of the silo.
Solution Approach 2:
The restriction member acts as an intermediary element at the bottom of the tube that temporarily holds the stacked balls in place during play. This intermediary structure prevents balls from falling out while allowing players to retrieve them by simply removing the restriction member after the game, greatly simplifying the retrieval process compared to traditional open targets.
Data Source
AI summary
A ball toss game and method of playing enables multiple players that form two teams to take turns tossing two sets of uniquely colored or patterned balls into two silos positioned at a predetermined distance from each other, and then award points for a final ball thrown into a top position of the silo. Two sets of balls having unique color or patterns are tossed into the receiving opening of silo. As balls are tossed into the silos, a stacked arrangement forms until final ball is tossed into a top position of stacked arrangement. Points are awarded to the team having the final ball in the top position. The silos have a top funnel forming a receiving opening, a bottom base, and a tube extending between top funnel and bottom base. A restriction member block and releases the balls from falling into the bottom base to be retrieved.