Battle Toy Position Transition via Mechanical Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collectable battling toys, such as Beyblade and Bakugan, do not provide a scenario where the final winner remains unknown until the outcome is known, with magnets in these toys losing sensitivity over time, reducing their functionality.
Innovation Solution
An article that is moveable between a first and second position, retained in the first position by retaining means until a predetermined condition is met, where a formation on the article is moved from a first to a second position to release the retaining means and allow movement to the second position, utilizing a combination of formations and biasing means, including magnets for alignment and directional forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnets are used to activate articles in battling toys, then the articles can be activated to move between positions, but magnets lose sensitivity over time due to dropping and jolting
Solution Approach 1:
A rigid formation acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the magnets and the retaining means. When two articles collide, the rigid formation transmits the impact force directly to the retaining means, bypassing the need for magnet sensitivity. This mechanical intermediary ensures reliable activation even when magnets have lost sensitivity over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the magnetic activation system with a mechanical formation-based system. Instead of relying on magnetic fields to trigger the release mechanism, the rigid formation provides a mechanical trigger that directly engages the retaining means upon collision, ensuring consistent functionality regardless of magnet degradation.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If magnets are used to determine battle outcomes, then the winner can be determined, but the outcome becomes predictable as magnets lose sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid formation serves as a mechanical intermediary that translates physical collision into reliable activation of the retaining means. This ensures that the battle outcome is determined by the actual mechanical interaction and collision dynamics rather than by magnetic field strength, making each battle unpredictable and fair.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the collision itself as the activation trigger. The impact of one article on another directly activates the retaining means through the rigid formation, making the system self-activating based on the battle dynamics rather than requiring external magnetic triggering that could become predictable.
3Stability of the object's composition
If retaining means hold articles in first position, then articles remain stable, but articles cannot transition to second position without predetermined condition
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid formation acts as a mechanical intermediary that bridges the stable retained position and the active second position. Upon collision, it transmits force to release the retaining means, enabling smooth transition between positions while maintaining stability during the retained state.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between two states: a stable retained state where the retaining means holds the article in the first position, and an active state where the article moves to the second position. The rigid formation enables this dynamic transition through mechanical force transmission upon collision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures that the outcome of battles is not predetermined, maintaining functionality over time by using formations and biasing means to reliably transition between positions without relying solely on magnet sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
one of the two will be 'activated' to move to the second position. In the scenarios disclosed in the Applicant's co-pending application, the predetermined condition is met when a first magnet on the first article is activated by a second magnet on the second article
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a combination of formations and biasing means, including magnets for alignment and directional forces
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an article being moveable between a first position and a second position and biased to the second position. The article is retained in the first position by retaining means until a predetermined condition is met, wherein when that predetermined condition is met, biasing means exert a biasing force to move the article from the first position to the second position. The predetermined condition is met when at least one formation, located on at least one face of the article, is moved from a first position to a second position, thereby releasing the retaining means and permitting movement of the article from the first position to the second position. Also provided is a group of at least two articles provided to interact with one another, with one article meeting the predetermined condition for moving the other from the first position to the second position.