Toy Building Element With Biconcave Transition For Angled Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building blocks for children lack flexibility and creativity in forming structures with angles less than 90 degrees without gaps or holes, limiting design options and stability.
Innovation Solution
A component system featuring biconcave transition areas with circular discs that fit harmoniously, allowing for a wide range of angles from 60° to 300° without the need for special corner blocks, and a peg and hole system for stability, enabling easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional building blocks are used, then structures can be built with basic geometric shapes, but flexibility in forming angles less than 90 degrees is limited and gaps or holes appear in the wall surface
Solution Approach 1:
The building element incorporates circular disc areas with biconcave transition zones having specific radii of curvature. The transition area's radius of curvature matches the circular disc area radius, enabling seamless angular connections. This curvature design allows blocks to fit together at various angles (60° to 300°) without gaps or holes in the wall surface.
2Stability of the object's composition
If components are designed for stable connection, then structures are held together firmly, but movability and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The building element design enables structures to be both stable and movable. The peg and hole system provides firm connection, while the biconcave transition areas with matching radii allow components to be assembled and disassembled easily. Children can build stable structures that remain adjustable and movable relative to each other.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise geometric manufacturing is required, then assembly accuracy is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention specifies precise radius parameters for the circular disc areas and biconcave transition zones, where the transition area's radius of curvature equals the circular disc area radius. This parameter relationship enables seamless fitting and easy assembly while maintaining manufacturability through standardized geometric definitions.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The invention relates to a building element, in particular a toy building element, having a first region (1) which is formed by a circular disc having a first radius (r) and a first centre point (M1), and a second region (2) which is formed by a circular disc having the first radius (r) and a second centre point (M2). The centre points have a spacing of twice the first radius (r). The building element further has a biconcave transition region (4) which extends on both sides of the line connecting the centre points and which has a first boundary line (30) and a second boundary line (31), wherein the mid-perpendicular of the path connecting the centre points intersects the first boundary line (30) at a first point (P1) and the second boundary line (31) at a second point (P2). The radius of the osculating circle in each case osculating the biconcave transition region (4) from outside at the first point (P1) and at the second point (P2) is in each case equal to the first radius (r). The first region (1) and the second region (2) additionally have in each case a central peg (13, 13') on an upper side (11), which peg extends perpendicularly to the respective circular disc, and in each case a central cutout (14, 14') on an underside (12).