Modified Boule Game With Triangular Protuberance Ball

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ball and boule games require substantial investments in equipment and specialized facilities, limiting their accessibility and playability across various locations and skill levels, and often involve complex rules and large, permanent courts.

Innovation Solution

A modified boule game featuring a ball with a triangular pattern of truncated pyramidal protuberances and a track system with irregular shapes and scoring zones, allowing players to manipulate balls along trajectories with hazards, enabling play in various locations with minimal setup and rules, and accommodating different skill levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional ball or boule games are played, then players can enjoy throwing and rolling balls towards a target, but substantial investments in specialized facilities and equipment are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayability across various locationsVSAvoidspecialized facilities and equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The game is divided into modular components: a portable track that can be set up in various locations, standardised balls with consistent specifications, and simple scoring zones that require minimal infrastructure. This segmentation allows the game to be played without substantial facility investments while maintaining core gameplay elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If traditional bowling or bocce games are played, then players can compete for skill, but complicated rules and large permanent courts are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of rules and setupVSAvoidpermanent courts and equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex elements of traditional games (permanent courts, complicated rules about striking and positioning) are extracted and replaced with simplified components: a portable track with predetermined scoring zones, standardised balls, and straightforward scoring based on ball placement within zones. This reduces both rule complexity and infrastructure requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If games require heavy or sharp objects to be thrown, then players can achieve competitive skill levels, but safety concerns arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety of gameplayVSAvoidskill development and competition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The ball specifications are carefully controlled with parameters such as weight (50-150 grams), diameter (4-6 cm), and material composition designed to ensure safety while maintaining competitive playability. These parameter changes allow skill development without the hazards of heavy or sharp objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If traditional games are played, then players can enjoy the sport, but equipment and facility costs limit accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to players of different skill levelsVSAvoidcost of equipment and facilities

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The game uses inexpensive, easily manufactured components: simple tracks that can be made from common materials, standardised balls that can be mass-produced, and portable scoring zones. These cheap components make the game accessible to players of all skill levels without requiring substantial capital investment in facilities or equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS11612796B2Modified boule based game

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 GAME SON LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to a new and inventive combination game combining aspects of ball and/or bowling games. The invention further relates to a game set comprising all elements necessary to perform the game and to a method of playing a combined game.