Bowl-Shaped Toy Element With Pivotable Hinge Connections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toy construction elements lack versatility in forming varied structures and configurations, limiting play options and reusability.
Innovation Solution
The toy construction element features a bowl-shaped shell with a peripheral rim, stand surface, and two types of protruding connecting parts forming a releasable and pivotable hinge connection, allowing arbitrary interconnection to create continuous rows or capsules, with a detachable capsule divider for additional configuration options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If toy construction elements use simple connecting parts, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability or versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting part is designed with dual functionality: it can form both fixed rigid connections and pivotable hinge connections depending on how the shell parts are assembled. The same connecting part structure serves multiple purposes, increasing versatility without requiring multiple different connecting part designs, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while improving adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting part incorporates a pivotable hinge connection that allows dynamic adjustment between different angular positions. This enables the construction elements to be assembled into various configurations (capsules, continuous rows, different orientations) using the same connecting parts, thereby enhancing adaptability while keeping the manufacturing process simple
2Stability of the object's composition
If toy construction elements use fixed rigid connections, then stability of the object's composition is improved, but adaptability or versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge connection allows the structure to be stable when assembled in intended configurations (capsules with peripheral rim surfaces mutually facing, or continuous rows) while still permitting easy disassembly and reconfiguration. The pivotable feature provides stability during play use but enables adaptability when users deconstruct and rebuild structures
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting part is segmented into components that allow relative movement between shell parts while maintaining connection. This segmentation enables the structure to transition between stable assembled states and disassembled states, providing both stability during use and adaptability for reconfiguration
3Device complexity
If toy construction elements are designed for single configuration, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability or versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The same shell part design with integrated connecting parts can be used to create multiple different structures: closed capsules, open continuous rows, various orientations, and different spatial configurations. This universal design approach increases adaptability without requiring multiple specialized part designs, thus avoiding increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting parts are positioned asymmetrically on the shell parts (first type at one location, second type at another location) to enable different assembly configurations. This asymmetric positioning allows the same parts to form various structures depending on how they are interconnected, enhancing adaptability while maintaining simple part geometry
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A bowl shaped toy construction element where two such elements can be assembled via releasable and pivotable hinge connections with a hinge axis, and where the hinge axes defined by the first and the second type of protruding connecting parts are mutually parallel and defining a first plane, and where the bowl shaped elements has a stand surface extending in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane.