Building Toy Set with Bulb-Shaped Connector Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern building toys are often expensive and limited in size, failing to spark creativity and expand engineering knowledge, while also lacking reusable components and adhesive-free connections, which limits children's imagination and skill development.
Innovation Solution
A building toy set comprising elongate stick members with rounded ends and a variety of connector members, including two-sided parallel, straight, 90-degree, T-joint, eight-sided, and bulb-shaped connectors, allowing for flexible and adhesive-free construction of various structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional building toys are used, then children can construct structures, but the toys are expensive and limited in size, restricting creativity and imagination
Solution Approach 1:
The building toy set is divided into modular components including connector members with multiple slots and elongate stick members that can be independently combined. This segmentation allows children to create diverse structures of varying sizes and complexities, expanding creative possibilities without requiring a single large expensive set
Solution Approach 2:
The connector members are designed with multiple slots that can accommodate different types of stick members in various configurations. This multi-functionality allows the same set of components to create numerous different structures, maximizing the versatility and imaginative potential of the toy set
2Reliability
If adhesive-based construction methods are used, then structures can be firmly assembled, but the process becomes complex and non-reusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces adhesive-based chemical bonding with a mechanical connection system. Connector members feature slots that physically receive and hold stick members through friction and geometric interlocking, eliminating the need for adhesives while maintaining structural stability and enabling easy disassembly and reuse
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical connection system is designed to be self-assembling through simple insertion of stick members into connector slots. The friction fit and geometric design provide automatic stabilization without requiring additional bonding agents or complex assembly procedures, making the system both reliable and simple to use
3Ease of manufacture
If limited building toys are purchased, then cost is reduced, but the toys fail to spark creativity and expand engineering knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent varies key parameters of the components including multiple slot orientations (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°), different connector types (corner, T-joint, cross), and various stick member dimensions. These parameter variations enable a relatively simple and cost-effective toy set to provide diverse building possibilities that expand engineering knowledge and creativity without requiring expensive specialized components
Data Source
AI summary
A building toy set is disclosed herein. The building toy set may include a plurality of elongate stick members, at least one of the plurality of elongate stick members having at least one rounded end; and a plurality of connector members, at least one of the plurality of connector members being in the form of a two-sided parallel connector having a body portion defining two slots, each of the two slots being disposed adjacent to, and extending parallel to one another. At least one of the plurality of connector members may include a body portion defining a bulb-shaped slot bounded by a straight wall portion and at least one curved wall portion, the at least one curved wall portion enabling one of the plurality of elongate stick members to be disposed at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the body portion of the connector member.