Cylindrical Prize Modification for Claw Arcade Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Claw-type arcade games are unable to capture smooth, cylindrical objects such as beverage containers due to the mechanical claw's limited grip strength and design, which prevents successful retrieval of prizes like sodas and energy drinks.

Innovation Solution

A modification to cylindrical beverage containers, featuring a disk, dome, plate, or similar shape affixed to the upper surface, allowing the claw mechanism to grasp and retain the entire prize using a screw engagement, press-fit, adhesive, or other releasable connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a mechanical claw is used to capture prizes, then the claw can grasp objects with limited grip strength, but it cannot successfully capture smooth cylindrical objects like beverage containers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to capture different prize typesVSAvoidcapture success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The beverage container is divided into two functional parts: the original cylindrical body and an added attachment (disk, dome, or plate) on the top surface. This segmentation allows the claw to grasp the attachment while the cylindrical body remains intact for beverage storage, resolving the contradiction between maintaining cylindrical shape and enabling reliable capture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediary attachment structure is introduced between the claw and the beverage container. This attachment serves as a mediator that the claw can reliably grasp, while also being connected to the cylindrical container. The intermediary resolves the incompatibility between the claw's gripping mechanism and the smooth cylindrical surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an attachment is added to the beverage container to enable claw capture, then capture reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapture success rateVSAvoidprize structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of modifying the entire beverage container, only the top surface receives a localized attachment (disk, dome, or plate). This local modification approach improves capture reliability at the gripping point while minimizing overall structural complexity and maintaining the simplicity of the cylindrical container body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured and attached to the beverage container. Given that beverage containers are typically single-use, the attachment serves its purpose for one capture event without requiring complex or durable construction, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS12268972B1Claw arcade game with modified prize system

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 STEPHEN P SHOEMAKER TRUST

AI summary

A claw crane game is disclosed with a modification of a cylindrical prize such as a beverage container used for energy drinks and the like, to facilitate use with a crane arcade game. The modification can be a disk, dome, plate, or similar shape that affixes the upper surface of the cylinder, enabling a claw mechanism to grasp and retain the entire prize. The attachment can be in the form of a screw engagement, press-fit, adhesive, or other releasable connection that allows prizes to be captured and consumed with little inconvenience.