Collapsible Projectile Game Piece for Beverage Insulation and Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage insulators are often large and inflexible, unable to accommodate multiple container sizes without modification, limiting their portability and versatility, and traditional party games using cups can lead to unsanitary conditions and require additional equipment.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible beverage insulator with expandable and collapsible zones that can fit various container sizes and serve as a game piece, allowing for games that utilize the insulator's collapse to determine points and integrate with scoreboards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional beverage insulators are made of rigid metal, then they provide good insulation, but they become large and cannot be reduced to a smaller size
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic collapsible structure that can change volume. The sidewalls are designed to collapse inward toward the central axis, allowing the insulator to be compressed to a fraction of its original volume for portability while maintaining full size for use.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator employs flexible sidewalls with hinge connections that allow controlled collapsing motion. These thin-walled structures maintain insulation properties when expanded while enabling compact storage when collapsed, resolving the contradiction between insulation performance and portability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If beverage insulators are made large to accommodate various container sizes, then they can fit different beverages, but they cannot be reduced to a smaller size for storage
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible mechanism allows the insulator to dynamically adjust its volume. When in use, it expands to accommodate various beverage container sizes; when not in use, it collapses to a compact form for easy storage in bags or vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator serves multiple functions: it provides insulation for beverages of various sizes, acts as a playing card case when collapsed, and can be stored compactly. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between versatility and storage efficiency.
3Strength
If the projectile opening is made rigid, then it maintains structural integrity, but it cannot form a fluid-sealed interface around the projectile
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile opening incorporates a flexible lip that can deform elastically to conform to the projectile surface, creating a fluid-tight seal. The flexibility is localized to the sealing region while the overall structure maintains sufficient strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the opening are selected to exhibit elastic deformation characteristics, allowing the opening to change shape dynamically during projectile insertion and removal while maintaining structural integrity during normal use.
4Volume of moving object
If the collapsible zones are made highly collapsible, then they reduce volume effectively, but they may compromise the insulation performance
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible zones use thin-walled structures that maintain insulation properties when expanded but allow significant volume reduction when collapsed. The wall thickness is optimized to provide adequate thermal insulation in the expanded state while enabling effective collapsing.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible zones are designed to transition between expanded and collapsed states dynamically. When expanded for beverage insulation, they provide adequate thermal protection; when collapsed for storage, they minimize volume while the insulation requirement is temporarily suspended.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The collapsible insulator provides versatile insulation and gameplay, reducing equipment needs and promoting hygiene by using a single item for both beverage containment and game play, with modular connectivity for multiple insulators.
Implementation Method 1
The sidewall including at least one collapsible zone being moveable between a collapsed state and an expanded state, where movement of the at least one collapsible zone from the expanded state to the collapsed state decreases a volume of the interior volume.
Implementation Method 2
The projectile opening being elastically deformable to facilitate receiving the projectile and forming a substantially fluid-sealed interface around the projectile.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible game piece and methods of using the same are disclosed. The collapsible game piece can have one or more collapsible zones, each of which can move between a collapsed state and an expanded state, optionally including partially collapsed states in-between. The collapsible game piece can have a projectile end with a projectile opening sized to receive a projectile (e.g., a ping pong ball). The collapsible game piece can have a nose end and optionally a nose piece. The collapsible game piece can optionally include a tail and fins. When thrown or tossed, the collapsible game piece can fly until it lands, potentially collapsing one or more of the collapsible zones, which results in ejection of the projectile from the projectile opening. Various games can be played using the collapsible game piece.