Deforming Playing Discs for Strategic Pattern Games
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing game apparatuses do not allow for simultaneous competitive gameplay and intellectual strategy with alternating turns, lacking a target grid for impact by a toy projectile that enables strategic pattern building with ejecting game pieces during play.
Innovation Solution
A game apparatus featuring a target grid with deformable discs and a foldable loading tray, where players use soft foam dart launchers to shoot discs into channels, allowing for strategic pattern building and disc ejection during gameplay, with the loading tray randomly loaded to conceal disc colors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional rigid playing pieces are used in pattern building games, then the game structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the game cannot provide simultaneous competitive gameplay with projectile impact features
Solution Approach 1:
The playing disc transitions from a rigid state to a deformable state through material selection (foam core with plastic skin), enabling the disc to be ejected by projectile impact while maintaining structural integrity. This parameter change in material properties allows the disc to serve dual purposes: as a stable game piece during play and as an ejectable target when struck.
2Loss of information
If the loading tray is fixed and visible, then the structure is simple, but players can see disc colors and the game lacks strategic randomness
Solution Approach 1:
The loading tray is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be positioned to conceal or reveal disc colors as needed. This dynamic positioning capability provides strategic randomness during gameplay while maintaining simple construction when the tray is in its concealed position.
3Reliability
If conventional non-deformable playing pieces are used, then manufacturing precision requirements are low, but the pieces cannot be ejected from the target grid when impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The playing disc is constructed as a composite structure with a foam core surrounded by a plastic skin, combining the deformability of foam with the structural integrity of plastic. This composite construction enables reliable ejection upon impact while maintaining manufacturability through standard molding and assembly processes.
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 game apparatus provides a fun, robust, and cost-effective way to play a strategic pattern-building game, allowing for competitive and intellectual gameplay with simultaneous turns, enhancing entertainment value and ease of operation.
Implementation Method 1
the playing disc being deformable with the game apparatus having an upper loading tray and a lower target grid for receiving the playing discs for ejecting game pieces during game play when impacted by the projectile
Data Source
AI summary
A strategic pattern building game apparatus having a target grid and a rotatable loading tray movable between an elevated position above and aligned with the target grid during play and a folded position adjoining the target grid for transport and/or storage. The game apparatus includes a plurality of playing discs which are placed in channels in the target grid and in the loading tray, and projectile launchers used by players to knock out playing discs until one player achieves four of his/her discs in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line. The discs are deformable and received at the target grid for being ejected during game play when impacted by the projectile.