Foldable Puppet Theater With Integrated Cover

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable puppet theaters are bulky, complex, and lack a container for storage and transport, making them difficult to carry and protect during movement.

Innovation Solution

A compact, foldable puppet theater design featuring hinged side and front walls with a cover element that converts between collapsed and upstanding configurations, using die-cut sheet materials for easy assembly and disassembly, and an integrated container for storage and transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a permanent structure is used for the puppet theater, then the theater provides stability and durability, but it becomes bulky and difficult to transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidportability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The theater structure is divided into separate hinged walls that can be folded relative to each other, transforming from a permanent monolithic structure into a collapsible modular system that maintains stability when assembled but becomes compact for transport

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The theater employs hinged connections between walls that enable dynamic transformation between an upstanding stable configuration for use and a collapsed flat configuration for transport, making the structure adaptable rather than fixed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the puppet theater is designed to be portable and foldable, then it becomes easier to transport, but it increases the risk of damage and loss of components

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveportabilityVSAvoidcomponent protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The container and theater structure are merged into a single integrated unit where the container walls form the theater walls when assembled, eliminating separate components that could be lost or damaged during transport while maintaining protection when collapsed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a container is added to store and protect the theater components, then component protection improves, but the overall size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent protectionVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container and theater are combined into a single integrated structure where the same walls serve both as the theater enclosure and as the protective container, eliminating the need for separate container components and reducing overall structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The walls of the structure serve multiple functions: they form the theater enclosure during use, provide the protective container during transport when collapsed, and eliminate the need for separate container walls, achieving multi-functionality that reduces complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the puppet theater uses traditional assembly structures, then it provides complete functionality, but it requires multiple separate parts that are difficult to assemble and store

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional completenessVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate theater components (walls, container, roof) are merged into a single integrated foldable structure that maintains all necessary functions while reducing assembly to simple folding motions rather than complex multi-step assembly procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3911427B1Portable puppet theater
Publication Date: 2022.06.29 FERRARA ARTURO
  • EP3911427B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3911427B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3911427B1 patent drawingFigure 8~11

AI summary

A portable puppet theater (1), comprising a pair of side walls (2) and a front wall (3) having a central opening (4) which is designed to face the audience, a plurality of inner walls (5) defining one or more sceneries (5A) and a curtain (5B), a cover element (6), which is adapted to cover the side walls (2) and the front wall (3). The side walls (2) and the front wall (3) are substantially vertical and hinged together to form a foldable structure (7) which is adapted to alternate from a collapsed configuration with the walls (2, 3) in mutually overlapping relationship, and an upstanding configuration with the walls (2, 3) at right angles and substantially vertical, and vice versa. The cover element (6) is in the form of a lid, with a flat central portion (13) and upwardly folded edges (14) to receive therein the inner walls (5) and the foldable structure (7) in the collapsed configuration. The cover element (6) is adapted to be turned upside down with the folded edges (14) facing downwards and contacting the side walls (2) and the front wall (3) in the upstanding configuration. Furthermore, the flat central portion (13) of the cover element (6) has a plurality of slits (15) to allow the inner walls (5) to be removably introduced therein from the top to positions facing the central opening (4).