Foldable Toy Track Set with Reconfigurable Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing foldable toy vehicle track sets offer limited vehicle pathways, restricting competitive vehicle interaction and play value, leading to a short-term loss of interest.

Innovation Solution

A track set with adjustable and foldable track arms that can be reconfigured to create intersecting, side-by-side, and angled vehicle pathways, allowing for collision zones, racing, and obstacle courses, while enabling easy storage and transport without disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If foldable track sets are designed for compact storage, then ease of storage and transport is improved, but vehicle pathway variety and competitive interaction are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of storageVSAvoidvehicle pathway variety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The track set is divided into multiple independent track arms that can be selectively positioned and configured. Each track arm can be independently adjusted to create different pathway configurations, allowing the system to provide both compact storage capability and diverse vehicle interaction options through modular segmentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The track arms are designed with adjustable and reconfigurable features that allow dynamic repositioning between compact storage configuration and expanded play configuration. This dynamic adaptability enables the same structure to serve dual purposes: compact form for storage and expanded form for diverse vehicle pathways and competitive interactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If track arms are made adjustable and reconfigurable, then vehicle pathway variety and competitive play are enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle pathway varietyVSAvoidtrack arm configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The track arms are designed as universal components that can perform multiple functions: creating individual pathways, forming collision zones, enabling side-by-side racing, and configuring obstacle courses. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized components, thereby enhancing pathway variety while controlling overall device complexity through component reuse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple track arms are included for competitive play, then vehicle interaction and play value are improved, but storage compactness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle interaction capabilityVSAvoidstorage volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The track arms are designed to nest within each other or against the play surface when in storage configuration. This nesting arrangement allows multiple track arms to be stored in a compact manner, minimizing storage volume while maintaining the capability to deploy multiple arms for enhanced vehicle interaction and competitive play scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS8430712B2Track set

Publication Date: 2013.04.30 MATTEL INC

AI summary

A track set is provided. The track say may include at least two selectively positionable track arms each with a toy vehicle launcher, each track arm further defining a vehicle pathway, where each track arm may be positioned in at least an extended play configuration and a folded storage configuration.