Folding Connect Four Game Board With Rotational Tray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Connect Four games have fixed chess piece trays that cannot be folded, leading to significant space occupation during transportation and storage, and limiting the game's ability to be suspended for use or storage.
Innovation Solution
A folding Connect Four game design featuring a game board with chess piece channels and a storage trough below, where a foldable chess piece tray is rotationally connected. The tray can be folded and stored vertically, and the game board can be suspended using detachable supporting legs and a hanging ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the chess piece tray is fixedly connected to the game board, then the tray is stable and can store chess pieces, but the game board occupies huge space during transportation and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The chess piece tray is designed with a rotational connection mechanism that allows it to change position between a horizontal storage position during gameplay and a vertical folded position during transportation. This dynamic transformation enables the tray to adapt its configuration based on operational requirements, reducing volume when not in use while maintaining stability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The game board is divided into functionally independent components: the main game board structure and the detachable chess piece tray. The tray can be rotated and folded relative to the game board, allowing it to be segmented from the main structure during transportation to reduce overall volume while remaining connected during gameplay for stability.
2Reliability
If the chess piece tray is fixedly connected to the game board, then the tray can store chess pieces, but the game cannot be suspended for use or storage
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational connection mechanism enables the chess piece tray to dynamically adjust its position, allowing the game board to be suspended in various orientations. When suspended, the tray can rotate to a vertical position for compact storage or remain horizontal for gameplay, providing adaptability to different usage scenarios including wall-mounted suspension.
Solution Approach 2:
The game board is designed with multi-functional capabilities: it can be used in traditional horizontal placement mode with the tray extended for gameplay, or suspended vertically with the tray folded for space-efficient storage. The rotational mechanism provides universal adaptability to accommodate both gameplay and storage requirements in various spatial configurations.
3Volume of moving object
If the chess piece tray is folded, then the volume is reduced, but the tray must be rotationally connected which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational connection mechanism provides a simple yet effective means of folding the chess piece tray. By using a pivot point and rotational joint, the tray can be folded with minimal mechanical complexity compared to more elaborate collapsing or telescoping mechanisms, achieving volume reduction through a straightforward rotational motion.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a folding Four In A Row, including a game board, where chess piece channels opened in bottoms and tops are formed in the game board; and a storage trough located right below the chess piece channels, where a chess piece tray capable of being folded is rotationally connected in the storage trough; in a case that the chess piece tray rotates in a folded state, the chess piece tray is located in the storage trough; a sealing member for sealing the bottoms of the chess piece channels is movably mounted between the chess piece tray and the chess piece channels; in a case that the sealing member releases sealing to the chess piece channels, the chess piece channels are connected to the storage trough; and supporting legs are detachably connected to a bottom of the game board, and a suspension member is arranged on the game board.