Game Board Track System for Secure Piece Retention

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing board games face the issue of game pieces being easily displaced from their positions on the board, especially when the board is jostled, due to insufficient magnetic attraction, leading to disturbance in game progress.

Innovation Solution

A game board assembly featuring a track system with slidable game pieces that include a shaft, head, and foot, where the head and foot dimensions prevent removal, and optional magnetic retention in recesses, ensuring secure attachment to the board.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If magnetic attraction is used to attach game pieces to the board, then the pieces can be removed and repositioned, but the pieces are easily displaced when the board is jostled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiece repositionabilityVSAvoidpiece position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The game piece is segmented into distinct functional parts: a shaft for sliding along the track, a head with enlarged dimensions at one end, and a foot with enlarged dimensions at the other end. This segmentation allows each part to serve its specific function - the shaft enables movement, while the head and foot provide retention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A track system is introduced as an intermediary structure between the game board and the game pieces. The track provides a defined path for piece movement and works with the head and foot dimensions to retain pieces in specific positions, solving both the need for repositionability and position stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If strong magnetic attraction is used to prevent piece displacement, then piece position stability improves, but the ability to remove and reposition pieces is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiece position stabilityVSAvoidpiece removability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retention mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The head and foot dimensions provide retention under normal conditions, but allow pieces to be removed when sufficient force is applied. This dynamic characteristic enables the system to adapt between retaining and releasing states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The game piece is segmented into distinct functional parts: a shaft for sliding along the track, a head with enlarged dimensions at one end, and a foot with enlarged dimensions at the other end. This segmentation allows each part to serve its specific function - the shaft enables movement, while the head and foot provide retention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If game pieces are made removable for repositioning, then ease of operation improves, but the pieces are easily displaced from desired positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiece repositionabilityVSAvoidpiece position integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A track system is introduced as an intermediary structure between the game board and the game pieces. The track provides a defined path for piece movement and works with the head and foot dimensions to retain pieces in specific positions, solving both the need for repositionability and position stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The retention mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The head and foot dimensions provide retention under normal conditions, but allow pieces to be removed when sufficient force is applied. This dynamic characteristic enables the system to adapt between retaining and releasing states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 track system and magnetic retention mechanism securely keep game pieces in place, even during moderate jostling, maintaining game progress and stability without the need for additional support.

Implementation Method 1

The attraction between the magnetic board and the magnetic pieces may be sufficient to prevent the pieces from being displaced from the board when the board is tilted slightly or lightly jostled

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS10926165B2Game board with unremovable pieces

Publication Date: 2021.02.23 SHIMEL KYLE DAVID

AI summary

A game board assembly includes a game board. The game board includes a base, sidewalls upstanding from the base, and a top wall coupled to the sidewalls. A track is defined through the game board. The game board assembly further includes a plurality of game pieces. Each of the game pieces includes a shaft, a head at a top of the shaft, and a foot at a bottom of the shaft. The shaft fits within and is slidable along the track. The head and the foot each include dimensions that inhibit removal of the game piece from the track.