Game Kit with Pivotable Pipes and Lockable Armature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current educational games fail to effectively combine the teaching of colors, spatial relationships, and strategy with simple, easy-to-understand instructions and a portable, easy-to-set-up kit that can be enjoyed by young children and promote sportsmanship.
Innovation Solution
A game kit consisting of a carrying case with pivotably connected pipes of varying diameters and colored tossing objects, allowing players to score points by tossing bags into pipes, with adjustable difficulty levels and rules that promote strategic play and sportsmanship.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If educational games are designed to teach multiple concepts (colors, spatial relationships, strategy), then the educational value is improved, but the complexity of instructions and setup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple educational objectives (color recognition, spatial relationships, strategy) into a single integrated game system. The carrying case integrates storage for game components, setup instructions, and the playing surface itself, allowing all educational elements to be delivered through one unified device rather than separate components that would require complex assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrying case serves multiple functions: it stores game pieces, provides the playing surface, contains setup instructions, and acts as the game board itself. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate storage containers, instruction booklets, and setup procedures, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive educational value.
2Ease of operation
If the game is designed to be portable and easy to set up, then ease of operation is improved, but the integration of multiple game components in a single kit becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the carrying case, game board, and storage compartments into a single integrated unit. All game components (pipes, tossing objects, instructions) are contained within this unified structure, eliminating the need for separate storage containers and simplifying both portability and setup while managing integration complexity through unified design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the game teaches strategic thinking and competitive play, then educational depth is improved, but accessibility to young children may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable difficulty levels that allow the game to adapt to different age groups and skill levels. Young children can play with simpler rules and fewer strategic elements, while older players can engage with more complex strategic gameplay, thereby maintaining both accessibility and educational depth through dynamic rule adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
A game kit, including a generally rectangular box portion defining a recess, the box portion further including a case portion and a cover portion hingedly connected thereto, a generally flat support member hingedly connected to the case portion, a lockable armature assembly operationally connected to the generally flat support member and to the case portion, a first pipe operationally connected to the cover portion, a pair of ancillary pipes connected to the cover portion, wherein each respective ancillary pipe is positioned opposite the first pipe from the other respective ancillary pipe and wherein each ancillary pipe is equidistant from the first pipe, and a plurality of bean bags. The cover portion is pivotably connected to the case portion and pivotable between a closed position parallel to and engaging the case portion and an open position parallel to and extending away from the case portion. The case portion placed on a generally flat surface, pivoting the first cover portion away from the case portion and into a generally vertical orientation and pivoting the support member away from the case portion and locking the armature assembly deploys the first and ancillary pipes in a generally vertical orientation for receiving tossed bags.