Hexagonal Interlocking Game Tokens for Stable Board Layouts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing board game tokens are unstable and lack constraints to maintain their position, leading to disruption when subjected to physical stress, and objects placed on them are also prone to movement.
Innovation Solution
The tokens feature interlocking seats and attachment elements with inclined sides varying from 30° to 80°, a reinforcement frame for added stability, and central projections or holes for accommodating structures, allowing firm positioning and versatile assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If simple cardboard or plastic hexagonal tokens are used, then manufacturing is economical and easy, but the tokens are unstable and cannot maintain their position during the game
Solution Approach 1:
The token is divided into multiple functional segments: interlocking seats with inclined sides for connection, attachment elements for securing objects, and a reinforcement frame for structural stability. Each segment serves a specific purpose in achieving overall stability while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The token combines different material properties within a single structure - using a reinforcement frame to add rigidity to the otherwise flexible cardboard or plastic hexagonal body, creating a composite structure that is both easy to manufacture and highly stable.
2Device complexity
If tokens without interlocking mechanisms are used, then the structure is simple and economical, but any physical stress divides the tokens and ruins the placed scheme
Solution Approach 1:
The interlocking seats and attachment elements are merged into an integrated system where adjacent tokens connect through complementary inclined sides, creating a unified stable structure. This merging of connection functions into the token design itself provides reliability without requiring separate complex fastening mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If tokens without central projections or holes are used, then the design is simple, but objects or structures cannot be permanently accommodated on the tokens
Solution Approach 1:
The central projection or hole serves multiple functions: it provides a reference point for alignment, enables attachment of objects or structures, and maintains the hexagonal symmetry of the token. This multi-functionality increases adaptability without significantly complicating the overall design.
4Ease of manufacture
If tokens without reinforcement frames are used, then manufacturing is simpler and more economical, but the tokens lack resistance to bending and cannot mitigate irregularities in the support plane
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement frame acts as an internal structural element that composite the token's overall strength. This frame provides resistance to bending and stability against irregular support surfaces while being integrated into the manufacturing process, maintaining economical production.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention has as its scope a token for board games comprising a rigid body (11) of substantially planar shape and having a substantially hexagonal perimeter, where on the outer sides of the perimeter of the rigid body (11) there are, in an alternating manner, an interlocking seat (12) and a attachment element (14), where the attachment element (14) is complementary to the interlocking seat (12), so that each of the interlocking seats (12) is configured to accommodate a respective attachment element (14) belonging to a different hexagonal token. The invention further comprises a prefabricated block (100) comprising a plurality of game tokens.