Marble Game Table Collection Mechanism Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marble game tables face challenges in effectively collecting and returning marbles, leading to marbles getting stuck or lost.
Innovation Solution
A table design featuring a circular playing board with a suspended top ring, marble guide tracks, and collection slots that direct marbles into a T-shaped channel leading to a receiving box, ensuring efficient collection and easy retrieval of marbles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If marbles are collected using traditional methods, then collection is achieved, but marbles get stuck or lost
Solution Approach 1:
The collection mechanism is divided into multiple segments: guide tracks that direct marbles, collection slots that receive them, and a T-shaped channel system that transports them to the receiving box. This segmentation ensures marbles are systematically collected and transported without getting stuck, while the external positioning allows easy retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The T-shaped channel acts as an intermediary mechanism between the collection slot and the receiving box. It provides a controlled pathway that ensures marbles are efficiently transported while maintaining external accessibility for easy retrieval by players.
2Productivity
If collection mechanism is made complex, then collection efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide tracks, collection slots, T-shaped channel, and receiving box are merged into a single integrated collection mechanism. This unified design achieves efficient marble collection through coordinated operation of components while avoiding the complexity of separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The T-shaped channel introduces a vertical dimension to the collection system, allowing marbles to be transported both horizontally (through the channel) and vertically (through the T-junction). This dimensional approach enables efficient collection while maintaining a compact overall structure.
3Reliability
If marbles are positioned internally, then collection is secure, but retrieval becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the receiving box internally for secure collection, the design inverts the approach by placing the collection mechanism externally. The T-shaped channel with its vertical backing provides secure internal positioning for marble collection, while the external location of the receiving box enables quick and easy retrieval without time loss.
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 design prevents marbles from getting stuck and allows for quick, easy retrieval of marbles, enhancing gameplay experience by ensuring all marbles can be collected and returned without loss.
Implementation Method 1
The marble guide tracks are sloped so as to cause the marble to roll down to one of a plurality of collection slots
Implementation Method 2
The marble rolls down the marble channel until it reaches a hole in the end of the channel which has a vertical backing, whereupon it drops into a receiving box or holder
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for playing marbles games. The apparatus is a circular or polygonal playing board or ring, which encompasses a playing surface. A top ring extends above the playing board along its outer circumference, and may extend over the outer perimeter of the playing board, allowing marbles struck off the playing surface to pass underneath into a marble collection mechanism. Marbles drop onto a sloped guide track, and then roll down to one of a plurality of collections slots.