Mini-Excavator Game Station for Safe Object Placement Skills

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Amusement parks face challenges in attracting repeat visitors and introducing innovative guest experiences, with existing attractions lacking opportunities for users to actively operate complex machinery safely and entertainingly.

Innovation Solution

An amusement activity or game station that allows users to operate complex machinery, such as a mini-excavator, to pick up and position selectively shaped objects at an object receiver station, enhancing operable machinery skills while providing an entertaining experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional amusement park attractions are used, then guests can passively experience rides, but users cannot actively operate complex machinery to improve operable machinery skills

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactive machinery operationVSAvoidcomplex machinery
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a scaled-down mini-excavator that replicates the essential functions of full-size construction equipment in a safe, manageable size. This copying approach allows children to operate complex machinery skills in a controlled environment without the dangers of full-scale equipment, resolving the contradiction between active operation and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a controlled environment with safety features as an intermediary between the child operator and the potentially hazardous machinery. The mini-excavator serves as a mediator that provides the experience of operating complex machinery while eliminating the harmful aspects through size reduction and controlled design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If fixed amusement park attractions are built, then immersive experiences can be provided, but the attractions cannot be transported to various locations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransportabilityVSAvoidamusement attraction structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the amusement attraction into modular, separable components that can be easily assembled and disassembled. The mini-excavator and associated structures are designed as independent units that can be transported by standard vehicles and reconfigured at different locations, enabling versatility without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a dynamic system where the attraction can transition between different states (assembled and disassembled, transported and stationary). This dynamic design allows the same attraction structure to adapt to various locations and event types, from permanent park installations to temporary carnival settings and private events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If large construction equipment is used for object placement, then realistic machinery operation experience is provided, but safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidmachinery operation experience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the counterweight principle by reducing the size and weight of the excavator to a safe level for child operation. The mini-excavator maintains the essential operational characteristics of construction equipment while using significantly less mass, eliminating the safety hazards associated with full-size machinery while preserving the learning experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentUS12551780B2Amusement activity station
Publication Date: 2026.02.17 EPR EXCAVATE LLC
  • US12551780B2 patent drawing
  • US12551780B2 patent drawing
  • US12551780B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An amusement activity station enables a user to operate complex machinery to pick up and position selectively shaped objects in a safe and amusing manner. The amusement activity station includes a complex machine component and at least one object-receiver station. The complex machine includes a user position station, a user-to-machine interface, a moveable member, and a pick-up mechanism. The moveable member is maneuvered relative to the user position station by way of manual operation of the user-to-machine interface. Each object-receiver station includes at least one object-receiving structure. The pick-up mechanism and moveable member are directable for picking up and conveying selectively shaped objects toward the object-receiving structure(s) for positioned placement. The amusement activity station contemplates any number of shapes and sizes of the object-receiving stations and selectively shaped objects, including basically shaped objects and stations as well as irregularly shaped objects and stations.