Advent calendar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home-made advent calendars lack flexibility in mounting and attaching presents, are difficult to assemble and disassemble, and are not easily compact for storage or transport, making them less versatile and user-friendly compared to commercial options.
Innovation Solution
A modular advent calendar design featuring a central axis with radially extending side parts that can be joined, swung, or folded, equipped with pre-punched recess fields and suspension devices for hanging items, allowing for versatile mounting options and made entirely of cardboard for easy disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If home-made advent calendars are constructed with fixed mounting mechanisms, then they can be used in specific positions (standing or wall-mounted), but they lack flexibility in mounting options and are difficult to adapt to different usage scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The advent calendar is designed with a dual-function mounting system that can operate in two distinct modes: as a standing calendar using the base and as a wall-mounted calendar using the hook mechanism. This universal design allows the same structure to serve multiple mounting purposes without requiring separate mechanisms for each function, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The side parts of the advent calendar are designed to be movable and adjustable rather than fixed. The side parts can be swung or folded over onto adjacent side parts and attached, allowing the calendar to transition between different configurations and mounting orientations. This dynamic design enables flexibility in mounting options while keeping the overall structure relatively simple through modular components.
2Ease of operation
If traditional advent calendars use permanent attachment methods for presents, then presents are securely fixed, but the calendar is difficult to assemble and disassemble and not easily compact for storage or transport
Solution Approach 1:
The advent calendar is divided into modular components: a base, multiple side parts, and individual present attachment points. Each side part can be independently attached or removed from the base, and presents are individually attached to specific locations. This segmentation allows easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining structural integrity when components are properly connected, as each module contributes to the overall stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The side parts are pre-designed with attachment mechanisms (hooks, slots, or interlocking features) that enable straightforward connection to the base and to each other. The present attachment points are pre-positioned on the side parts, allowing users to simply hang presents without complex assembly steps. This preliminary design of attachment features simplifies the assembly process while ensuring stable construction.
3Ease of manufacture
If advent calendars are made with multiple materials for structural components and present attachments, then functional requirements are met, but disposal becomes difficult due to material separation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The advent calendar is constructed entirely from cardboard, a single homogeneous material. The base, side parts, and present attachment points are all made from the same material, eliminating the need for material separation during disposal. This homogeneous construction maintains attachment reliability through the use of cardboard-specific attachment methods such as scored lines for folding, adhesive applied to cardboard surfaces, or mechanical interlocking of cardboard components, while significantly simplifying end-of-life disposal.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an advent calendar (1) comprising: a central axis (10), from which at least three side parts (2) extend substantially radially outwards, wherein i) the side parts are joined together, preferably in the region of the central axis, ii) at least one side part is removable or can be swung or folded over onto an adjacent side part and can preferably be attached to the adjacent side part, iii) there are distributed over the side parts at least 24 pre-punched recess fields (3), which can be removed from the side parts and, after removal, each provide recesses (4) in the side parts, each of which has a first suspension device (5), for example a hook (6, 7) for hanging an article in the recess and/or wherein there are distributed on fields of the side parts at least 24 pre-punched second suspension devices, which can preferably be folded or bent out of the fields.