Modular Artwork Joint Structure for Lower Transport Volume

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bronze statues lack novelty and are cumbersome to transport due to their single-unit structure, leading to high shipping costs.

Innovation Solution

An artwork composed of multiple parts with joint portions featuring a cylindrical body and a fully threaded bolt, allowing for diverse abstract expressions and easy assembly/disassembly through nut-and-bolt connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If bronze statues are cast as a single unit, then structural integrity is maintained, but transportation costs increase and packaging becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation costVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The artwork is divided into multiple separate parts that can be individually packaged and transported. Each part maintains its structural integrity through proper casting, while the segmentation allows for compact packaging and reduced transportation costs. The parts are designed with joint portions that enable reassembly into the complete artwork.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If bronze statues are made as single units, then artistic expression is unified, but transportation and storage become inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveartistic expressionVSAvoidpackaging volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The artwork is segmented into multiple parts that can be compactly packaged, reducing the volume required for transportation and storage. When assembled, these parts form a unified artistic expression, maintaining the aesthetic and conceptual integrity of the artwork while enabling efficient logistics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multiple parts of the artwork can be nested or stacked during packaging, optimizing the use of packaging space. This nesting approach minimizes the overall volume required for transportation while preserving the artistic expression when the parts are assembled and displayed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of manufacture

If joint portions are added to enable disassembly, then transportation efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation efficiencyVSAvoidjoint structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The artwork is segmented into parts with standardized joint portions that feature simple cylindrical bodies and fully threaded bolts. This segmentation enables easy disassembly for transportation while keeping the joint structure relatively simple and straightforward to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The joint portions utilize standardized parameters such as cylindrical shapes and fully threaded bolts, which simplifies the manufacturing process. By adopting standard geometric parameters and fastening mechanisms, the complexity of creating detachable joints is reduced while still achieving the goal of efficient transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4324659B1Artwork and method for manufacturing artwork
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 TAKEUCHI OSAMU
  • EP4324659B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4324659B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4324659B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Provided is an artwork that enables various abstract expressions and can reduce transport cost. This artwork is constituted by a combination of a plurality of parts 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, and 1g having various shapes. Each part is provided with a joint portion 3. The joint portion 3 has a cylindrical body 13 having a prescribed length and a continuous thread bolt 14 attached to an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 13. The continuous thread bolt 14 is fixed into a hole 15 formed in the part, with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 13 attached in contact with or close to the part. The parts are joinable to and separable from each other by contacting the joint portions 3 of the parts to each other at end surfaces of the cylindrical body 13 and passing a shaft 4 through the cylindrical bodies 13, 13.