Modular Table Football Figure with Interchangeable Shells

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional table football figures lack individualization and realism, making it difficult to customize their appearance quickly and easily, which affects user engagement and identification with the game.

Innovation Solution

A modular design for table football figures, comprising a base element with interchangeable front and rear shells, and a head element, allowing for easy customization without tools, using plug-in, snap, or clamp connections, and optional 3D printed head elements for enhanced personalization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the table football figure is made as a monolithic component, then the structural integrity is ensured, but the individualization and customization capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidindividualization capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The table football figure is divided into multiple separate components: a base element and interchangeable shell elements (head shell, body shell, leg shell). These segments can be assembled and disassembled to create different figure configurations, enabling customization while maintaining structural integrity through standardized connection interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the entire table football figure is replaced to achieve customization, then the individualization is achieved, but the production cost and complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base element is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple different shell elements. The standardized connection interfaces allow a single base element to support various head shells, body shells, and leg shells, enabling multiple figure configurations without requiring multiple complete figure sets, thus reducing production complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If traditional screw connections are used to attach the head, then the connection stability is ensured, but the ease of operation and tool-free assembly deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidtool-free assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The screw connection mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simplified plug-in connection system. The shell elements feature integrated connection elements that engage with corresponding features on the base element, eliminating the need for separate screws and tools while maintaining adequate connection stability for the application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3023130B1Table football figure
Publication Date: 2018.01.10 KNAUER PETRA
  • EP3023130B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3023130B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3023130B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a table football figure (1, 101, 201) with a base element (2, 102, 202) that replicates the torso and lower body area of ​​a playing figure, which has a bore (6) penetrating the torso in a transverse direction for receiving an actuating rod (7) and a foot area designed as an impact body (8) for influencing the movement of a playing ball, a front shell (3, 103) attached to the front of the torso of the base element (2, 102, 202), a rear shell (4, 104, 204) attached to the rear of the torso of the base element (2, 102, 202) and a head element (5, 105, 205) arranged on the torso of the base element (2, 102, 202).