Nesting Chess Set with Magnetic Base for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chess sets lack a compact and efficient storage solution that allows for easy transportation and organization of pieces while maintaining their structural integrity and aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A nesting chess set design where each team's pieces are configured into two nests, with the king and queen as the outer pieces, and the rest nesting within, held together by magnetic base members that attract each other, forming a tubular shape for storage and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If chess pieces are stored in conventional containers, then the pieces are easily accessible, but the storage space required is large and transportation is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The chess pieces are designed to nest within one another like nested dolls, with smaller pieces fitting inside larger pieces. The conical geometry allows each piece to contain the next smaller piece, creating a compact nested structure that dramatically reduces storage volume while keeping all pieces accessible through the open base of the largest piece.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from storing pieces side-by-side in a conventional container to stacking them vertically in a nested arrangement. This dimensional reorganization from horizontal to vertical storage enables compact nesting while maintaining accessibility through the open base design, allowing pieces to be added or removed from the bottom of the nested stack.
2Volume of moving object
If chess pieces are nested compactly, then storage and transport become efficient, but the pieces may lose their visual hierarchy and aesthetic appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The nested structure is designed with locally optimized qualities where each piece's conical geometry and dimensions are specifically tailored to maintain its visual characteristics even when nested. The open base design of each piece allows the hierarchical structure to remain visible from the bottom, preserving the aesthetic appeal and visual hierarchy while achieving compact storage.
Solution Approach 2:
By organizing pieces vertically in a nested stack rather than horizontally, the invention preserves the visual hierarchy through the vertical arrangement. The open base design allows the hierarchical structure to be viewed from the bottom, maintaining aesthetic appeal while achieving compact storage volume.
3Volume of moving object
If chess pieces are designed with complex nesting structures, then storage efficiency improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chess set is segmented into modular pieces with standardized conical geometries that can be manufactured independently and then assembled into nested configurations. This segmentation allows each piece to be manufactured using simple processes while the nested structure emerges from the standardized design, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the sophisticated nesting arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses parameter optimization in the conical geometry of each piece, where specific dimensional ratios enable efficient nesting while maintaining manufacturability. By carefully selecting the cone angles and dimensions, the design achieves compact nesting without requiring complex manufacturing processes, balancing storage efficiency with ease of production.
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
Enables compact storage and transport of chess sets while maintaining the visual hierarchy and proportions of traditional chess pieces, ensuring they are easily assembled and disassembled for play.
Implementation Method 1
The magnetic base members of the two nests are configured such that they attract to each other such that the two nests (i.e., the entire team) are held together end-to-end in an almost tubular team shape
Implementation Method 2
Each nest is held together by a magnetic base member
Data Source
AI summary
A nesting chess set with two teams of chess pieces. Each team includes one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. The pieces of each team are configured such that they can be organized into two nests, each nest comprising eight pieces, wherein the only difference between the two nests is that one has the king and one has the queen, while otherwise each nest has a rook, a bishop, a knight, and four pawns. The queen is the outside piece of one nest. The king is the outside piece of the other nest. The rest of the pieces are sized and shaped to nest within the king or queen. Each nest is held together by a magnetic base.