Parallel-Passage Ball Game Board for Vertical Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional game devices allow only horizontal or diagonal alignment of differently colored balls, lacking strategic depth.

Innovation Solution

A game device with a game board featuring parallel passages and movable stoppers that enable vertical, horizontal, and diagonal alignment of differently colored pieces, allowing strategic selection of input ports for piece placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two different colored balls are inserted alternately in the iron rods and launched toward the squares above, then the balls can be launched and captured by spring plates, but vertical alignment of balls of the same color becomes impossible, limiting strategic qualities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment directionsVSAvoidgame structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the game board structure by providing multiple levels (first level with first passage, second level with second passage, third level with third passage) stacked vertically. This allows balls to be aligned vertically across different levels, in addition to horizontal and diagonal alignments, thereby resolving the limitation of the conventional two-dimensional game board.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The game board is segmented into multiple independent passages (first passage, second passage, third passage) that are parallel to each other and extend in the vertical direction. Each passage can independently receive and launch balls, allowing for simultaneous vertical, horizontal, and diagonal alignment strategies without interfering with each other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional spring-loaded striking devices are used to launch balls, then balls can be launched toward squares, but the structure requires complex spring mechanisms and iron rods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent simplicityVSAvoidpiece launching function

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional spring-loaded striking mechanism with a simpler piece input port system. Balls are directly inserted through the piece input ports into the passages and launched by pushing them upward, eliminating the need for complex springs, iron rods, and stopper mechanisms while maintaining the ball launching function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20260027449A1Game device

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 TOMY CO LTD

AI summary

A game device includes first and second pieces, a toy body, and first to third piece input ports. The toy body includes a game board including first to third passages for the first and second pieces to pass through. The first to third passages extends parallel. First to third striking devices corresponds to the first to third passages respectively. The first striking device includes a first piece loading section at a bottom. The first striking device is configured to launch the first piece. First to third rooms are configured at prescribed intervals along the first passage. A first movable stopper is configured to allow the first piece to pass through, to block passing through toward the first striking device, and to retain the first piece at the first room. The first to third piece input ports correspond to the first to third passages respectively.