Pivotable Shield with Segmented Visibility Screens for Yard Games
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing yard games lack a mechanism to effectively block the line of sight between opposing teams, hindering the gameplay experience and social interaction.
Innovation Solution
A game setup that includes a shield with a frame, pivotable legs, and a visibility screen, positioned between target boxes of opposing teams, blocking the line of sight and allowing players to throw projectiles blindly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a shield is positioned between opposing teams to block line of sight, then strategic play and social interaction are enhanced, but players cannot see their own targets
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is divided into two distinct sides: one side facing each team. Each side has a visibility screen that blocks the opposing team's view while allowing a team to see their own targets. This segmentation allows each team to have independent visibility characteristics, resolving the contradiction between blocking opponent view and maintaining self-target visibility
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the shield have different optical properties. The visibility screens are positioned and oriented to create asymmetric visibility: Team 1 can see through their side's screen to observe their targets, while Team 2's screen blocks Team 1's view of Team 2's targets. This local differentiation of visibility properties resolves the information asymmetry contradiction
2Adaptability or versatility
If a visibility screen is added to the shield to block line of sight, then blind throws are enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield's leg assemblies incorporate pivotable joints that allow the visibility screens to be adjusted and positioned dynamically. The legs can pivot to different angles to achieve proper positioning of the visibility screens relative to the teams and targets, enabling the blind throw capability while maintaining ease of setup and adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The visibility screens act as intermediary elements between the teams and the targets. Rather than requiring complex mechanical systems to enforce blind throws, the screens serve as simple visual barriers that naturally block line of sight, achieving the blind throw capability through a straightforward optical intermediary rather than complex mechanical constraints
3Ease of operation
If pivotable legs are used in the shield frame to ensure stability, then setup flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is segmented into multiple leg assemblies, each with its own pivotable joint. This segmentation allows each leg assembly to be manufactured as a relatively simple modular unit with a single pivot mechanism, rather than requiring a complex integrated structure. The modular segments can be manufactured separately and then assembled, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while providing setup flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable joints in the leg assemblies provide dynamic adjustment capability that enables flexible setup on various terrains and configurations. Rather than requiring precise pre-manufactured fixed-angle joints, the pivotable design allows operators to adjust the shield to the optimal angle during setup, achieving ease of operation with relatively simple hinge mechanisms that are straightforward to manufacture
Data Source
AI summary
A method for playing a game includes positioning a shield of the game between a first target box of a first team and a second target box of a second team, the game further including at least one target of the first team and at least one projectile; positioning the at least one target of the first team in the first target box by a first player of the first team in a target setup step; positioning a second player of the second team in a second team throwing position; and throwing a projectile of the at least one projectile at the first target box by the second player while positioned in the second team throwing position.