Plush Bouncing Toy With Resilient Core for Reliable Bounce
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plush toys do not bounce effectively due to their soft, fluffy interiors, while conventional bouncing balls lack a soft, cuddly exterior, failing to provide a multifunctional play experience.
Innovation Solution
A bouncing ball toy with a plush fabric exterior is designed over an internal bouncing ball structure, using highly resilient materials like polyurethane, ensuring the plush exterior does not dampen the bounce, and features like stiff facial features and pliable extremities to maintain bounce and liveliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plush fabric exterior is added to a bouncing ball, then the toy becomes soft and cuddly, but the bounce performance deteriorates due to dampening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using a thin plush fabric shell that covers the internal bouncing ball structure. The plush fabric is designed to be thin enough that it does not significantly dampen the bounce while still providing a soft, cuddly exterior. The fabric acts as a flexible covering that allows the internal structure to maintain its bouncing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two different materials with contrasting properties: a plush fabric exterior material that provides softness and cuddliness, and an internal bouncing ball structure material (such as rubber or elastomer) that provides bounce performance. This composite structure allows the toy to exhibit both soft exterior characteristics and reliable bouncing behavior.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional plush materials are used for the interior, then the toy is soft and cuddly, but the bounce capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the toy into two distinct segments or layers: an external plush fabric layer that provides softness and cuddliness, and an internal bouncing ball structure that provides bounce capability. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between soft interior and bounce speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The plush fabric is used as a thin external shell or covering rather than a thick interior filling. This thin shell approach allows the internal bouncing structure to maintain its speed and bounce performance while still being covered by a soft material for tactile comfort.
3Ease of manufacture
If the plush fabric pile length is increased for a softer appearance, then the cuddly texture improves, but the bounce performance deteriorates due to increased dampening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by carefully controlling the pile length parameter of the plush fabric. The pile length is selected to be within a specific range that provides sufficient cuddly texture while minimizing dampening effects on bounce performance. This parameter optimization allows the toy to achieve both soft appearance and reliable bouncing.
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
The bouncing ball toy achieves both a fun, engaging bounce and a soft, cuddly exterior, providing a multifunctional play experience by combining a plush fabric with a highly resilient internal structure.
Implementation Method 1
The interior ball structure can be made from highly resilient materials and provide significant bounce and liveliness after impacting a hard object
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application relates to a toy comprising an internal ball structure comprising a highly resilient material capable of significant bouncing off a hard surface, a plush fabric skin configured to cover the internal ball structure such that the plush fabric exterior does not significantly impact or dampen the ability of the internal bouncing ball structure to bounce when impacting a surface.