50-Face Polyhedral Toy Block for Stable Pyramid Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional toy blocks, especially those made of spherical units, face challenges in stability and non-slip issues, limiting the complexity of objects that can be assembled and requiring additional support structures, while existing designs fail to form stable triangular pyramids without external support.
Innovation Solution
A toy block unit with 50 faces arranged in 7 layers, including hexagonal and pentagonal faces, allowing for the assembly of stable triangular pyramids with a base and height configuration that can stand firmly on a planar surface without external support, using a game tray with strategically arranged position holes for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If spherical block units are used to assemble complicated objects, then the variety of objects that can be built is improved, but the assembled object becomes easier to collapse due to reduced contacting surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The block unit is divided into multiple layers (7 layers total) with different face configurations. The first layer has one hexagonal face, the second layer has six pentagonal faces, the third layer has twelve pentagonal faces in six symmetrical pairs, the fourth layer has twelve pentagonal faces, the fifth layer has twelve pentagonal faces in six symmetrical pairs, the sixth layer has six pentagonal faces, and the seventh layer has one hexagonal face. This segmentation allows for both versatile assembly options and stable face-to-face contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The block unit employs asymmetric face distribution across layers, with hexagonal faces at the top and bottom layers and pentagonal faces in intermediate layers. The symmetrical pairing in third and fifth layers creates a balanced asymmetric structure that enables both varied object construction and stable positioning on planar surfaces.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spherical block units are used to allow complicated assembly, then the versatility of construction is improved, but the required space for the game is increased due to the need for supporting structures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the support function from a separate game tray and integrates it into the block unit itself. The multi-layered face structure (hexagonal and pentagonal faces in specific arrangements) provides inherent stability, eliminating the need for external support structures and reducing the space required for gameplay.
3Adaptability or versatility
If spherical block units are used for assembly, then the ability to form various shapes is improved, but the block becomes difficult to hold when fingers are wet due to slippy surface
Solution Approach 1:
Different layers of the block unit have different face configurations optimized for specific functions. The hexagonal faces at top and bottom provide stable contact surfaces that are easier to grasp, while the pentagonal faces in intermediate layers enable versatile assembly. This local differentiation of surface properties addresses both grasping ease and assembly versatility.
4Device complexity
If traditional toy block shapes are used, then the simplicity of the block design is maintained, but the variety of objects that can be built is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from simple 3D shapes to a multi-layered polyhedral structure with 50 faces arranged in 7 distinct layers. This dimensional complexity within the block unit enables a wide variety of object constructions while maintaining a relatively simple polyhedral form factor that is easy to manufacture and handle.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1L
Figure 2
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AI summary
A toy block set comprises a total 12 toy blocks, each block is consisted of at least one block unit and each unit joins another angledly by a 60 degree. The set includes 8 toy blocks formed by 5 block units and 4 toy blocks formed by 4 block units, a total 56 block units. Each block unit is a polyhedron with 50 faces arranged in 7 layers for improving the stability when assembling the shape formed by the toy blocks. Said 12 toy blocks can form a triangular pyramid of height of 6 units and 7 of said 12 toy blocks can form another triangular pyramid of height of 5 units.