Portable Multi-Level Table Game Assembly with Cup Positioning Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking games like Beer Pong and Flip Cup lack a standardized, portable, and easily cleanable playing surface, leading to inconsistent gameplay and messiness due to makeshift setups.
Innovation Solution
A multi-level table game assembly with a lower and upper circular playing surface connected by a vertically elongated support, featuring radially directed rays and cup positioning markers, allowing for consistent cup placement and easy setup and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a standardized playing surface is used, then gameplay consistency is improved, but portability and ease of storage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The playing surface is divided into multiple detachable table sections that can be assembled together to form a complete game table. Each table portion can be independently handled, stored, and transported, allowing the full standardized surface to be reconstructed when needed for consistent gameplay.
Solution Approach 2:
The tables are designed to nest within each other when not in use, with smaller table portions fitting inside larger ones. This nesting configuration minimizes storage space requirements while maintaining the full playing surface area when assembled for games.
2Ease of operation
If a portable playing surface is used, then ease of transport is improved, but gameplay consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tables come pre-assembled with permanently attached cup positioning markers and playing surface markings. These features are prepared in advance during manufacturing, ensuring that when the tables are set up for play, consistent and accurate cup placement is immediately achieved without requiring additional setup steps or adjustments by users.
3Ease of operation
If makeshift playing surfaces are used, then portability is improved, but messiness and cleanup difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The playing surfaces utilize smooth, non-porous table tops with integrated edge barriers that contain spills. The surface material is designed to be easily wiped clean, and the table structure includes raised edges or barriers that prevent beverage spills from spreading beyond the playing area, facilitating quick and easy cleanup.
4Area of stationary object
If a multi-level table assembly is used, then space efficiency is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-level table assembly is divided into separate, modular table portions that can be independently handled. Each section has standardized connection interfaces that simplify assembly and disassembly, reducing the perceived complexity despite the multi-level configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The table portions are arranged vertically in a multi-level configuration, utilizing the vertical dimension to stack multiple playing surfaces within a compact footprint. This vertical arrangement maximizes space efficiency by stacking tables one above another, fitting them into smaller storage spaces while maintaining full playing surface area when deployed.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable game includes a lower table forming a circular playing surface and an edge having a diameter D1, an upper table forming a circular playing surface and an edge having a diameter D2, wherein D1>D2. A vertical support member interconnects the lower and upper tables. Both playing surfaces include an inner circular hub line extending about the center of the respective playing surfaces, and a plurality of radially directed rays formed on the respective playing surfaces. Each ray is circumferentially equally spaced from each immediately adjacent ray, wherein each pair of adjacent rays defines a trapezoidal play segment extending between the edge and hub line. An outer cup positioning marker is centrally formed in each play segment at a common radial distance from the edge, and an inner cup positioning marker is centrally formed in each play segment at a common radial distance from the hub line.