Reconfigurable Building Block With Rotatable Connector
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interconnecting building blocks are not reconfigurable, limiting the flexibility in connecting and modifying structures, as they can only be connected in specific manners defined by their integral features, restricting the ability to change connections without disassembly and reassembly.
Innovation Solution
A system of universally interconnecting building blocks comprising slide blocks, slide faces, and flat connectors, allowing any two adjacent faces to be configured as either male or female and enabling slidable connections, enabling infinitely configurable and interconnecting cubic blocks, with smaller 'Bits' providing additional flexibility and options for assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional interconnecting blocks with fixed male and female features are used, then the blocks can be easily connected and locked into place, but the blocks cannot be rearranged or re-oriented without fully disconnecting and reconnecting them
Solution Approach 1:
The building block incorporates a rotatable connector that can change its orientation dynamically. The connector includes a body portion attached to the block and a connector portion that can rotate relative to the body portion, allowing the block to be reconfigured from a locked state to an unlocked state and oriented at different angles without complete disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into separate functional portions: a body portion integrated with the block and a connector portion that can move independently. This segmentation allows the connector portion to rotate within the body portion, enabling reconfiguration while maintaining the connection between blocks.
2Stability of the object's composition
If blocks are connected using permanent interconnection features, then the structure is stable and locked, but any modification requires full disassembly and reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design allows the structure to transition between stable locked states and flexible unlocked states. The rotatable connector portion can be rotated to a locked position for stability or an unlocked position for modification, providing both structural integrity and ease of reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector's rotational parameter changes the connection state from locked to unlocked. By rotating the connector portion through a specific angle range, the block can be released from its locked position while maintaining connection to adjacent blocks, enabling easy modification without complete disassembly.
3Ease of manufacture
If basic blocks with male features on top and female features on bottom are used, then manufacturing is simple, but the blocks can only be connected in a finite number of configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The building block with the rotatable connector can serve multiple connection functions. The connector can be oriented at different angles and rotated to various positions, allowing a single block type to connect with adjacent blocks in multiple configurations, replacing the need for multiple specialized block types.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable connector provides dynamic adaptability, allowing the block to be connected in various orientations. The connector portion can rotate to align with different adjacent blocks, enabling the same block design to participate in diverse structural configurations without complex manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
The inventor of the present invention aimed to solve the problem of limited modes of interconnection between blocks. To solve this problem, the inventor created a building block that is reconfigurable to connect to a neighboring block by any two adjacent faces. To achieve this, the inventor created a system that allows a user to construct and reconfigure each individual face to provide either male or female connecting features, as well as configurable slidable connection between male and female parts. Said slidable connection allows two mating faces to be shifted or offset from one another in continuously varying amounts of offset.