Soft Toy Grenade Impact Propulsion Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toy grenades that simulate a shrapnel effect often require non-soft components, increasing the risk of harm to people and property, as they need to propel projectiles upon activation, whereas a fully soft toy grenade that can launch projectiles in multiple directions upon impact or timer activation does not exist.

Innovation Solution

A toy grenade with a sealed elastomeric enclosure containing fluid and multiple receptacles that move from a retracted to an extended position upon impact, propelling projectiles in multiple directions, made entirely of soft materials to minimize harm.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If toy grenades use non-soft components to propel projectiles, then the projectile launching function is improved, but the safety and softness of the toy is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprojectile launching functionVSAvoidharm to people and property

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by making the entire grenade body, including the projectile propulsion mechanism, from soft elastomeric material. The flexible receptacles that hold and launch projectiles are made of soft material that can deform and return to propel projectiles without requiring hard mechanical components. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining projectile launching function while eliminating hard parts that could cause harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional hard mechanical spring-loaded mechanisms with a soft elastomeric-based propulsion system. The propulsion is achieved through the elastic deformation and recovery of soft materials rather than rigid mechanical springs, thereby maintaining the projectile launching capability while ensuring the entire device remains soft and safe for children's play.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If toy grenades are made entirely soft, then the safety is improved, but the ability to propel projectiles is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharm to people and propertyVSAvoidprojectile propulsion capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by designing receptacles that can dynamically change shape from retracted to extended positions. The soft elastomeric material allows the receptacles to deform during projectile loading and then dynamically rebound to propel projectiles forward. This dynamic behavior enables effective projectile propulsion while maintaining entirely soft construction throughout the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies this principle by pre-positioning projectiles within the soft receptacles in a ready-to-launch state. The receptacles are designed to hold projectiles securely during normal play, then upon activation through deformation, automatically propel them forward. This preliminary preparation ensures that the soft structure can effectively launch projectiles when needed without requiring hard components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Force

If toy grenades use hard mechanical mechanisms for projectile launch, then the propulsion force is improved, but the softness and ease of manufacture are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprojectile propulsion forceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by merging the grenade body structure with the projectile propulsion mechanism into a single integrated soft elastomeric component. Rather than assembling separate hard mechanical parts, the entire device including the propulsion mechanism is manufactured as one piece from soft material, dramatically simplifying manufacturing while generating sufficient propulsion force through elastic recovery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 toy grenade effectively propels projectiles in multiple directions upon contact with a hard surface while being entirely soft, reducing the risk of harm to people and property, and is easy to manufacture and use, with various activation methods including impact and timer-based options.

Implementation Method 1

each receptacle movable from the retracted position to the extended position upon sufficient compression of the fluid by impact of the enclosure with a hard surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

an enclosure having a substantially sealed interior containing a fluid, the enclosure having a plurality of receptacles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20240207753A1Soft Toy Grenade

Publication Date: 2024.06.27 KANE ANDREW P

AI summary

A soft toy grenade has an enclosure with a sealed interior containing a fluid, the enclosure having a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle having a retracted position and an extended position, each receptacle movable from the retracted position to the extended position upon sufficient compression of the fluid by impact of the enclosure with a hard surface.