Spring-Loaded Candy Dispenser with Rotating Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing party toys, such as pinatas, pose risks of injury and property damage due to the need to swing a hard object to break them open, often resulting in unpredictable candy distribution.
Innovation Solution
A device with a spring-loaded mechanism that ejects candy upwards and outwards in a circular pattern, allowing for manual or automatic triggering, including the use of a timer, and featuring a spinning platform for wider dispersal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a pinata is used to dispense candy, then candy can be distributed at a party, but participants may be injured or property may be damaged due to the need to swing a hard object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual swinging mechanical system with an automated spring-loaded ejection mechanism. The spring-loaded platform automatically propels candy containers upward and outward when triggered, eliminating the need for participants to swing hard objects and thereby removing the injury and property damage risks associated with traditional pinatas
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs the candy ejection function autonomously through its spring-loaded mechanism. Once triggered (either manually or automatically via timer), the system self-propels the candy containers without requiring participants to physically swing objects, making the system self-serving and removing human physical risk from the process
2Ease of operation
If a blindfolded person swings a long object to hit the pinata, then the pinata can be broken open, but the direction of swing becomes unpredictable and dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the blindfolded swinging operation entirely by using an automated spring-loaded ejection system. The mechanism provides controlled, predictable ejection directions (upward and outward at specific angles) regardless of operator orientation, replacing the unreliable blindfolded swing with a reliable automated propulsion system
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a dynamic spring-loaded platform that automatically adjusts the ejection trajectory based on the container's position on the rotating platform. This dynamic mechanism ensures consistent and safe ejection directions without requiring the operator to control swing direction while blindfolded
3Device complexity
If candy is ejected only upwards, then the ejection mechanism is simple, but the dispersal area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a rotating platform that dynamically changes the ejection direction from purely vertical to diagonal outward trajectories. This rotation adds a horizontal component to the candy dispersal area while maintaining relatively simple ejection mechanism, achieving wider coverage without significant complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from one-dimensional vertical ejection to two-dimensional diagonal ejection by incorporating platform rotation. This adds a horizontal dimension to the candy dispersal pattern, expanding the coverage area while keeping the ejection mechanism relatively simple
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 device safely and efficiently dispenses candy over a wide area, reducing the risk of injury and property damage while ensuring that multiple participants can access the candy.
Implementation Method 1
The device includes a spring-loaded mechanism that can be triggered by a user and which then ejects candy upwards and outwards
Implementation Method 2
a system for spinning the candy as it is ejected and thereby obtain wider dispersal of the candy than if the candy was only ejected upwards
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a system and method for dispensing candy from a device that may be manually or automatically triggered to eject candy from a container within the device, wherein the device may include a timer for automatic candy ejection, or a manual trigger, wherein the device may use a spring-loaded mechanism to spin a platform and eject candy both upwards and outwards from the device when a latch is released.