Stackable Building Blocks With Flat-Surface Clamping Connections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Toy building blocks suffer from instability and non-flat surfaces due to chamfer geometry or cylindrical hold and peg configurations, leading to predominantly non-flat or irregular connecting features.
Innovation Solution
The toy building blocks feature geometric shapes with protrusions and recesses on the proximal and distal surfaces, allowing for stable connections through clamping engagement, with protrusions and recesses aligned to form snug connections and provide flat surfaces for support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If chamfer geometry or cylindrical hold and peg configurations are used for connection, then the building blocks can be connected and stacked, but the connection stability is insufficient and the surfaces are non-flat
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into distinct protrusions on one block and corresponding recesses on another block, allowing for precise alignment and stable clamping engagement while maintaining flat surfaces at the connection interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions and recesses are designed with asymmetric geometries that complement each other, creating a unique fit that ensures stable connection while the opposing surfaces remain flat for structural integrity
2Ease of operation
If chamfer geometry or cylindrical hold and peg configurations are used, then connection is enabled, but the connecting features are predominantly non-flat or irregular
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions and recesses are designed with specific local geometries that provide connection capability, while the surrounding surfaces maintain regular flat characteristics, creating a localized connection feature that does not compromise overall surface quality
Data Source
AI summary
Stackable toy building blocks are provided herein. The toy building blocks comprise various configurations of protrusions and recesses allowing for connecting building blocks to form stacked or complex structures. The toy building blocks may be formed of single-unit or multi-unit configurations having a common base shape such that a toy in different-unit configurations may be stacked with each other or formed in tessellations. The protrusions and recesses of the toy building blocks may be disposed along the outer edge of each base shape providing for stable structures and for flat surfaces on the top surfaces of stacked blocks.