Tabletop game and condiment holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tabletop condiment holders in dining establishments are bulky and take up significant space, failing to enhance the entertainment experience for customers.
Innovation Solution
A tabletop game and condiment holder device with a main body featuring a curved ramp for coin discharge, integrated napkin dispenser, and removable drawer with apertures for coin-catching, along with a template for displaying instructions or promotional materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional condiment holders are used, then condiments can be stored and dispensed, but the device takes up significant table space and provides no entertainment value
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges a condiment holder with a coin-operated shooting gallery game into a single integrated device. The condiment holder serves as the housing structure for the game, while the game components (curved wall ramp, drawer with apertures, template) are incorporated within the same space. This combination allows the device to provide both condiment storage/dispensation and customer entertainment simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between versatility and space occupation.
2Productivity
If conventional condiment holders are used, then condiments can be stored, but the device is bulky and only used periodically
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs multiple functions: it stores and dispenses condiments through the back wall opening and side wall receptacles, while simultaneously providing entertainment through the coin-operated shooting gallery game. The curved wall forms a ramp for coin discharge, the drawer with apertures serves as both game target and condiment access point, and the template provides game instructions. This multi-functionality increases usage frequency by engaging customers throughout the meal, not just for condiment dispensing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a coin-operated game is added to enhance entertainment, then customer engagement increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The game device is segmented into distinct functional components: a curved wall forming a ramp for coin discharge, a drawer with multiple apertures for coin-catching, a template with game markings, a back wall with condiment dispensing, and side walls with condiment receptacles. This segmentation allows each component to be relatively simple in design while the combination creates the complete game and condiment holder functionality, managing overall complexity through modular design.
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
Provides entertainment to customers while efficiently storing and dispensing condiments, optimizing table space and enhancing customer experience.
Implementation Method 1
a curved wall that extends from the top wall to the front wall, the curved wall forming a ramp for discharging a coin, such as a quarter, for example, in a direction away from the front wall
Data Source
AI summary
A tabletop game and condiment holding device includes a main body having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, a front wall, a pair of side walls, and a curved wall that extends from the top wall to the front wall. The curved wall forming a ramp for discharging a coin in a direction away from the front wall. A napkin dispenser and a plurality of condiment holders are positioned along the walls of the main body. A drawer having a plurality of sidewalls and a common top surface is removably positioned within the front wall. A plurality of apertures located along the top surface of the drawer function to receive the coin in flight. A template having markings and a plurality of complementary shaped and located apertures is removably secured along the top surface of the drawer.