Tactile Braille Dice With Raised Borders for Stable Touch Reading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing polyhedral dice for games like Dungeons & Dragons are not easily readable via touch and lack stability when resting on a side, making them unsuitable for individuals with limited or no sight.

Innovation Solution

The development of tactile dice with raised border edges and braille characters, featuring an indicator edge with an indent to determine orientation, ensuring ease of reading and stability during use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional polyhedral dice are used, then the dice can be manufactured with standard geometries, but they are not easily readable via touch and lack stability when resting on a side

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of reading via touchVSAvoidstability when resting on a side

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating raised border edges specifically at the perimeter of each face, while keeping the interior of the faces smooth. This localized modification provides tactile feedback for reading braille characters and indicates face orientation, improving ease of operation without compromising the overall stability of the die when resting on a side.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces asymmetry through the raised border edges that are not uniformly distributed - they are positioned at specific locations around the face perimeter to indicate orientation. This asymmetric arrangement of raised edges provides directional information for reading braille while maintaining the die's structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of operation

If raised border edges are added to indicate orientation, then the ease of reading via touch is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of reading via touchVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the border of each face into distinct raised edges, creating multiple discrete tactile indicators rather than a continuous complex structure. This segmentation allows the orientation indication function to be achieved through simple, repeatable edge elements that are easy to manufacture and do not significantly increase overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The raised border edges serve multiple functions simultaneously: they indicate the orientation of the face for reading braille characters, provide tactile feedback for identifying the current face, and help stabilize the die when resting on a side. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the die size is increased to improve stability, then the stability when resting on a side is improved, but the comfort and ease of handling decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability when resting on a sideVSAvoidcomfort and ease of handling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses stability not by increasing the die size in traditional dimensions, but by adding a vertical dimension through raised border edges. These edges create additional contact points and tactile indicators that stabilize the die when resting on a side without requiring the die itself to be larger, thereby maintaining comfort and ease of handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12415127B2Tactile braille dice

Publication Date: 2025.09.16 DOTS RPG PROJECT FOUNDATION

AI summary

A tactile die for playing a game, the die comprising a plurality of sides, wherein each side comprises a face having a braille character, each side comprises 3 or more raised border edges surrounding the face, and wherein one of the 3 or more raised border edges is an indicator edge configured to indicate an orientation of the face, the indicator edge comprising an indent along a length thereof.