Telescopic Brick With Spring Leg For Lego Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing brick design with a spring leg for plug connection is very slim and has a unique design, making it incompatible with other bricks without additional coupling elements, limiting its versatility in plug connection systems.
Innovation Solution
The brick design incorporates a telescopic mechanism with complementary plug connection elements and a resetting element, such as a spring, to allow compatibility with the Lego grid dimension, reducing friction, and enabling secure connections without additional coupling elements, with adjustable movement limitation using snap-fit hooks and a guiding sleeve for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the brick is designed with a slim spring leg structure for plug connection, then the brick achieves a unique and individual design, but it becomes incompatible with other bricks without additional coupling elements
Solution Approach 1:
The brick is designed with complementary plug connection elements that conform to the Lego grid dimension system, enabling it to perform multiple functions: maintaining its unique slim spring leg structure while simultaneously being compatible with other standard Lego bricks without requiring additional coupling elements
2Volume of moving object
If the first brick part is telescopically pushed into the second brick part, then the brick achieves a compact structure, but friction increases during movement
Solution Approach 1:
A resetting element in the form of a spring is introduced as an intermediary between the first and second brick parts. This spring element reduces friction during telescopic movement while maintaining the compact structure, allowing smooth movement between the connected brick parts
3Stability of the object's composition
If the two brick parts are supported against each other by a common resetting element, then the brick achieves stable support and resetting function, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The resetting function and support function are merged into a single common resetting element (spring) that is shared between the first and second brick parts. This unified approach provides stable support while avoiding the complexity of separate resetting mechanisms for each brick part
4Adaptability or versatility
If the brick is designed to be compatible with Lego grid dimension, then it achieves versatility with other bricks, but the individual design freedom is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The brick applies different design qualities to different parts: the connection interfaces conform to standard Lego grid dimensions for compatibility, while the main body maintains a unique slim spring leg structure for individual design. This local differentiation allows both versatility and design freedom to coexist
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 solution allows for seamless compatibility with other bricks in the Lego grid dimension, reduces friction during telescopic movement, and provides a secure, adjustable connection that can be easily detached, enhancing the brick's usability and stability in plug connection systems.
Implementation Method 1
the friction between the two brick parts can be reduced during the telescopic movement
Implementation Method 2
the two brick parts being supported against each other by a common resetting element arranged in the interior spaces
Data Source
AI summary
A brick (2) for the plug connection in a plug connection system in a space spanned by a longitudinal direction (4), a transverse direction (6) transverse to the longitudinal direction (4) and a height direction (8) transverse to the longitudinal direction (4) and transverse to the transverse direction (6), including:a first brick part (10) having an interior space (14) which is bounded by a wall (16) in the longitudinal direction (4) and the transverse direction (6) on both sides and in the height direction (8) on the top side (17), the first brick part (10) having a first plug connection element (18) on the top side (17).a second brick part (12) having an interior space (26) which is bounded by a wall (28) in the longitudinal direction (4).