Toy Block Assembly Unit With Universal Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-assembly block toy sets often require users to purchase additional unit blocks of specific sizes and shapes, limiting creativity and imagination when building structures of unknown shapes, as commercially available sets typically include standardized blocks.
Innovation Solution
The assembly unit for toy blocks features a side plate with coupling members that include protrusions and grooves, and top and bottom plates with threaded connections, allowing for flexible engagement and disengagement to form various shapes and sizes by coupling and decoupling in different configurations, such as hexahedrons, polyhedrons, and cylindrical forms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standardized unit blocks are used in commercially available toy sets, then manufacturing and inventory management become simplified, but user creativity is limited when building structures of unknown shapes or sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling member is designed with a universal interface that can connect to multiple different block types and configurations. The protrusion-groove mechanism allows standardized connection while the modular design enables adaptation to various shapes and sizes, making a single block type serve multiple structural purposes
2Reliability
If additional unit blocks of specific sizes and shapes are required to complete desired structures, then structural completeness is achieved, but user cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The block is divided into functional segments: a body portion and a coupling member. This segmentation allows the coupling member to be standardized while the body can vary in shape and size, enabling structural completeness through configuration rather than through having every possible block type
Solution Approach 2:
A single standardized coupling member design can interface with multiple block configurations and orientations, reducing the need for specialized blocks for each structural requirement. The universal coupling interface allows one block type to fulfill multiple structural roles
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple coupling members are provided on each block for various directions, then assembly flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity and part count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling member is positioned asymmetrically on the block body, allowing a single coupling member to serve multiple directional functions. The asymmetric placement enables connection in various directions without requiring symmetric duplication of coupling members on all faces
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly unit includes side plate having first coupling member on first side, second coupling member on second side, and third coupling member on each of third and fourth sides, top plate including fourth coupling member and top stud, and bottom plate including fifth coupling member and bottom stud. The first coupling member is engaged with the second coupling member of neighboring side plate. The fourth coupling member is engaged with the third coupling member. The fifth coupling member is engaged with the third coupling member. The first coupling member includes protrusion. The second coupling member includes groove. The protrusion is fitted into the groove of the neighboring side plate. The third coupling member includes thread. Each of the fourth and fifth coupling members includes thread. The fourth and fifth coupling members are engaged with the third coupling member in a screwed manner using the threads.