Toy Brick Coupling with N-Angled Prism Pegs for Wear Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toy building blocks experience a significant reduction in coupling force over time due to wear and cold flow, leading to unstable connections and models falling apart, with conventional designs relying on punctual connections that are difficult to disassemble and reassemble.
Innovation Solution
The toy building blocks are designed with n-angled straight prism push-in knobs and floor domes, featuring double-web retaining lugs and octagonal shapes with smooth or rounded edges, along with spacers and clamping battlements, to achieve wide-area jamming and increased frictional engagement, allowing for stable and secure connections without requiring precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If punctual connection with cylindrical primary pegs and secondary pegs is used, then assembly is simple, but coupling force reduces significantly over time due to wear and cold flow
Solution Approach 1:
The connection interface is segmented into multiple contact points around the circumference of the pegs. Instead of a single punctual contact, the n-angled prism geometry creates multiple discrete contact zones distributed around the perimeter, transforming a point connection into a distributed multi-point connection system that maintains coupling force over time
Solution Approach 2:
The connection transitions from a one-dimensional punctual contact to a two-dimensional areal contact by using n-angled straight prisms with multiple faces. The contact occurs across multiple surfaces around the peg circumference rather than at a single point, adding a dimensional aspect to the connection interface that increases stability
2Strength
If more primary pegs are used to increase fixation strength, then connection becomes stronger, but disassembly and reassembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The n-angled prism geometry creates different local qualities at different contact points around the peg circumference. The multiple flat faces provide varying contact characteristics that allow for controlled engagement and disengagement, where the geometry itself facilitates both strong connection and easy release without requiring additional pegs
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional cylindrical pegs are used, then manufacturing is simple, but wear resistance is poor leading to connection degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses n-angled straight prisms with flat faces instead of cylindrical curved surfaces. This geometric change from curved to flat surfaces increases wear resistance because flat surfaces maintain consistent contact geometry over time, reducing wear-induced dimensional changes that occur with cylindrical surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The n-angled prism introduces asymmetric geometry with multiple distinct faces rather than symmetric cylindrical rotation. This asymmetry creates defined contact planes that resist wear more effectively, as the flat surfaces engage in predictable face-to-face contact rather than point-to-surface contact that degrades with wear
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
This design enhances wear resistance and maintains a consistent coupling force, enabling secure and easy assembly and disassembly of blocks, even after repeated use, with improved material efficiency and safety features.
Implementation Method 1
achieve wide-area jamming and increased frictional engagement, allowing for stable and secure connections
Data Source
Figure 1a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 3c~3d
AI summary
1. The invention relates to planarly connectable toy bricks comprising an unilaterally open, box-like hollow body and plug-in studs at the bottom outer side and bottom domes on the bottom inner side. 2.1 Differently designed plug-in building blocks comprising an unilaterally open, box-like hollow body and cylindrical coupling pieces/primary pins (pluggable studs) at the bottom outer side as well as secondary pins (floor domes) on the bottom inner side are known from the prior art. 2.2 In order to achieve an increased frictional force in such toy bricks with only a tangential clamping - and proceeding from a toy brick according to the preamble of patent claim 1 - , both the plug-in studs (S) on the upper side of the toy brick (SB) and the floor domes (B) on the bottom side of the toy brick (SB) are according to the invention designed as an n-rectangular straight prism having parallel and equally long side edges. In addition, the ribs are designed as double-webbed retaining protrusions (2), the plug-in studs (S) have through-holes (4) of different shapes at the bottom as well as stabilizing webs (5) which extend between the retaining protrusions (2) and parallel thereto. Finally, a click system is provided, which ensures that the user has apart from the visual and haptic perception an acoustic perception of the completion of the clamping of two toy bricks (SB). 2.3 The invention relates to the field of toy bricks.