Toy Building Set Ball Socket Joint Rotational Freedom
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toy building sets with ball and socket joints lack versatility in connecting elements, limiting the variety of constructions and figures that can be built using the same basic elements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating two types of connecting rods with different cross sections, where one type has a larger cross section near the ball, reducing the rotational freedom of the socket, allowing the same socket to be mounted on balls connected by either rod, enabling more diverse articulation patterns with a limited number of elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single type of connection rod with uniform cross section is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the degree of freedom for socket rotation is uniform and limited, reducing construction versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The connection rod is segmented into two distinct types based on cross-sectional dimensions. The first type has a larger cross section that limits socket rotation, while the second type has a smaller cross section that allows greater rotation freedom. This segmentation enables the same socket to interact differently with different rod types, multiplying construction possibilities without requiring multiple socket variations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the connection rod system are assigned different cross-sectional qualities. By varying the cross-sectional area at specific locations (near the ball connection), the design creates localized constraints on rotational movement. This allows precise control over articulation patterns in different parts of the constructed figure, enabling both rigid and flexible joints using the same basic element types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of building elements are provided to achieve diverse constructions, then construction versatility improves, but the number of elements and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The socket element is designed with universal compatibility to receive balls from both first and second types of connection rods. This multi-functionality allows a single socket design to serve multiple articulation purposes by simply changing the connection rod type, rather than requiring different sockets for different joint types. The same physical element (socket) performs different functions based on which rod type it connects to.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter (cross-sectional area) of the connection rod to alter the functional behavior of the joint. By varying this single parameter, the system achieves different rotational degrees of freedom without changing the fundamental design of the balls or sockets. This parameter-based differentiation allows diverse articulation patterns to be achieved with minimal variation in element count.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
A toy building set comprising a group of building elements, each having at least one ball 1, 2 arranged on the building element, and where the ball 1, 2 is connected to other parts of the building element via a connection rod 3, 4, and where the toy building set further comprises at least one element having a socket formed by two jaws 5, being arranged and adapted for receiving said ball 1, 2 in order to form a ball and socket joint, and where the cross section of the connection rod 3, from where it is connected to the ball 1 and at least a distance away from the ball 1, is smaller than the cross section of the ball 1, so that it gives a certain degree of freedom for the socket to rotate around the ball 1. The connection rods 3, 4 also comprise connections rods 4 having a relatively large cross section, so that the connection rods 4 with a relatively large cross section reduces the degree of freedom for the socket to rotate around the ball 2.