Toy Construction Set Pin and Flexible Sheet Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toy construction sets lack options for securely attaching flexible sheets to rigid structures without risking detachment during assembly or disassembly, as the head of the coupling pins either cannot pass through the holes due to size mismatch or requires elastic deformation, which may lead to material damage.
Innovation Solution
The size and shape of the hole and head of the coupling pin are adapted to prevent passage without tearing or plastic deformation, with a neck and flange design allowing secure attachment but preventing detachment once assembled, using a panhead shape and elastically bendable materials to ensure secure and durable connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the head of the coupling pin is made large to prevent passage through the hole, then the sheet cannot be detached accidentally, but the sheet cannot be attached without tearing or plastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling pin is segmented into distinct functional zones: a large head for secure retention, a narrow neck for passing through the hole, and a flange for additional securing. This segmentation allows the pin to provide both secure attachment and ease of installation without requiring force or deformation of the flexible sheet.
2Ease of manufacture
If the head of the coupling pin is made small to allow passage through the hole, then the sheet can be attached easily, but the sheet may detach during assembly or disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling pin design nests multiple functional elements within a single component: the narrow neck passes through the hole, the flange provides additional securing within the assembly, and the large head remains outside to prevent detachment. This nested structure achieves both easy attachment and secure retention.
3Ease of manufacture
If elastic deformation is used to pass the head through the hole, then the sheet can be attached, but material damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling pin utilizes parameter changes in its geometry along its length - specifically varying the cross-sectional area from the narrow neck to the large head - to enable passage through the hole without requiring forceful deformation of the flexible sheet, thereby avoiding material damage while ensuring secure attachment.
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 enables easy attachment of flexible sheets to coupling pins while ensuring they remain securely attached to assembled constructions, providing new functionalities without risk of disengagement and reducing material damage, allowing for more complex and realistic structure constructions.
Implementation Method 1
it is possible to pass through the hole in the flexible sheet by elastic deformation of the flexible sheet
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A toy construction set comprising a number of toy building blocks (1) forming a construction having multiple coupling sockets (4), and where the toy building set further comprises a number of coupling pins (3) and a flexible sheet (2) having at least one hole (10), and where each of the coupling pins (3) extends in a longitudinal direction between a first end being shaped for releasable attachment of the pin to one of the coupling sockets (4, 4a), and a second end extending away from the coupling socket (4, 4a) in the attached position of the pin (3) in the socket (4, 4a), and where the second end of the pin comprises a head (7) arranged distally on a neck (8) that has a cross section allowing it to pass freely through the hole (10), and wherein the size and shape of the hole (10) and the size and shape of the head (7) are adapted such that it is impossible to pass the head (7) through the hole (10) without tearing or providing a plastic deformation on the flexible sheet (2).