Transformable Sphere Toy with Retractable Spring Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing model toys lack a mechanism to transform their shape without adding or manipulating parts, limiting their versatility and interactive capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A sphere-shaped toy with a retractable mechanism, featuring a hollow sphere with a cut and a convex protuberance, utilizing internal springs and hinges to change its shape upon impact, allowing for various identities and designs without adding new parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a retractable mechanism with internal springs and hinges is used to transform shape, then the toy's versatility and interactive capabilities are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The internal body is nested within the hollow sphere, allowing the toy to transform from a compact spherical shape to an extended figure shape. The hinges connect the internal body to the sphere caps, enabling the transformation while keeping all components integrated within a single toy structure, thus achieving versatility without requiring multiple separate parts or complex assembly mechanisms.
2Strength
If the body is constituted by one single part, then the rigidity and resistance are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The toy is divided into two main segments: the hollow sphere and the internal body, connected by hinges. This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured separately with standard precision tolerances, then assembled together. The hinges provide the necessary articulation while maintaining overall structural rigidity when the toy is in its extended figure configuration.
3Reliability
If internal springs are used to maintain hinges under tension, then the transformation reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The internal springs automatically maintain the hinges under tension during transformation, ensuring reliable operation without requiring external intervention or complex control mechanisms. The springs are integrated into the existing hinge structure, providing continuous tension to keep the internal body properly positioned during both compact and extended states, thereby improving transformation reliability while adding minimal complexity.
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
Enables transformation from a compact to an extended shape, providing increased rigidity and resistance, and allowing for customizable appearances based on color, pattern, and adhesive variations, enhancing the toy's versatility and interactive potential.
Implementation Method 1
two internal springs that maintain these hinges under tension to maintain the body inside the sphere
Implementation Method 2
when the sphere (1) receives a strike or is pressed, the internal body of the sphere (1) moves the body with the impact (4)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes a toy with a retractable mechanism capable of transforming its original compact shape into a new entity, comprising: a hollow sphere (1) provided with a cut on the lower part thereof (2), on the upper end a convex protuberance is projected (3), provided with a modified asymmetric cylinder, which reduces its size in the upper end assimilating the neck of the body of the sphere (4), formed by two hinges of plastic material adjoined to both caps (5); and two internal springs that maintain these hinges under tension to maintain the body inside the sphere (6) which, when pressed, activates the operation of the main spring (7) in such a way that, when the sphere (1) receives a strike or is pressed, an identity different from the initial one is shown.