Translucent Game Piece Carrier with Interchangeable Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Role-playing games require adaptable, lightweight, and visually detailed game pieces that can be easily produced in variety and customized with additional features, while maintaining portability and storage efficiency, to enhance gameplay on evolving landscapes.
Innovation Solution
The production of game pieces featuring a printed character image on a translucent carrier with a base that allows for upright positioning and interchangeable elements, such as wings or weapons, using a Perspex or acrylic substrate with a foot portion that securely fits into a standardized slot, enabling diverse and detailed visual representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional printed game pieces are used, then visual detail can be achieved, but tactile representation and three-dimensional feel are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin translucent carrier (flexible shell) that allows light transmission for visual detail while maintaining physical form for tactile representation. The carrier is cut to outline the character silhouette, creating a three-dimensional effect when viewed through the translucent material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional printed images to three-dimensional translucent carriers that can be viewed from multiple angles. The carrier's thickness and translucency create depth and dimensionality, allowing light to pass through and reveal the character image in a new dimensional context.
2Adaptability or versatility
If game pieces are made with additional features and customization options, then adaptability increases, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The game piece is segmented into modular components: a base portion and a carrier portion with attachment features. This segmentation allows for easy customization by attaching different carriers to the same base, or combining multiple pieces, without complicating the manufacturing of individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The base portion is designed with universal attachment features (slots, protrusions) that can accommodate various carrier designs. This universal interface allows a single base type to support multiple character representations and customization options, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
3Weight of moving object
If game pieces are made lightweight and portable, then storage efficiency improves, but structural strength and stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The game piece combines different materials with complementary properties: a rigid base portion for stability and attachment, and a translucent carrier material for lightweight portability. This composite construction maintains structural integrity while minimizing weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The base portion is designed with a curved bottom surface that provides stable contact with the game board surface. The curvature distributes weight and contact forces, enhancing stability despite the lightweight construction. The foot portion at the bottom of the carrier also features curvature for stable positioning.
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 solution allows for a wide range of customizable game pieces that are lightweight, portable, and stackable, enhancing gameplay with detailed visual representation and adaptable features, while maintaining standardized sizes for compatibility across evolving game spaces.
Implementation Method 1
The translucency of the carrier may therefore magnify the character image, refract the character image, or otherwise enhance the visual appearance of the character image
Data Source
AI summary
A game piece and method of manufacture includes a generally planar transparent carrier approximately 1 to 4 mm thick. A front view of a detailed character image is printed on the reverse side of the carrier, which is visible through the carrier obverse side. An opaque silhouette of a neutral color is superimposed upon the character image front view and a rear view of the character image is printed superimposed upon the opaque silhouette. The carrier is then cut from a substrate with a perimetric edge outlining the character image. A foot portion is included, projected upon from the lowermost portion of the perimetric edge. A base portion is included, cut from a similar substrate. The base portion includes a slot into which the foot portion of the carrier securably inserts. The result is a lightweight, packable, transportable, and detailed game piece operable in an associated game space.