Trophy device and method of making the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current trophy assembly methods require manual, upside-down assembly and alignment of parts, leading to instability and difficulty in securing columns, especially during handling and shipping, and lack efficient interchangeability of plaques.
Innovation Solution
A trophy apparatus comprising cylindrical columns with grooves, a base piece with top grooves, a lid piece with bottom grooves, and a plaque mount with U-shaped prongs and inner tracks, allowing for secure attachment and easy interchangeability of plaque pieces, enhancing assembly efficiency and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual assembly methods are used with nuts and couplers, then trophy parts can be assembled, but assembly requires upside-down positioning and balancing acts, creating difficulty in alignment and securing columns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional assembly approach by having columns extend downward from the lid piece rather than upward from the base. The lid piece with downward-extending columns is placed first on the trophy body, allowing gravity to assist alignment. The base piece is then positioned to receive the column ends, eliminating the need for upside-down assembly and manual balancing acts.
Solution Approach 2:
The trophy is divided into distinct modular components: a lid piece with downward-extending columns, a base piece with receiving grooves, and interchangeable plaque pieces. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled in a logical sequence without complex alignment requirements.
2Device complexity
If columns are held in place solely by nut tightness, then assembly is simple, but columns can easily shift around during handling and shipping
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of securing columns from below with nuts on an upward-extending structure, the patent inverts the approach by having columns extend downward from the lid piece. The base piece receives the column ends with grooves that provide mechanical constraint, and additional securing features can be applied from below, improving stability during handling and shipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The base piece acts as an intermediary component that receives and secures the column ends. The grooves in the base piece provide a mechanical interface that constrains column movement, while additional securing features on the base piece can further stabilize the columns without requiring complex mechanisms.
3Reliability
If plaques are attached using mounting tape or screws, then plaques are secured to the trophy, but it is cumbersome or ineffective to change a plaque
Solution Approach 1:
The plaque attachment system is made dynamic and interchangeable. Plaque pieces can be removed and reattached to different trophy configurations by positioning them over the receiving features on the base piece. This allows easy replacement and reconfiguration of plaques without permanent attachment methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The base piece is designed with universal receiving features that can accommodate different plaque pieces. The same base piece structure can receive various plaque designs, making the trophy system versatile and allowing easy customization or replacement of plaques.
Data Source
AI summary
A trophy apparatus, comprising, in at least one embodiment, a plurality of columns; a base piece comprising a plurality of grooves, each configured to attach to a bottom end of each of the plurality of columns, and further comprising an interface configured to couple to a plaque mount; and a lid piece comprising a plurality of grooves, each configured to attach to a top end of each of the plurality of columns.