Weighted Plush Toy Structure for Upright Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stuffed toys are difficult to maintain in an upright or stable position due to their compressible and light material, especially when portions are unevenly sized, requiring external support.
Innovation Solution
A stuffed plush toy design with a larger upper portion filled with compressible material and a lower portion filled with weighted material, where the weighted lower portion provides stability and supports the upper portion in various configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the stuffed toy is filled with compressible and light material, then the toy is soft and comfortable, but the toy cannot maintain a stable upright position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different fill materials in different portions of the toy. The upper portion (head and body) contains compressible soft material for comfort, while the lower portion (base) contains weighted material for stability. This spatial differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between softness and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The weighted fill material in the lower portion acts as a counterweight to balance the larger upper portion. The high density and mass of the weighted material create a low center of gravity that counteracts the top-heavy design, enabling the toy to maintain upright stability despite having a large head and body.
2Shape
If the upper portion is made larger than the lower portion, then the toy has a more appealing appearance, but the toy becomes even more difficult to balance
Solution Approach 1:
The weighted fill material serves as a counterweight that compensates for the top-heavy proportions. By concentrating mass in the lower portion, the patent creates a low center of gravity that stabilizes the toy despite the larger upper portion, resolving the contradiction between appealing shape and balancing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the density parameter of the fill material in the lower portion by using weighted material with higher density than the upper portion. This parameter change increases the mass concentration in the base, lowering the center of gravity and improving stability while maintaining the desired head-to-body proportion.
3Device complexity
If the stuffed toy uses uniform light material throughout, then the manufacturing is simple, but the toy requires external support to maintain position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the fill material between upper and lower portions. The lower portion uses weighted material while the upper portion uses compressible material, creating functional differentiation that enables independent positioning without external support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the internal volume into separate regions with different fill materials. The upper internal volume contains compressible material while the lower internal volume contains weighted material, allowing each portion to serve its specific function independently.
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
The design allows the toy to maintain stable positions, such as seated or overhanging, without external support, by utilizing the weighted lower portion to counteract the moment of the larger upper portion.
Implementation Method 1
a lower portion defining a lower portion height, a lower portion width, and a lower internal volume including a weighted fill material having a mass and a density greater than the upper portion stuffing
Data Source
AI summary
A stuffed plush toy includes an upper portion defining an upper portion height, an upper portion width, and an upper internal volume including an upper portion fill material. The stuffed plush toy includes a lower portion defining a lower portion height, a lower portion width, and a lower internal volume including a weighted fill material having a mass and a density greater than the upper portion stuffing. At least one of the upper portion height or the upper portion width are at least two times greater than the lower portion height or the lower portion width, respectively.