Yoga Block with Arcuate Corners and Honeycomb Core
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional yoga blocks are not environmentally and ecologically friendly, and they often have sharp edges that can be uncomfortable to handle during use.
Innovation Solution
A yoga block constructed from a vertically-oriented stack of a recyclable composite sandwich structure with a honeycomb core, attached to upper and lower facing sheets, and covered with a recyclable corrugating material that has linerboard and features arcuate corner openings to eliminate sharp edges, providing a comfortable and eco-friendly option.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional materials (foam, cork, wood, bamboo) are used for yoga blocks, then the blocks provide basic functionality, but they are not environmentally and ecologically friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The yoga block uses a composite sandwich structure combining honeycomb paper core with kraft paper linerboards, creating an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional foam, cork, wood, or bamboo materials while maintaining structural integrity and functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters by using recyclable and biodegradable papers instead of conventional non-recyclable materials, transforming the environmental characteristics of the yoga block without compromising its basic functional properties
2Ease of operation
If conventional yoga blocks are manufactured with simple rectangular shapes, then they are easy to manufacture, but they have sharp 90 degree corners that are uncomfortable to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The outer cover incorporates arcuate corner openings that replace sharp 90-degree corners with curved, rounded edges, making the yoga block more comfortable to handle while maintaining the overall rectangular form for manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The outer cover is designed as a separate component that can be independently formed with arcuate corners and then assembled to the honeycomb core, allowing the comfort feature to be added without fundamentally changing the manufacturing process of the core structure
Data Source
AI summary
A yoga block formed from one or more layers of rectangularly-shaped interior composite structures and a wraparound cover material forming open outer corners into the composite structures. The yoga block is optionally in kit form with the entire wraparound cover material provided on a single flat sheet with the interior composite structures for assembly of the yoga block from the kit.