Tower Escape

This toy is made from a transparent box containing a platform supported by a large spring. Two holes at either end on the top allow kids to drop in small weights in the shape of little people in an effort to compress the spring to the level of the escape route. If the platform becomes unbalanced, the little people will slide and fall to the bottom. Additional difficulty is added by the fact that the farther the spring is compressed, the greater the force of impact of the falling people. I got the idea for this toy from the game Jenga.

The toy is meant to teach about balance, the difference height makes when dropping items, and the motion of springs.

Though the tower may be made of clear plastic, the little people need to be something heavy and unbreakable like metal, so preferably a plastic that is durable and not easily scratched. The little people are a choking hazard, but this toy is more for children seven and up.

Toy concept 1 | Toy concept 2

Rosemary Luo
Carnegie Mellon University
January 29,2008