Tennis cart with automatic guiding and fixed-point ball picking function

Abstract

This invention provides a tennis cart with automatic ball guiding and fixed-point ball retrieval functions, belonging to the field of sports equipment technology. It includes: a frame with casters at the bottom, a lifting and adjusting mechanism, a ball guiding mechanism, and a fixed-point ball retriever. The lifting and adjusting mechanism is mounted on the frame; the ball guiding mechanism is mounted on the lifting and adjusting mechanism; the ball guiding mechanism has a spiral guiding track that collects and guides the balls, enabling the balls to roll orderly towards the bottom outlet of the spiral guiding track; the fixed-point ball retriever includes a guiding pipe and a fixed-point ball retrieval chamber at one end of the guiding pipe; the other end of the guiding pipe is connected to the bottom outlet of the spiral guiding track, achieving fixed-point orderly ball retrieval. This invention solves the problem of scattered balls through the spiral guiding mechanism and the problem of random ball retrieval and distraction through the fixed-point ball retriever, improving ball supply efficiency and teaching effectiveness in multi-ball training while protecting the coach's health.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of sports equipment technology, specifically relating to a tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions. Background Technology

[0002] Multi-ball training in tennis is a core method for consolidating tennis skills and improving teaching efficiency. During training, coaches need to continuously supply balls to students using a tennis cart. In current high-frequency multi-ball training scenarios, coaches need to bend over, twist their torso, and reach out to grab balls for extended periods at high frequencies. This work mode is characterized by high repetition and high load, which can easily lead to fatigue of the lower back muscles and even induce chronic sports injuries in the long run. At the same time, coaches need to quickly catch balls while paying attention to the students' technical movements. As the number of balls in the cart decreases and the ball position drops, balls are often missed or missed during the catching process, causing coaches to be distracted and look down to search for them. This not only disrupts the continuity of the teaching rhythm and reduces the continuity of ball supply, but also directly affects the overall effectiveness of multi-ball training. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a tennis cart with automatic ball guiding and fixed-point ball retrieval functions, aiming to solve the technical problems of existing tennis carts, which require coaches to bend over, twist their torso, and reach out to grab balls for a long time and at a high frequency, resulting in excessive load on the coach's lower back and the low ball retrieval efficiency due to the randomness of ball retrieval.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: to provide a tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions, comprising: The frame has casters at the bottom; A lifting and adjusting mechanism is installed on the vehicle frame; A spherical guide mechanism is installed on the lifting and adjusting mechanism; the spherical guide mechanism has a spiral guide track for receiving and guiding the sphere, so as to realize that the sphere rolls in an orderly manner towards the bottom outlet of the spiral guide track; The ball-collecting device includes a guide tube and a ball-collecting chamber disposed at one end of the guide tube; the other end of the guide tube is connected to the bottom outlet of the spiral guide track, and the ball-collecting chamber has an open cavity for accommodating a preset number of balls, thereby realizing the orderly collection of balls at a fixed point.

[0005] In one possible implementation, the bottom of the spiral guide track is disposed on a base plate, and the space formed by the spiral guide track spiraling around the edge of the base plate forms an item storage cavity; the upper end of the lifting adjustment mechanism is installed in the middle of the base plate for adjusting the height of the spiral guide track.

[0006] In one possible implementation, side plates are respectively provided on the inner and outer sides of the spiral guide track; the side plates and the bottom plate constitute a storage box, and the spiral guide track is disposed in the interlayer formed by the inner and outer side plates of the storage box.

[0007] In one possible implementation, the spiral guide track is U-shaped or arc-shaped along a vertical cross-section perpendicular to the direction of tennis ball flow.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the lifting adjustment mechanism is a screw jack, the upper end of the screw of the screw jack is installed at the bottom of the base plate, and a crank is installed at the end of the worm gear of the screw jack; the base of the screw jack is installed on the support plate of the vehicle frame, and the support plate is provided with a lifting through hole through which the screw passes.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the frame includes two frames with openings to one side, the two frames being connected back-to-back to form an I-shape, the openings of the frames forming storage space; a support plate is connected between the two frames, and the lifting adjustment mechanism is mounted on the support plate.

[0010] In one possible implementation, one of the frames extends upward to form the handlebar frame of the tennis cart; the handlebar frame is provided with a push handle.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the handlebar rack is equipped with a storage box for storing a water bottle or mobile phone.

[0012] In one possible implementation, a storage frame is provided within the storage space formed by the frame.

[0013] In one feasible approach, the frame is formed by bending stainless steel tubing.

[0014] The tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions provided by this invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art: (1) To address the issue of coaches frequently bending over, twisting their torso, and reaching for the ball, which puts a heavy load on their lower back and easily leads to muscle fatigue and chronic sports injuries, a height adjustment mechanism is installed. This mechanism can adjust the height of the ball guide mechanism and the fixed-point ball retriever according to the coach's height and operating posture. The height of the ball retrieval operation can be adjusted to a comfortable operating range for the human body, eliminating the need to repeatedly bend over or lean forward to accommodate the height of the vehicle. At the same time, it avoids the actions of reaching for the ball from a distance and twisting the torso to reach out, greatly reducing the repetitive weight-bearing actions of the lower back, shoulders, neck, and upper limbs. This reduces the continuous strain on muscles from the root, avoids chronic sports injuries such as lower back pain and lumbar muscle strain caused by long-term repetitive labor, improves the coach's operating posture, and enhances the comfort and health of long-term teaching operations.

[0015] (2) To address the issues of ball placement decreasing after the ball quantity in the vehicle is reduced, resulting in random and chaotic ball retrieval, easy ball leakage, missed retrieval, and low ball retrieval efficiency, a ball guiding mechanism composed of a spiral guide track is adopted. This mechanism utilizes gravity guidance to achieve orderly collection and directional rolling of tennis balls, avoiding scattered accumulation of balls; replacing the traditional disorderly ball storage mode of the vehicle. Specifically, relying on the structural guidance of the spiral guide track, all tennis balls are automatically and orderly collected towards the bottom outlet by gravity, preventing the balls from being scattered, buried deep, or misplaced. This solves the problem of scattered and disorderly ball positions after the ball quantity is reduced, and eliminates the obstacles to ball retrieval caused by disorderly ball distribution.

[0016] (3) To address the problem of coaches frequently looking down to search for balls due to the lack of fixed ball retrieval points, resulting in distraction, this invention employs a fixed-point ball retrieval device consisting of a guide pipe and a fixed-point ball retrieval chamber. The guide pipe connects to the outlet of the spiral guide track, and tennis balls are uniformly collected into the open cavity of the fixed-point ball retrieval chamber via the spiral guide track and guide pipe, forming a fixed ball retrieval point and achieving fixed-point, quantitative, and orderly ball delivery. Coaches no longer need to look down to scan the entire vehicle and search for balls, solving the problems of missed balls, missed catches, and ball-finding delays that disrupt the continuity of ball supply, damage the teaching rhythm, and reduce the overall effectiveness of multi-ball training. Coaches can concentrate their attention on correcting students' technical movements and providing teaching guidance throughout the process, eliminating the problem of distraction caused by searching for balls and focusing on completing continuous ball supply and teaching work.

[0017] This invention addresses ergonomic fatigue through a lifting and adjusting mechanism, ball scattering through a spiral guiding mechanism, and random ball retrieval and distraction issues through a fixed-point ball retriever. These mechanisms work in synergy to protect the coach's health while ensuring uninterrupted ball supply and designated retrieval points. The ball retrieval action is simple and standardized, and the ball supply rhythm is stable and consistent, preventing training sessions from being interrupted by retrieval malfunctions. This ensures the continuity and stability of ball supply in multi-ball training, maintains a smooth teaching rhythm, and maximizes the efficiency and effectiveness of ball supply in multi-ball training.

[0018] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this specification. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 3 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 ; Figure 4 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 ; Figure 5 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 ; Figure 6 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 ; Figure 7 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the spherical guide track provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 A comparison diagram of the torso load effect verification between a tennis cart and a traditional tennis cart provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a comparison chart showing the ball-catching efficiency of a tennis cart and a traditional tennis cart, provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 A comparison diagram of the hand grabbing trajectory distances in the three stages (front, middle, and back) of a tennis cart provided in an embodiment of the present invention and a traditional tennis cart.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Spiral guide rail; 2. Tennis ball; 3. Storage cavity; 4. Racket; 5. Handlebar frame; 6. Storage box; 7. Cart handle; 8. Lifting and adjusting mechanism; 81. Crank handle; 9. Frame; 91. Frame; 92. Connecting pipe; 93. Support plate; 10. Storage frame; 11. Fixed-point ball retriever; 111. Guide pipe; 112. Fixed-point ball retrieval compartment; 12. Storage box. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions, and the beneficial effects of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0022] Unless otherwise expressly defined, the use of terms such as "first," "second," or "third" in the claims, description, and accompanying drawings of this invention is for distinguishing different objects and not for describing a specific order.

[0023] Similar to the understanding in the Examination Guidelines, in this application, expressions such as "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number; expressions such as "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments in this application, "multiple" means two or more (including two), and similar expressions related to "multiple" are also understood in this way, such as "multiple groups" and "multiple times," unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0024] In the claims, description and accompanying drawings of this invention, the terms "comprising," "having," and variations thereof are used to mean "including but not limited to."

[0025] Unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," "fixing," and "setting," etc., used in the description of the embodiments of this application should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral setting; it can be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communication connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal connection of two components or the interaction between two components. For those skilled in the art to which this application pertains, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0026] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0027] It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used in this application specification means any combination of one or more of the associated listed items, as well as all possible combinations, and includes such combinations.

[0028] In existing high-frequency, multi-ball training scenarios, coaches need to perform actions such as bending over, twisting their torso, and reaching out to grab objects for extended periods at high frequencies. The problems and causes are as follows: The first problem is that the height of the tennis cart equipment is not adjustable. Cause analysis: Existing tennis carts typically use a fixed-height box structure, with their center of gravity and ball storage position often designed to be low for stability. However, when coaches retrieve the ball, they must frequently perform deep hip and knee flexion movements to reach the ball at the bottom of the box, causing the lower back muscles to be in a continuous eccentric contraction state, thus leading to cumulative fatigue and injury.

[0029] The second problem is that the tennis cart lacks a ball alignment and guidance mechanism. Cause Analysis: Due to the material properties of tennis balls, the coefficient of friction between the balls and between the balls and the cart wall is relatively high. When a large number of balls are piled up, they cannot roll smoothly from the far end to the coach's side by gravity, creating a "dead zone" for retrieving the balls. This forces the coach to frequently interrupt the feeding rhythm after retrieving the balls on the near side and manually move the balls on the far side to a more convenient position. In addition, the disorderly piled balls are prone to rolling together due to uneven force when grasping, leading to unstable grasping or missing the target.

[0030] The challenge lies in how to achieve automatic and orderly arrangement of spheres within the limited space of mobile devices, while flexibly adjusting the retrieval height to meet ergonomic requirements without increasing operational complexity.

[0031] This invention addresses the problems of existing tennis carts during multi-ball training, such as frequent bending over to retrieve balls, unstable ball retrieval positions, low ball-grabbing efficiency, and high lumbar load. It proposes a tennis cart with adjustable height and a fixed ball-grabbing function based on human factors engineering.

[0032] The theoretical basis of this invention is as follows: (1) Principles of Human Factors Engineering Human factors engineering, with its core concept of "human-centeredness," emphasizes the comprehensive consideration of users' anthropometric parameters, biomechanical characteristics, and operational behavior patterns during product design. This invention, based on relevant data from the national standard "Anthropometric Dimensions of Chinese Adults," selects key indicators such as height, elbow height, hand function height, palm length, and palm width at the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles for both male and female populations. It quantitatively analyzes the operating space and scientifically calculates the number of balls that can be grasped. Furthermore, it determines the optimal ball-grabbing height range for the tennis cart, ensuring that the user's torso flexion angle is controlled within 20° during operation, thereby maintaining a low muscle load and improving ball-grabbing efficiency.

[0033] (2) Mechanical Design Principles Based on mechanical structure design and motion transmission principles, this invention achieves the functional integration of a tennis cart through the coordinated design of a lifting and adjusting mechanism, a ball guiding mechanism, and a fixed-point ball retriever.

[0034] The lifting and adjusting mechanism uses a mechanical transmission device to achieve vertical adjustment of the basket. During the lifting process, the load is transferred to the base along the support column to form a stable force path. At the same time, a locking device is set to rigidly constrain the position after the target height is reached to prevent displacement or shaking during use.

[0035] The ball guiding mechanism adopts a spiral guiding track design, which enables the tennis balls to be arranged in an orderly manner within the track and gradually converge to the bottom outlet position under the action of gravity along a predetermined path. The outlet is smoothly connected to the ball guiding track and extends to the fixed-point ball picker. The spatial arrangement of the balls and the number of balls picked are controlled by limiting constraints to ensure that each pick is completed in a fixed position and the number of balls picked is consistent.

[0036] Please see Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions provided by the present invention will now be described. The tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions includes: a frame 9 with casters at the bottom, a lifting and adjusting mechanism 8, a ball flow guiding mechanism, and a fixed-point ball retriever 11. The lifting and adjusting mechanism 8 is mounted on the frame 9; the ball flow guiding mechanism is mounted on the lifting and adjusting mechanism 8; the ball flow guiding mechanism has a spiral flow guiding track 1 for receiving and guiding the balls, so as to realize the orderly rolling of the balls towards the bottom outlet of the spiral flow guiding track 1; the fixed-point ball retriever 11 includes a guide pipe 111 and a fixed-point ball retrieval chamber 112 disposed at one end of the guide pipe 111; the other end of the guide pipe 111 is connected to the bottom outlet of the spiral flow guiding track 1, and the fixed-point ball retrieval chamber 112 has an open cavity for accommodating a preset number of balls, realizing the orderly retrieval of balls at a fixed point.

[0037] Optionally, the fixed-point ball retrieval chamber 112 can hold one or two balls at a time, with multiple balls arranged in a row, the direction of which is perpendicular to the direction of the ball flow to the open cavity, allowing for hand grasping at once.

[0038] The tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions provided by this invention addresses the problems raised in the background art and has the following beneficial effects: (1) To address the issue of coaches frequently bending over, twisting their torso, and reaching for the ball, which puts a heavy load on their lower back and easily leads to muscle fatigue and chronic sports injuries, a height adjustment mechanism 8 is installed. This mechanism can adjust the height of the ball guiding mechanism and the fixed-point ball retriever 11 according to the coach's height and operating posture. This allows the ball retrieval operation height to be adjusted to a comfortable operating range for the human body, eliminating the need for repeated large-scale bending over and leaning to accommodate the height of the vehicle. At the same time, it avoids the actions of reaching for the ball from a distance and twisting the torso to reach out and grab the ball, significantly reducing repetitive weight-bearing actions on the lower back, shoulders, neck, and upper limbs. This reduces the continuous strain on muscles from the root, avoids chronic sports injuries such as lower back pain and lumbar muscle strain caused by long-term repetitive labor, improves the coach's operating posture, and enhances the comfort and health of long-term teaching operations.

[0039] (2) To address the issues of ball position drop after the ball quantity decreases, ball retrieval becomes random and chaotic, easily resulting in missed balls, missed catches, and low ball retrieval efficiency, a ball guiding mechanism composed of a spiral guide track is adopted. This mechanism utilizes gravity guidance to achieve orderly collection and directional rolling of the tennis balls 2, and to stably gather them at a fixed exit position, avoiding the scattered accumulation of balls and replacing the traditional disorderly ball storage mode of the vehicle. Specifically, relying on the structural guidance of the spiral guide track, all tennis balls 2 automatically and orderly collect towards the bottom exit by gravity, preventing the balls from being scattered, buried deep, or misplaced. This solves the problem of scattered balls and chaotic positions after the ball quantity decreases, and eliminates the ball retrieval obstacles caused by the disorderly distribution of balls.

[0040] (3) To address the problem of coaches frequently looking down to search for balls due to the lack of fixed ball retrieval points, resulting in distraction, this invention employs a fixed-point ball retrieval device 11 composed of a guide pipe 111 and a fixed-point ball retrieval chamber 112. The guide pipe 111 connects to the outlet of the spiral guide track. The tennis balls 2 are uniformly collected into the open cavity of the fixed-point ball retrieval chamber 112 via the spiral guide track and guide pipe 111, forming a fixed ball retrieval point, thus achieving fixed-point, quantitative, and orderly ball delivery. Coaches no longer need to look down to scan the entire vehicle and search for balls, solving the problems of missed balls, missed catches, and ball-finding delays that disrupt the continuity of ball supply, damage the teaching rhythm, and reduce the overall effectiveness of multi-ball training. Coaches can concentrate their attention on correcting students' technical movements and providing teaching guidance throughout the process, solving the problem of distraction caused by searching for balls, and focusing on completing continuous ball supply and teaching work.

[0041] In summary, this invention addresses the issue of ergonomic strain through the lifting and adjusting mechanism 8, the problem of scattered balls through the spiral guiding mechanism, and the issue of random ball retrieval and distraction through the fixed-point ball retrieval device 11. These mechanisms work in synergy to protect the coach's health while ensuring uninterrupted ball supply and fixed-point retrieval. The ball retrieval action is simple and standardized, and the ball supply rhythm is stable and continuous, preventing training sessions from being interrupted by ball retrieval malfunctions. This ensures the continuity and stability of ball supply in multi-ball training, maintains a smooth teaching rhythm, and maximizes the efficiency and effectiveness of ball supply in multi-ball training.

[0042] The frame 9 is equipped with casters at the bottom, which can flexibly switch training venues and follow the student's movement. While solving the core pain points, it does not sacrifice the portability and practicality of the equipment, and is suitable for various indoor and outdoor tennis training scenarios.

[0043] In some embodiments, see Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the bottom of the spiral guide track 1 is set on the base plate, and the spiral guide track 1 spirals around the edge of the base plate to form a storage cavity 3; the upper end of the lifting adjustment mechanism 8 is installed in the middle of the base plate to adjust the height of the spiral guide track 1.

[0044] The spiral guide track 1 spirals around the edge of the base plate to form a storage cavity 3, which is convenient for placing rackets 4, coaches' clothes, personal items, etc. It can also store tennis balls 2, enhancing the multi-functionality of the tennis cart and the user-friendly design.

[0045] In some embodiments, see Figures 5 to 6 As shown, side plates are respectively provided on the inner and outer sides of the spiral guide rail 1; the side plates and the bottom plate form a storage box 12, and the spiral guide rail 1 is set in the interlayer formed by the inner and outer side plates of the storage box 12. By using the side wall of the box to form the spiral guide rail 1, the storage box 12 integrates the functions of orderly guide rail 2 and storage, improving the usability and humanized design of the whole vehicle.

[0046] The side panels are preferably made of transparent material, which allows coaches to see directly the number of balls stored in the spiral guide track so that they can be replenished in a timely manner.

[0047] The vertical cross-section of the spiral guide track 1 along the direction perpendicular to the flow of the tennis ball 2 is U-shaped or semi-circular. With this design, side plates can be omitted on the inner and outer sides of the spiral guide track 1, and the tennis ball 2 can still flow in a spiral. When side plates are provided on the inner and outer sides of the spiral guide track 1, a box with the spiral guide track 1 and the side plates as side walls can be formed. The spiral guide track 1 is set in the interlayer of the box, that is, the interlayer formed between the inner and outer side plates.

[0048] In some embodiments, the spiral guide track 1 is U-shaped or arc-shaped (not shown in the figure) along the vertical cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the tennis ball 2. This design of the spiral guide track 1 naturally forms a limit to the flow of the tennis ball 2, which can ensure that the tennis ball 2 flows along the track without deviating or falling out of the track.

[0049] The U-shaped or arc-shaped surface is adapted to the size of the tennis ball 2, ensuring that the tennis balls 2 flow downwards in sequence.

[0050] Optionally, the cross-section of the item storage cavity 3 enclosed by the spiral guide track spiral 1 is circular or rectangular.

[0051] In some embodiments, see Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the lifting and adjusting mechanism 8 is a screw jack. The upper end of the screw jack is installed at the bottom of the base plate, and a crank handle 81 is installed at the end of the worm gear. The base of the screw jack is installed on the support plate 93 of the frame 9, and the support plate 93 is provided with a lifting through hole through which the screw jack passes. By manually cranking the crank handle 81, the screw jack is raised or lowered, thereby adjusting the ball-collecting device 11 to a ball-collecting height suitable for the user's height.

[0052] If the screw jack is used as embodiment 1 of the lifting adjustment mechanism 8, then embodiment 2 of the lifting adjustment mechanism 8 can be a screw and nut jack, with a handle installed on the nut, and rotating the nut drives the screw to lift or lower; embodiment 3 of the lifting adjustment mechanism 8 can be an electric push rod, and the height of the spiral guide rail and the fixed ball picker 11 can be adjusted by manually pressing the button installed on the handlebar frame 5.

[0053] To improve the stability and balance of the lead screw supporting the spiral guide rail, oblique reinforcing bars can be symmetrically installed between the support plate 93 and the lead screw. The oblique reinforcing bars can be made of stainless steel pipes.

[0054] In some embodiments, see Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the frame 9 includes two frames 91 with openings to one side. The two frames 91 are connected back to back to form an I-shape, and the openings of the frames 91 form storage space. A support plate 93 is connected between the two frames 91, and a lifting adjustment mechanism 8 is installed on the support plate 93.

[0055] Among them, two parallel support plates 93 are set between the two frames 91. The base of the screw jack is installed on the upper support plate 93, and the screw passes through the lower support plate 93. In this way, the screw can be raised and lowered vertically through two-point support, without deflection, thus ensuring the smoothness of the lifting of the spiral guide rail 1.

[0056] The upper surface of the I-beam frame 9 forms the lower limit of the lead screw's downward movement, at which point the helical guide rail can be supported on the upper surface of the I-beam frame 9. Simultaneously, a limit nut is installed at the lower end of the lead screw, forming the upper limit of its upward movement. When the limit nut abuts against the bottom surface of the lower support plate 93, the lead screw reaches its upper limit of movement. This design allows users to confidently adjust the height of the helical guide rail without worrying about the lead screw detaching from the support plate 93.

[0057] To enhance the robustness of the connection between the two frames 91, multiple connecting pipes 92 are also provided between the two frames 91.

[0058] In some embodiments, see Figures 1 to 6 As shown, one of the frames 91 extends upwards to form the handlebar frame 5 of the tennis cart; the handlebar frame 5 is equipped with a push handle 7. This design makes the overall structure of the frame 9 simple and easy for the coach to push and move the cart.

[0059] In some embodiments, see Figures 1 to 6As shown, the handlebar holder 5 is equipped with a storage box 6 for storing water bottles or mobile phones. This design fully considers the needs of instructors. Placing water bottles or mobile phones in the storage box 6 on the handlebar holder 5 makes it very convenient for instructors to replenish water and check information on their phones. This is more convenient than placing water bottles, phones, or other items in the storage cavity 3 formed by the spiral guide rail, as instructors can replenish water and check information on their phones without bending over.

[0060] In some embodiments, see Figures 1 to 6 As shown, a storage frame 10 is provided within the storage space formed by the frame 91. The frame 9 designed in this embodiment is I-shaped, thus forming open spaces on opposite sides. Placing the storage frame 10 within the open space can make full use of the space of the frame 9 and expand the storage function of the whole vehicle. For example, many spare tennis balls 2, as well as clothes and other items, can be placed in this storage frame 10.

[0061] In the above technical solution, the frame 9 adopts an I-shaped structure design, which can not only ensure the support strength of the frame 9, but also expand the storage capacity of the whole vehicle.

[0062] In some embodiments, see Figures 1 to 6 As shown, frame 91 is formed by bending stainless steel tubing. Specifically, one frame 91 is formed by bending a single stainless steel tubing, and then two frames 91 are connected together using stainless steel tubing segments. This design and material usage are simple and convenient to manufacture, resulting in a sleek and streamlined overall frame 9.

[0063] The following is a verification of the performance of the tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions provided by the present invention: First, verification of the effect of trunk load. Ten participants were selected to undergo a comparative test of trunk load during the grasping motion using a specially designed tennis cart and a traditional tennis cart. The results are as follows: Figure 8 As shown, compared to traditional tennis carts, the designed tennis cart significantly reduces the load on the main muscles involved in the gripping motion; at the same time, the trunk flexion angle is also lower than that of traditional tennis carts, and both are controlled within 20°. This indicates that the designed tennis cart can slow down the development of muscle fatigue and maintain a stable body posture.

[0064] Second, verification of ball-catching efficiency. Ten participants were selected to conduct a comparative test on the grasping efficiency of the designed tennis cart and the traditional tennis cart. The results are as follows: Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, compared to traditional tennis carts, using a specially designed tennis cart can effectively shorten the ball-catching time and reduce the catching distance, thus effectively improving catching efficiency.

[0065] Third, evaluation of the overall performance of the tennis cart. Table 1 Comparative Analysis of Subjective Evaluation Items

[0066] Ten participants were selected to evaluate the effectiveness of the designed tennis cart compared to the traditional tennis cart using a 5-point Likert scale. The results are shown in Table 1. The designed cart scored significantly differently from the traditional cart in all four evaluation items (p = 0.005 < 0.05), indicating that the designed cart performed better in reducing physical fatigue, improving ease of operation, and enhancing overall user comfort.

[0067] The results of the verification are summarized as follows: After verification, the tennis cart designed in this invention achieves the dual effect of reducing torso load and improving ball-grabbing efficiency by autonomously adjusting the height of the fixed grab position. Moreover, the cart performs better in all four dimensions of overall experience, fully demonstrating that the design scheme based on human factors engineering can significantly improve the overall user experience.

[0068] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail or recorded in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0069] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tennis cart with automatic ball guiding and fixed-point ball retrieval functions, characterized in that, include: A frame with casters at the bottom (9); A lifting and adjusting mechanism (8) is installed on the vehicle frame (9); A spherical guide mechanism is installed on the lifting and adjusting mechanism (8); the spherical guide mechanism has a spiral guide track (1) for receiving and guiding the sphere, so as to realize that the sphere rolls in an orderly manner toward the bottom outlet of the spiral guide track (1); The ball picker (11) includes a guide pipe (111) and a ball picker chamber (112) disposed at one end of the guide pipe (111); the other end of the guide pipe (111) is connected to the bottom outlet of the spiral guide track (1), and the ball picker chamber (112) has an open cavity for accommodating a preset number of balls to achieve orderly ball pickering at fixed points.

2. The tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the spiral guide track (1) is set on the base plate, and the spiral guide track (1) spirals around the edge of the base plate to form a storage cavity (3); the upper end of the lifting adjustment mechanism (8) is installed in the middle of the base plate to adjust the height of the spiral guide track (1).

3. The tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The spiral guide rail (1) is provided with side plates on its inner and outer sides respectively; the side plates and the bottom plate form a storage box (12), and the spiral guide rail (1) is located in the interlayer formed by the inner and outer side plates of the storage box (12).

4. The tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The spiral guide track (1) has a U-shaped or arc-shaped vertical cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction of the tennis ball (2).

5. The tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The lifting adjustment mechanism (8) is a screw jack. The upper end of the screw of the screw jack is installed at the bottom of the base plate, and the worm end of the screw jack is equipped with a crank (81). The base of the screw jack is installed on the support plate (93) of the frame (9), and the support plate (93) is provided with a lifting through hole through which the screw passes.

6. The tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The frame (9) includes two frames (91) with openings to one side, the two frames (91) are connected back to back to form an I-shape, and the openings of the frames (91) form storage space; a support plate (93) is connected between the two frames (91), and the lifting adjustment mechanism (8) is installed on the support plate (93).

7. The tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions as described in claim 6, characterized in that, One of the frames (91) extends upward to form the handlebar frame (5) of the tennis cart; the handlebar frame (5) is provided with a push handle (7).

8. The tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The handlebars (5) are equipped with a storage box (6) for storing water cups or mobile phones.

9. The tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The storage space formed by the frame (91) is provided with a storage frame (10).

10. The tennis cart with automatic flow guidance and fixed-point ball retrieval functions as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The frame (91) is formed by bending stainless steel tubes.

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