Angled Rebound Surface for Vertical Ball Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for practicing passing and catching a ball, such as rebound surfaces, often fail to return the ball with sufficient force to effectively improve catching and reaction skills, particularly for sports like basketball that require timing and quick decision-making.
Innovation Solution
A rebound device with a positioned and angled rebound surface that can receive a ball projected downwards from any side and return it to the user in a substantially vertical direction, allowing for practice of bounce passes and other throwing and catching techniques, featuring a semi-circle design that surrounds the user for 360-degree coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a vertical rebound surface is used to return the ball, then the ball can be returned to the user, but the ball is not returned with sufficient force to effectively improve catching and reaction skills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional vertical rebound surface orientation and uses it at a downward angle (e.g., 45 degrees or steeper) to redirect downward-thrown balls back upward toward the user. This inversion of the usual rebound orientation allows the surface to convert downward momentum into upward return force, providing sufficient ball return force while maintaining reliable skill improvement effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the angular parameter of the rebound surface from vertical (90 degrees) to a downward angle (e.g., 45 degrees or steeper from horizontal). This parameter change optimizes the force transfer from the thrown ball to the rebounded ball, enabling the surface to return balls with sufficient force for effective skill training
2Speed
If existing rebound devices are designed for horizontal ball movement, then they can function as backstops, but they rarely return the ball back to the user with enough force for catching and reaction skill practice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the operational mode from horizontal ball interaction to downward-angle ball interaction. By positioning the rebound surface at a steep downward angle, the device converts the user's downward throwing motion into an upward rebound, significantly increasing ball return speed and making skill practice effective
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by adjusting the rebound surface angle to 45 degrees or steeper from horizontal. This parameter change ensures that balls thrown downward are returned upward with sufficient speed to effectively improve catching and reaction skills
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
Enables users to practice catching and reacting to bounce passes with sufficient force, improving skills in sports like basketball by simulating real-game scenarios and allowing for practice without a partner, suitable for various ages and abilities.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic nature of the ball may contribute or allow the ball to be returned at least a portion of the distance back to the individual
Data Source
AI summary
The subject innovation includes a rebound device which is capable of receiving a ball or any object projected by a user in a substantially downward direction and projecting the same ball or object back to the user in a substantially upward direction in order to allow the user to catch through the use of a rebound surface or net. The rebound surface or net is positioned and angled to receive balls or objects projected downwards from any side of the user and to return or propel those projected balls or objects back to the user.