Assembly Ball Using Segmented Strips and Embedded Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional assembly balls require complex assembly processes and often lack sufficient rebound properties for recreational use.

Innovation Solution

The assembly ball is composed of simple, overlapping strips and an embedded plate, where the strips are curved to facilitate assembly and provide a smoother surface, and the embedded plate fills spaces between the strips to enhance rebound properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If strips are assembled by weaving long synthetic resin strips, then the ball can be formed, but the assembly process becomes complicated and the ball cannot be easily assembled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly processVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The long synthetic resin strips are divided into multiple short strips. Each short strip includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion. This segmentation simplifies the assembly process by making individual components easier to handle and assemble, while the strips are subsequently connected through overlapping and joining at intermediate portions to form the complete ball structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If conventional assembly ball structures are used, then the ball can be assembled, but the rebound property is insufficient for recreational use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverebound propertyVSAvoidplayability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The short strips are curved to facilitate assembly and provide a smoother surface on the assembled ball. This curvature allows the strips to naturally form the spherical shape more easily during assembly, while also creating a smoother exterior surface that improves the ball's rebound properties and overall playability for recreational use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The ball is constructed by assembling multiple short strips made of synthetic resin materials. The composite structure of multiple curved strips joined together creates a shell with improved mechanical properties, including enhanced rebound characteristics suitable for recreational applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If strips are assembled with simple overlapping, then the assembly process is simplified, but spaces are formed between strips that reduce structural integrity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Connection portions are embedded within the intermediate portions of adjacent short strips. This nesting arrangement allows the connection portions to be integrated into the strip structure itself, filling the spaces between strips and enhancing structural integrity while maintaining the simplicity of the overlapping assembly process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11752395B2Assembly ball

Publication Date: 2023.09.12 MOLTEN CORPORATION

AI summary

According to one embodiment, an assembly ball includes a plurality of strips having a circumferential length. The strips are assembled convexly outward as viewed in the radial direction so as to substantially form a sphere as a whole. The strips each overlap other strips at their respective strip overlapping portions where the strips intersect with one another. The strip overlapping portions are joined by a strip joining member.