Adjustable Clamp for Ball Retrieving Apparatus Rubber End
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The bottom end of ball retrieving apparatuses, typically made of rubber, wears down and loosens over time, making the entire device unusable and contributing to plastic waste, as the damaged part cannot be easily fixed or replaced.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable clamp device, such as a hose clamp with an adjustment screw, is used to tighten the bottom rubber end of the apparatus, allowing users to maintain its shape and extend the device's lifespan by retrofitting or replacing the entire rubber end.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the bottom rubber end of the ball retrieving apparatus is used continuously, then the apparatus can perform its ball collection function, but the rubber material wears down and loosens over time, rendering the device unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the ball retrieving apparatus into separable components: the main tube body and the bottom rubber end. The bottom rubber end can be detached and replaced independently when worn, allowing the main tube to be reused. This segmentation enables partial replacement rather than discarding the entire apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention allows the worn bottom rubber end to be discarded and replaced with a new one, while recovering and reusing the main tube body. This extends the overall service life of the apparatus by separating the consumable component (rubber end) from the durable component (tube).
2Reliability
If the bottom rubber end becomes loose due to wear, then the apparatus cannot retain balls properly, but replacing the entire apparatus is wasteful and contributes to plastic waste
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the apparatus into replaceable bottom ends and a reusable tube body, the invention enables selective replacement of only the worn rubber component. This prevents the need to discard the entire apparatus, reducing plastic waste while maintaining ball retention capability through fresh rubber ends.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a recovery system where the durable tube body is retained and reused, while only the consumable rubber ends are discarded and replaced. This significantly reduces material waste compared to replacing the entire apparatus.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the bottom rubber end is tightened to maintain shape, then the apparatus durability is extended, but the tightening mechanism adds complexity to the device
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a dynamic tightening mechanism with an adjustable clamp that can be modified as needed. The clamp features an adjustment screw that allows users to tighten or loosen the rubber end according to wear conditions, providing adaptability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary tightening mechanism (adjustable clamp with screw) that mediates between the tube body and rubber end. This intermediary component provides the necessary tightening function while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through its simple, standardized design.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is an adjustable attachment or manufactured addition for a ball retrieving apparatus which can be adjusted to tighten the ball retrieving apparatus in order to significantly extend the life of the apparatus and eliminate the need to discard and replace the entire apparatus once an individual portion of the it becomes damaged. The present invention is made adjustable via an adjustable hose clamp-type device or other adjustable circumference reducing device placed on the bottom rubber end of the ball retrieving apparatus, providing the ability to tighten the bottom end of the tube in order to maintain its shape and prolong the durability of the overall apparatus. The ball retrieving apparatus comprises a hollow tube structure wherein balls are collected at the bottom of the tube and stored in a linear fashion inside the tube until they are ready to be deployed. The adjustable device comprises an adjustment screw or other similar tightening device and an adjustable hose clamp device or other adjustable circumference reducing device.