Ball Stowable Support with Pivotable Leg and Tapered Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
The volleyball spike game requires multiple components for play, and during transport or storage, components like the ball can be misplaced or lost, making the game inoperable, especially since it is commonly played at various locations, leading to increased risks of misplacement or loss due to its mobile nature.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable leg design for the volleyball spike game that can transition between a stowed state and a ground-engaging state, allowing the ball to be securely retained within the leg's tapered opening, which tapers from 2.5 to 8 inches in diameter, and features slits for improved retention and flexibility, enabling easy storage and transport of the game components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the volleyball spike game components are transported separately, then the game can be played at various locations, but the ball may be misplaced or lost making the game inoperable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ball storage function with the leg structure of the volleyball spike game by integrating a ball-retaining opening within the leg. This merging of functions ensures the ball is securely carried with the game components, preventing loss while maintaining mobility to various playing locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball is retained within a ball-retaining opening that is nested inside the leg structure. The opening is defined by an inner wall with a tapered configuration that nests the ball securely within the leg's internal space, allowing compact integration of multiple game components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are required to play the game, then the game can have variations and complexity, but transportation and storage organization become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ball storage function with the leg structure by integrating a ball-retaining opening within the leg. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components needed for transportation, simplifying storage organization while maintaining the complete game setup.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the leg is fixed in position, then the structure is stable, but the game cannot be easily transported to different locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a pivotable attachment mechanism that allows the leg to transition between a ground-engaging state (providing structural stability during play) and a stowed state (enabling easy transportation). This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction between stability and portability.
4Ease of operation
If the ball retention opening has a large diameter, then the ball can be easily inserted, but the leg occupies more space during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a tapered configuration for the inner wall of the ball-retaining opening, where the diameter transitions from a larger opening at the top to a smaller diameter at the bottom. This parameter change allows easy ball insertion through the larger opening while reducing the overall volume occupied by the leg during storage.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for a ball stowable support is provided. The apparatus includes a frame, an elastic cover secured to the frame, and at least one leg supporting the frame. Each leg of the at least one leg has an opening. The opening is configured to retain a ball.