Ball Stowable Support with Pivotable Leg and Tapered Opening
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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, rendering the game inoperable, especially since it is commonly played in mobile settings.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable leg design for the volleyball spike game that allows for a stowed state, enabling the game to be compactly stored and transported with all components intact, featuring a tapered opening to securely retain the ball and pivot about 90 degrees for support, ensuring the ball is not lost and the game can be played without assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the volleyball spike game components are stored separately during transport, then the game can be easily transported, but the ball can be misplaced or lost rendering the game inoperable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ball storage function with the leg structure by integrating a ball retaining opening directly into the leg. This merging of functions ensures the ball is always stored with the game structure during transport, eliminating the risk of loss while maintaining compactness and ease of transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the game and simultaneously serves as a storage container for the ball through the integrated ball retaining opening. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by ensuring the ball is retained during transport without requiring separate storage solutions that would compromise portability.
2Volume of moving object
If the leg is designed to be pivotable for compact storage, then the game can be transported in a compact state, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leg is designed with pivotable joints that allow it to transition between an extended operational position and a collapsed storage position. This dynamic capability enables compact storage volume while maintaining structural integrity during play, resolving the contradiction between compactness and complexity through straightforward hinge mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the ball retaining opening is tapered to securely hold the ball, then the ball retention is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ball retaining opening utilizes a tapered geometry where the diameter varies along the length of the opening. This parameter change creates a friction fit that securely holds the ball without requiring extremely tight tolerances, as the gradual taper allows for self-centering and secure retention through geometric constraint rather than precision fitting.
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.