Adjustable Batting Tee With Felt Piston Wiper Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing batting tees for advanced players are either too heavy and durable but difficult to adjust, or lightweight and prone to failure under impact, and lack ease of use and portability.
Innovation Solution
A portable batting tee assembly featuring telescopically engaging tubular posts with felt piston wipers and a post mount mechanism allowing for quick, easy height adjustments and disassembly, using a durable base and lightweight materials for stability and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If batting tee is designed to be heavy and large for durability, then it can withstand impact forces, but it becomes difficult to adjust and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The batting tee is divided into separate components: a base and a telescopic post assembly that can be detached. The post assembly itself is segmented into telescopic sections that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows the durable base to remain stationary while the lighter, adjustable post can be easily reconfigured or removed for transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic post incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms including felt piston wipers that provide friction-based positioning at any height, and expansion plugs with fastening elements that enable quick locking and unlocking. This dynamic design allows easy height adjustment without requiring the entire structure to be heavy or complex.
2Ease of operation
If batting tee uses interference fit for height adjustment, then it provides simple adjustment mechanism, but it wears easily and becomes non-functional overtime
Solution Approach 1:
Felt piston wipers are introduced as intermediary elements between the telescopic post sections. These wipers provide a friction-based locking mechanism that maintains position without relying solely on interference fit. The felt material distributes pressure and reduces wear compared to direct metal-to-metal or plastic-to-plastic contact, ensuring long-term reliability while maintaining ease of adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism combines different materials: felt (for friction and wear resistance), metal or rigid plastic (for structural integrity of expansion plugs and fastening elements), and elastomeric components (for cushioning and grip). This composite approach creates a durable adjustment system that maintains functionality over time while remaining easy to operate.
3Ease of operation
If batting tee is designed for quick disassembly for transport, then it becomes portable, but it may reduce structural stability
Solution Approach 1:
The base and telescopic post assembly are designed to merge into a single stable structure when connected. The base features a recess that receives the expansion plug, creating a unified, stable configuration for use. This merging provides structural stability during batting practice while allowing separation for portable transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The expansion plug is pre-configured with fastening elements that automatically engage with the base structure when the post is inserted. This preliminary action ensures that the connection is quickly established and structurally sound, providing immediate stability upon assembly without requiring complex tightening or adjustment procedures.
4Reliability
If batting tee uses multiple fasteners and levers for height adjustment, then it provides secure locking, but it requires multiple steps and tools
Solution Approach 1:
The complex multi-step fastening mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simplified expansion plug system. The expansion plug integrates multiple locking functions into a single component that can be quickly inserted and secured. The felt piston wiper provides automatic friction-based locking, eliminating the need for separate levers and multiple fastening operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The felt piston wiper provides self-service locking through friction between the piston surface and the telescopic tube. As the post sections are extended or retracted, the felt automatically creates sufficient friction to hold the position without requiring manual intervention with levers or additional fastening steps. The system serves itself by using the motion of adjustment to create the locking condition.
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
The solution provides a lightweight, durable, and easily adjustable batting tee that withstands impact, is easy to use, and can be quickly disassembled for transport, maintaining consistent height settings over a large range without degrading.
Implementation Method 1
the outer diameter of the expansion plug bears against the inner surface of the first tubular post
Implementation Method 2
The first felt piston wiper is positioned between the first and second tubular posts to enable adjustment of the height of the batting tee assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable portable batting tee assembly for placement on to a horizontal support surface includes a first hollow tubular post having a lower end and an inner surface, a second tubular post telescopically engaging the first tubular post, a first felt piston wiper, a ball support coupled to the second tubular post, a post mount mechanism, and a base coupled to the mount mechanism. The first wiper is positioned between the first and second posts to enable adjustment of the height of the batting tee assembly between a lower and upper height limits. The mount mechanism includes a support body, an expansion plug and upper and lower fastening elements. The expansion plug and the upper fastening element are configured to be removably received within the lower end of the first tubular body. The expansion plug is configured to releasably engage the inner surface of the first tubular post.