Batting Tee Light Feedback for Eye Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional batting tees lack interactive feedback mechanisms to help players maintain eye contact with the ball during the swing, which is crucial for improving batting technique.
Innovation Solution
A batting tee equipped with a light source housed within a vertical shaft assembly that illuminates an area proximate the ball support, activated by the ball being hit, providing instant and random color feedback to encourage players to keep their eyes on the contact point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a traditional batting tee is used to hold a stationary ball, then the batter can practice swinging, but the batter cannot receive interactive feedback to maintain eye contact with the contact point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by incorporating a light source that illuminates the contact point area and a sensor that detects when the ball is hit. The system provides visual feedback by lighting up the contact point area, encouraging batters to maintain eye contact with the ball during the swing. This resolves the contradiction by adding interactive feedback functionality without significantly complicating the overall tee structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by integrating multiple components into a single device: the ball support function, the light illumination function, and the feedback detection function. The vertical shaft assembly serves both as a structural support and as a housing for the light source. This approach adds feedback capabilities while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional integration.
2Reliability
If a light source is added to provide interactive feedback, then batting technique can be improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the light source within the vertical shaft assembly, which is itself part of the ball support structure. The light source is housed inside the shaft, utilizing the existing structural space. This nesting approach allows the addition of lighting functionality without significantly increasing the external dimensions or overall complexity of the tee device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the light source housing with the vertical shaft assembly structure. Rather than adding a separate external light housing, the design integrates the light source into the existing shaft, combining structural support and lighting functions in a single integrated component. This reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall device complexity.
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 enhances batting technique by providing immediate, interactive feedback, ensuring players maintain eye contact with the ball, thus improving their swing mechanics and allowing coaches to assess their performance.
Implementation Method 1
a light source housed within the vertical shaft assembly and configured to illuminate an area proximate the ball support
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for improving batter technique is herein disclosed. In certain embodiments, the apparatus is a batting tee that includes a base, a vertical shaft assembly that is mounted to the base and has a ball support at an uppermost end thereof, a light source housed within the vertical shaft assembly and designed to illuminate an area proximate the ball support, and a controller for activating the light source. In certain embodiments, the method includes providing the above-described batting tee, placing a ball on the ball support of the tee, hitting the ball off the ball support to activate the light source, and keeping eye contact with the illuminated area.