Billiard Table Chalk Dust Tool Using Capillary Dust Pickup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Billiard table cloth accumulates significant chalk dust, which interferes with gameplay, stains, and potentially damages the cloth, as existing cleaning methods like brushes and vacuum cleaners wear out the fabric or push dust deeper into the weave.

Innovation Solution

A handheld tool with a plastic, nylon, wood, or rubber housing and an X-shaped dome featuring a cork-like material for grip, equipped with a chalk dust absorbing material that uses capillary action and electrostatic properties to collect and lift chalk dust from the baize, allowing easy disposal when full.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If brushes or vacuum cleaners are used to remove chalk dust, then chalk dust can be removed from the billiard table cloth, but the fabric is worn out or chalk dust is pushed deeper into the weave

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechalk dust removalVSAvoidcloth integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical brushing and vacuum suction with a static absorbing material that uses capillary action and electrostatic properties to lift and capture chalk dust particles from the cloth surface, eliminating mechanical contact that damages the fabric

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a porous absorbing material with capillary channels that passively draw chalk dust particles away from the cloth through capillary action, allowing dust removal without mechanical force that would wear or penetrate the fabric

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Quantity of substance

If chalk dust accumulates on the billiard table cloth, then gameplay is interfered with and cloth is stained, but frequent cleaning with existing tools causes wear and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechalk dust accumulationVSAvoidcloth damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical cleaning methods with a passive absorbing material that uses capillary action and electrostatic properties to lift and capture chalk dust particles from the cloth surface, eliminating mechanical contact that damages the fabric

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary absorbing material that sits between the chalk dust and the cloth, capturing dust particles through capillary and electrostatic mechanisms while protecting the cloth from direct contact with cleaning tools that cause wear

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Effectively removes chalk dust without damaging the billiard table cloth, reducing friction interference and preventing staining, while being easy to use and reusable.

Implementation Method 1

equipped with a chalk dust absorbing material that uses capillary action and electrostatic properties to collect and lift chalk dust from the baize

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

equipped with a chalk dust absorbing material that uses capillary action and electrostatic properties to collect and lift chalk dust from the baize

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic properties: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS8656547B2Billiards chalk dust removal tool

Publication Date: 2014.02.25 IWAN SIMONIS

AI summary

The present invention relates to a billiards chalk dust removal tool. The billiards chalk dust tool is brushed across the baize on a billiard table for cleaning the chalk dust out of the baize periodically to preserve the level of playing conditions on the billiard table.