Detachable Billiard Pocket Assembly for Wear-Resistant Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Billiard sports table pocket assemblies face challenges with long-term wear resistance and cost-effectiveness, as existing solutions either lack durability or are not easily replaceable.

Innovation Solution

A pocket assembly featuring a rail piece made of long-wearing metals like cast steel, aluminum, or brass, with a ball receiving piece that engages via support ledges and flange extensions, allowing for easy replacement and long-term durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pocket assembly is made very sturdy and durable, then the wear resistance is improved, but the cost increases and replacement becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pocket assembly is divided into two distinct segments: a durable rail piece that remains fixed and a replaceable ball receiving piece that can be easily swapped. This segmentation allows the expensive, wear-resistant components to be permanent while the potentially damaged components are inexpensive and replaceable, resolving the contradiction between durability and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ball receiving piece is designed as a low-cost, easily replaceable component that can be discarded and replaced when worn or damaged, while the expensive rail piece remains in place. This applies the principle of using inexpensive, short-lived components to protect more valuable, permanent components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If the pocket assembly is made very sturdy and durable, then the wear resistance is improved, but the ease of replacement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidease of replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly is segmented into a permanent rail piece and a replaceable ball receiving piece with distinct attachment features. The rail piece contains fixation slots that securely hold the ball receiving piece during use, but the design allows for easy removal and replacement of the ball receiving piece when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of repair

If the ball receiving piece is made easily replaceable, then the ease of replacement is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of replacementVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The segmentation creates clear separation between fixed and replaceable components with simple attachment interfaces. The fixation slots and support ledges provide straightforward mechanical engagement that enables easy replacement without complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10183210B2Detachable billiard table pocket assembly

Publication Date: 2019.01.22 JIANGXI RASSON BILLIARDS MFG CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention is a pocket assembly to receive game balls for a billiard sports table where the rail piece is relatively resistant to very long term wear and a ball receiving piece is very rugged, but is relatively low cost and easily replaceable. In the present invention, the rail piece is preferably of cast steel, aluminum, brass or other long wearing metal and is adapted to be fixed to an opening in a billiard table rail.