Sport Ball Bladder Pocket for Electronic Component Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inflatable sport balls lack integration of electronic components that can enhance functionality, such as tracking movement or pressure, and balance, while maintaining durability and wear resistance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an electronic device within a pocket in the bladder of the sport ball, which is securely located and designed to enhance balance and weight distribution, and can include sensors, GPS, accelerometers, or RFID chips, while maintaining the ball's structural integrity through a layered construction of casing, restriction structure, and bladder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic components are integrated into the sport ball, then functionality and tracking capabilities are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic component is nested within a pocket formed in the bladder, which itself is nested within the layered structure of the sport ball (bladder, restriction structure, casing). This nesting approach integrates the electronic component into the existing ball structure without adding external complexity, allowing functionality enhancement while maintaining a compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladder serves multiple functions: it maintains the inflated configuration of the ball, provides structural support, and houses the electronic component within its pocket. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated structures for each function, thereby managing device complexity while enhancing versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electronic components are integrated into the sport ball, then tracking capabilities are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pocket for receiving the electronic component is formed in the bladder during the bladder manufacturing process, before the electronic component is inserted. This preliminary formation of the pocket structure simplifies the overall manufacturing process by integrating the housing structure creation into the existing bladder production workflow, rather than requiring post-assembly modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic component is inserted into the pre-formed pocket in the bladder, which is then integrated into the layered ball structure. This nesting approach allows the electronic component to be incorporated into the ball assembly process without requiring separate complex manufacturing steps for housing integration.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a pocket is formed in the bladder to house electronic components, then balance and weight distribution are improved, but bladder structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pocket is formed as a localized feature within the bladder, creating a specific region with different properties (a cavity for housing the electronic component) while the rest of the bladder maintains its standard structural properties. This localized modification allows balance improvement through strategic placement of the electronic component without compromising the overall structural integrity of the bladder.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sport ball may include a casing, a bladder, and a component. The casing forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball, and the bladder is located within the casing. The bladder includes a pocket that projects toward a center of the sport ball, and the pocket defines a cavity. The component, which may be an electronic device or a counterweight, is located within the pocket. In some configurations, the bladder may include a valve that is located on an opposite side of the bladder from the pocket and component.