Collapsible Football Goal Post Pivot Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing football goal posts are vulnerable to being climbed or torn down by spectators or vandals, leading to potential injuries or fatalities, and their removal is often slow and costly, posing safety and logistical challenges.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible goal post design featuring a hinged pivot point locked by a clevis pin device, which can be quickly lowered to the ground using hydraulic cylinders, making it impossible to climb or forcibly tear down, and allowing adjustable speed control during lowering and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the goal post is made rigid and upright, then it provides structural stability for gameplay, but it becomes vulnerable to climbing and tearing down by spectators
Solution Approach 1:
The goal post transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic collapsible structure. The upper portion assembly can pivot between an upright game position and a lowered safe position, allowing the structure to adapt its configuration based on operational needs versus safety requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The goal post is divided into separate assemblies: a base portion assembly that remains stationary and an upper portion assembly that can be independently lowered. This segmentation allows the dangerous upright structure to be separated from the stable base when safety is concerned.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the goal post is quickly collapsed to prevent climbing, then safety is improved, but the mechanism becomes more complex requiring hydraulic cylinders and locking devices
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic cylinder provides a controlled counter-force to gravity during the lowering operation. By regulating the speed of lowering against gravitational force, the system achieves safe, controlled collapse rather than uncontrolled free-fall, maintaining safety while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The clevis pin locking device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the manual operation and the hydraulic system. It provides a simple mechanical interface for securing the upper portion assembly to the base, reducing the complexity of the overall locking mechanism.
3Strength
If the goal post is completely detached to prevent damage, then structural integrity is preserved, but the removal process is time-consuming and dangerous in crowded situations
Solution Approach 1:
The upper portion assembly is extracted from its upright game position and lowered to the ground, removing the vulnerable structure from the play area while keeping it attached to the base. This eliminates the need for complete detachment while still preventing damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The goal post is lowered to a safe position before spectators can rush onto the field. This preliminary action of collapsing the structure prevents the dangerous situation from arising in the first place, eliminating the need for emergency removal operations.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the uprights are lowered parallel to the field, then they cannot be climbed, but they still require complete removal from the field to prevent theft
Solution Approach 1:
The upper portion assembly is merged with the base portion assembly through the pivot connection, allowing the lowered structure to remain attached to the base on the field. This eliminates the need for separate removal operations while maintaining climbing prevention.
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 ensures the goal post is safely and quickly lowered to the ground, preventing climbing or damage, and facilitates efficient removal, enhancing safety and reducing the risk of injury or damage, while also being cost-effective and time-efficient.
Implementation Method 1
one or more hydraulic cylinders, for example double-acting hydraulic cylinders, regulate the speed of the lowering
Implementation Method 2
To collapse the goal post, the pivot point is unlocked and gravity pulls the crossbar and uprights into a lowered position
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible goal post includes a lower support extending from a playing field; a upper support having a first end and a second end, and a pivot assembly attaching the first end of the upper support to the lower support; an upper assembly comprising two uprights and a crossbar having two ends. The crossbar is attached to the second end of the support at about the midpoint of the crossbar. One of the two uprights is attached to each end of the crossbar. The upper support is configured to pivot about the pivot point assembly to move the upright assembly from a raised position to a lowered position. The two uprights are substantially perpendicular to the playing field in the raised position, and are substantially parallel to and contacting the playing field in the lowered position while the upper assembly and upper support remain attached to the lower support. In another embodiment, the goal post includes a hydraulic cylinder system coupled to the upper support and the lower support to hinder a rate of pivoting of the goal post about the pivot assembly.