Composite Locking Upright with Protective Collars
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports uprights for nets in volleyball, tennis, and badminton lack the necessary balance of being lightweight, rigid, and durable while also being cost-effective, often flexing under load and suffering from abrasion-related defects that reduce their lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A composite locking upright system featuring a fiber-reinforced composite tube with protective collars and a metallic tube that telescopes, utilizing protective collars to prevent damage and a locking tool for secure height adjustment, enhancing durability and rigidity while minimizing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the upright is made lighter to ease handling and installation, then ease of operation is improved, but rigidity and durability deteriorate causing excessive flexing under load
Solution Approach 1:
The upright employs a composite tube constructed from fiber-reinforced plastic materials, combining lightweight properties with sufficient structural strength. This composite construction allows the upright to be easily handled and installed while maintaining adequate rigidity to support the net under normal playing conditions, resolving the contradiction between weight and strength.
2Ease of operation
If the upright is made lighter to reduce handling difficulty, then ease of operation is improved, but durability worsens due to increased flexing and abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber-reinforced plastic composite tube provides a lightweight structure that is both durable and resistant to abrasion. The composite material's inherent properties allow it to withstand repeated installation, removal, and playing conditions without excessive flexing or degradation, maintaining durability while keeping the upright lightweight for easy handling.
Solution Approach 2:
Protective collars are added to the composite tube at critical locations to cushion and protect against abrasion and impact during installation and use. These collars prevent surface damage and extend the service life of the upright, addressing durability concerns while maintaining the lightweight design.
3Reliability
If protective collars are added to prevent abrasion damage, then durability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective collars are designed as separate, modular components that can be independently manufactured and attached to the composite tube. This segmentation allows for simplified production and assembly, reducing the overall complexity compared to a fully integrated protective structure, while still providing comprehensive protection against abrasion and impact.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a telescopic design is used for height adjustment, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and potential points of failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic sections are constructed from the same fiber-reinforced plastic composite material, providing a unified structure that reduces the number of separate components and potential failure points. The composite construction allows for smooth telescoping motion while maintaining structural integrity, achieving height adjustability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A composite locking upright having low weight and great rigidity for installation into a playing surface with built-in sleeves. The composite locking upright supports and secures a net at a net playing height for athletic sports such as, volleyball, tennis, and badminton. The composite locking upright may have a composite tube, a metallic tube, an upper protective collar, a lower protective collar, and a locking tool. The composite tube may be made of a light-weight, fiber-reinforced composite. The metallic tube is extendable and retractable from the composite tube and may be made of a light-weight, rigid metal. The protective collars may protect the composite tube substantially preventing damage to the reinforcing fibers during installation and setup. The locking tool locks the metallic tube with respect to the composite tube and thereby fixes a net at a playing height.