Corner-Mounted Ball Holder for Unobstructed Table Tennis Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing table tennis ball storage solutions either interfere with player movement or are impractical for use during gameplay, as they are either located at the table's bottom, reducing space, or at the net, requiring players to reach up to retrieve balls.
Innovation Solution
A ball holder designed with an L-shaped top and bottom piece, secured under the table's corner, providing a flat surface for ball storage without obstructing player movement, using screws or other attachment methods for secure affixation, and featuring a foam-lined interior for easy access and retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ball holder is located at the bottom of the table ends, then players can easily remove balls, but the device reduces space below the table and may interfere with player movement
Solution Approach 1:
The ball holder is positioned at the corner of the table rather than along the bottom edge, utilizing the corner space that is naturally less interfered with during play. This dimensional repositioning maintains accessibility while avoiding the harmful interference problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder is specifically placed at the corner location where the spatial characteristics differ from the bottom edge - it has access to the ball storage function while experiencing less player movement interference due to the corner's geometric properties.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the ball holder is located at the net, then it does not interfere with player movement, but players must reach all the way to the net to retrieve balls which interrupts game flow
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the holder at the net (midpoint of table), the invention positions it at the corner, changing the spatial dimension of ball storage location to optimize both accessibility and non-interference with play.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball holder pre-positions balls at the corner where players naturally move during gameplay, eliminating the need to travel to the net and reducing retrieval time while maintaining non-interference with active play areas.
3Ease of operation
If the ball holder is located at the corner, then it provides easy access to balls without interfering with player movement, but requires secure affixation to maintain stability
Solution Approach 1:
The ball holder is constructed as an L-shaped device that can be segmented into mounting components, allowing secure attachment to the corner structure while maintaining the compact form factor needed for corner placement.
Data Source
AI summary
A ball holder for a table tennis table designed for non-intrusive mounting under a corner of a table tennis table. The ball holder can be manufactured in two parts for ease of sale and construction, with the two halves being easily assembled and secured by the user. The two halves can connect using a set of male and female tabs, and secure using a set of bolts. The full assembly can attach to the table tennis table through the use of four screws. Properly assembled, the ball holder can contain multiple table tennis balls in an easily accessible position, but without obstructing the players' range of motion or creating a hazard.