Erratic Bounce Ball with Asymmetric Solid Anomalies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sports balls are spherical and predictable in their bounce, lacking the erratic behavior that could enhance motor skills or provide entertainment value.
Innovation Solution
A bouncy ball design featuring an inflatable bladder with a skin and a solid anomaly, such as a protrusion or plug, made of rubber, which causes the ball to bounce erratically when struck, either integral with the skin or as a separate component, potentially including additional inflatable bladders for varied and irregular bounce patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional spherical ball is used, then the ball provides predictable bounce behavior, but it lacks erratic bounce patterns that could improve motor skills or provide entertainment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by introducing non-spherical anomalies (protrusions, dimples, or irregular shapes) on the ball surface. These asymmetric features disrupt the uniform distribution of forces during bounce, creating unpredictable and erratic bounce patterns while maintaining the overall spherical shape of the ball for basic functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating localized anomalies at specific positions on the ball surface rather than changing the entire ball structure. These localized features (protrusions, dimples, or material variations) affect bounce behavior only in specific regions, allowing the rest of the ball to maintain its conventional properties while introducing controlled unpredictability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If anomalies are added to create erratic bounce, then entertainment value and motor skill improvement are enhanced, but the ball structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the anomaly features directly into the ball's outer skin or shell during the manufacturing process. Rather than adding separate components, the anomalies are integrated as part of the ball's surface structure through molding or forming techniques, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining erratic bounce capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating anomaly patterns that can be replicated during manufacturing. Standardized protrusion or dimple patterns are molded into the ball surface using mold cavities, allowing complex anomaly structures to be produced efficiently through replication rather than manual assembly.
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 ball's erratic bounce enhances user engagement and enjoyment by providing unpredictable reactions, improving motor skills and entertainment value through customizable and varied bounce patterns.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable bladder having an inner surface and an outer surface
Implementation Method 2
a solid anomaly which, when bounced upon, causes the ball to bounce erratically
Data Source
AI summary
A bouncy ball includes anomalies which, when bounced upon, causes the ball to bounce irregularly. The anomaly may comprise a solid protrusion formed integrally with an outer skin of the ball or a separate plug filled into a pocket formed in the outer skin. The shape of the protrusion may be partially spherical. The solid protrusion may also include elongate grooves, flat surfaces or any other desired shape, such as a star. The bouncy ball may also include a secondary bladder with inflatable anomalies. The secondary bladder is coupled to a generally spherical inner tube which may be formed with grooves to receive the secondary bladder. Outer skins may be coupled over the secondary bladder and inner tube.