Flat Net Roll-Up Structure to Prevent Reeling Entanglement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ball net structures suffer from entanglement, time-consuming expansion, and instability during use, with the net drooping or curling due to gravitational force, making it difficult to reel up without assistance.

Innovation Solution

A roll-up mechanism with hard protruding objects on the upper and lower ends of the net body, coupled with positioning rollers in the upper and lower caps, limits the movement of the net to ensure it can be expanded or reeled up flatly, using a reel with a torsion spring for automatic operation and manual rotation for expansion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the ball net is fixed on a first support pillar and reeled up, then the net can be stored, but the net will droop due to gravitational force and get tied or difficult to reel up

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenet reeling efficiencyVSAvoidnet stability during reeling

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The net is divided into multiple segments with net bodies connected by connection portions. Hard protruding objects are installed at specific locations on these connection portions to engage with positioning rollers, creating multiple support points that prevent drooping and entanglement during reeling operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Positioning rollers are introduced as intermediary elements between the net body and the reeling mechanism. These rollers work with hard protruding objects to guide and support the net during expansion and reeling, preventing the net from drooping and tangling due to gravity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the net body is expanded and fixed on ball racks through ropes, then the net can be used, but lots of net grids are formed and the soft structures easily get entangled and tied, requiring time to arrange them

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenet deployment easeVSAvoidtime for net arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The net transitions from a static, loosely arranged structure to a dynamically controlled system. Hard protruding objects engage with positioning rollers to maintain proper net configuration during both expansion and reeling operations, preventing entanglement and eliminating the need for manual arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The net structure incorporates rigid elements (hard protruding objects) into the otherwise soft net body. This changes the physical parameters of the net at critical points, providing structural integrity and preventing the soft net portions from entangling during deployment and storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the upper and lower end of the ball net have weaker supporting force, then the net can be more flexible, but the ball net will stand obliquely or get curly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenet flexibilityVSAvoidnet vertical stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The net has different structural qualities at different locations. Hard protruding objects are strategically placed at connection portions near the top and bottom of the net to provide localized structural support. This maintains flexibility in the main net body while ensuring vertical stability at critical ends.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 mechanism allows for stable, efficient, and quick deployment and retraction of the net, preventing entanglement and ensuring a straight line expansion or retraction, enhancing usability and stability.

Implementation Method 1

a positioning roller set is set up in the upper and lower cap to limit the movement of the protruding object, therefore, through positioning roller set, the movement scope of net body is limited

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical constraint:

Implementation Method 2

through the reel of roll-up structure and with the assistance of positioning structure, net body can be rolled up and received flatly in reel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Data Source

PatentUS12544636B2Flat roll-up structure for rolling up net body

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 CHEN BENJAMIN

AI summary

In a flat roll-up structure for rolling up net body flatly, at upper and lower end of net body, it is installed respectively with protruding object, meanwhile, at roll-up mechanism, it is installed with upper and lower positioning roller module to limit the movement scope of net body, therefore, when net body is to be expanded, net body, through the guidance of upper and lower positioning roller structure, can be withdrawn flatly; when protruding object used to roll up net body is limited for its movement scope by upper and lower positioning roller module, and is limited by the limiting part of upper and lower positioning roller module, the net body can then be rolled up flatly without generating up and down shift, which can avoid the generation of tying problem due to unbalanced receiving in net body.