Foldable Pitching Mound With Hinged Segments And Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable pitching mounds are not lightweight, easily transportable, or foldable, making them difficult to move and set up, and they lack innovative features that combine elements for easy assembly and disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A portable pitching mound apparatus made of plastic with hingedly attached members, wheels, and a fastening assembly that allows the mound to be folded and latched for easy transport, featuring an extendable handle for mobility and quick setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing portable pitching mounds are designed with fixed or rigid structures, then they provide stable pitching surfaces, but they become difficult to transport and move
Solution Approach 1:
The pitching mound is divided into multiple modular members that can be connected together. Each member is a separate component that can be easily handled and transported, yet when connected they form a stable, continuous pitching surface. The members include front, rear, and intermediate sections with standardized connection interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The pitching mound structure transitions from a fixed rigid design to a dynamic configurable system. The modular members can be connected in different configurations and can be quickly assembled or disassembled based on transport or usage needs, providing both mobility and stability as required.
2Strength
If portable pitching mounds are made from heavy materials for durability, then they provide robust construction, but they become difficult to move and set up
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the pitching mound into multiple lighter members rather than one heavy unit, each component becomes manageable and easy to handle. The distributed weight across multiple pieces allows individuals to easily move and position them during setup without requiring heavy lifting equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties and structural parameters are optimized to achieve the required strength with reduced weight. The members use appropriate material selection and structural design to maintain durability while minimizing mass, enabling easy manual handling and quick setup.
3Reliability
If pitching mounds are designed as non-collapsible structures for stability, then they maintain consistent pitching surfaces, but they occupy excessive storage space and are difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The pitching mound is segmented into collapsible modular members that can be disconnected and stored in a compact configuration. When assembled, the members form a stable pitching surface; when stored, they fold or stack into a space-efficient package that is easy to transport and store.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular members are designed to nest within each other or stack in a compact arrangement when not in use. This nesting capability allows the pitching mound system to be stored in a minimal space while maintaining its full functional dimensions when assembled for use.
4Adaptability or versatility
If portable pitching mounds use complex assembly mechanisms for adjustability, then they provide height settings and configurations, but they increase device complexity and assembly time
Solution Approach 1:
The pitching mound system is segmented into standardized modular members with uniform connection interfaces. This standardization allows for easy interchangeability and reconfiguration without complex mechanisms. The simple modular design enables users to adjust the mound configuration by connecting or disconnecting pre-designed member sections.
5Strength
If pitching mounds are designed as unitary one-piece structures, then they provide structural integrity, but they are difficult to transport and store
Solution Approach 1:
The unitary structure is divided into multiple members with connection mechanisms that maintain structural integrity when assembled. The segmented design allows each member to be easily transported and handled separately, yet when connected they form a structurally sound pitching mound comparable to or exceeding the integrity of a one-piece design.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable pitching mound apparatus for providing a lightweight, easily transportable, and foldable artificial pitching mound. The portable pitching mound apparatus includes a pitching mound assembly including pitching mound members made of plastic and hingedly attached end-to-end with wheels mounted to one of the pitching mound members and with a fastening assembly for fastening the pitching mound members together with the pitching mound members folded upon one another for easy transport.