Illuminable Ball with Low Reverse Torque Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional phosphorescent balls used for pet exercise often fade quickly, leading to increased likelihood of loss, especially at night, as their illumination is not reliably sustained.
Innovation Solution
An illuminable ball design featuring a translucent spherical hollow casing with integrated LEDs and a child-resistant low reverse torque closure assembly, including an inertial switch to activate the LEDs upon impact, ensuring consistent illumination and secure battery access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional phosphorescent balls are used for illumination, then the ball can provide some light, but the illumination fades quickly and is not reliably sustained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical phosphorescent system with an electrical LED illumination system powered by a battery. This substitution provides reliable and sustained illumination through electrical energy storage and conversion, eliminating the fading issue inherent in phosphorescent materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the illumination mechanism from chemical phosphorescence to electrical LED lighting, fundamentally altering how light is generated and sustained. This parameter change enables consistent illumination intensity over extended periods through controlled electrical power delivery.
2Reliability
If a secure closure assembly is used to protect battery access, then child safety is improved, but the closure mechanism increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The closure assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a resilient biasing element that provides the locking force, a ratchet mechanism with engagement teeth that prevents reverse rotation, and a selectively operable member that controls access. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific safety function while maintaining overall system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the safety function from the basic closure concept and implements it through a dedicated multi-component mechanism. By separating the safety features (resilient element, ratchet, selective operation) from the simple cap structure, the design achieves enhanced child protection while keeping the overall device architecture clear and maintainable.
3Reliability
If a low reverse torque closure is used, then accidental removal is prevented, but the closure requires simultaneous linear force and rotation which may reduce ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism incorporates dynamic elements including a resilient biasing element that provides continuous locking force and a ratchet mechanism that allows rotation in one direction while preventing reverse rotation. The selective operable member dynamically transitions between locked and unlocked states based on the combination of linear pressure and rotational motion applied by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The ratchet mechanism employs asymmetric tooth geometry that permits easy rotation in the opening direction while blocking reverse rotation unless specific conditions are met. This asymmetric design creates the low reverse torque characteristic that prevents accidental removal while maintaining controlled operability for intentional access.
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 illuminable ball provides sustained and reliable illumination for pet exercise, reducing the likelihood of loss and enhancing visibility at night, while the child-resistant closure ensures safe and easy battery replacement.
Implementation Method 1
housed therein a light emitting diode and electrical control circuitry arranged to activate the light emitting diode
Implementation Method 2
an inertial switch to activate the LEDs upon impact
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminable ball device including at least one or more LEDs for illuminating said device, an electrical circuitry for controlling said one or more LEDs, a battery for providing power to said electrical circuitry and energize said one or more LEDs, a first housing including a casing, a second housing, a cavity part within said casing, wherein said cavity part is configured to received said second housing, a cap portion, in which said cap portion is configured to secure over said second housing, and wherein said cap portion and said second housing is attached to said casing part by a low reverse torque closure.