Illuminated Bocce Ball With Removable LED Cap Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Bocce balls with chemoluminescent sticks have short illumination durations, requiring frequent replacements, which is burdensome and costly, and the LED illuminated versions face issues with smooth rolling and battery replacement difficulties, especially in dark conditions.
Innovation Solution
An LED illuminated Bocce ball with a removable cap assembly that includes a multi-function push button switch and a U-shaped bridle to hold batteries, allowing easy activation and deactivation of the LED bulb without tools, and a watertight seal to prevent moisture ingress, with a design that allows smooth rolling and easy battery replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a chemoluminescent stick is inserted into the ball, then the ball can be illuminated at night, but the illumination duration is short and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemoluminescent stick (chemical system) with an LED bulb powered by batteries (electrical system). This substitution provides significantly longer illumination duration while allowing easy replacement of the entire light assembly without frequent interruptions to gameplay.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is segmented into a removable cap assembly that contains the LED bulb and batteries. This modular design allows the entire light assembly to be easily removed and replaced as a unit, minimizing the time loss associated with replacement while maintaining long illumination duration.
2Ease of operation
If an external switch is mounted on the plug flange, then the light can be manually controlled, but the switch can be accidentally bumped ON or OFF during play
Solution Approach 1:
The switch mechanism is nested within the cap assembly structure, with the plunger switch housed inside the cap bore. This nesting protects the switch from accidental external contact while still allowing intentional activation through the provided access mechanism, thereby improving both operational ease and reliability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a screw is used to hold the batteries in place, then the batteries are securely mounted, but battery replacement requires a screwdriver that may not be available
Solution Approach 1:
The screw fastening mechanism is extracted from the battery mounting system. Instead of securing batteries with screws, the patent uses a elastic retainer or snap-fit mechanism that allows batteries to be securely held during play but easily removed and replaced without requiring any tools, directly addressing the ease of repair requirement.
4Extent of automation
If the plug is fully inserted into the bore, then the LED activates, but the ball cannot roll smoothly across the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is designed to be partially inserted into the bore rather than fully inserted. This partial insertion provides sufficient activation of the LED switch while leaving enough protrusion to maintain smooth rolling contact with the playing surface, thereby achieving both automatic activation and rolling smoothness simultaneously.
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 solution provides prolonged illumination, easy switch operation, and tool-free battery replacement, enhancing gameplay experience by ensuring consistent lighting and preventing moisture issues, thus improving player enjoyment and game efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Mounted on the LED cap assembly is a downward extending, longitudinally aligned LED bulb
Implementation Method 2
A watertight seal is created between the spherical body and the cap assembly to protect the LED bulb, circuit board, switch and batteries
Data Source
AI summary
An improved LED illuminated game ball designed to be used in Bocce or Petanque. The game ball includes a solid, opaque spherical body with a threadingly connected illuminated cap assembly that is axially aligned and partially extends into the spherical body. The illuminated cap assembly includes an outer housing, and intermediate member, and a lower inner housing. Mounted on the intermediate member is a PCB with a multi-functional switch and a longitudinally aligned plunger switch. The intermediate member also includes a downward extend bridle with a downward extending LED bulb. Located inside the bridle is a plurality of stacked watch batteries. The outer housing includes top plate with a transversely aligned slot and a plunger bore through which the plunger switch and the closed neck on a sealing washer disposed under the top plate partially extends after assembly. The end of the plunger switch is recessed and enclosed in a watertight seal.