Low-Height Balance Beam Components With Angular Tab-and-Trough Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing balance beams are dangerous for untrained users due to their elevated height, lack flexibility in configuration, and require complex or unstable connection mechanisms, making them difficult to assemble and disassemble.
Innovation Solution
A set of identical or nearly identical plastic-like balance beam elements with resilient tabs and troughs that allow for easy connection and disassembly, enabling a variety of angular orientations and configurations, ensuring stability and safety at low heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If balance beam components are connected using complex or unstable connection mechanisms, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of assembly and disassembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The balance beam is divided into separate modular components with standardized connection interfaces. Each component can be independently assembled and disassembled using simple tab-and-trough mechanisms, eliminating the need for complex connection systems while maintaining structural integrity through the modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection mechanism is designed to be self-aligning and self-securing through the tab fitting into the trough geometry. The resilient tab automatically engages with the trough without requiring external tools or complex manipulation, allowing users to easily assemble and disassemble the structure through simple insertion and removal actions.
2Ease of operation
If balance beam components are designed for easy connection and disassembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of connection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection interface utilizes curved surfaces where the resilient tab has a rounded profile that fits into a corresponding curved trough. This curvature allows the tab to be inserted easily while the curved geometry provides natural guidance and secure engagement, ensuring reliable connection without complex locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab is designed with resilient properties that allow it to deform elastically during insertion and then return to its original shape to secure the connection. This parameter change in the material state enables the simple tab-trough mechanism to provide both easy assembly and reliable connection through the same geometric interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If balance beams are elevated at or above a few feet from the floor, then the training value for advanced skills is improved, but the safety for untrained users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The balance beam height is made adjustable through the modular component design, allowing the structure to be configured at different elevations. Users can start with low configurations for safe practice and progressively increase the height as skills improve, making the system adaptable to various skill levels while maintaining safety for beginners through the low initial height.
Solution Approach 2:
The balance beam is constructed from multiple stackable components that can be arranged in different configurations and heights. This segmentation allows the beam to be positioned at safe low heights for initial training and then elevated to higher positions for advanced practice, providing a progressive training pathway that addresses both safety and training value requirements.
4Ease of manufacture
If balance beams are designed as single straight configurations, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the adaptability for various training scenarios deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The balance beam is divided into multiple identical or varied modular components that can be connected in different sequences and configurations. This segmentation allows the same basic component design to create diverse training scenarios including straight lines, angles, and curves, providing versatility without requiring complex manufacturing processes for each configuration variant.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular components are designed with universal connection interfaces that allow them to be assembled in multiple configurations. The same basic component can serve multiple training purposes by being arranged differently, eliminating the need to manufacture separate structures for various training scenarios and maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving high adaptability.
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 a safe, flexible, and easy-to-use balance beam system that allows children to practice balance skills without risk of injury, promoting confidence and skill development through versatile configurations and secure connections.
Implementation Method 1
resilient tabs and troughs that allow for easy connection and disassembly
Data Source
AI summary
A set of balance beam longitudinally connecting elements for practicing balance beam skills close to the ground wherein the elements are substantially identical to one another and mechanically can connect in a variety of angular configurations to one another by a resilient and flexible tab on one end of the elements being captured into an upwardly extending curved trough of the other end of a second element, with the trough allowing one or more tabs of longitudinal elements being secured therein.