Luminous Safety Ball with Non-Uniform Foam for Night Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional baseballs and softballs made of hard materials pose a risk of injury to children, and foam versions lack sufficient light transmittance for nighttime or low-light play, reducing the fun and safety of the game.
Innovation Solution
A luminous safety ball design featuring an inner glowing body with an LED light module and a foam sphere of non-uniform thickness, allowing light to pass through and create varying brightness, enhanced by a cover layer, support structure, and waterproof protective layer, which adjusts light transmittance and structural strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If foam material is used for the baseball, then safety is improved, but light transmittance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining foam material with transparent or translucent materials. The baseball comprises a foam core wrapped with a transparent cover layer, allowing light to pass through while maintaining the safety benefits of foam material. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the baseball. The core uses foam material for safety, while the outer cover layer uses transparent or translucent material for light transmittance. This local differentiation of material qualities allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
2Strength
If hard material is used for the baseball, then structural strength is improved, but safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite baseball structure with a foam core and transparent cover layer. The foam core provides structural integrity and durability, while the softer foam material ensures safety for children. This composite construction allows the baseball to maintain strength without requiring hard materials that would pose injury risks.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform thickness foam sphere is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but light transmittance control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a foam sphere with non-uniform thickness, where different regions have different thicknesses to control light transmittance. Thinner regions allow more light to pass through, creating brighter areas, while thicker regions provide more diffusion. This local variation in thickness enables precise control over light distribution patterns on the baseball surface.
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 luminous safety ball enhances playability at night or in low-light conditions by adjusting light transmittance and structural strength, providing a safer and more enjoyable experience for both children and adults.
Implementation Method 1
light emitted by the inner glowing body passes through the foam sphere and permeates through a surface of the foam sphere
Implementation Method 2
light emitted by the inner glowing body passes through the foam sphere and permeates through a surface of the foam sphere to form lights with different brightness thereon
Data Source
AI summary
A luminous safety ball including an inner glowing body and a foam sphere covering the inner glowing body is provided. The inner glowing body is not a perfect sphere, the foam sphere has a non-uniform thickness, and light emitted by the inner glowing body passes through the foam sphere and permeates through a surface of the foam sphere to form light with different brightness thereon.