Modular Pitching Mound System for Consistent Cleat Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable pitching mounds vary in size, shape, and rigidity, causing pitchers to adjust their mechanics, and the friction coefficient of artificial turf surfaces affects pitching motion, leading to inconsistencies and increased risk of injury due to degradation and lip-related issues during games.
Innovation Solution
A modular pitching mound system with replaceable drive and landing trays, and a design that conforms to baseball rules, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and a surface type that accommodates cleats, reducing friction variability and maintaining consistent pitching conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If portable pitching mounds are used to enable field versatility, then the mound can be moved between different fields and sports, but the size, shape, and rigidity vary causing pitchers to adjust their mechanics
Solution Approach 1:
The pitching mound is divided into modular sections (level section and sloped section) that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each section has standardized dimensions and properties, ensuring consistency across different portable mound configurations while maintaining versatility for various field applications.
2Ease of manufacture
If artificial turf is used to cover portable mounds, then the mound is portable and can be covered uniformly, but the friction coefficient varies affecting pitching motion
Solution Approach 1:
Different surface materials or treatments are applied to different sections of the mound (level vs. sloped areas) to optimize local friction characteristics. The surface properties are specifically engineered for each zone to provide consistent pitching mechanics while maintaining the benefits of portable artificial turf coverage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the mound structure is made portable, then it can be removed when the field is needed for another sport, but the structure gives or flexes when the pitcher is pitching
Solution Approach 1:
The portable mound is constructed as an assembly of discrete modular sections connected through standardized interfaces. This segmentation allows the mound to be easily transported and reconfigured while the internal structure of each module maintains sufficient rigidity to prevent unwanted flexing during pitching actions.
4Ease of operation
If the pitching mound is not properly maintained, then maintenance effort is reduced, but holes expand in size and depth over multiple games increasing injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The modular trays are designed to be easily removed, replaced, or refurbished. When wear or damage occurs, individual trays can be discarded and replaced with new ones, or recovered through refurbishment processes, rather than requiring maintenance of the entire mound structure. This reduces the incentive to delay maintenance while minimizing overall maintenance effort.
Data Source
AI summary
A bullpen mound includes a first mound section, a second mound section, and bridge section that couples to the first and second mound sections. Each of the first and second mound sections includes a base piece, an H-piece, a nose piece, a drive tray, and a landing tray. The base piece and the H-piece, when coupled together, form a first drive tray receptacle for receiving the drive tray. The H-piece and the nose piece, when coupled together, form a first landing tray opening for receiving the landing tray.