Movable Wall Pool Rack with Magnetic Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pool racks fail to provide an optimal tight rack of balls, as they are oversized, allowing space between the balls and the rack, leading to loose racking and movement of balls during use.
Innovation Solution
A pool rack with movable walls that can transition between an extended and closed position, using connecting means such as magnets or slide connectors, allowing for a tight grouping of balls when closed and easy assembly/disassembly for storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional racks are used with fixed size, then the rack structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the rack is oversized allowing space between balls and rack leading to loose racking
Solution Approach 1:
The rack walls are made movable rather than fixed, allowing the rack to transition between extended and closed positions. This dynamic structure enables the rack to adapt to the balls and achieve tight grouping without requiring complex fixed adjustments, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack dimensions are changed by moving the walls to different positions (extended vs. closed). This parameter change allows the same rack structure to provide both ease of manufacture and tight ball grouping by adjusting the wall position rather than creating multiple rack sizes.
2Manufacturing precision
If rack walls are made movable to achieve tight racking, then ball grouping precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to connecting means
Solution Approach 1:
Magnetic connecting means are used instead of traditional mechanical fasteners. The magnets provide the necessary connection force to hold the rack walls in position while simplifying the overall structure. This substitution reduces device complexity by eliminating complex mechanical locking mechanisms while maintaining the ability to achieve tight ball grouping.
3Ease of operation
If the rack is designed to be disassemblable for storage, then ease of operation is improved, but the structural integrity and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Magnetic connections provide both ease of assembly/disassembly and structural stability. The magnetic force is sufficient to hold the rack walls firmly in position during use, ensuring reliability, while allowing simple attachment and detachment for storage. This substitution resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of magnetic fields (which have curved field lines) provides a continuous holding force that maintains structural integrity. The magnetic connection creates a reliable bond that maintains rack stability during use while allowing easy separation when needed, balancing reliability and ease of operation.
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
Ensures a tighter, more stable rack of balls, reducing movement and loosening issues, while facilitating easy handling and storage by allowing the rack to be disassembled.
Implementation Method 1
A pool rack with movable walls that can transition between an extended and closed position, using connecting means such as magnets or slide connectors
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a pool rack for grouping pool balls tightly on a pool table. The frame has walls that may be disassembled and may move between, and exist alternatively in, an extended position that loosely group a set of billiard balls, wherein the rack walls are substantially upstanding and, or a closed position that tightly groups the balls, wherein the rack walls are angled and the frame sits atop the billiard balls.