Pet Exercise Ball Receptacle With Bearings and Waste Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pet exercise balls lack a protective enclosure, leading to potential dangers and messes, as they can roam freely, pose tripping hazards, and allow waste to escape.

Innovation Solution

A pet exercise ball containment device featuring a receptacle with a concave-shaped surface and bearings to stabilize the ball, along with base components for stability, and a waste collection system using absorbent pads or removable trays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If pet exercise balls are used without containment, then pets can exercise freely, but the balls can roam freely causing safety hazards and waste leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepet exercise freedomVSAvoidsafety hazards and waste leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a containment device where the pet exercise ball is nested within a larger receptacle structure. The ball可以自由移动 within the confined space of the receptacle, which prevents it from roaming freely while still allowing exercise motion. This nested configuration resolves the contradiction by providing both exercise freedom and containment safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The receptacle acts as an intermediary structure between the pet exercise ball and the surrounding environment. It mediates the interaction by containing the ball and preventing direct contact with hazards outside, while still allowing the ball to function as intended for pet exercise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If pet exercise balls are contained in a fixed location, then safety hazards are reduced, but the device becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety hazardsVSAvoidcontainment structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The containment device is segmented into distinct functional components: a receptacle for containment, bearings for motion facilitation, and base components for stability. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall design relatively simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receptacle serves multiple functions simultaneously: it contains the ball, provides structural support, and defines the exercise space. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby simplifying the overall device complexity while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If bearings are added to stabilize the ball, then exercise smoothness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexercise smoothnessVSAvoidbearing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Bearings are strategically placed at specific locations within the receptacle where they are most needed to facilitate smooth ball motion. This localized application of bearings provides exercise smoothness only where required, rather than complicating the entire structure unnecessarily.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs simple, readily available bearing components that are easy to manufacture and replace if needed. These basic mechanical elements provide effective motion smoothing without requiring complex or expensive mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Stability of the object's composition

If base components are added for stability, then device stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The base components are merged with the receptacle structure, forming an integrated stable foundation. This combination provides device stability while avoiding the need for separate complex assembly processes, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Provides a safe and contained environment for pets to exercise, preventing roaming and waste leakage, while maintaining stability and ease of cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

three or more bearings attached to the substantially concave-shaped surface and arranged to receive the pet exercise ball

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBall bearing: Ball Bearing

Implementation Method 2

The substantially concave-shaped surface can further include an absorbent pad to collect waste from the pet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20260000054A1Pet exercise ball containment device

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 CRABTREE III RICHARD

AI summary

The invention is directed to a pet exercise ball containment device comprising a receptacle having a substantially concave-shaped surface; three or more bearings attached to the substantially concave-shaped surface and arranged to receive the pet exercise ball; and one or more base components arranged on the receptacle to stabilize the pet exercise ball containment device. In some embodiments, the device can comprise an absorbent pad to collect waste from the pet. In some embodiments, the device can comprise an opening in the receptacle that allows waste to be emitted from the pet to a removable tray below the opening.