Flexible Bag With Semi-Rigid Shell For Pole Vault Transport

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Pole vaulting poles are prone to damage and mishandling during transportation due to inadequate protection, especially during commercial and air travel, as existing solutions like wooden boxes are heavy and unwieldy, and canvas bags fail to provide sufficient protection.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight, flexible bag made of durable material with a semi-rigid reinforcing sheet forms a protective shell around the poles, featuring a butterfly design, zippers for closure, and tubular pockets for individual pole protection, along with carrying straps for convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wooden boxes or rigid plastic boxes are used to protect pole vault poles, then the poles are well protected from damage and mishandling, but the carrying case becomes heavy and unwieldy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of poles from damageVSAvoidweight of carrying case

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible bag made of lightweight, flexible, wear and abuse resistant material that can be folded and unfolded. This flexible shell alternative replaces heavy rigid boxes while providing sufficient protection through the combination of the flexible material and the pole's own rigidity, resolving the contradiction between protection and weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The carrying case combines multiple materials with complementary properties: lightweight flexible wear-resistant material for the bag body, semi-rigid reinforcing material for structural support, and padding material for shock absorption. This composite approach provides adequate protection without the weight of traditional wooden boxes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Weight of moving object

If canvas bags or slings are used to carry poles at track meets, then the carrying case is lightweight and convenient, but the poles are not adequately protected during transport

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of carrying caseVSAvoidprotection of poles from damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the protective system into multiple functional segments: the flexible bag provides outer protection and portability, the semi-rigid reinforcing material provides structural framework, and the padding material provides shock absorption. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function while collectively providing adequate protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates padding material within the bag to provide beforehand cushioning for the poles. This padding absorbs potential impacts during transport, protecting the poles from damage before mishandling can occur, thus resolving the protection deficiency of simple canvas bags

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If commercial airlines and carriers are used to transport pole vault poles, then long distances and overseas travel are enabled, but the poles are subject to damage, abuse or mishandling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport capabilityVSAvoidprotection of poles from mishandling

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by creating a protective system that preemptively counteracts potential damage from commercial transport. The combination of the flexible wear-resistant bag, semi-rigid reinforcing material, and padding material creates a protective barrier that counteracts the harmful effects of commercial carrier handling before damage can occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS7455178B2Pole vault pole carrying case

Publication Date: 2008.11.25 EONLINESPORTS COM

AI summary

A case for carrying pole vault poles is made of an elongate flexible bag of a length approximately equal to the length of the pole vault pole or poles to be carried and a sheet of semi-rigid laterally bendable material generally coextensive with the bag and forming therewith a shell for protectively encircling the pole or poles contained within the bag. The bag is preferably of butterfly style foldable and unfoldable about a longitudinal fold line between a closed position and an open position. The sheet of semi-rigid material lies flat in the open position of the bag and is bendable about the longitudinal fold line to form a pole encircling protective shell in the closed position of the bag. The case facilitates convenient carrying of pole vault poles from place to place, for example, from track meet to track meet, and insures safe, damage free transport of pole vault poles when transported, for example, via commercial carriers.