Poolside Target Board With Angled Apertures for Stable Aquatic Toss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aquatic ball toss games using inflatable targets are unstable due to waves, making them games of chance and negating the skill of hitting a target, while land-based games lack portability and physical exertion.
Innovation Solution
A land-based target board apparatus with angled apertures of varying sizes, constructed from durable materials, allowing players to toss fabric-covered sponge balls from within a swimming pool, with scoring based on aperture size and featuring a collapsible design for ease of transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an inflatable floating target is used in aquatic games, then the game can be played in water, but the target becomes unstable due to waves making it a game of chance rather than skill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pool edge as an intermediary surface between the water and the target board. The target board is positioned on the pool edge rather than floating in water, using the rigid pool edge structure to provide stability while still enabling aquatic gameplay. This mediator resolves the contradiction by decoupling the target stability from water conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a land-based version of ball toss games by placing the target board on the pool edge, effectively copying the stability characteristics of land-based games (like Cornhole or Skee-Ball) into the aquatic environment. This allows the game to replicate the skill-based nature of land games while maintaining aquatic play capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If land-based target games are used, then stability and skill-based gameplay are achieved, but portability and ease of transport are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The target board is designed as a segmented structure that can be divided into multiple sections for easier transport. This segmentation allows the stable land-based target design to be broken down into manageable pieces that are easier to carry and set up, resolving the contradiction between stability and portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The target board incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements that allow it to adapt between a stable assembled state during gameplay and a compact disassembled state for transport. This dynamic design enables the structure to transition between requiring maximum stability and requiring maximum portability.
Data Source
AI summary
An aquatic ball-toss game that includes a target to be positioned poolside, facing the water, along with 2 sets of four each, cloth-covered sponge balls. The game is intended to be played while inside of a swimming pool, from any predetermined distance. The target board shall have 5 apertures on the face of the target board. Three apertures shall be positioned on the center line, decreasing in diameter as they ascend vertically. There shall be the two smallest apertures positioned near the top, on either side of the center line. The apparatus shall be positioned so that a portion will hang over the pool edge, so that any balls hitting the target may fall back into the pool through an open section in the base.