Pressurized Athletic Ball Container with Embedded Valves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pressurized containers for athletic balls are complex, expensive, prone to damage, and limited in size and functionality, with exposed valves and gaskets that are susceptible to contamination and breakage, making them costly and inconvenient for users.

Innovation Solution

A portable pressurized container with embedded inlet and relief valves, eliminating the need for external pumps and gaskets, using off-the-shelf components and protecting vital parts from damage and contamination, allowing for easy operation and multiple sources of pressurization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If external pumps and valves are attached to the container, then pressurization function is achieved, but device complexity and risk of damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer durabilityVSAvoidnumber of external components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the pump mechanism and valves directly into the container body, eliminating separate external components. The pump is housed within the container wall, and valves are embedded in the bottom, creating a unified structure that reduces complexity while maintaining pressurization functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent embeds functional components within the container structure itself. The pump mechanism is nested within the container wall thickness, and valves are nested in the bottom surface, creating a compact integrated system where components are housed within the container body rather than being external attachments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If valves and gaskets are exposed on the container, then ease of operation is improved, but susceptibility to contamination and breakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination resistanceVSAvoidvalve accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes gaskets from the external surface and integrates them into the valve assembly embedded in the container bottom. This extraction of gaskets from exposed positions eliminates their vulnerability to contamination while maintaining their sealing function within the protected valve structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent protects valves and gaskets from damage by embedding them in the container bottom and wall structures before they can be exposed to harmful conditions. This pre-positioning within protected structures prevents contamination and breakage while maintaining operational functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a removable cap with external fixtures is used, then adaptability is improved, but risk of damage from handling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer configurabilityVSAvoidcomponent durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of attaching fixtures to a removable cap that is separate from the container body, the patent inverts the approach by embedding all necessary fixtures directly into the container bottom and wall. This eliminates the removable cap with external fixtures, reducing handling damage risk while maintaining functionality through the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

The solution provides a cost-effective, durable, and easy-to-use container that extends the life of athletic balls by minimizing damage and contamination risks, reducing the need for frequent replacements, and accommodating various ball types and sizes.

Implementation Method 1

Over time and through repetitive use, these athletic balls lose will gradually lose air through the process of osmosis which causes them to depressurize. When athletic balls depressurize, they soften and lose their resilience

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOsmosis: Osmosis

Implementation Method 2

the athletic balls will not begin to depressurize until the storage container is opened and the athletic balls are put into play. The prior art has numerous examples of devices that use pressurized containers to slow down this depressurization or, in many cases, actually re-pressurize the athletic ball

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure equalization: Pascal's Law

Data Source

PatentUS7588145B1Apparatus and method for extending the life of athletic balls

Publication Date: 2009.09.15 MARIUS TAMAS

AI summary

An improved apparatus and method for extending the life of tennis balls and the like by storing the athletic balls in a pressurized portable container having protected inlet and relief valves embedded in the body of the container.