Recycled Golf Ball Vending Machine with Transparent Coiled Wire Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The disposal of used golf balls as industrial waste poses environmental concerns, and existing methods for selling recycled golf balls lack transparency and convenience, making it difficult for golfers to ascertain brand, quality, and condition, especially through online purchases.
Innovation Solution
A recycled golf ball vending machine with transparent display windows and rotating coiled wires allows users to select and purchase recycled golf balls of varying brands and conditions, providing immediate access to suitable golfing equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If recycled golf balls are sold through internet sales, then a wide range of sales methods and technology options are available, but golfers cannot precisely ascertain the brand, color, quality and condition of the golf balls before purchase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional online image displays with a transparent display window that allows direct visual inspection of the actual golf balls. This substitution of mechanical/optical inspection for digital representation eliminates information loss about ball condition, brand, and quality while maintaining sales versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent display window acts as an intermediary between the golf balls and the purchaser, allowing direct visual access to ball characteristics without requiring digital mediation. This intermediary structure preserves all information about ball condition while enabling various sales methods.
2Ease of operation
If recycled golf balls are sold through internet sales, then purchases can be made remotely, but shipping prevents immediate use by the golfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places golf balls in a vending machine at the location where they will be used (golf course, driving range, or retail establishment). This preliminary positioning eliminates delivery wait time, allowing immediate use upon purchase while maintaining the convenience of on-site transactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The vending machine enables self-service purchase and immediate retrieval of golf balls at the point of use. This eliminates both delivery time and the need for separate retrieval, allowing golfers to complete the entire purchase and retrieval process instantly at the golf facility.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional sales methods are used, then existing infrastructure can be utilized, but the availability and convenience of use for the general public is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the vending machine to be deployable in multiple locations including golf courses, driving ranges, and retail establishments. This multi-functional deployment expands availability to the general public across various venues while using standardized machine infrastructure that can be replicated widely.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the distribution system into multiple decentralized vending machine locations rather than relying on centralized online sales and shipping. This segmentation increases local availability and convenience for the general public while each individual machine uses standard infrastructure that can be easily manufactured and deployed.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides for a recycled golf ball vending machine having a housing with a bottom retrieval chamber and a plurality of shelves disposed above the retrieval chamber. Each shelf includes at least a single coiled wire and at least two opposing coiled wires. The recycled golf ball vending machine includes at least a first transparent cylindrical container having a plurality of recycled golf balls positioned upright within the single coiled wire. The recycled golf ball vending machine further includes a first transparent clamshell container having a first predetermined number of recycled golf balls positioned between the two opposing coiled wires. A payment mechanism activates an instruction mechanism upon a receipt of a payment by a user, which in turn rotates the single coiled wire or the at least two coiled wires. The rotation of the single coiled wire or the two coiled wires respectively conveys the first transparent cylindrical container or the first transparent clamshell container horizontally along the shelf until it slides over a front edge of the shelf and drops into the retrieval chamber.