Retractable Jump Pit Cover Assembly with In-Ground Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing jump pit cover solutions, such as aluminum panels and vinyl/mesh covers, face issues with displacement due to wind, inconvenience in storage, and difficulty in regular installation and removal, particularly for facilities with multiple sand pits.
Innovation Solution
A retractable cover assembly that includes a housing with a chamber in the ground and a monolithic elongated cover that can be stored compactly and extended to cover the sand area, featuring a vinyl/mesh fabric that rolls up and retracts, securely attaching to the base form and sand catcher system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If aluminum cover panels are used, then the cover provides structural strength and durability, but the cover becomes heavy and difficult to install and remove regularly
Solution Approach 1:
The cover system is divided into multiple modular panels that can be independently handled and assembled. Each panel is a manageable unit that can be easily installed and removed, yet collectively they provide complete coverage and structural integrity across the entire sand area.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover panels utilize composite construction combining aluminum framing for structural strength with vinyl/mesh fabric for coverage and flexibility. This composite approach provides the strength of metal while maintaining the light weight and ease of handling of fabric materials.
2Ease of operation
If vinyl/mesh covers with perimeter weight are used, then the cover becomes lighter and easier to install, but the cover is susceptible to displacement by wind
Solution Approach 1:
The cover panels are designed to be dynamic rather than static - they can be easily deployed and removed as needed. The modular panel system allows for flexible installation and removal without requiring heavy anchoring systems, enabling regular use while maintaining stability during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vinyl/mesh fabric acts as a flexible covering that drapes over the sand area, providing coverage while allowing the underlying modular aluminum structure to provide the necessary stability and wind resistance.
3Reliability
If multiple aluminum cover panels are used to cover the sand area, then the cover provides complete coverage and structural integrity, but the storage space required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cover system is divided into multiple modular panels that can be independently handled and assembled. Each panel is a manageable unit that can be easily installed and removed, yet collectively they provide complete coverage and structural integrity across the entire sand area.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular panel design allows the cover system to be collapsed or folded into a more compact three-dimensional configuration for storage, reducing the space required compared to storing flat panels separately.
Data Source
AI summary
A cover assembly may include a housing and an elongated cover. The housing defines a chamber therein. The chamber is disposable in the ground adjacent to a side of the sand area of the jump pit. The elongated cover has a first end, a second end, and spaced-apart sides extending from the first end to the second end. The elongated cover is storable in a compacted configuration in the chamber of the housing below the surface of the ground, and the elongated cover is removable from the chamber and extendable in an uncompacted configuration over the sand area of the jump pit to conceal the sand area.