Reverse Welt Ball with Foam Core and Channel Insert
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recreational balls are either designed for indoor or outdoor use, lacking versatility for both environments, and fail to provide unpredictable behavior for gaming or pet training, with limited grasping options and inadequate size and mass for herding animals.
Innovation Solution
A ball featuring a foam core with a spherical or prolate spheroidal shape, a channel-shaped rubber insert, and a fabric cover, allowing for grasping and providing unpredictable rolling characteristics, along with optional separable inserts for modifying rolling behavior and incorporating a launcher for enhanced play.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ball is designed to be soft and lightweight for indoor play, then it is comfortable and safe for indoor use, but it lacks the mass and ruggedness to withstand outdoor conditions and light breezes
Solution Approach 1:
The ball combines a foam core with a rubber outer shell to create a composite structure that integrates the softness and comfort of foam with the durability and weather resistance of rubber, enabling the ball to perform well in both indoor and outdoor environments
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ball is designed to exhibit predictable behavior for standard play, then it provides consistent performance, but it fails to introduce chance or challenge for gaming activities and pet training
Solution Approach 1:
The ball incorporates an off-center weight distribution within its construction, creating asymmetric mass positioning that causes the ball to roll and bounce in unpredictable patterns, introducing an element of chance suitable for gaming and pet training activities
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ball is designed with a small diameter to allow pets to carry it in their mouths, then it is easy for pets to grasp and carry, but it limits the variety of play modes such as kicking and lofting
Solution Approach 1:
The ball features localized gripping zones with textured surfaces and recessed areas at specific locations on the ball surface, providing enhanced grip points that facilitate various play modes including kicking, lofting, and carrying, while maintaining an overall larger diameter suitable for diverse activities
4Ease of operation
If the ball is designed with extensions such as handles or ropes for grasping, then it provides easy grasping for throwing, but the extensions interfere with the ball's ability to roll smoothly
Solution Approach 1:
The ball incorporates localized textured gripping zones and recessed areas directly on the ball surface rather than adding external extensions, providing enhanced grip for throwing while maintaining a smooth overall spherical shape that rolls without interference
Data Source
AI summary
A ball (100) having a foam core (110) with a channel recess (114) formed on its surface is enclosed by a cover assembly including a rubber channel assembly (120) in the shape of a spherical curve, such as a baseball curve, and fabric panels (132) that are fixed to the channel assembly. The channel assembly is configured to be inserted into the channel recess in the core. In an embodiment, a heat-activated adhesive substrate is disposed between the cover assembly and the core. In an embodiment, a launcher engages the channel assembly to aid in throwing the ball. In an embodiment, a removable insert (220) is insertable to be retained in the channel assembly.