Integrated Golf Putting Board With Sensor-Lit Connect Four Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf putting training apparatuses are bulky, impractical for storage and transport, and lack versatility in use, often prioritizing either practice or enjoyment over the other, and do not integrate well with popular board games for competitive play.
Innovation Solution
A golf putting apparatus integrated with a Connect Four game board, featuring sensors to detect golf ball passage through openings, illuminating corresponding slots, and allowing for both golf putting practice and competitive board game play, adaptable to various environments and surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a self-contained mini golf apparatus is designed to play Connect Four, then game play functionality is improved, but the apparatus becomes bulky and impractical for storage and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The game board serves multiple functions: it is both the playing surface for Connect Four and the structural base that houses the sensor system for golf putting practice. This multi-functionality allows the apparatus to provide both game play and golf training capabilities without requiring separate dedicated structures for each function, thereby avoiding increased bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing and display electronics are extracted from a traditional bulky housing and integrated directly into the game board structure itself. The openings in the base and embedded sensors eliminate the need for separate sensor housings and complex mechanical structures, significantly reducing the overall apparatus volume while maintaining full functionality.
2Reliability
If traditional golf putting apparatus are designed with housing and sensors, then putting practice capability is improved, but they become difficult to store, transport, or set up
Solution Approach 1:
The game board and base structure are merged into a single integrated unit. The base with openings serves both as the structural support for the game board and as the housing for the sensor system. This merging eliminates the need for separate housing components and simplifies the overall structure, making it easy to store, transport, and set up while maintaining reliable putting practice functionality.
3Reliability
If golf putting apparatus provide helpful practice features, then putting skill improvement is improved, but they lack enjoyable game play
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus seamlessly combines golf putting practice with Connect Four game play in a single integrated system. The same physical structure (base with openings) and sensor system support both functions, allowing users to switch between skill development and competitive gaming without requiring separate equipment, thereby providing both putting improvement and enjoyable game play.
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
Enhances golf putting skills through enjoyable and competitive gameplay, facilitating easy storage, transport, and setup, and enabling versatile use indoors or outdoors on diverse surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
sensors for detecting the golf ball
Implementation Method 2
Each of the circular spaces that a game chip would occupy in the traditional Connect Four game board contains a colored light in the apparatus of the present invention
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for practicing golf putting while playing Connect Four. The Connect Four game board is positioned in an upright vertical orientation with horizontally spaced openings directly underneath through which putted golf balls can pass. Sensors detect the passage of putted golf balls and cause lights to turn on in the game board. Each light that turns on is analogous to the placement of a chip in the traditional Connect Four game board. The apparatus is suited for indoor or outdoor use on a variety of playing surfaces allowing for putting from varied distances, slopes, and angles.