Soccer Ball Mounting Device with Domed Receiver and Coil Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing soccer ball mounting systems, as disclosed in the Ohle patents, suffer from wobbling issues when the ball is kicked, leading to uneven spatial positioning and premature wear, which reduces the useful life of the soccer ball.
Innovation Solution
A soccer ball mounting device with a domed bolt shaft receiver and a flexible center shaft surrounded by a coil spring, allowing for improved stability and return positioning, and the use of a T-shaped connector for adjustable elevation, enabling kicking in both horizontal and vertical planes with padding for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bolt is attached through a hole in the soccer ball cover to mount the ball, then the ball can be secured to the mounting arm, but the ball wobbles and experiences uneven wear around the hole
Solution Approach 1:
A socket is introduced as an intermediary component between the bolt and the ball cover. The socket receives the bolt and provides a larger contact area with the ball cover, distributing the stress and preventing the wobble and wear that occurs when the bolt directly contacts the cover through a small hole.
2Ease of operation
If a roller chain center device is used, then the ball can be easily kicked in a horizontal plane, but the device cannot be easily kicked in a vertical plane
Solution Approach 1:
The roller chain center device utilizes the flexibility of the chain links to allow bending in horizontal planes while maintaining structural integrity. The chain's inherent flexibility in horizontal directions enables easy horizontal kicking, while the rigid link structure prevents vertical bending, naturally limiting vertical plane kicking.
3Device complexity
If the coil spring is exposed, then the apparatus structure is simpler, but safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A protective sheath is introduced as an intermediary element that covers the exposed coil spring. The sheath acts as a barrier between the spring and users, preventing direct contact with the potentially harmful moving spring while allowing the spring to maintain its functional movement and positioning.
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 enhances the stability and longevity of the soccer ball by minimizing wobbling and wear, allowing for efficient and safe practice in various kicking orientations.
Implementation Method 1
an elongated soccer ball mounting arm that has a roller chain center device that is substantially surrounded by an elongated coil spring
Implementation Method 2
a roller chain center device such as that taught by Ohle is flexible in a substantially horizontal plane, but is not flexible in a substantially vertical plane
Implementation Method 3
the coil spring of such an apparatus can be covered by a padding material such as a polymeric material having a sheath-like configuration that substantially covers such a spring
Data Source
AI summary
A soccer kicking practice apparatus is provided with a domed bolt shaft receiver for mounting a soccer ball having a protruding threaded bolt to a soccer ball holder. In the alternative the soccer kicking practice may employ a soccer ball having a nut to receive a threaded bolt mounted to a knob.