Spring-Actuated Throwing Device with Cup and Shroud
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with age-related, strength-related, or disability-related limitations face challenges in participating in catch and throw games due to difficulties in throwing and retrieving objects, particularly those who struggle with bending or finding objects in a dog's mouth.
Innovation Solution
A throwing device with a body, grip, trigger, and spring-actuated throwing arm, featuring a cup member for object engagement and release, torque adjustment for tension control, and a shroud for safety and trajectory consistency, allowing for easy use by individuals with impairments or limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional manual throwing method is used, then the throwing action requires significant physical strength and bending motion, but this causes difficulty for individuals with age-related, strength-related, or disability-related limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual throwing mechanical system with a spring-actuated launching mechanism. The spring provides the throwing force automatically, eliminating the need for the user to generate throwing force through physical strength. The user simply places the object in the cup and triggers the release, substituting complex manual throwing mechanics with a simple trigger-based spring launch system.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism serves itself by automatically generating the throwing force without requiring external input beyond the trigger activation. The spring is pre-loaded and self-actuates when released, providing the throwing action autonomously once initiated by the user pressing the trigger button.
2Reliability
If a simple cup release mechanism is used, then the object release trajectory varies unpredictably, but this reduces throwing consistency and effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The cup member is designed with a curved, hemispherical interior surface that guides the object along a consistent arc trajectory. This curvature ensures that objects released from the cup follow a predictable horizontal path, improving throwing consistency. The spherical geometry naturally directs the object forward in a uniform manner regardless of minor variations in placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the spring tension parameter through a tension adjustment mechanism to optimize the throwing distance and trajectory. By changing the spring force parameter, the system achieves reliable and consistent throwing performance. The curved guide surface also modifies the release angle parameter to ensure horizontal trajectory.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the throwing arm is fully exposed during operation, then the mechanism is simple and accessible, but this creates safety hazards from the moving arm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible shroud or cover that encloses the throwing arm during operation. This thin protective shell prevents direct contact with the moving arm while allowing the mechanism to remain relatively simple. The shroud can be made of flexible material that accommodates the arm's motion without requiring complex rigid enclosures.
4Power
If a spring-actuated mechanism is used to provide throwing force, then the throwing power is sufficient, but the mechanism requires tension adjustment and cocking actions
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is pre-loaded and stored energy is prepared in advance through a cocking mechanism. The tension adjustment mechanism allows the spring tension to be pre-set to the desired level. When the trigger is pressed, the pre-stored energy is immediately released, providing powerful throwing force without requiring the user to manually generate force during the throwing action.
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
Enables individuals with impairments or limitations to participate in catch and throw games by providing a consistent and easy-to-use mechanism for throwing objects in a horizontal trajectory, minimizing physical strain and risk of injury.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-actuated throwing arm
Implementation Method 2
a torque adjustment member adapted to apply or release tension from a spring actuating the throwing arm
Data Source
AI summary
Throwing devices are described. In one embodiment, a throwing device includes a spring-actuated throwing arm wherein a cup member is disposed at an end of the throwing arm and is adapted to allow a user to pick up an object to be thrown by the throwing device without touching the object. In another embodiment, a throwing device includes a tension adjustment member, by which a user can adjust the tension applied to the launching spring, thereby adjusting the launch range of the throwing device.