Spring-Back Ball Tee with Pivot Base and Telescopic Post
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional batting tees are prone to damage and instability when hit by a bat, often tipping over and requiring frequent resetting, which interrupts practice sessions and lacks portability and easy setup.
Innovation Solution
A batting tee design featuring a post assembly with telescopic tubes and a spring biased post holder that absorbs impact, allowing the post to pivot and return to its upright position, combined with a base assembly for stability and easy setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional batting tee with a flat base and adjustable post is used, then the ball can be held at various heights for practice, but the tee is prone to tipping over and damage when hit by a bat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the static, rigid post structure with a dynamic, flexible system. The telescoping tubes allow the post to compress and flex during bat impact, absorbing shock while maintaining ball position. The spring mechanism enables the post to return to its original position after deformation, providing continuous stability without permanent displacement or damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the structural properties of the post from rigid to flexible. The spring mechanism changes the stiffness parameter dynamically, allowing the post to be rigid enough to hold the ball steadily during practice but flexible enough to absorb impact forces without breaking or tipping over.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid batting tee structure is used to maintain stability, then the ball position remains steady, but the tee sustains damage and requires frequent resetting when hit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating a spring mechanism that预先 absorbs impact energy before it can damage the structural components. The spring acts as a cushion that deforms under impact, protecting the telescoping tubes and joint connections from the full force of bat strikes, thereby preventing damage and eliminating the need for frequent resetting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful impact force into a beneficial compression of the spring mechanism. Instead of the impact causing damage or displacement, the spring transforms the kinetic energy of the bat into elastic potential energy, which is then released to return the post to its original position, turning a potentially damaging event into a self-correcting mechanism.
3Reliability
If a heavy-duty batting tee is designed to resist bat impact, then durability improves, but portability and quick setup become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the post into multiple telescoping tube sections that can nest within each other. This modular structure reduces the overall storage and transport size while maintaining the structural integrity needed for impact resistance. The segmented design allows the tee to be compact for portability yet robust when assembled for use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements the nested doll principle through telescoping tubes that fit within each other, creating a compact configuration for storage and transport. When assembled, the nested structure provides a sturdy, impact-resistant post while maintaining ease of setup and teardown, as the tubes simply slide into place without requiring complex assembly procedures.
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 design enhances durability by reducing bat impact damage, maintains stability during swings, and allows for quick setup and portability, enabling continuous practice without manual resetting.
Implementation Method 1
a spring biased post holder that absorbs impact, allowing the post to pivot and return to its upright position
Implementation Method 2
The batting tee is consequently subjected to repeated impacts by the bat
Data Source
AI summary
A ball tee for batting practice has a base assembly including a base, a post cup pivotally attached to the base, and at least one spring biasing the post cup into an upright position. A post assembly has a lower end inserted into the post cup. The spring causes the post assembly to return to the upright position after the post assembly is struck and deflected by a bat. The base assembly may include a base plate, a spring bracket attached to the base plate, and an axle extending through the spring bracket, through the spring, and through an axle hole in the post cup. The post assembly may have two or more tubes that allow the height of the post assembly to be telescopically adjusted.