Spring-Loaded Piston Goal Post for Flying Disc Games
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flying disc games, such as Polish Horseshoes, lack an active mechanism to ensure the object is dislodged from the pole upon a successful strike, and the object's propulsion is solely by gravity, making the game less challenging and unpredictable.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a goal post system with an elongated pole featuring a tubular body, a trigger slot, a pivotably attached target, a spring, and a piston with a trigger pin. When the target is struck by a flying disc, the spring propels the piston upward, dislodging an object from the top of the piston and propelling it into the air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the object is dislodged from the pole by gravity alone, then the game is simple and easy to play, but the game lacks challenge and unpredictability
Solution Approach 1:
The pole is designed with flexible segments that can dynamically respond to disc impacts. The flexibility allows the pole to bend and rebound, creating unpredictable motion patterns that make the game more challenging while maintaining ease of play through simple disc throwing.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible pole segments create vibrational motion when struck by the disc, causing the object to be dislodged through mechanical vibration rather than gravity alone. This adds unpredictability to the game while keeping the playing action simple.
2Device complexity
If there is no active mechanism to ensure object dislodgment, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of successful strikes is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible pole structure serves itself by automatically dislodging the object through its own elastic deformation when struck by the disc. The pole's flexibility ensures that any successful strike reliably dislodges the object without requiring additional active mechanisms.
3Productivity
If the object is propelled to the ground instantly by gravity, then the game flow is simple, but the difficulty for the defensive team is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible pole creates dynamic, extended propulsion of the object through elastic rebound and vibration, keeping the object in motion for a longer period and making it harder to catch, while maintaining simple disc throwing gameplay.
Solution Approach 2:
The pole's flexibility is pre-configured to create vibrational propulsion automatically when struck, preparing the object for extended flight before the defensive team can react, thereby increasing difficulty without complicating the basic game 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
This solution adds an element of height and unpredictability to the game, making it more challenging for defensive teams to catch the object, and introduces a mechanism to ensure consistent object dislodgment upon successful strikes.
Implementation Method 1
a spring disposed within the tubular body and a piston having a trigger pin disposed in a side thereof, the piston disposed within the tubular body positioned against the spring, the trigger pin retained within the trigger slot, where the spring is configured to produce a biasing force against the piston
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for playing a flying disc game is disclosed. A goal post having a vertical orientation includes a pop-up piston upon which an object can be placed in an armed position is disclosed. The goal post includes a target that when struck by a flying disc ejects the object into the air. A method of playing a flying disc game with such a goal post is further disclosed.