Takraw Ball Backbone Strut and Pad Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional takraw balls are hard and painful to play with, and their durability is compromised due to stiffness, leading to potential injury and rapid wear, with existing solutions affecting handling characteristics and not providing variability for different user groups.
Innovation Solution
A synthetic takraw ball design featuring backbone struts forming the internal structure and pads forming the surface, allowing for a smooth, non-overlapping, and uniformly deformable outer layer, with adjustable material properties for playability and control, while maintaining structural strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional takraw balls are made from stiff rattan or plastic strips, then structural strength is improved, but player comfort deteriorates due to hardness and pain on impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the properties of different parts of the ball structure. The backbone struts maintain high stiffness and strength for structural integrity, while the pads are made from softer, more compliant material to reduce impact pain. This localized differentiation allows each component to optimize its function - the struts provide strength while the pads provide comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining two distinct materials with different properties: a stiff material for the backbone struts and a softer material for the pads. This composite approach allows the ball to simultaneously achieve structural strength and player comfort, as each material contributes its optimal properties to the overall system.
2Reliability
If takraw balls are made with uniform stiff material throughout, then durability is improved, but handling characteristics deteriorate due to lack of variability for different user groups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables different pad materials and configurations to be selected based on specific user requirements while maintaining the same durable backbone strut structure. This allows customization of the pad layer for different user groups (e.g., softer pads for beginners, firmer pads for advanced players) without compromising the overall durability provided by the backbone struts.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional weaving methods are used with completed hoops, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to labor-intensive assembly requiring dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ball construction into modular components: backbone struts and pads. Instead of weaving complete hoops and then assembling them, the method involves attaching pads to individual struts and then interlacing these pre-assembled segments. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process and enables faster assembly while maintaining structural integrity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If takraw balls use overlapping strip structure, then structural continuity is improved, but surface smoothness deteriorates causing pain and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses surface smoothness by making the pads overlapping while keeping the backbone struts non-overlapping. The pad layer acts as a smoothing interface that covers the strut intersections, creating a smooth external surface that prevents player discomfort while the underlying struts maintain their continuous structural framework.
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 reduces player discomfort, enhances durability, simplifies assembly, and allows for customizable playability and handling characteristics, making the ball more comfortable and long-lasting.
Implementation Method 1
a) at least one of the pads is constructed from an elastic material
Implementation Method 2
WO95/28206 describes a takraw ball woven from strips of composite material of which one part is of soft material and another part of springy material
Data Source
AI summary
A strip subassembly (2) which may be used to form a takraw ball or a similar woven ball, includes a backbone strut (4) and one or more pads (6) attached to the backbone strut (4). In the woven ball, the pads (6) form an even surface which is comfortable for the player.