Telescopic Golf Flag Pin Ejector Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf ball retrieval devices often require manual bending and are inefficient, as they fail to prevent balls from falling back into the hole-cup, making it cumbersome for golfers to practice putting and collect balls.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball ejection device integrated into a golf flag pin, featuring a telescopically disposed mast rod with a convex cone that automatically rises to ground level when pushed, expelling balls radially and preventing them from falling back into the cup, utilizing a weighted dome-shaped ejector mechanism and a palm button for manual actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed rod with a small basket is used to retrieve golf balls, then the device structure is simple, but the user has to manually bend over to eject balls and balls often fall back into the cup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the fixed rod into a telescopically adjustable rod that can extend and retract. The rod extends to ground level to eject balls and retracts to allow automatic return to the cup, making the system dynamic rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by enabling easy ball ejection while maintaining structural simplicity through telescopic motion rather than complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the nesting principle through the telescopic rod structure where one rod segment is inserted within another, allowing the rod to extend and retract compactly. This nesting arrangement enables the rod to achieve ground level for ball ejection while maintaining a compact form when retracted, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the rod is extended to ground level to prevent balls from falling back, then ball retention is improved, but the device requires more complex extension mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic telescopic mechanism allows the rod to extend to ground level only when needed for ball ejection, maintaining reliable ball retention. The automatic retraction feature ensures the rod returns to its compact position, preventing balls from falling back into the cup. This dynamic approach achieves reliability without requiring permanently extended complex structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic retraction mechanism causes the rod to return to its retracted position without manual intervention after ball ejection. This self-service feature ensures balls are contained while minimizing the time the complex extended structure is active, thereby improving reliability while reducing the practical impact of structural complexity.
3Productivity
If manual retrieval and spreading of balls is required, then the device structure remains simple, but the practice efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic rod dynamically extends to ground level and incorporates a ball-spreading mechanism that automatically disperses balls in random directions when extended. This dynamic action eliminates the need for manual ball retrieval and spreading, significantly improving practice efficiency while maintaining ease of operation through simple extend-retract motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the ball ejection function with the ball spreading function into a single integrated mechanism. When the rod extends to ground level, it simultaneously ejects balls and spreads them radially outward. This combination of functions improves productivity by eliminating separate manual operations while keeping the device structure relatively simple.
4Productivity
If a telescopically disposed mast rod with convex cone is used, then automatic ball ejection and spreading is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopically disposed mast rod with convex cone applies the dynamics principle by using extendable segments that telescope outward. When extended, the convex cone shape automatically spreads balls radially. This dynamic telescopic structure achieves efficient automatic ball ejection and spreading while maintaining manageable complexity through conventional telescopic design rather than complex mechanical systems.
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 easy and efficient practice on the putting green by automatically expelling golf balls in various distances, reducing the need for manual retrieval and preventing balls from falling back into the hole-cup, enhancing the golfing experience.
Implementation Method 1
the bottom convex cone is weighted to make this action happen
Data Source
AI summary
A golf ball ejection device integrated into a golf flag pin whereby balls sitting in the hole-cup are raised to ground level and expelled outward therefrom in random directions and distances. This is accomplished by apply manual pressure to a slidable component of the flag pin that raises a dome shaped ejector component positioned within the hole-cup thereby ejecting the golf balls contained therein, which also prevents balls from falling back into the cup.