Telescoping Baseball Carrier with Spring Elevation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing baseball storage and carrying solutions, such as ball caddies and bucket stands, are cumbersome for transport and require repetitive bending to retrieve balls from the bottom of the container, leading to discomfort and strain during practice.

Innovation Solution

A telescoping and collapsible container with a nested cylindrical design featuring a spring assembly and locking tabs, allowing easy extension for bucket stand functionality and reducing the need for bending, with a handle for comfortable transport and easy access to balls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a bucket or container is used to store and carry baseballs, then the balls can be stored and transported, but repetitive bending is required to retrieve balls from the bottom, causing pain and soreness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of ball retrievalVSAvoidphysical strain on participant
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a nested cylindrical structure where an inner container is placed within an outer container. The inner container can be extended upward from the outer container, allowing balls to be accessed from a higher position rather than bending down to the bottom of a single deep container. This nesting arrangement effectively raises the ball retrieval height while maintaining compact storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates a telescoping mechanism that allows the inner container to dynamically adjust its height. The inner container can be extended upward when ball retrieval is needed and retracted when not in use, providing dynamic adaptability to the user's needs. This dynamic structure eliminates the need for repetitive bending while maintaining portability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If elongated metal legs are used to support the ball container (ball caddy or bucket stand), then ball access is improved, but the structure becomes awkward and cumbersome for transport and setup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to ballsVSAvoidtransport and setup convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional elongated metal legs with a nested cylindrical structure where the inner container serves as the support mechanism. The inner container extends upward from the outer container, providing ball access without requiring separate leg structures. This integrated nested design eliminates the complexity of assembly and disassembly associated with traditional ball caddies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The outer container serves multiple functions: it acts as both the storage container for baseballs and the structural base that supports the inner container. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate support legs, making the device simpler to transport and set up while maintaining ease of ball access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If a deep container is used to hold many baseballs, then storage capacity is improved, but balls at the bottom become difficult to reach without bending

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of baseballs storedVSAvoidaccess to bottom balls
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a nested cylindrical structure where the inner container is positioned within the outer container. The inner container can be extended upward, bringing balls that would otherwise be at the bottom of a deep container within easy reach. This maintains the storage capacity of a deep container while eliminating the need to bend down to access balls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of accessing balls only from the top of a single deep container (vertical access), the patent introduces a second vertical dimension through the nested structure. The inner container extends upward from the outer container, creating a multi-level access system where balls can be retrieved from an elevated position within the inner container, effectively adding another accessible dimension for ball retrieval.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution provides a convenient and ergonomic way to store, carry, and retrieve baseballs, reducing strain and improving accessibility by keeping the remaining balls at a comfortable height through the spring assembly's urging force, while allowing easy filling and nesting for transport.

Implementation Method 1

a spring assembly disposed within the second right circular cylindrical portion and operationally connected to the second right circular cylindrical portion urging the second right circular cylindrical portion away from the first right circular cylindrical portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS20240216763A1Extendable baseball carrier
Publication Date: 2024.07.04 GRANDSTAND LLC
  • US20240216763A1 patent drawing
  • US20240216763A1 patent drawing
  • US20240216763A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A ball carrying assembly, including a first right circular cylindrical portion, a first disc portion disposed at one end of the first right circular cylindrical portion and fixed thereto to define a canister, a second right circular cylindrical portion defining a storage volume and disposable within the first right circular cylindrical portion and operationally connected thereto, a platform portion movably disposed within the second right circular cylindrical portion, three equidistantly spaced ledge portions formed within the first right circular cylindrical portion, and three equidistantly spaced tab portions protruding from the second right circular cylindrical portion. Each respective tab portion is lockingly engageable with a respective ledge portion. A spring assembly is operationally connected within the storage volume to the movable platform portion. The spring assembly has a spring constant sufficient to urge the movable platform portion away from the pull of gravity when balls are removed from the storage volume. Second right circular cylindrical portion also includes spaced ridges positioned on outside and inside thereof and extending parallel with the cylindrical axis and defining ventilation volume therebetween for ease of movement of platform portion therein and of cylindrical portions relative to one another.