Lightweight Training Ball with Bunched Inner Bladder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing training balls for indoor use either cause damage to structures or fail to accurately simulate real ball handling due to their weight and balance issues, and lack the realism of actual sports balls.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight ball with a flexible outer layer and an inflatable inner bladder that creates an uneven surface to absorb energy upon impact, mimicking the behavior of a regulation-sized sports ball, while being designed to reduce speed and provide cushioning, using materials like metalized film and lightweight high-density polyethylene fibers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a regulation-sized sports ball is used for indoor training, then realistic ball handling simulation is achieved, but damage to walls, ceilings, and other structural components occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveball handling simulation accuracyVSAvoiddamage to indoor structures

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ball is segmented into multiple layers: an outer layer made of lightweight material and an inner bladder that is partially inflated. This segmentation allows the ball to maintain its size and shape for realistic handling while reducing overall weight and impact force to prevent indoor damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ball's weight and density parameters are changed by using lightweight materials for the outer layer and controlling the inflation level of the inner bladder. This allows the ball to simulate real ball handling characteristics while having reduced mass to minimize damage potential in indoor environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a balloon or beach ball is used indoors to limit damage, then potential damage to structures is reduced, but the exterior does not replicate the exterior of an actual sports ball and causes spinning and balance issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage potentialVSAvoidball handling realism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ball combines a lightweight outer layer with a partially inflated inner bladder, creating a segmented structure that provides both cushioning for indoor safety and a realistic exterior surface for accurate ball handling simulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inflation level of the inner bladder is controlled to optimize both the ball's exterior shape for realistic handling and its internal cushioning properties for damage reduction, achieving a balance between realism and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If the inner bladder is fully inflated to maintain ball shape, then structural integrity is improved, but energy absorption upon impact is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveball structural integrityVSAvoidimpact energy absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The inner bladder is partially inflated rather than fully inflated, providing just enough internal pressure to maintain the ball's structural integrity and shape while leaving sufficient slack in the bladder material to allow it to deform and absorb impact energy effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive 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

The ball effectively simulates real ball handling while minimizing indoor damage, allowing for accurate training and skill development with adjustable weight and buoyancy, enhancing user reaction time and hand-eye coordination.

Implementation Method 1

At least a portion of the bunched up outer surface of the inner bladder is adapted to at least partially change configuration to absorb energy upon impact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy absorption through deformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

The uneven surface of the outer layer is adapted to reduce the speed of ball as it travels through the air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir resistance: Drag

Implementation Method 3

The bunched up inner bladder may act as a cushion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCushioning effect: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS10179266B2Lightweight training ball with inner and outer layers

Publication Date: 2019.01.15 BURKE JOSEPH GERARD

AI summary

A ball has a lightweight inner bladder and an outer layer that covers the inner bladder. The inner bladder bunches up against the inner surface of the outer layer. The bunched up surface of the inner bladder may be flattened upon impact, thereby absorbing energy. The bunched up inner bladder may create an uneven surface on the outer layer thereby altering the manner through which the ball travels through the air. The outer layer may be provided with lines, indentations, graphics and/or other features that improve the performance of the ball and/or that replicate some or all of the characteristics of the exterior surface of the regulation ball it simulates. The ball may be configured for any of a variety of sports or games.