Awning Arm Assembly Joint for Adjustable Shade
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing awnings lack convenience in providing adjustable and durable shading and clearance, often requiring complex constructions with many parts that are prone to wear and difficult to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
The development of an awning assembly with a simplified design featuring a support member, front bar, and an arm assembly with a joint system that includes an axle, spherical surface, and hollow body, allowing for adjustable and robust positioning while minimizing components and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional awning supports are used to provide retractability and adjustability, then the awning can be positioned as desired, but the construction becomes complex with many parts susceptible to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated arm assembly that provides both retractability and adjustability. The arm assembly includes a first arm, second arm, and joint that work together as one unit, eliminating the need for separate support mechanisms and reducing the total number of parts while maintaining full adjustability and retractability functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm assembly is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides structural support, enables retraction, and allows adjustment of the awning position. The joint mechanism in particular serves multiple purposes: connecting arms, enabling folding motion for retraction, and allowing angular adjustment for positioning, thereby replacing what would traditionally require multiple separate components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional awning supports with many parts are used, then adjustability is achieved, but the awning becomes difficult to manufacture and more susceptible to wear
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple components into fewer integrated parts, the patent simplifies the manufacturing process. The arm assembly can be manufactured as fewer discrete components that require fewer assembly steps, reducing manufacturing complexity while preserving the adjustability function through the integrated joint mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate components from traditional awning support systems. By removing redundant parts and keeping only the essential elements (first arm, second arm, and joint), the design reduces manufacturing steps and assembly complexity while maintaining full adjustability functionality.
3Shape
If complex awning constructions are used to provide enhanced shade and clearance, then performance is improved, but the number of parts increases making them more susceptible to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves enhanced shade and clearance performance by optimizing the geometry and configuration of the integrated arm assembly rather than adding more parts. The first and second arms are positioned at specific angles relative to each other through the joint, creating an effective shading shape with fewer components, thereby reducing wear susceptibility while maintaining performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint is designed with specific local geometric features (spherical surface, through-hole configuration) that enable the arms to be disposed at optimal angles for shade and clearance. This localized geometric optimization achieves the desired performance characteristics without requiring additional components throughout the entire structure, thus maintaining reliability.
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 improved clearance and shade characteristics with fewer components, making the awning easier to manufacture and use, and reducing susceptibility to wear, while allowing for adjustable and robust positioning.
Implementation Method 1
The joint includes an axle coupled with the first member, a spherical surface disposed about the axle, and a through-hole disposed in or coupled with the second member. The through-hole is disposed about and spaced away from the axle by the spherical surface.
Data Source
AI summary
An awning arm assembly is provided that includes inner and outer arms. A joint is provided that has an axle, e.g., any structure about which rotation can be provided coupled with one of the inner arm and the outer arm and a hollow body disposed about the axle. The hollow-body is coupled with the other of the inner arm and the outer arm. The hollow body is coupled with the axle such that when the outer arm moves relative to the inner arm the angle between the hollow body and the axle (and thereby the inner and outer arms) is adjusted.