Awning Fabric Squaring via Adjustable Resilient Adjustment Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Awnings often experience uneven rolling due to non-parallel extended edges with the central axis of the roll tube, leading to unsightly and potentially damaged fabric during transport.
Innovation Solution
An adjustment device with an engagement member featuring angular splines and a resilient adjustment member with flexible connectors, allowing for selective adjustment of the outer diameter to ensure even rolling by keying the splines into internal grooves and using a retainer element to maintain the desired diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the awning fabric is rolled about the roll tube without adjustment, then the awning can be stored in a compact position, but the fabric rolls unevenly causing unsightly appearance and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment device acts as an intermediary component between the fabric and the roll tube. It includes an engagement member with splines that interface with the roll tube, and an adjustment member with a resilient body that can be adjusted radially to change the effective rolling diameter, thereby mediating the rolling process to ensure uniform fabric winding
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment member allows changing the radial position or outer diameter parameter of the rolling surface. By adjusting the position of the adjustment member relative to the engagement member, the effective diameter at which the fabric rolls is changed, enabling correction of non-parallel edges and ensuring even rolling during storage
2Device complexity
If the extended edge of the awning fabric is not parallel to the central axis of the roll tube, then the awning structure remains simple, but one portion of the fabric rolls up differently than another portion
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment device serves as a mediator that corrects the misalignment between the fabric edge and roll tube axis without requiring complex structural modifications to the awning itself. The engagement member with splines and the adjustable adjustment member provide a simple yet effective interface that ensures proper fabric alignment during rolling
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment member is designed to be radially adjustable, allowing dynamic modification of the rolling diameter. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to adapt to different fabric conditions and correct rolling issues on-demand, maintaining stability of fabric composition during the rolling process
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
Ensures even rolling of the awning fabric by adjusting the outer diameter of the adjustment member to maintain parallelism with the roll tube axis, preventing damage and maintaining the awning's appearance during transport.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient adjustment member having an outer diameter and being adapted to engage the engagement member
Implementation Method 2
A retainer element is further provided that is adapted to maintain a desired outer diameter of the adjustment member
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustment device for an awning is provided comprising an engagement member and a resilient adjustment member having an outer diameter. The outer diameter of the adjustment member is adapted to be selectively adjustable. A retainer element is provided to maintain a desired outer diameter. In one example, the resilient adjustment member can be adapted to engage the engagement member. In addition or alternatively, the engagement member can have a plurality of angular splines that are keyed into corresponding internal grooves of the adjustment member. In addition or alternatively, the resilient adjustment member can be adapted to splinably engage the engagement member. In addition or alternatively, the resilient adjustment member can have a plurality of support members and a plurality of flexible connectors, wherein each support member is connected to an adjacent support member by a flexible connector to form an enclosed cross-section.