Awning Gutter Splash Guard Using Articulated Quadrilateral
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor awnings are ineffective in preventing rainwater splashes from escaping the gutters, leading to water leakage onto the ground, and they are structurally complex and costly due to the need for additional components like anti-drip devices.
Innovation Solution
An outdoor awning with a protection device comprising an articulated quadrilateral mechanism that moves between retreated and advanced positions to prevent rainwater from splashing outside the gutters, using a movable wall and actuation means to ensure water collection without additional structural complexity or cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional gutters are used without additional protection devices, then the structure remains simple, but rainwater splashes escape the gutters and fall on the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The partition is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position based on the awning sheet's state. The partition moves between a first position (when the sheet is extended) to block water splashes, and a second position (when the sheet is retracted) to avoid interfering with the folded sheet. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by providing water containment only when needed, maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition serves multiple functions: it acts as a water containment barrier when the awning is extended, and it becomes non-intrusive when the awning is retracted. By integrating this single component to handle both water containment and sheet retraction scenarios, the solution avoids adding separate complex devices while maintaining reliability across different operational states.
2Reliability
If a fixed partition is added to prevent water splashes, then water containment improves, but the structure becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a fixed partition that would always be present and potentially interfere with the retracted sheet, the invention uses a movable partition that only activates when needed. The partition's ability to move between positions eliminates the need for complex fixed structures, resolving the contradiction between water containment effectiveness and structural simplicity.
3Reliability
If the partition remains in the water containment position, then water splashes are prevented, but the collected sheet interferes with the partition structure
Solution Approach 1:
The partition's movable design allows it to dynamically adapt to the sheet's position. When the sheet is retracted, the partition moves to a second position that clears the path for the folded sheet, eliminating interference. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring the partition only occupies the water containment position when the sheet is extended and water containment is needed.
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
Effectively prevents rainwater splashes from escaping the gutters, reducing water leakage onto the ground while maintaining a simple and cost-effective design for the awning.
Implementation Method 1
a protection device (100) mechanically connected to said support structure (2) and arranged on said at least one longitudinal gutter (15), and susceptible of being actuated to prevent drops of rainwater, that fell inside said at least one longitudinal gutter (15), from splashing outside the latter, going beyond the internal side (17)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Outdoor awning, which comprises: a support structure (2) provided with two longitudinal members (3) on which multiple transverse profiles (10) are slidably mounted; a sheet (11) supported by the transverse profiles (10) and provided with two longitudinal edges (12) positioned along the respective longitudinal members (3); two longitudinal gutters (15) positioned below the sheet (11) at the respective longitudinal edges (12) of the latter. The outdoor awning also comprises a protection device (100) mechanically connected to the support structure (2), arranged at the respective longitudinal gutter (15) and actuatable to prevent drops of rainwater that fell into the longitudinal gutter (15) from splashing outside the latter. The aforesaid protection device (100) comprises an articulated quadrilateral (101) and actuation means (106) adapted to act on the articulated quadrilateral (101) in order to move a movable wall (105) of the latter between a retreated position, when the sheet (11) is in collected position, and an advanced position, when the sheet (11) is in extended position.