Vehicle Awning Support with Articulated Arm
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle awnings are often impractical for vehicles with low heights or small roof areas, as they cannot be extended to allow a person to stand upright beneath them, and current awning supports are difficult to operate and require multiple people to adjust.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle awning support system with moveable arms that can be raised and lowered to adjust the awning's height, allowing it to be extended vertically and operated by a single user, featuring a vehicle mount, awning mount, and an articulated arm that can be retracted and extended to accommodate different vehicle types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a vehicle awning is mounted along an edge of the roof or upper surface of a vehicle, then the awning can be extended to provide shelter, but the awning height is fixed and does not allow a person to stand upright beneath it when the vehicle has a low height or small roof area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the fixed mounting system with a movable arm assembly that can adjust its length and position. The awning support includes an arm with adjustable length that connects the vehicle to the awning, allowing the awning height to be dynamically changed to accommodate different vehicle types and user needs, enabling persons to stand upright beneath the awning even when mounted on low-height vehicles.
2Ease of operation
If awning supports with extendable legs and gas springs are used to vertically extend the vehicle awning, then the awning can be raised to a desired height, but the supports are difficult to operate and require more than one person to extend and secure them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical system of extendable legs and gas springs with a simpler arm-based support mechanism. The new design uses an articulated arm with adjustable length that can be easily positioned and secured, eliminating the need for multiple persons to operate the support system while maintaining the ability to raise the awning to the desired height.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle awning is mounted along an upper edge of the cargo bed or tray of a vehicle, then the awning can be installed on vehicles with small roof areas, but the awning height remains too low to allow a person to stand upright beneath it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by introducing an adjustable-length arm that connects the mounting point on the cargo bed or tray to the awning. This allows the effective height of the awning to be dynamically increased beyond the mounting point, enabling persons to stand upright beneath the awning even when mounted on vehicles with cargo beds or trays, while maintaining the adaptability to install on various vehicle surfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns a vehicle awning support for supporting a vehicle awning on a vehicle, a vehicle awning assembly including the vehicle awning support and methods of use thereof. The vehicle awning support includes at least one vehicle mount for mounting the support to at least a portion of the vehicle, at least one vehicle awning mount for mounting the support to at least a portion of the awning and at least one arm extending between the mounts. The arm is moveable between a retracted position in which the vehicle awning is located adjacent the at least a portion of the vehicle and an extended position in which the vehicle awning extends outwardly relative to the at least a portion of the vehicle.