Retractable Boat Shade Horizontal Pivot Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Center console type boats typically offer minimal overhead coverage, leaving boaters exposed to harsh sun rays, and existing shade devices can pose safety hazards due to their design.
Innovation Solution
A retractable shade apparatus for boats with a horizontally pivoting design that provides adjustable overhead coverage, featuring gas-assisted or manually operated spines that protrude outward for maximum sun protection, and includes a sliding shade assembly for extended coverage, ensuring safety and comfort at running speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If shade devices are mounted on boat T-tops to provide overhead coverage, then sun protection is improved, but safety hazards increase due to potential head collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The shade device is designed to pivot horizontally rather than hinge downward, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position while remaining substantially level with the boat T-top. This dynamic design enables the shade to provide coverage without creating a safety hazard, as it does not extend downward toward the boater's head area.
Solution Approach 2:
The shade device transitions from a vertical hinging motion to a horizontal pivoting motion, changing the dimension of movement from vertical to horizontal. This dimensional change allows the shade to maintain level orientation while providing overhead coverage, eliminating the head collision risk associated with downward-hinging designs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If shade devices are designed to hinge down for coverage, then sun protection is improved, but the design creates safety hazards for boaters
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the shade hinge downward from the T-top, the invention inverts the motion by having the shade pivot horizontally along the T-top. This inversion of the hinging action maintains the shade's level orientation and eliminates the safety hazard while still providing effective sun protection.
3Strength
If spines are made high-strength to provide stiffness at running speeds, then structural integrity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shade device is divided into multiple spines that can be independently operated. Each spine is a separate structural element that can be extended or retracted individually, allowing the system to achieve the necessary structural integrity for running speeds without requiring a single complex monolithic structure. The segmentation enables simpler, more manageable components that collectively provide the required strength.
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 apparatus offers adjustable and extensive sun protection, preventing head hazards and maximizing coverage, while being sturdy enough for use at running speeds, with features like gas-assisted operation and high-strength spines ensuring effective shade deployment and retraction.
Implementation Method 1
gas-assisted operation for ease of use
Data Source
AI summary
An Extendable/Retractable Shade Apparatus for attachment to a boat tower or boat top or boat cargo rack.