Boat Wind Spray Protection Panel Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Center console boats lack effective wind and spray protection, leading to passengers getting wet or cold, with existing solutions being cumbersome, prone to wear, and losing transparency over time.
Innovation Solution
A boat wind and spray protection device featuring extendable panels made of rigid or semi-rigid materials, operated by a coupler-hinge-actuator system with actuators like rotating shaft, clamp, track, or mount actuators, and electronic control for easy deployment and durability, eliminating buttons and zippers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If flexible clear marine vinyl and canvas panels are used for wind and spray protection, then the protection area is expanded, but the panels shrink over time making them difficult to take on and off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs rigid or semi-rigid panels that maintain their dimensional stability over time, unlike flexible materials that shrink. The panels are designed to be movable through hydraulic or electric actuators that enable easy deployment and retraction, thus maintaining ease of operation while preventing the shrinking problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical fastening systems (buttons, zippers, bungees) with automated hydraulic or electric actuator systems. This substitution eliminates the need for manual manipulation of shrinking flexible materials and provides consistent, reliable panel positioning without the operational difficulties caused by material shrinkage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If flexible vinyl and canvas panels are used, then wind and spray protection is provided, but buttons, zippers, and seams become worn and difficult to work with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses rigid or semi-rigid panels that do not undergo the degradation and shrinkage issues affecting flexible materials. These panels maintain their structural integrity and connection reliability over time, preventing the wear and operational difficulty of buttons, zippers, and seams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical fastening components (buttons, zippers, seams) with a integrated rigid panel structure supported by hydraulic or electric actuators. This substitution eliminates the wear and reliability issues associated with multiple small mechanical fastening components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If canvas and clear vinyl products are used for protection, then wind and spray coverage is improved, but the products lose transparency and become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs rigid or semi-rigid panels made from materials that maintain their optical properties over time. These panels provide the necessary wind and spray protection while preserving transparency, allowing the captain and passengers to maintain visibility unlike degrading flexible vinyl products.
4Reliability
If extendable rigid panels are used instead of flexible materials, then panel durability and clarity are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical fastening systems with integrated hydraulic or electric actuator systems that provide automated panel deployment and retraction. This substitution simplifies the user interaction while maintaining rigid panel durability, as the actuators handle the complexity of movement and positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A boat wind and spray protection device which includes at least one panel joined to a coupler-hinge-actuator that is capable of being fixed in relation to a boat. For center console boats, a set of two panels, located on either side of the console of the boat, are designed to open from a position generally parallel and adjacent to the console sides, to an angle and distance sufficient to provide improved passenger protection from wind and spray. The panels may be powered electronically by control buttons that operate electronic actuators, that in turn power the movement of the panels between generally closed to generally open positions, as well as intermediate positions.