Canopy Top Joint With Elastic Buckling Lock for Stable Unfolding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing canopies lack a reliable locking mechanism for maintaining the unfolded position, leading to misoperation and vulnerability to external forces, and existing solutions often involve complex structures that occupy space or complicate operation.
Innovation Solution
A top connecting mechanism featuring pivoting grooves with elastic buckling columns and buckling protrusions that allow connecting rods to be locked in an unfolded position, utilizing an abutting portion and buckling protrusion to maintain the rods without external force, simplifying the structure and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a pull rod is fixedly installed on the connection seat to maintain the unfolded state, then the unfolded state is maintained, but the structure becomes complex and space inside the canopy is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic buckling column automatically locks the connecting rod in the unfolded position through its own elastic deformation and buckling protrusion, without requiring external locking mechanisms or additional components. The structure serves itself by using the elastic property of the buckling column to maintain the locked state
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is extracted from a separate locking mechanism and integrated into the pivoting groove structure itself through the elastic buckling column and buckling protrusion, eliminating the need for pull rods or stop rods that would add structural complexity
2Stability of the object's composition
If a stop rod is fixedly installed below the top seat to maintain the unfolded state, then the unfolded state is maintained, but the structure becomes complex and operation becomes inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic buckling column automatically engages with the connecting rod through its buckling protrusion when the canopy is unfolded, providing self-locking functionality without requiring manual operation or complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a rigid stop rod that abuts and locks the connection seat from below, the invention uses an elastic buckling column that buckles outward to engage the connecting rod, inverting the traditional locking approach to achieve both simplicity and ease of operation
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple components including middle connection seat, lower connection seat, elastic member, and first limiting mechanism are added, then the unfolded state is maintained, but the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting groove, elastic buckling column, and abutting portion are merged into a single integrated structure on the connection seat, combining multiple functions (pivoting support, elastic locking, and positioning) into one compact component rather than using separate middle connection seat, lower connection seat, and limiting mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic buckling column serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides pivoting support through the pivoting groove, maintains the unfolded state through elastic force, and locks the connecting rod through the buckling protrusion, eliminating the need for multiple specialized components
4Device complexity
If no locking structure is provided in the pivoting connection slots, then the structure is simple, but the connecting rods cannot be locked in place and are easily affected by external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic buckling column changes its physical state from unbuckled to buckled as the connecting rod moves to the unfolded position, using this parameter change to engage the locking function. The buckling protrusion transitions from disengaged to engaged with the connecting rod, providing reliable locking without complex mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting groove structure combines rigid components (connection seat, connecting rod) with an elastic component (buckling column) to create a composite locking mechanism that maintains structural simplicity while achieving reliable locking through the combination of rigid support and elastic engagement
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 mechanism provides stable, space-efficient, and easy-to-operate locking of the canopy in the unfolded state, allowing single-person operation and reducing the risk of misfolding.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of pivoting grooves comprises an elastic buckling column and an abutting portion. A distal end of the elastic buckling column comprises a buckling protrusion
Data Source
AI summary
A top connecting mechanism of a canopy includes a connecting seat and a plurality of connecting rods. The connecting seat includes a plurality of pivoting grooves, each of which includes a first side wall and a second side wall. Each of the plurality of pivoting grooves includes an elastic buckling column and an abutting portion. The elastic buckling column includes a buckling protrusion. Each of the plurality of connecting rods is configured to be rotated relative to the connecting seat to be in a first position, and a bottom of each of the plurality of connecting rods is configured be supported on the abutting portion. The buckling protrusion is configured to be buckled to a top of a corresponding one of the plurality of connecting rods, and the abutting portion and the buckling protrusion cooperate to maintain the corresponding one of the plurality of connecting rods in the first position.