Canopy Fan Suspension Bracket With Adjustable Height and Soft Blades

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current canopy-styled tent fans are limited in providing comfort and protection from outdoor elements, are cumbersome, noisy, and unsafe due to heavy materials and lack of top-down airflow, height adjustment, and the inability to provide both lighting and heating within a single system.

Innovation Solution

A suspension system comprising a bracket with elongate arms and a downrod that can be easily attached to canopy poles, featuring flexible foam or latex blades for safety and weather resistance, and the ability to integrate fans, lights, and heaters, allowing for adjustable height and easy installation on various tent sizes, including those with thin poles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If large attachable fans are used for adequate air flow, then air flow is improved, but weight increases making them too heavy for thin canopy poles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flowVSAvoidfan weight

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The fan system is divided into separate components: a lightweight fan unit that can be detached and a separate mounting bracket system. This allows the fan to be removed for cleaning or replacement without moving the entire heavy assembly, and enables use of lighter materials in the fan construction while maintaining adequate airflow capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting system incorporates adjustable and detachable components including quick-release mechanisms and repositionable brackets. This dynamic design allows the fan to be easily installed, removed, and repositioned on different canopy poles of varying thicknesses, enabling use of lighter fan units that can be quickly swapped as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Power

If heavy pedestal fans are used for adequate air flow, then air flow is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in transport and setup

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flowVSAvoidtransport and setup

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Power

If ceiling fans with wooden, plastic, or metal blades are used, then air flow is improved, but safety deteriorates due to danger of contact with spinning blades

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flowVSAvoidblade contact danger

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fan blades are constructed from flexible materials such as fabric or thin plastic film instead of traditional rigid wood, plastic, or metal. These flexible blades reduce the hazard of injury from blade contact while maintaining adequate airflow capability, directly addressing the safety concern with conventional blade materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Power

If box or industrial fans are used for adequate air flow, then air flow is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flowVSAvoidcleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9151514B2Universal canopy suspension system

Publication Date: 2015.10.06 CANOPY BREEZES

AI summary

A suspension system for the attachment of a multiple bladed fan, connected beneath the roof of a canopy-styled tent or other overhead structure. The system's bracket is comprised of multiple arms that universally grip the frame of the said canopy-styled tent or overhead structure. Suspension is not limited to a fan, but also other embodiments, each powered by a plug or battery. The bracket is manufactured in polymer or like material. The system's fan blades are comprised of foam, rubber, or other soft matter. The suspension system allows the fan or other attached embodiment's height to be manipulated by a process further shown in this application. The system further includes embodiments for lighting, heating, or the mounting of additional embodiments. The suspension system and its embodiments are portable and may be broken down into a self-contained bag or case for easy transport.