Canopy Fan Support Assembly for Stable Overhead Air Circulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional outdoor canopies lack a central support structure for overhead fans, leading to instability, especially when oscillating fans are used, and result in stagnant air beneath the canopy, causing discomfort in high temperature/humidity conditions.
Innovation Solution
A fan support system with a central mount member and canopy mount bracket that attaches to the canopy frame, supporting an overhead fan and additional members to stabilize it, allowing air circulation and preventing excessive movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a conventional canopy frame is used without a central support structure, then the canopy provides basic shade coverage, but the frame lacks stability for supporting overhead fans and allows excessive movement
Solution Approach 1:
The fan support system is divided into separate components: a central mount member, multiple support members, and attachment mechanisms. This segmentation allows the stability enhancement to be added as a modular assembly rather than redesigning the entire canopy frame, thus improving stability without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members extend radially outward from the central mount member to engage with the canopy frame at multiple points. This dimensional arrangement distributes the fan's weight and oscillating forces across multiple attachment points on the canopy frame, enhancing stability by utilizing the frame's existing structural dimensions rather than adding vertical height.
2Productivity
If an oscillating fan is mounted to a temporary canopy structure, then air circulation is improved, but the oscillating motion causes instability and excessive movement
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are pre-positioned and attached to the central mount member before the fan is installed. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the stabilizing structure is already in place to counteract the oscillating forces before they are applied, preventing excessive movement during fan operation rather than attempting to correct it afterward.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan mount and support structure are combined into an integrated assembly where the central mount member and support members work together as a unified system. This merging ensures that the fan's oscillating motion is contained and controlled by the combined structural elements, maintaining stability while preserving air circulation benefits.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple support members are added to stabilize the fan, then fan movement is restricted, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support members serve multiple functions: they provide structural stability, define the fan's oscillation limits, and can be adjusted to accommodate different fan sizes and weights. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby limiting fan movement without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are designed with adjustable features that allow their position and tension to be modified based on the specific fan installation requirements. This dynamic adjustability enables the same support structure to effectively stabilize different fan configurations without requiring custom-designed complex structures for each case.
Data Source
AI summary
A combined overhead fan device including a fan support for outdoor canopy tents and gazebos is disclosed. A central mount member and a canopy mount bracket may be provided on the central mount member. The canopy mount bracket may be configured for attachment to a canopy frame of the canopy. The central mount member may be configured to facilitate attachment of an overhead fan to the central mount member. At least one support member may extend from the central mount member. The support members may be configured to engage respective frame members of the canopy frame. Accordingly, the overhead fan may be operated to cool the area beneath the canopy to the comfort of individuals as they stand or sit beneath the canopy.