Open-Air Car Canopy with Upper Pocket and Tensioned Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf cart canopies fold into themselves, creating crevices that allow moisture, debris, and bugs to enter, and fail to effectively cover the rear area without obstructing the line of sight.
Innovation Solution
An open-air car canopy and cover assembly with a rotatable supporting bracket, upper pocket, rear and lateral flaps, and a roof mount using metallic tensioned hooks and a tensioned hinge member to securely attach and position the canopy, preventing debris and moisture entry while maintaining visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the canopy panels are folded into themselves when undeployed, then the canopy can be stored in a compact position, but crevices are created that allow moisture, debris, and bugs to enter
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy panels are nested within an upper pocket structure when undeployed, with the panels fitting inside a protective housing that prevents exposure to external elements. The upper pocket encapsulates the folded panels, creating a protected storage environment that eliminates crevices open to the exterior.
Solution Approach 2:
A removable cover is provided that can be placed over the upper pocket to seal the opening when the canopy is undeployed. This simple, easily replaceable cover prevents moisture, debris, and bugs from entering the folded panels while maintaining compact storage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the canopy is designed to cover the rear area effectively, then protection from weather is improved, but the rear line of sight may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to be deployed to cover the rear area when protection is needed and retracted to an undeployed position when visibility is required. The rotatable supporting bracket enables smooth transition between covered and uncovered states, providing weather protection only when necessary.
3Device complexity
If the canopy uses traditional hook and loop fasteners, then the structure is simple, but the canopy may not be securely retained in position
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into multiple independent retention points distributed along the canopy structure. Rather than relying on a single fastening mechanism, multiple snap fasteners are positioned at different locations to provide redundant security and prevent the canopy from becoming dislodged.
Solution Approach 2:
Curved flanges with hook elements are used to engage with corresponding loops on the roof support structure. The curved geometry provides mechanical advantage and ensures positive engagement, creating a more secure connection than flat fasteners while maintaining structural simplicity.
4Ease of operation
If the canopy panels are kept loose and folded, then storage is simplified, but the panels cannot be retained out of the rear sight line
Solution Approach 1:
The upper pocket is pre-configured with retention mechanisms that automatically engage with the folded panels when the canopy is stowed. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the panels are immediately secured in a position that does not obstruct the rear view, eliminating the need for additional adjustment steps.
Data Source
AI summary
An open-air car canopy and cover assembly and method of operation provides a rearwardly extending canopy that shields an uncovered rear deck of an open-air car from a deployed position, and when in an undeployed position, the panels retract, becoming limp and folding upon themselves. An upper pocket covers the panel folds in the undeployed position by encapsulating the panels and the rotatable supporting bracket. Lateral and rear flaps having fasteners and rear flap fasteners retain the panels out of the rear sight line and side openings of the open-air car. A roof mount detachably attaches the canopy to the roof of the open-air car with a curved flange that hooks over a roof support structure, and metallic tensioned hooks that hook under the roof support structure. A tensioned hinge member is operable with rotatable supporting bracket to retain canopy in a fixed position between deployed and undeployed positions.