Cantilevered Wagon Shade Assembly for Beyond-Footprint Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible wagons lack a shade assembly that provides large coverage beyond the wagon's footprint and is easy to disassemble and stow when not in use, with existing shades being bulky and limited to the basket area.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible shade frame with cantilevered long rods mounted to the wagon's frame, forming a cross configuration to support a canopy that extends beyond the wagon's footprint, which can be easily assembled and disassembled for storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a shade assembly is provided above the basket of the wagon, then shade coverage is provided for the contents of the basket, but the shade coverage is limited to the footprint of the wagon and the shade assembly is bulky taking up room for stowing
Solution Approach 1:
The shade frame is divided into multiple rod sections that can be connected end-to-end to form long rods. These segmented sections allow the shade structure to extend beyond the wagon footprint while maintaining a compact form when disconnected for storage, directly resolving the contradiction between coverage area and storage volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The shade assembly transitions from a two-dimensional coverage area above the basket to a three-dimensional extended structure using cantilevered long rods that project outward. This dimensional extension allows the shade to cover areas beyond the wagon footprint without proportionally increasing storage requirements, as the extended portions can be collapsed when not in use.
2Area of stationary object
If a collapsible shade frame with long rods is used to extend shade coverage beyond the wagon footprint, then larger shade coverage is achieved, but the complexity of assembly and disassembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The long rods are segmented into multiple rod sections that connect end-to-end. This segmentation allows the shade frame to achieve extended coverage when assembled while enabling simple disassembly by disconnecting the sections. The segmented design directly addresses the contradiction by allowing large coverage area without permanent complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The shade frame is designed to be dynamically configurable, transitioning between assembled and disassembled states. The rod sections can be easily connected and disconnected, allowing the structure to adapt between providing extended shade coverage and being compact for storage, thereby reducing the effective complexity over time.
3Ease of operation
If the distal ends of the long rods are not supported and are free to move, then the shade assembly can be easily disassembled and stored, but the stability of the shade structure decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy is made of flexible shade material that sags under its own weight to form a catenary curve. This flexible membrane structure provides stability to the otherwise unsupported distal ends of the long rods, allowing easy disassembly while maintaining structural integrity when assembled. The flexible canopy compensates for the lack of support at the distal ends.
Data Source
AI summary
A shade assembly for a wagon having a collapsible shade frame that transitions between an assembled state for providing shade and a disassembled state for stowing. The shade frame has at least a pair of long rods each having a distal end and a mounting end removably mountable to a mounting holder on a frame of the wagon. The long rods each has a plurality of rod sections in the disassemble state, and the rod sections are removably connected end-to-end to form corresponding long rods arranged in a cross configuration to form a support frame in the assembled state. A canopy comprising a shade material is supported on the support frame of the shade frame in the assembled state. Under the weight of the canopy, the shade frame is cantilevered at the mounting ends of the long rods by the mounting holder.