Chair Canopy Assembly With Cross-Member Stability in Stowed Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing canopy assemblies for folding chairs, particularly those with U-shaped frames, lack structural integrity in both deployed and stowed positions, leading to instability during use, storage, and transport.
Innovation Solution
A canopy assembly design featuring a one-piece cross-member that maintains a constant spaced distance between canopy supports, preventing collapse and providing additional structural integrity through a slidable coupler system and a non-collapsible cross-member, ensuring stability in both deployed and stowed positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a traditional canopy assembly is used with folding chairs, then the canopy can be deployed and stowed, but the structural integrity and stability are insufficient in both deployed and stowed positions
Solution Approach 1:
The cross-member is received within the canopy supports in a nested arrangement, where the cross-member fits inside the spaced-apart walls of the canopy supports. This nesting provides structural reinforcement while maintaining a compact stowed profile, resolving the contradiction between stability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy assembly combines multiple materials including the canopy fabric, support arms, cross-member, and canopy supports into a composite structure. This composite construction enhances overall structural integrity by distributing loads across different material properties, addressing the stability issue without requiring excessive complexity in any single component.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the canopy assembly is made more sturdy to maintain shape in stowed position, then structural integrity improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cross-member is nested within the canopy supports, utilizing the existing space between the spaced-apart walls. This nested configuration provides structural reinforcement for maintaining shape consistency while avoiding additional external components that would increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-member is divided into multiple segments or sections that can be selectively positioned within the canopy supports. This segmentation allows the cross-member to provide structural reinforcement where needed while maintaining flexibility in configuration, resolving the contradiction between shape consistency and device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A canopy assembly for a chair, the assembly including a first mounting fixture and a second mounting fixture; a first arm and a second arm, each arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each arm is coupled to a respective mounting fixture; a first canopy support and a second canopy support, wherein the second end of each arm is coupled to a respective canopy support; a first brace and a second brace, each brace coupled between a respective arm and canopy support, with a first end of each brace being coupled to the respective arm with a slidable coupler so as to permit the rotation of the first and second canopy supports relative to the first and second arms; a cross-member coupled intermediate the first and second canopy supports, for maintaining the first and second canopy support at a predetermined spaced distance from each other; and a canopy that is at least supported by the first canopy support and the second canopy support; wherein when the canopy assembly is in a deployed position, the cross-member maintains the first and second canopy supports at the predetermined spaced distance from each other; and when the canopy assembly is in its stowed position, the cross-member maintains the first and second canopy supports at the predetermined spaced distance from each other. A combination canopy assembly and a chair is also disclosed.