Collapsible Greenhouse with Resilient Coiled Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing greenhouses are either bulky and labor-intensive, prone to damage, or flimsy and require frequent repair, lacking a balance between portability, durability, and ease of setup and storage.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible greenhouse structure featuring foldable frame elements with a flexible, waterproof covering material that allows transmission of electromagnetic radiation, incorporating a resilient frame that coils for compact storage and a skirt for ground security, along with access ports and vents for temperature regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid-frame structures are used to create greenhouses, then structural strength and stability are improved, but portability and ease of movement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the frame elements flexible rather than rigid, allowing the greenhouse to be collapsed and moved easily while maintaining structural integrity when erected. The flexible frame elements can bend and flex during transport but return to their functional shape when assembled, resolving the contradiction between strength and portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible frame elements that can be repeatedly collapsed and erected without damage, combined with a flexible covering material. This allows the structure to be portable like a thin film while maintaining the strength needed to withstand weather conditions and support plants.
2Ease of operation
If flexible frame elements are used to improve portability, then ease of movement is improved, but structural strength and durability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible frame elements are designed to be dynamic, able to collapse for portability yet maintain sufficient strength when erected. The material properties and structural design allow the frame to flex during transport but resist deformation during use, resolving the contradiction between ease of movement and structural strength.
3Reliability
If elaborate rigid-frame structures are used, then greenhouse effectiveness is improved, but assembly complexity and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the greenhouse into modular wall sections, each with its own frame elements and covering material. These segments can be assembled independently and connected together, reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining greenhouse effectiveness through the combined modular structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible frame elements enable quick deployment and collapse without requiring complex assembly tools or procedures. The dynamic nature of the frame allows for rapid setup by simply extending and securing the flexible elements, significantly reducing assembly complexity compared to rigid structures.
4Ease of operation
If U-shaped wire frame elements are used to reduce complexity, then ease of assembly is improved, but structural strength and weather resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible frame elements that combine the ease of assembly of simple wire frames with the durability needed for weather resistance. These flexible elements can be repeatedly collapsed and erected without damage, unlike flimsy wire frames, while still allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The structure is lightweight, durable, and easy to set up and store, providing a stable and versatile greenhouse solution that withstands severe weather while maintaining a controlled environment for plants.
Implementation Method 1
the material allows for the transmission of at least infrared and visible wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 2
Each of these frame elements has sufficient flexibility to be coiled without breaking and sufficient resiliency to substantially return to and maintain its original shape
Data Source
AI summary
The specification discloses a collapsible structure comprising at least one foldable frame element defining at least three corners of at least one wall element. A flexible material is connected to and extends about the at least one foldable frame element to define an interior space. The flexible material has integral fibers and at least a portion of the material allows the transmission of at least infrared and visible wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.