Collapsible Hail Guard with Mesh and Suction Cups
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Cars are vulnerable to damage from larger hailstones, which existing protective measures often fail to address effectively, especially when shelter is not available, leading to costly repairs.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible rod structure with a thick mesh cover, equipped with suction cups or magnets for easy installation on the car's roof, and elastic cords for secure attachment, providing comprehensive protection from hailstones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a hail guard is installed to protect the car from hail damage, then the car's protection from hail is improved, but the device complexity and storage difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hail guard is divided into multiple collapsible rod elements (Sc1, Sc2, Se1, Se2) that can be hinged together to form a protective structure. This segmentation allows the guard to collapse into a compact form for storage while expanding to provide comprehensive protection when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The hail guard employs a dynamic collapsible structure with hinges that allow the rods to rotate and transform between a compact storage configuration and an expanded protective configuration. This dynamic design enables easy deployment and retrieval without requiring complex fixed structures.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a thick mesh cover is used to protect the entire car, then the protection coverage is improved, but the weight and storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thick mesh (R) that functions as a flexible protective shell covering the entire car. This mesh is attached to the collapsible rod structure, providing comprehensive protection while remaining lightweight and adaptable to the car's shape.
3Ease of operation
If suction cups or magnets are used for installation on the roof, then the ease of installation is improved, but the reliability of attachment may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces supports (A) with suction cups or magnets as intermediary attachment elements between the rod structure and the car roof. These intermediaries provide easy installation while maintaining reliable attachment through the chosen mechanism.
4Ease of operation
If elastic cords with hooks are used to fasten the structure, then the ease of operation is improved, but the strength of attachment may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Elastic cords (C) with hooks (G) provide a dynamic fastening system that allows easy attachment and detachment of the mesh to the car's lower edges. The elastic nature of the cords maintains constant tension while enabling simple operation.
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 solution effectively protects vehicles from hail damage by using a lightweight and durable mesh cover that can be quickly installed and stored, ensuring the car is safeguarded regardless of the availability of shelters, while allowing for easy deployment and storage.
Implementation Method 1
The rod structure is equipped with suction cups, magnets or other systems for its application on the roof of the car
Implementation Method 2
The rod structure is equipped with suction cups, magnets or other systems for its application on the roof of the car
Implementation Method 3
At the free end or near the free end of each rod the rod structure is equipped with elastic cords with hooks to fasten it to the lower edges of the car
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention is a hail guard for cars, comprising a net (R) with a thick mesh applied to a structure comprising two centre rods (Sc1, Sc2) joined by a hinge (M1), two multiple hinges (M3) applied to the free ends of the centre rods (Sc1, Sc2), four net-stretching rods (Se1, Se2) hinged to each multiple hinge (M3). Each multiple hinge (M3) comprises pins with vertical axes (z) suited to allow the net-stretching rods (Se1, Se2) to rotate and a rotation pin whose horizontal axis (y) is orthogonal to the centre rods (Sc1, Sc2), suited to allow the rotation of the set of net-stretching rods (Se1, Se2). The net-stretching rods (S1, Se2) are arranged so that two of them (Se2), when open, are opposed to each other and other two (Se1) are generically diagonal. Two or more supports (A) are hinged to said centre rods (Sc1, Sc2) and each free end of each support is provided with suction cups or magnets (Av) suited to allow the structure to be stably and removably applied to the car roof.