Composite Support Pole Structure for Durable Wood-Like Finishes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support assemblies for outdoor umbrellas are limited in their ability to be used in both indoor and outdoor environments, often made from expensive and deteriorating materials like wood, and lack versatility in decorative features and ease of repair.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly with an elongated body formed from materials like extruded aluminum, featuring connector structures and removable inserts that can mimic the appearance of wood or other materials, allowing for easy replacement and integration into various structures, including furniture and umbrellas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If wood is used as support pole material, then aesthetic appeal is improved, but durability and resistance to weather deterioration worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The support pole uses a composite construction with an inner core made of durable aluminum extrusion and an outer decorative layer made of wood or wood-like material. This composite structure combines the weather resistance and structural strength of aluminum with the aesthetic appeal of wood, resolving the contradiction between appearance and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a decorative wood finish or veneer to the aluminum support pole that copies the appearance of real wood. This allows the pole to maintain the aesthetic qualities of wood while benefiting from the superior durability and weather resistance of aluminum underlying structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If decorative features are integrated into the support pole, then aesthetic versatility is improved, but ease of repair and replacement worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The support pole is segmented into distinct modular components: a standardized aluminum extrusion body and separate removable decorative inserts. These inserts can be independently removed and replaced without affecting the structural integrity of the pole, enabling easy maintenance and aesthetic customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The decorative features are extracted as separate removable inserts that can be taken out from the support pole when repair or replacement is needed. This extraction of the decorative element from the structural element allows the pole to be maintained while preserving aesthetic versatility through interchangeable inserts.
3Shape
If real wood materials are used, then aesthetic appeal is improved, but production cost and labor intensity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cost-effective aluminum extrusion and synthetic wood-like materials or veneers instead of expensive solid wood. These materials provide sufficient durability for the application while significantly reducing material costs and manufacturing complexity compared to using real wood throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite construction using aluminum and decorative veneers or wood-like composites provides a more economical alternative to solid wood, reducing material costs and simplifying manufacturing processes while maintaining aesthetic appeal through the decorative outer layer.
Data Source
AI summary
A support assembly having a versatile structure capable of use with a variety of different products, devices, etc. intended for outdoor and/or indoor use such as, but not limited to, furniture, and/or umbrella or shade structures. The support assembly includes a body having a plurality of connector structures fixedly connected in outwardly extending, collectively surrounding relation thereto. The connector structures movably and removably interconnect one or more inserts in overlying relation to an outer surface of the body. When the body defines a support pole for an umbrella assembly, the plurality of connectors extend outwardly from the inserts in movable engagement with a canopy activating hub, thereby maintaining a spacing between the hub and the inserts, concurrent to travel of the hub along the length of the body.