Disk-Mounted Canopy Unit for Automated Vehicle Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cover devices lack an efficient and automated solution for easily deploying and retracting a protective canopy over a vehicle to shield it from sunlight and precipitation, often requiring manual operation or complex mechanical systems.
Innovation Solution
A disk-mounted canopy unit with a motorized system, driven by a control circuit and powered by the vehicle's electrical system, which can be remotely controlled to extend and retract using wireless communication, featuring telescopically adjustable tubes and a canopy made of opaque, fluid-impermeable material for protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manually operated vehicle cover is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation and productivity deteriorate due to manual deployment effort and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated motorized system. A motor assembly is integrated into the cover mechanism to automatically deploy and retract the canopy, eliminating the need for manual cranking or mechanical hand-operated systems while maintaining relatively simple overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle cover system performs self-service through automated operation. The motorized assembly automatically deploys the canopy when activated and retracts it when needed, without requiring external manual intervention for the actual covering action, thereby improving ease of operation while keeping the control system simple.
2Productivity
If an automated motorized cover system is implemented, then the productivity and ease of operation improve, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automation by substituting manual mechanical operations with an electric motor system. The motor assembly provides automated deployment and retraction capabilities, significantly improving productivity and deployment speed while maintaining controlled complexity through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The motorized assembly serves multiple functions: it deploys the canopy, retracts the canopy, and can be controlled through various interfaces (manual switch, remote control, or automatic sensors). This multi-functionality improves productivity while managing device complexity by consolidating control capabilities.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the canopy is made opaque and fluid-impermeable for better protection, then the protection effectiveness improves, but the weight and material complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the canopy. The canopy utilizes a fabric or flexible material that is treated or constructed to be both opaque (blocking sunlight) and fluid-impermeable (resisting precipitation). This composite approach provides effective protection while managing weight through material selection and construction methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy material properties are optimized by changing parameters such as opacity and fluid permeability. The material is selected or treated to achieve the desired level of protection against sunlight and precipitation while maintaining acceptable weight characteristics through parameter optimization in material selection.
4Area of stationary object
If the canopy unit is designed to radiate outwardly from the disk for full coverage, then the protection area increases, but the device complexity and space requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy unit is segmented into multiple sections or panels that can radiate outwardly from the central disk mounting point. This segmentation allows the canopy to expand into a large coverage area while keeping each individual section manageable in size and complexity, facilitating easier deployment and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy deployment mechanism utilizes dimensional transformation, transitioning from a compact stored state to an expanded radiating configuration. The canopy panels extend outward in multiple directions from the central disk, effectively increasing coverage area by utilizing three-dimensional space rather than simple linear extension.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated vehicle cover assembly includes a disk that is positioned on a roof of a vehicle. A canopy unit is provided and the canopy unit is movably attached to the disk. The canopy unit is positionable in a deployed position having the canopy unit radiating outwardly from the disk to cover the vehicle for protection against sunlight and precipitation. Conversely, the canopy unit is positionable in a retracted position having the canopy unit positioned beneath the cover. A remote control is in wireless communication with the canopy unit and the remote control actuates the canopy unit into the deployed position or the retracted position.