Foldable Lantern with Elastic Wire Framework
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lanterns are bulky and difficult to store and transport due to their fixed structure, leading to high transportation costs and inefficient use of space.
Innovation Solution
A lantern design featuring a top and bottom support ring with wires connected by elastic components, allowing the wires to be folded and unfolded for compact storage and transport, utilizing elastic components such as springs to facilitate easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the lantern skeleton is made fixed, then the structural stability is improved, but the storage space requirement and transportation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the lantern skeleton transformable between fixed and folded states. The wire framework is designed to be movable rather than rigidly fixed, allowing it to expand into its functional three-dimensional lantern shape during use and contract into a compact folded state for storage and transport. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction by providing structural stability when needed while minimizing volume when not in use.
2Volume of moving object
If the lantern skeleton is made detachable, then the transportation cost is reduced, but the assembly and disassembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the lantern skeleton into multiple wire segments that can be folded relative to each other. Rather than complete detachment, the structure is segmented into foldable sections that maintain connection through elastic components, enabling compact folding for transport while preserving overall structural integrity. This resolves the contradiction by achieving volume reduction through folding rather than complete disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic components automatically return the wire framework to its expanded lantern shape after folding, providing self-service functionality. The elastic elements store mechanical energy when the wires are folded and automatically release this energy to restore the original shape, eliminating the need for complex manual assembly mechanisms and reducing the difficulty of reassembly after transport.
3Strength
If the wires are made rigid, then the structural strength is improved, but the foldability and compactness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing the elastic properties of the wire material to transform between rigid and flexible states. The wires are made of elastic material that maintains sufficient structural strength when in its expanded state but can be deformed and folded when needed for storage. The elastic components change the physical state of the wires between tensioned (rigid) and relaxed (flexible) conditions, resolving the contradiction between strength and foldability.
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 design significantly reduces the volume of the lantern for storage and transport, making it more convenient and cost-effective, while maintaining structural integrity through the use of elastic components.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic components are configured to rotate the wires around the top support ring and the bottom support ring in order to fold the wires
Implementation Method 2
the elastic components are further configured to recover the wires by elastic force deriving from folding the wires after removing external force from the elastic components
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an art craft technical field, and more particularly to a lantern. The disclosure provides a lantern, including a top support ring, a bottom support ring and a plurality of wires disposed around the top support ring as well as the bottom support ring, two ends of the wires extend towards the top support ring and the bottom support ring respectively, a top end and a bottom end of the wire are fixedly connected with elastic components respectively, a top end of the elastic component on top of the wire and the top support ring are fixedly connected, a bottom end of the elastic component on bottom of the wire and the bottom support ring are fixedly connected. In the lantern of the disclosure, the top end and the bottom end of the wire are fixedly connected with one elastic component respectively.