Expansion Connector Structure for Modular Outdoor Equipment Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional outdoor entertainment equipment cannot be easily combined or expanded as desired, requiring bundled sales and necessitating structural changes for different entertainment purposes.

Innovation Solution

An expansion connector comprising a base plate with non-parallel wing portions and a mounting tube, allowing flexible assembly with existing outdoor entertainment equipment and enabling expansion with chosen amusement facilities without altering the original structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional outdoor entertainment equipment is assembled using additional structures like horizontal tubes, then the equipment can be assembled together, but the equipment cannot be expanded or repositioned as desired and requires structural changes for different entertainment purposes

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveexpandabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is divided into separate components: a base plate for mounting on existing equipment and a mounting tube for the expanded equipment. This segmentation allows independent assembly and expansion without modifying the original equipment structure, directly enabling the expandability while avoiding increased structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base plate design with non-parallel wing portions and multiple connection through holes creates a universal interface that can accommodate various types of outdoor entertainment equipment. This multi-functional design allows the same connector to work with different equipment types, enhancing adaptability without requiring complex specialized structures for each equipment type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional outdoor entertainment equipment is assembled with additional structures, then the equipment can be combined, but bundled sales are required and users cannot choose specific facilities

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecustomizabilityVSAvoidassembly flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is pre-assembled as a complete unit with the base plate and mounting tube already connected, but the actual expansion equipment is not bundled. This preliminary preparation of the connector allows users to purchase only what they need and assemble it themselves, providing customizability while simplifying manufacturing and sales processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional equipment requires structural changes to assemble with other entertainment equipment, then equipment can be combined, but implementation becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinteroperabilityVSAvoidimplementation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connector acts as an intermediary component between the existing outdoor entertainment equipment and the expanded equipment. The base plate mounts to the existing equipment while the mounting tube receives the expanded equipment, mediating the connection without requiring modifications to either the original or expanded equipment structures, thus ensuring interoperability while maintaining implementation ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4431750B1Expansion connector for outdoor entertainment equipment
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 CROWNTEC (JIANG XI) SPORTS TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4431750B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4431750B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4431750B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An expansion connector (20) for an outdoor entertainment equipment, includes a base plate (21) and a mounting tube (23), the base plate (21) includes a flat plate portion (211), and two wing portions (212) formed by bending from two opposite sides of the flat plate portion (211) toward a same direction, the two opposite sides of the flat plate portion (211) connecting with the two wing portions (212) are not parallel, inclination directions of the two wing portions (212) are opposite, the two wing portions (212) and the flat plate portion (211) jointly define an outdoor entertainment equipment bracket assembly area (213), the flat plate portion (211) forms at least two first connection through holes (214), each of the two wing portions (212) forms at least one second connection through hole (215), the mounting tube (23) is disposed on the flat plate portion (211) and extends in a direction opposite to that of the two wing portions (212), and the mounting tube (23) forms at least one third connection through hole (231).