Foldable Beverage Shade with Spreader Elements for Portable Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shades for shading beverages from sunlight lack portability and compact storage options, as they cannot be stacked or folded for easy carrying.
Innovation Solution
A foldable beverage shade comprising a fabric sheet with pre-pressed fold lines, circular arc spreader elements, and a cylindrical coaster, allowing the shade to be erected and disassembled for storage, with the ability to stack multiple shades for efficient carrying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional beverage shades are used, then shading function is provided, but portability and storage compactness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage shade is divided into multiple independent components: a fabric shade body, spreader elements (curved supports), and a coaster base. These segmented parts can be separated and stored independently, reducing the overall storage volume while maintaining the functionality when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The shade structure incorporates flexible fabric material and movable spreader elements that can transition between an erected shading configuration and a folded/collapsed storage configuration. This dynamic capability allows the same structure to provide effective shading when in use while minimizing storage space when not in use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional beverage shades are used, then shading function is provided, but stacking and folding capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The design allows multiple beverage shades to be nested within each other for stacking storage, with smaller shades fitting inside larger ones. The spreader elements can be collapsed and stored within the fabric body, enabling compact stacking of multiple units without requiring separate storage space for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
By separating the shade into modular components (fabric body, spreaders, coaster), the structure enables versatile assembly and stacking configurations while keeping individual component complexity low. Each segment is simple in design but combines to create an adaptable system.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable beverage shade is made from a fabric sheet having a bottom edge, side edges and a curved top edge, a first and a second spreader element, and a circular coaster element with a thickness less than one-half inch, a diameter greater than two inches but less than six inches, and a cylindrical outer surface. The spreader elements may be rotated and engaged in pockets to spread the fabric sheet into a shade.