Foldable Canvas Frame Assembly for Flat Storage and Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing canvas manufacturing methods for large formats are inefficient due to the need for robust stretcher frames, which increase costs and complicate storage and transportation, and require specialized skills and equipment for assembly.
Innovation Solution
A pre-assembled, foldable canvas structure with interlocking panels and a flexible substrate that allows for easy assembly and storage, featuring a central panel with beveled edges and snap-on connectors for secure attachment, enabling flat storage and transportation of large canvases without the need for additional equipment or expertise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If robust stretcher frames are used for large format canvases, then structural strength is improved, but weight and storage complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The canvas support structure is divided into multiple separate panels (front panel, rear panel, side panels) that can be assembled together to form the complete frame. This segmentation allows each panel to be lightweight individually while providing cumulative structural strength when assembled, resolving the contradiction between strength and weight for large format canvases.
Solution Approach 2:
The panels are designed to nest within each other when collapsed, with the rear panel containing the side panels which in turn contain the front panel. This nesting arrangement enables the heavy-duty frame structure to be compacted into a small space for storage and transport, addressing the weight and storage complexity issue while maintaining structural integrity when assembled.
2Reliability
If traditional stapling methods are used for large canvases, then fabric attachment is achieved, but manufacturing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The panels are pre-assembled with attachment mechanisms (such as pre-installed staples, clips, or adhesive strips) before the fabric is applied. This preliminary preparation of the frame structure allows for faster fabric attachment during the final assembly step, improving manufacturing speed while ensuring reliable fabric attachment without requiring complex on-site operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame structure incorporates self-attaching features such as self-gripping clips, snap-fit mechanisms, or adhesive surfaces that automatically secure the fabric when the panels are assembled. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual stapling or complex fastening operations, significantly reducing manufacturing time while maintaining reliable fabric attachment.
3Manufacturing precision
If specialized equipment and skills are used for canvas assembly, then assembly precision is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces intermediary components such as alignment guides, positioning pins, or marked reference points on the panels that facilitate precise assembly without requiring specialized equipment or skills. These intermediary elements act as mediators between the panels, ensuring accurate alignment and positioning during assembly while keeping the process simple and accessible to ordinary workers or even end users.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel design incorporates self-aligning features such as tapered edges, complementary geometric shapes, or pre-drilled hole patterns that automatically guide the assembly process. These features enable the panels to self-position and self-align during assembly, ensuring manufacturing precision without requiring specialized tools or skilled operators, thereby greatly simplifying the assembly process.
4Volume of stationary object
If flat storage and transportation are enabled, then storage efficiency is improved, but structural rigidity may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The canvas support structure is segmented into multiple collapsible panels that can be folded flat for storage and transportation. When assembled, these segmented panels form a rigid complete frame through their geometric arrangement and interlocking joints, while in storage they can be collapsed into a compact flat package. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling both flat storage efficiency and structural rigidity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel connections are designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing the structure to transition between a rigid assembled state (providing structural stability for the canvas) and a flexible collapsed state (enabling flat storage and transportation). The joints can lock into rigid positions during assembly and release for compact folding during storage, adapting their mechanical properties to the operational requirements and resolving the contradiction between storage efficiency and structural rigidity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a canvas for painting or printing. More specifically, it is a pre-assembled structure which allows flat storage and transportation. It is easy to assemble and has supports with different thicknesses. It has a support for painting or printing and an integrated frame.