Foldable Umbrella Rod With Sliding-Groove Locking Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable umbrellas have fixed rod lengths that limit shading area and incur high packaging and transportation costs due to their inflexible design.
Innovation Solution
A foldable rod structure with sliding grooves and locking mechanisms allows the extension rod to be pivoted and locked to the main rod, enabling adjustable length extension and convenient folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the rod length is increased to achieve better shading effect, then the shading area is improved, but the packaging and transportation cost increases sharply
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is divided into multiple segments (first rod, second rod, third rod, fourth rod) that can be folded relative to each other. This segmentation allows the rod to be extended when needed for shading and folded into a compact form for packaging and transportation, effectively resolving the contradiction between large shading area and low packaging cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod structure transitions from a fixed length design to a dynamic, adjustable length design. The rod can be extended to provide larger shading area when in use, and folded to a compact size for cost-effective packaging and transportation, making the system adaptable to different operational requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If the rod length is fixed, then the packaging cost is reduced, but the shading area cannot be increased
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the rod into foldable sections, the design achieves both compact packaging (when folded) and large shading area (when extended). The segmented structure allows the rod to adapt its effective length based on usage requirements while maintaining cost-effective packaging dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod structure serves multiple functions: it can be configured in extended positions for maximum shading area and folded positions for compact packaging. This multi-functionality allows a single rod design to satisfy both the shading area requirement and the packaging cost constraint.
3Volume of stationary object
If the rod is made foldable to reduce packaging size, then the packaging cost is reduced, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is segmented into multiple sections connected by hinge joints, allowing it to fold compactly for reduced packaging volume. The segmentation is implemented in a straightforward manner with standardized connection mechanisms, balancing the folding capability with acceptable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The foldable rod sections nest within each other when folded, similar to a nested doll structure. This nesting arrangement minimizes the packaging volume efficiently while using simple hinge connections that do not significantly increase structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable rod of an umbrella comprises a rod, a foldable extension rod connected to the tail end of the rod; wherein, the tail end of the rod has sliding grooves, the extension rod passes through the sliding grooves through a pin to be connected to the rod, and is capable of rotating and sliding along the sliding grooves, a bump is arranged in the sliding grooves, and, when the pin passes the bump and moves into limiting grooves, the extension rod is locked to the rod, which is convenient to use. The present invention is simple and reasonable in structure, easy to operate, and can effectively extend the length of rods and reduce the packaging cost.