Free-Standing Support System with Adjustable Feet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shade options for outdoor activities, such as canopies and hand-held umbrellas, are often heavy, cumbersome, and limited in functionality, failing to provide effective protection from the sun and rain, especially during peak UV exposure hours.
Innovation Solution
A portable and adjustable free-standing support system comprising a telescoping pole assembly, a base with pivotally connected legs and adjustable feet, and a holding clamp that secures an umbrella at various angles, allowing for easy setup and stowage on multiple surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a canopy is used to provide shade, then shade coverage is improved, but portability and ease of setup are worsened due to heavy weight and cumbersome setup
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is divided into separate modular components: a base assembly with adjustable legs, a telescoping pole assembly, and a holding clamp. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easy assembly and disassembly, resolving the contradiction between providing adequate shade coverage and maintaining ease of setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The base assembly incorporates pivotally connected legs with adjustable locking mechanisms that can be quickly deployed and locked into position. The telescoping pole assembly allows for dynamic height adjustment. These dynamic features enable rapid setup and teardown, improving ease of operation while maintaining adequate shade coverage area.
2Ease of operation
If traditional umbrellas are used, then portability is improved, but functionality and stability are worsened due to limited positioning options
Solution Approach 1:
The base assembly features pivotally connected legs that can be adjusted to various angles and locked into position, allowing the umbrella to be positioned at different orientations. The holding clamp provides secure attachment to the pole. This dynamic adjustability maintains portability while significantly improving positioning versatility compared to traditional fixed umbrellas.
Solution Approach 2:
The base assembly with its adjustable legs can adapt to various ground surfaces and conditions, making the system universally applicable in different outdoor environments. The holding clamp design accommodates different pole diameters. This multi-functionality enhances adaptability while preserving the portable nature of the system.
3Reliability
If adjustable feet with spikes are included, then stability on various surfaces is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The feet are designed with localized spiky protrusions that provide enhanced grip and stability on specific surfaces such as grass, dirt, or pavement. This local quality enhancement at the contact points improves overall stability without requiring complex structural changes throughout the entire base assembly, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to a free-standing support system and, more particularly, to a portable and adjustable free-standing support system for supporting an umbrella or the like. The stand includes at least one pole, a holding clamp connected to the at least one pole, and a base connected to the at least one pole. The base includes a hub, a plurality of legs pivotally connected to the hub, adjustment handle mechanisms connected to each of the respective legs structured to selectively lock each of the plurality of legs at a fixed position with respect to the hub, and a plurality of adjustable feet. Each the adjustable feet are connected to a respective one of the plurality of legs and include a first end including a head and a second end including a spike, wherein each of the adjustable feet rotate between a first position which has the spike in a stowed position within each of the plurality of legs and a second position, wherein the spike extending from each of the plurality of legs.