Ground Support Assembly With Adjustable Jaw Locking for Tent Poles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ground support solutions for temporary structures like awnings and tents are either inadequate in adverse weather conditions, too complex, or not compatible with different support legs and poles, making them unsuitable for quick assembly and use.
Innovation Solution
A modular ground support assembly featuring a planar base member with a locking mechanism comprising jaw members and stop members, allowing for adjustable compatibility with various support legs and poles, along with a toothed rack system for secure locking and easy adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If basic support plates are used to simply provide support for the leg, then the structure is simple and easy to assemble, but the support plate can be lifted by strong winds or slide in wet conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The ground support assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: a base member for ground contact, a central support portion for receiving the foot portion, and a locking mechanism with movable jaw members. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism incorporates movable jaw members that can dynamically adjust between open and closed positions to accommodate different foot portion sizes and shapes. This dynamic capability enables the same base plate to reliably secure various support legs without requiring multiple specialized plates.
2Reliability
If support plates with apertures for pegs or ground screws are used to secure the foot of a support leg, then lateral support is improved, but the device becomes more complex and time-consuming to assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism merges the functions of lateral support and vertical securing into a single integrated system. The movable jaw members provide lateral constraint through their enclos engagement, while the same mechanism secures the foot portion vertically, eliminating the need for separate pegs or ground screws.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-securing through the interaction between the movable jaw members and the foot portion. Once the jaw members are positioned around the foot portion, they automatically engage and lock, providing both lateral support and vertical securing without requiring additional fastening operations.
3Reliability
If pegs and guylines are used to provide lateral support, then support stability is improved, but repeated removal of the pegs causes substantial damage to the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The base member serves as an intermediary between the support leg and the ground. Instead of inserting pegs directly into the ground, the base plate distributes the load over a larger surface area, reducing ground damage. The locking mechanism then provides the necessary lateral support through mechanical engagement rather than ground penetration.
4Ease of operation
If rollout awnings with motors or gear mechanisms are used to improve ease of use, then deployment ease is improved, but the overall weight and size significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ground support assembly is designed to be easily deployed and secured through simple manual operations. The movable jaw members can be opened and closed by hand to accommodate different foot portions, and the locking mechanism engages automatically, eliminating the need for motors or complex gear mechanisms.
5Adaptability or versatility
If ground support plates are designed for specific support legs from particular brands, then compatibility with those specific legs is ensured, but additional ground support plates must be purchased for different brands or sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The ground support assembly is designed with universal compatibility through its adaptable locking mechanism. The movable jaw members can accommodate various foot portion dimensions and shapes from different support leg brands, allowing a single base plate design to serve multiple functions across different awning systems.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides for a ground support assembly for different pole structures, comprising: a substantially planar base member, extending between a first end portion and a second end portion along a longitudinal central axis and defining a top surface and a bottom surface, comprising a central support portion adapted to receive and support a predetermined range of different foot portions of different pole structures, and a locking mechanism, adapted to releasably secure a foot portion of the predetermined range of different foot portions of the pole structure, comprising a first jaw member and an axially opposing second jaw member, each one selectively slidably mounted to said top surface of said base member and adapted to move in a direction along said central longitudinal axis between a first position, moved towards and enclosingly engaging said central support portion in cooperation with the other one of said first and second jaw member, and a second position, moved away and enclosingly disengaged from said central support portion; wherein said second position is defined by a first and second stop member, each one operably coupled to said base member so as to stoppingly engage with a respective one of said first and second jaw member when moving from said first position towards said second position.