Heat Reflection Tent Segmented Zipper and Support Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat-reflection tents lack sufficient supporting capacity, making it difficult for users to operate the zipper and enter the chamber, especially for elderly individuals or those with mobility issues, due to the placement of the heating device and footrest which increases the risk of tripping.
Innovation Solution
A heat-reflection tent design featuring a supporting member with a bottom rod and side rods that maintain the structure's shape, allowing for easier zipper operation and increased opening range, while positioning the heating device to avoid tripping hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional heat-reflection tent body is used without sufficient supporting structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the body collapses easily and cannot maintain its shape, making zipper operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting structure is divided into multiple segments: a first supporting rod, a second supporting rod, and a third supporting rod. These segmented rods work together to maintain the tent body shape while keeping each individual component simple and easy to implement.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting rods extend in multiple spatial dimensions: the first supporting rod extends from the front surface toward the rear, the second supporting rod extends from the side surface, and the third supporting rod connects these elements. This three-dimensional arrangement provides comprehensive structural support.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a heating device and footrest are disposed adjacent to the front surface and bottom of the zipper, then the heating function is provided, but the user needs to step over the footrest which creates tripping hazards especially for elderly people
Solution Approach 1:
The footrest is extracted from its conventional position at the bottom of the zipper and relocated to the rear portion of the tent body. This separation removes the tripping hazard from the user's entry path while preserving the heating device's functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating device is positioned as an intermediary element between the front surface and the rear footrest, allowing heat distribution throughout the chamber without requiring the footrest to be in the user's direct path during entry and exit.
3Ease of operation
If the zipper is opened to separate the two front sheets, then access to the chamber is provided, but the bottoms of the front sheets remain connected to the bottom surface decreasing the opening diameter and making it harder to step into the chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The front portion is divided into two separate covering sheets that can be independently manipulated. The first covering sheet and second covering sheet are segmented from each other, allowing both to be opened simultaneously to maximize the opening diameter for easy chamber access.
Solution Approach 2:
The covering sheets are designed to be dynamically openable from both the front and bottom portions. This dynamic configuration allows the opening diameter to increase when needed for entry, while maintaining structural integrity when closed.
Data Source
AI summary
A heat-reflection tent has a body and a supporting member. The body has a covering cloth having two covering sheets and a zipper assembly. The zipper assembly is mounted on the covering cloth and has a front zipper and two bottom zippers. The front zipper is located between the two covering sheets. The two bottom zippers are respectively disposed below the two covering sheets. The supporting member is mounted on the body and is used to support the body for keeping a shape of the body. An opened range of the two covering sheets is increased by the bottom zippers for allowing a user to enter the body easily.