Inflatable Tent Structure for Camping Vehicle Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camping vehicles with integrated tent structures are difficult to set up and fold, requiring manual effort and skill, which can be challenging for single, smaller, older, or physically disabled users, and often result in incorrect setup and wet conditions.
Innovation Solution
A camping vehicle with a frame structure that can be partially or fully automated using inflation, allowing the tent to transition from a storage condition to an erected state with minimal user intervention, using air compressors or pumps for inflation and suction for folding, enabling easy setup and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual setup and folding of the tent structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the need for multiple actions and user skill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated inflation system. A compressor connects to the tent structure through a hose and inflatable connector, inflating air chambers to automatically erect the tent. This substitution eliminates the need for manual assembly of poles and canvas, directly resolving the contradiction by improving ease of operation while accepting increased device complexity through the addition of the inflation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using compressed air to inflate flexible chambers within the tent structure. The air pressure causes the chambers to expand, which in turn erects the tent walls and stabilizes the structure. This pneumatic mechanism provides automated operation with simple user interaction (activating the compressor), effectively resolving the ease of operation versus device complexity contradiction.
2Extent of automation
If automated inflation system is added, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tent structure into multiple inflatable chambers that can be independently or collectively inflated. This segmentation allows the automation system to work with discrete units rather than a monolithic structure, making the automation process more manageable and the device complexity more distributed and controllable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an inflatable connector as an intermediary component between the compressor hose and the tent structure's air chambers. This intermediary element simplifies the connection process and enables automated inflation while maintaining flexibility in the system, thereby improving automation extent while managing device complexity through a standardized interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If frequent folding and unfolding is required, then the adaptability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to repeated manual effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces repeated manual mechanical operations with automated inflation and deflation cycles. The compressor system can quickly inflate the tent structure for use and then deflate it for storage, eliminating the need for repeated manual assembly and disassembly. This directly addresses the contradiction by making frequent operations easier while maintaining the adaptability for various usage scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables periodic inflation and deflation of the tent structure through the automated compressor system. Users can quickly transition between stored and erected states by activating or deactivating the inflation system, allowing frequent setup and storage cycles without the cumulative fatigue of manual operations. This periodic automated action resolves the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation for repeated use.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for easy and automatic setup and folding of the tent structure, reducing user effort and skill requirements, ensuring proper setup and maintaining a compact storage state, making it accessible for a wider range of users.
Implementation Method 1
the boundary wall construction is inflatable by means of the inflation means, starting from the stored state into an inflated state that occurs temporarily during the erection of the tent structure
Implementation Method 2
suction means can be connected to the inflation connection, frame elements can be removed and/or detached and the suction means can be activated to suck out the inner living space and thus to automatically collapse the tent structure
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a camping vehicle (150) comprising at least one vehicle wall (155), a tent construction (101) that can be folded out and has at least one individual tent wall (102), which can be converted from a stored state into an erected state and a frame construction (103). The vehicle wall or walls (155) and the tent wall or walls (102), in a design in which they adjoin one another, together form part of a delimiting wall construction, which when erected defines at least one single internal habitable area of the camping vehicle. The delimiting wall construction is provided with an inflation connection (104) and closing means (105, 106) that close respective openings (107, 117) for the habitable area or areas. According to the invention, the delimiting wall construction is designed in such a way that it can be inflated with the closing means closed from the stored state into an inflation state that temporarily occurs during the erection of the tent construction. The frame structure is designed in such a way that it is converted at least partially into its operating state during the inflation procedure and once the inflation procedure has been completed, said erected state is maintained at least temporarily upright.