Modular Buoyant Support for Parasols
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bathing islands and parasol holders are unsuitable for private use due to their size, expense, and inability to be transported easily, and existing floating parasol holders are either anchored or not designed for portability.
Innovation Solution
A modular, buoyant holder for objects like parasols that consists of a floating body, an insertion sleeve, and clamping devices on both sides, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and can be equipped with a sinker weight for stabilization and a ground anchor for land use, enabling portability and adjustable buoyancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional bathing islands or pontoons are used, then they can provide shading and resting areas, but they are expensive, large in size, and cannot be transported easily by car, bicycle, or on foot
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is divided into separate modular components: a float, a clamping device with upper and lower clamping parts, and an insertion sleeve. These components can be detached from one another, allowing the holder to be disassembled for easy transport in a carrying bag and assembled at the destination.
Solution Approach 2:
The float is designed as a multi-functional component that provides both buoyancy to keep the holder afloat and a clamping surface for securing the clamping device. This universal design reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall structure.
2Reliability
If firmly anchored parasol brackets are used, then they provide stable shading, but they cannot be moved or transported
Solution Approach 1:
The holder transitions from a static anchored structure to a dynamic movable structure by using a float instead of ground anchoring. The float allows the holder to move freely on water while maintaining stability through buoyancy and proper center of gravity design.
Solution Approach 2:
A counterweight is attached to the lower clamping part or insertion sleeve to lower the center of gravity of the holder. This counterweight provides stabilization, preventing the holder from tipping over while maintaining mobility on water.
3Reliability
If a floating holder with anchoring device is used, then it can be stabilized, but it loses portability and requires installation infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring device is completely removed from the system. Instead of requiring installation infrastructure like ground anchors, the holder uses purely buoyant support through the float, eliminating the need for anchoring while maintaining portability and ease of deployment.
4Weight of moving object
If lightweight plastic components are used for the clamping device, then portability is improved, but durability and weather resistance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The holder combines different materials to optimize both weight and durability. The float is made from buoyant material (such as closed-cell foam or air-filled plastic) for lightweight buoyancy, while the clamping device uses weather-resistant plastic that balances lightness with sufficient strength for clamping and outdoor 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 holder allows for portable shading solutions that can be easily transported and set up on water or land, providing stable and adjustable support for various objects while maintaining buoyancy and stability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one float (3), in particular an air-filled float
Implementation Method 2
at least one means (9) for attaching a counterweight (10)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a buoyant support (1) for an object (2), comprising as components on the device side: a floating body (3), an insertion sleeve (7) for holding the object (2) and a clamping device (4) with at least one upper-side clamping part (5) and at least one lower-side clamping part (6), wherein the clamping parts (5, 6) have each at least one clamping surface which is planar on the floating body (3), wherein the floating body (3) is clamped between the clamping surface of the at least one clamping part (5) arranged on the upper side of the floating body and the clamping surface of the at least one clamping part (6) arranged on the lower side of the floating body, wherein the insertion sleeve (7), starting from the upper side of the support (1), is passed through the clamping device (4) and protrudes on the bottom side from the clamping device (4), and wherein at least one means (9) for fastening a lowering weight (10) is provided on the lower-side clamping part (6) and/or on the end (8) of the insertion sleeve, which protrudes from the clamping device on the lower side, the components of which can be releasably connected to one another so that the support (1) can be assembled in a modular manner from the components and can be again dismantled back into their components.