Patio Support Bracket Joist Anchoring Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patio umbrella stands are prone to toppling in moderate winds due to torsional forces, and increasing their size and weight makes them cumbersome and difficult to use.
Innovation Solution
A patio support system with a flat base member that spans deck gaps and an elongated hook member that securely engages the joist, providing stability and leverage to anchor the umbrella stand to the deck, allowing for secure mounting of patio umbrellas without excessive weight or size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the umbrella stand is made heavier and larger in diameter, then the resistance to wind-induced toppling is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is divided into separate functional components: a base member that interfaces with deck boards, a hook member that engages the joist, and a mounting member for the umbrella. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the hook provides anchoring without requiring the entire stand to be heavy, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing weight in the vertical dimension, the invention utilizes the horizontal dimension by extending the hook through deck boards to engage the joist. This dimensional shift provides stability through geometric anchoring rather than mass, allowing the stand to resist toppling without being heavy or difficult to move.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the umbrella stand is made with larger diameter, then the stability against toppling is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support system separates the stabilizing function (hook engaging joist) from the supporting function (base on deck boards). This allows the stand to achieve stability through strategic anchoring points rather than increasing overall diameter, maintaining ease of operation while preventing toppling.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook member acts as an intermediary element that transfers loads from the umbrella mounting point down to the joist structure. This intermediary mechanism provides stability without requiring the visible stand portion to be large in diameter, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a support system is introduced to anchor to joists, then the stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hook member features a localized flat portion with specific thickness designed to fit within the gap between deck boards. This local geometric feature enables the hook to be inserted and engaged without complex adjustment mechanisms, achieving stability while minimizing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook member is designed to be movable between an inserted position (through the deck gap) and an engaged position (hooked on the joist). This dynamic capability allows simple installation and removal without permanent installation or complex fastening mechanisms, balancing stability with simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Herein is disclosed a patio support for securely supporting an object to a patio deck. The patio support includes a base member for sitting on the patio deck, a mounting member for mounting the object to the base member, and an elongated member extending downwardly from the base member. The elongated member passes through the gap separating adjacent patio deck members and is sufficiently long that a hook formed on a lower end of the elongated member can be positioned below a lower edge of the joist supporting the deck members. The elongated member is movable between a lowered position wherein the hook is positioned below the lower edge of the joists and a raised position wherein the hook securely engages the lower edge of the joists. The patio support is further configured to lock the elongated member in its raised position.