Pivotable Weather Shield for Vehicle Door Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

It is challenging to enter or exit a vehicle during inclement weather without getting wet, as existing solutions fail to provide effective shelter from rain and sun.

Innovation Solution

A weather shield comprising elongated panels connected along their edges, pleated material, and door fasteners that fold and unfold to provide shelter when the vehicle door is opened, made of waterproof materials like polyethylene or nylon, with elastic bands and reflective materials for visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a weather shield is deployed to protect occupants from rain and sun, then protection effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from rain and sunVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The weather shield is divided into multiple elongated panels that can be individually folded and connected, allowing the structure to be segmented for easier storage while maintaining full coverage when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elongated panels are designed to fold together and nest within each other when not in use, creating a compact form factor that minimizes interference with vehicle operation while providing full weather protection when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the weather shield is made large enough to provide full coverage, then protection effectiveness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoiddeployment convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The weather shield transitions from a static large structure to a dynamic folded design that can be easily deployed and stowed, maintaining full coverage area when needed while improving operability through movement and transformation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the weather shield remains deployed to provide continuous protection, then protection effectiveness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous protectionVSAvoidinterference with vehicle operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The weather shield operates periodically - deployed when weather protection is needed and folded away when not needed - allowing continuous protection capability while minimizing interference with vehicle operation through periodic stowing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9139072B2Vehicle door covering

Publication Date: 2015.09.22 HENRY RUPERT DONOVAN

AI summary

A weather shield is provided. The weather shield may be adapted to provide shelter to an occupant entering or exiting a vehicle. The weather shield may include a plurality of elongated panels which may be pivotably joined together along their elongated sides so that the weather shield moves from an unfolded position to a folded position. The plurality of elongated panels may be bookended by two opposing fabric panels and/or sets of pleated material that may be detachably mounted to a vehicle door and the vehicle's frame so that when the vehicle door opens the weather shield extends to the unfolded position, thereby providing shelter. Upon closing the vehicle door, the weather shield moves to the folded position so as to not interfere with the occupant's comfort nor inhibit operation of the vehicle.