Pole-Free Weather Protection Assembly for Wind-Stable Beach Shade
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beach umbrellas are unstable in windy conditions, pose safety risks due to sharp poles, provide fixed shade that does not adjust with the sun, are bulky and heavy, and lack portability.
Innovation Solution
A weather protection assembly with flexible support legs, a fabric structure, and a freely movable umbrella portion, anchored by socks filled with sand, allowing for adjustable shade and stability without a central pole, and featuring a tent-like structure for enhanced protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional beach umbrella with a central pole is used, then sun protection is provided, but it becomes unstable in windy conditions and poses safety risks due to sharp poles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the central pole from the beach umbrella structure entirely. The umbrella is supported by three separate legs that spread out from the center, eliminating the need for a vertical pole that could become a projectile in wind or have sharp points causing injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The single central support structure is divided into three separate legs that radiate outward from the umbrella center. Each leg is independently anchored to the ground, distributing the structural load and improving stability without requiring a tall central pole.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-position beach umbrella is used, then sun protection is provided, but the shade area is reduced as the sun moves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the umbrella structure rotatable around its vertical axis by designing the three legs to pivot at their connection points to the ground. This allows the umbrella to be dynamically repositioned to follow the sun's movement across the sky, maintaining optimal shade coverage throughout the day.
3Ease of operation
If a traditional beach umbrella is used, then sun protection is provided, but it becomes large, heavy, and unwieldy to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The umbrella is divided into separable components including the umbrella canopy, three leg assemblies with anchors, and a central hub. Each component can be independently folded or collapsed, allowing the entire structure to be disassembled into compact pieces that are easier to carry and store.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible fabric for the umbrella canopy and flexible materials for the leg structures that can bend and collapse. The anchor socks are made of flexible material that can be compressed for storage but expand when filled with sand or gravel to provide stability during use.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a tent is used to provide stationary sun protection, then the view of other beach-goers is blocked and the interior gets hot
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a fully enclosed tent structure, the patent uses three separate leg assemblies that create open spaces between them. This segmented approach provides sun protection while maintaining visibility and airflow, preventing the greenhouse effect that occurs in enclosed tents.
Data Source
AI summary
A weather protection assembly, including three or more support legs, wherein the support legs have an upper end and a lower end, the support legs include a fabric having a top layer, a bottom layer, and a continuous space between the top and bottom layers, the support legs upper ends are configured to meet at an apex and the support legs lower ends are configured to rest on a surface, and the fabric top or bottom layer is coupled to a flexible rod. An independent umbrella may be positioned in the space between fabric layers, which independent umbrella is configured to be freely re-positioned about the assembly. An assembly may include a fixed umbrella portion.