Pop-up Canopy Asymmetric Locking and Scissor Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pop-up canopies are difficult to expand without standing under them and provide limited viewing area when expanded.
Innovation Solution
An expandable canopy frame with scissor-type rib members, a slider mechanism, and a releasable locking assembly that allows for easy expansion and maintains the canopy in an expanded position, featuring a trapezoidal footprint with the locking assembly closer to one side, providing increased viewing area and accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional locking mechanisms are used in the center of the canopy, then the canopy can be securely locked, but the locking mechanism is difficult to access without standing under the canopy
Solution Approach 1:
The locking assembly is positioned asymmetrically closer to one side of the canopy rather than at the center, making it accessible from the outside without requiring a person to stand under the canopy. This asymmetric positioning resolves the contradiction by improving accessibility while maintaining the structural integrity of the canopy.
2Ease of operation
If the canopy has a square footprint with equal sides, then the structure is simple and balanced, but the viewing area when positioned under the canopy is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy transitions from a symmetric square footprint to an asymmetric rectangular footprint with unequal sides. This asymmetric geometry provides a larger viewing area when positioned under the canopy, particularly on the longer side, while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If all rib members have the same number of scissor couplings, then the canopy structure is uniform and simple, but the entry clearance height is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different rib members have different numbers of scissor couplings - specifically, the rib members on the longer side have four scissor couplings while those on the shorter side have two. This local differentiation increases the entry clearance height where needed while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable canopy frame including a plurality of legs coupled to each other through a plurality of rib members scissor-type coupled together, with upper ends of certain of the rib members being respectively coupled to top ends of the legs, and lower ends of certain of the rib members being respectively coupled to a slider mechanism slidably mounted to each of the respective legs; a roof assembly for supporting a canopy; and a releasable locking assembly, coupled to the roof assembly, for facilitating the expansion of the expandable canopy into an expanded position and for maintaining the canopy in the expanded position; wherein the expandable canopy in its expanded position has a plurality of sides, and wherein the releasable locking assembly is closer to one of the sides than to the remaining sides of the expandable canopy in its expanded position.