Modular Pop-Up Canopy Frame with Removable Center Poles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pop-up canopies are often expensive and cumbersome to set up and expand, lacking in stability and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A modular and collapsible pop-up canopy frame system with a plurality of leg assemblies, cross bar sets, and removable center poles, featuring unique cross bar connections and stabilizing weights for enhanced stability and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional metal frames are used to provide stability and support, then the canopy structure becomes stronger and more stable, but the setup process becomes more cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy frame is divided into modular sections including corner assemblies with integrated cross-bracing, removable center poles, and segmented cross-bar sets. This segmentation allows the stable metal frame structure to be assembled in manageable sections, reducing setup complexity while maintaining overall structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The corner assemblies are pre-configured with integrated cross-bracing and connection mechanisms before reaching the user. This preliminary preparation of structural components allows for rapid assembly of the stable frame without requiring complex field adjustments, resolving the contradiction between stability and setup ease.
2Strength
If center poles are included to provide structural support, then the canopy gains additional strength and stability, but the setup time increases and access underneath becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The center poles are designed to be removable rather than fixed, allowing the structure to dynamically adapt between having center support during transport and being pole-free during use. This dynamic configuration enables users to install center poles only when additional strength is needed, reducing typical setup time while maintaining strength when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The center poles are extracted from the permanent structure and made optional removable components. This allows the canopy to achieve rapid setup without center poles for unobstructed access, while providing the option to install them later if additional structural strength or stability is needed for specific applications.
3Productivity
If the canopy is designed to be quickly assembled, then setup time is reduced, but the structural stability and durability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The corner assemblies merge multiple structural functions into single integrated components: corner posts, cross-bracing, and connection points are combined in pre-assembled units. This merging maintains structural reliability by ensuring proper bracing and connections while significantly improving assembly speed compared to traditional piece-by-piece construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-bar sets are designed with self-aligning connection mechanisms that automatically position and secure themselves when assembled. This self-service feature ensures structurally reliable connections are made correctly every time while maintaining rapid assembly speed, as the connections guide themselves into proper alignment without requiring precise manual positioning.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the canopy structure is made more complex to provide expansion options and stability, then versatility and stability improve, but the device becomes more difficult to operate and store
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy is segmented into standardized modular sections (10x20 feet units) that can be independently assembled and connected. This segmentation provides expansion capability by allowing users to connect multiple identical modules together, while keeping individual module complexity manageable for easy operation and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The corner assemblies and cross-bar sets are designed as universal components that serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, enable expansion by connecting adjacent canopy sections, and facilitate storage through standardized folding patterns. This multi-functionality achieves versatility without proportionally increasing operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A simplified pop-up canopy and frame that allows for easy set and expansion. It is a modular and collapsible design. The design has a plurality of leg assembles which hold up a plurality of cross bar sets. The cross bar sets are connected to brackets which connection a plurality of cross bar sets together to form the pop-up canopy frame on which a canopy cover can be placed.