Protective Cover Apron Sealing Tube Ground Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protective covers lack a ground surface seal, allowing external influences such as rodents, insects, wind, rain, and snow to penetrate and damage the objects they are meant to protect.
Innovation Solution
A protective cover with a detachable apron featuring a sealing tube filled with compressible contouring material that forms a seal between the apron and the ground surface, providing a secure barrier against external intrusions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional protective covers are used without a ground surface seal, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but protection against external influences such as rodents, insects, and weather is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover is divided into two main segments: a top cover for overhead protection and a separate apron for ground surface sealing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity. The apron can be detached and stored separately when not needed, reducing complexity during storage and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing tube containing compressible contouring material is introduced as an intermediary element between the apron and the ground surface. This mediator forms the actual seal against external influences, while the apron itself remains a simple fabric structure. The contouring material adapts to irregular ground surfaces, providing reliable sealing without requiring complex mechanical structures.
2Reliability
If a sealing tube with compressible contouring material is added to the apron, then protection against rodents and weather is improved, but the weight and volume of the protective cover increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing tube is constructed as a flexible shell that can be collapsed into a compact form when not in use. The thin-walled construction minimizes material usage and weight while maintaining structural integrity when deployed. The flexible nature allows the tube to conform to the ground surface and be easily stored within the apron or attached to the cover.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressible contouring material inside the sealing tube changes its physical parameters (volume and shape) in response to external pressure and ground surface irregularities. This allows the tube to maintain an effective seal with minimal material, as the contouring material automatically adjusts its density and form factor to match the ground profile without requiring a heavy rigid structure.
3Ease of operation
If the apron is made detachable from the top cover, then ease of storage and deployment is improved, but the reliability of the seal may be compromised during attachment/detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The apron is pre-attached to the top cover at the upper edge, establishing the primary connection before deployment. This preliminary attachment ensures proper alignment and positioning, while the lower edge of the apron maintains continuous contact with the ground through the sealing tube, preserving seal integrity throughout the attachment and detachment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The apron is designed with dynamic attachment capabilities, allowing it to be easily connected and disconnected from the top cover. The detachable design incorporates flexible fastening mechanisms that maintain seal reliability during transitions, enabling the apron to adapt between attached and detached states without compromising the sealing function when deployed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents intrusion by rodents and weather elements, offering enhanced protection for vehicles and furniture by ensuring a tight seal at the ground level, while allowing for easy deployment and storage of the cover.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing tube that contains a compressible, contouring material, so as to form a seal between the edge of the apron and a ground surface
Implementation Method 2
compressible, contouring material
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Protective cover with ground surface seal. In an embodiment, the protective cover comprises a protective top cover, comprising one or more edges, and an apron extending from the one or more edges of the protective top cover. The edge of the apron, opposite the one or more edges of the protective cover, may comprise a sealing tube that contains a compressible, contouring material, so as to form a seal between the edge of the apron and a ground surface when the protective cover is deployed.