Retractable Golf Cart Rain Shield with Segmented Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf carts, including covered ones, lack adequate protection from sun and rain, with existing solutions being cumbersome, difficult to install, and interfering with ingress/egress and parking profiles.
Innovation Solution
A semi-permanently attachable rain and sun shield for golf carts, featuring easy installation, retractable designs, and various configurations (hinged, telescoping, and collapsible) that provide extended protection without obstructing parking or storage, using materials like canvas or nylon with rigid ribs and swivel pin joints for flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a canopy or panels are added to cover the golf cart, then sun and rain protection is improved, but ingress to and egress from the cart becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is divided into multiple panels that can be independently positioned and adjusted. The side panels can be raised or lowered to allow passenger access while maintaining protection for the driver and cart interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield panels are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be adjusted between different positions to balance protection needs with access requirements during loading and unloading operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a hardtop or canopy is installed, then protection from sun and rain is improved, but the parking profile is enlarged and storage becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shield transitions from a compact stored state to an extended protective state only when needed, allowing the cart to maintain a small parking profile during storage while providing full protection during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield panels nest within or alongside the cart body when retracted, minimizing the increased volume during storage while still providing adequate protection when deployed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If side panels are added for protection, then sun and rain protection is improved, but the device becomes cumbersome and difficult to install
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is divided into separate panels that can be installed independently, simplifying the installation process and allowing for easier adjustment and maintenance of individual components.
4Ease of operation
If a retractable design is used, then ease of deployment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield incorporates movable components that allow easy transition between retracted and deployed states, providing convenient operation while managing mechanical complexity through straightforward linkage mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for enhancing the rain and sun protection of a golf cart roof using a rain and sun shield device. The rain and sun shield for a covered golf cart is semi-permanently attached to the roof of a golf cart. The device is easy to install; will retrofit to any standard golf cart roof; does not interfere with the parking and storing profile (i.e. are sized to fit within the perimeter of any standard golf cart roof when in the closed position) of a fleet of golf carts. The device is easily opened and closed to provide the golf cart user with added sun and rain protection when in use.