Retractable Shade Assembly Without Spools or Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shade structures face challenges in providing robust support for large areas, require complex maintenance, and often rely on weighty and costly components like spools or rollers for extension and retraction.
Innovation Solution
A shade structure with a frame assembly, retractable shade assembly, and a drive system that includes elongate bars, a drive bar, and a transmission system, allowing for the extension and retraction of the shade section using drive belts or a hand crank, eliminating the need for spools or rollers and simplifying design and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional spools or rollers are used for shade extension and retraction, then the shade structure can provide coverage, but the weight, cost, and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional spool or roller components from the shade structure system. Instead of winding shade fabric around a spool or over a roller, the invention uses a direct tension member system where the shade fabric is attached to a drive bar that moves linearly along guide channels, eliminating the need for rotating storage components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the rotational mechanical system (spools and rollers) with a linear mechanical system. The drive bar moves in a straight line along guide channels, and the tension members transmit force directly to extend and retract the shade, substituting rotational mechanics with linear mechanics to reduce complexity and weight.
2Ease of operation
If traditional spools or rollers are used for shade extension and retraction, then the shade structure can provide coverage, but the cost and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional spool or roller components from the shade structure system. Instead of winding shade fabric around a spool or over a roller, the invention uses a direct tension member system where the shade fabric is attached to a drive bar that moves linearly along guide channels, eliminating the need for rotating storage components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the rotational mechanical system (spools and rollers) with a linear mechanical system. The drive bar moves in a straight line along guide channels, and the tension members transmit force directly to extend and retract the shade, substituting rotational mechanics with linear mechanics to reduce complexity and weight.
3Strength
If a robust support structure is used for large area shade, then the shade element can be supported, but the frame complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the frame assembly into multiple modular components: upright poles, side beams, front and rear beams, and guide channels. Each component is a simple structural element that can be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing the complexity of the overall support structure while maintaining the strength needed for large area shade coverage.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
A shade structure is provided that includes a frame assembly, a retractable shade assembly, and a drive system. The frame assembly includes a plurality of upright poles and a plurality of beams coupled therewith. The retractable shade assembly is coupled with the plurality of beams. The retractable shade assembly includes a shade section assembly that has a plurality of elongate bars and a shade section extending therebetween. The elongate bars are spread apart from each other to spread the shade section in an extended shade configuration. The elongate bars are moved toward each other in a retracted configuration wherein the shade section looped vertically between adjacent elongate bars.