Retractable Shade Assembly Without Spools or Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shade structures face challenges in providing robust and efficient support for large area shading, with current solutions involving heavy and costly components like shade spools or rollers, which require complex maintenance and have limited longevity.
Innovation Solution
A retractable shade structure comprising a frame assembly with upright poles and beams, a retractable shade assembly with elongate bars, and a drive system using gears, belts, and a tension member to extend and retract the shade section, eliminating the need for shade spools or rollers and simplifying the design for enhanced longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional shade spools or rollers are used to support and retract the shade element, then the shade element can be retracted, but the weight, cost, and maintenance requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional shade spool or roller from the system entirely. Instead of winding the shade fabric around a spool or over a roller, the shade element is directly attached to the frame and retracts by folding or rolling onto itself, eliminating the heavy rotating components that required maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The shade element itself serves as the storage medium when retracted. The flexible fabric or panel material folds or rolls up along the frame structure, using the shade material's own flexibility to provide the retraction mechanism without requiring separate spools or rollers.
2Ease of operation
If traditional shade spools or rollers are used, then the shade element can be supported and retracted, but the maintenance complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the spool or roller components entirely, the patent eliminates the associated maintenance issues such as bearing wear, fabric wrapping problems, and mechanical failures that plague traditional retractable shade systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The shade structure uses its own components (the frame and shade material) to perform the retraction function. The shade element folds or rolls onto itself along the frame structure, creating a self-contained system that requires no external spools, rollers, or complex mechanical assemblies.
3Area of stationary object
If a robust support structure is used to support a large shade element, then the shade element can be extended over a large area, but the weight and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shade structure uses a segmented frame with multiple upright poles and horizontal beams that can support large shade areas while distributing the weight across multiple lightweight components rather than requiring a single heavy central support.
Solution Approach 2:
The lightweight frame structure is designed to support large-area flexible shade materials that can be extended to cover significant areas while keeping the overall structure lightweight and easy to assemble.
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 allows for easy extension and retraction of the shade structure, reducing weight, cost, and maintenance complexity while providing enhanced longevity and a simplified design, enabling convenient shade provision and clear sky access.
Implementation Method 1
the belt comprising teeth configured to mesh with teeth of the plurality of gears
Implementation Method 2
a tension member configured move the elongate bars apart to spread the shade section apart in the extended shade configuration and to move the elongate bars toward each other in the retracted configuration
Data Source
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.