Retractable Shade Assembly Without Spools or Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shade structures for large areas face challenges in providing robust support, require complex designs with spools or rollers, and lack efficient mechanisms for extension and retraction, leading to maintenance issues and increased weight and cost.
Innovation Solution
A shade structure comprising a frame assembly with upright poles and beams, a retractable shade assembly with elongate bars and a drive system that includes a transmission mechanism using gears, belts, or chains to extend and retract the shade, allowing the bars to spread or converge to facilitate shade extension and retraction, with a cover assembly for sheltering the retracted shade.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional spools or rollers are used for retracting shade, then the shade can be retracted, but the weight, cost, and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional spool or roller components from the retractable shade system entirely. Instead, the shade is retracted by gathering it between the elongate bars through a simplified mechanical linkage system, eliminating the need for rotating storage components and their associated weight and maintenance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongate bars themselves perform the dual function of both supporting the shade in the extended position and gathering it during retraction. The bars move horizontally to both extend and retract the shade, making the support structure serve the retraction function without requiring separate spools or rollers.
2Ease of operation
If traditional spools or rollers are used for retracting shade, then the shade can be retracted, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates complex spool or roller mechanisms and replaces them with a simpler system where horizontal movement of elongate bars directly gathers and retracts the shade. This removes unnecessary rotating components, bearings, and complex linkages while achieving the same retraction function.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongate bars serve multiple functions: they support the shade in the extended position, provide the mechanical means for retraction through horizontal movement, and act as the gathering mechanism themselves. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the system.
3Ease of operation
If the shade is retracted using traditional mechanisms, then the shade can be stored, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By removing spools, rollers, and their associated bearings and rotating joints, the patent eliminates the primary sources of maintenance requirements. The simplified system with horizontal bar movement has fewer moving parts that wear or require lubrication, significantly reducing maintenance needs.
4Device complexity
If elongate bars are used to support and retract the shade, then the structure is simplified, but the mechanism for spreading and converging bars must be effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the extension and retraction functions into a single horizontal movement action of the elongate bars. The same bars that support the shade when extended also perform the gathering action during retraction, merging multiple functions into unified mechanical actions that simplify the overall system.
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.54334023