Retractable Tennis Court Shade Device with Angled Frame
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Tennis players, especially children and those who spend extended periods outdoors, are at risk of excessive sun exposure due to the lack of effective shading solutions for outdoor tennis courts, which can lead to skin damage and skin cancer, as most tennis courts are not equipped with adequate sun protection mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A retractable tennis court shade device comprising a frame supported by columns with retractable fabric shade panels that filter sunlight and UV radiation, allowing for adjustable shading without obstructing the play area, which can be integrated with existing fencing structures or installed freestanding, providing partial to full shading depending on the sun's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a fixed shade structure is installed over the tennis court, then sun protection is provided, but the play area is obstructed and flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs retractable shade panels that can be extended or retracted along a horizontal track system. This dynamic mechanism allows the shade structure to adapt between providing full sun protection and completely clearing the play area, resolving the contradiction between sun protection and play area flexibility. The panels move on tracks mounted on fencing structures, enabling smooth transition between shaded and unobstructed states.
Solution Approach 2:
The shade structure is divided into multiple independent retractable panels rather than a single fixed canopy. Each panel can be independently controlled to extend or retract, allowing selective shading of different court areas while maintaining play space availability. This segmentation enables flexible adaptation to various playing conditions and player needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a retractable shade system is installed, then flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the existing fencing structure as an intermediary support system for mounting the retractable shade panels and their track mechanisms. By attaching the retractable system to the existing fencing rather than requiring separate support structures, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining full retractable functionality. The fencing serves as the intermediate carrier for the shade mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable shade system is designed to work with standard tennis court fencing structures, making the system universally applicable to existing courts without requiring custom-built support infrastructure. The same mechanism can serve multiple functions: providing shade, being retracted for full play access, and potentially serving as a windbreak when partially extended.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the frame extends inward toward the court, then shading coverage is improved, but play area obstruction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shade panels are mounted on horizontal tracks that extend over the court but allow the panels to be retracted completely out of the play area. The frame structure can extend inward to provide adequate support for the retractable mechanism, but the actual shading panels move dynamically to clear the play area when retracted, eliminating obstruction while maintaining potential coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The shading function is extracted from a fixed structural element and placed on movable retractable panels. The frame structure remains as a support skeleton that may extend over the court, but the actual shading material is separated and mounted on retractable carriers that can be removed from the play area when not in use.
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 device significantly reduces sun exposure and heat, offering players cooler conditions and protection from wind and rain, while allowing for flexible use of the court by providing shade for a varying portion of the court throughout the day, thereby reducing the risk of skin damage and enhancing playing comfort.
Implementation Method 1
fabric shade panels filter substantially all of the light and/or UV radiation from the sun
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for a retractable tennis court shade device is disclosed. The device is constructed such that it does not substantially impair the play of the game on the tennis court that is being shaded. The device can be constructed substantially along existing fencing structures to surround the entire tennis court, or it can be constructed so that it is parallel to any of the sidelines or baselines or combinations thereof. Alternatively, the device can be constructed such that it is freestanding. The device comprises a frame supported by a plurality of support columns, wherein the frame is disposed at an angle extending inward from the edge of the support columns toward the tennis court while stopping short of completely covering the play area above the tennis court. A plurality of fabric shade panels are retractably attached to the frame, which fabric shade panels filter substantially all of the light and/or UV radiation from the sun. When in place, the fabric shade panels provide shade to a portion of the tennis court which varies over the day.