Rotary Unlocking Foldable Tent Center Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional foldable tent center lock devices are difficult to operate, leading to poor user experience due to inaccessible mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A foldable tent center lock device with a rotary unlocking structure, featuring a center telescopic rod with a locking sliding sleeve and an unlocking member, where the rotating disc drives the locking sliding sleeve to unlock, allowing for easy extension and retraction of the tent, and includes elastic reset members for smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional center lock device structure is used, then the locking function is achieved, but the operation becomes inaccessible and difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional linear or radial locking mechanism into a rotary operation. The user rotates the inner tube relative to the outer tube, converting the locking action into a rotational motion that is more accessible and easier to operate. This dimensional change from linear adjustment to rotational operation directly addresses the accessibility issue while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate components including a locking member with a tab, a locking groove on the outer tube, and an elastic reset member. These intermediaries mediate between the user's rotational input and the locking/unlocking action, making the operation more accessible while distributing the mechanical complexity across multiple simple components rather than a single complex mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the center telescopic rod is extended for folding the tent, then the tent can be folded, but the locking mechanism becomes difficult to access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the locking operation at the exposed end of the extended telescopic rod. When the rod is extended for folding, the locking mechanism remains accessible at the outer end rather than being buried inside the telescopic structure. This spatial arrangement maintains adaptability for folding while preserving ease of operation throughout the extension range.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is extracted and positioned at the outer end of the telescopic rod assembly, separate from the telescopic joints themselves. This extraction allows the locking operation to remain accessible even when the rod is extended, as the locking components are located at the exposed end rather than integrated within the telescopic sections.
3Ease of operation
If a rotary unlocking structure is implemented, then the operation becomes easier and more accessible, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the locking mechanism into distinct, simple components: an inner tube, an outer tube, a locking member with a tab, a locking groove, and an elastic reset member. Each component has a single, clear function. The rotary operation is achieved through the relative rotation of the inner and outer tubes, which simple cylindrical elements, rather than a complex rotary mechanism. This segmentation maintains ease of operation while minimizing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic reset member automatically returns the locking member to its locked position after rotation, eliminating the need for additional mechanisms to reset the lock. The system self-regulates, providing the rotary unlocking function without requiring complex control systems or multiple active components, thus improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 rotary unlocking structure simplifies and enhances the locking operation, improving user experience and maintaining a visually appealing design.
Implementation Method 1
the bottom disc body further includes a first elastic reset member for driving the locking member to reset, the first elastic reset member is a spring
Implementation Method 2
the spring is connected cooperatively between the locking member and the bottom disc body
Implementation Method 3
the second elastic reset member is an elastic snap ring limitedly mounted in the rotating disc, and the elastic snap ring may rotate with the rotating disc when the rotating disc rotates
Implementation Method 4
the stopper may deform the elastic snap ring so that the elastic snap ring may further drive the rotating disc and the unlocking member together to reset through deformation elasticity
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable tent center lock device with a rotary unlocking structure, which includes a center telescopic rod. The center telescopic rod includes an outer tube and an inner tube. An upper end of the outer tube is fixedly provided with a top disc. A lower end of the inner tube is fixedly provided with a bottom disc assembly. The bottom disc assembly includes a bottom disc body, a rotating disc cooperating rotatably with the bottom disc body, and a locking member mounted cooperatively between the bottom disc body and the rotating disc and used for being in locking cooperation with the outer tube. The center telescopic rod can be retracted so that the foldable tent inner center lock is locked and a foldable tent is expanded. When the rotary disc rotates, the rotating disc unlocks the locking member, so that the center telescopic rod extends to fold the foldable tent.