Portable Shade Canopy Leg Wheels for Collapsed and Deployed Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable shade canopies are cumbersome to transport due to their weight and size, and existing wheels on storage cases are inadequate, leading to drag and friction, while there is no convenient way to move a deployed canopy over short distances.
Innovation Solution
A portable shade system with integrated wheels on each leg, allowing caster rotation and featuring breakaway connectors and caster rotation lock mechanisms for stability, along with a storage case that secures to the system for easy transport in both collapsed and deployed states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wheels are added to the storage case to improve transportability, then ease of operation is improved, but the wheels are small and inadequate causing drag and friction on terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel system is segmented from the storage case and directly integrated onto the canopy legs. This allows the wheels to be part of the canopy structure itself rather than an attachment to the storage case, enabling better performance and eliminating the need to stuff the canopy into the case to use the wheels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from small wheels attached to the storage case to larger wheels directly mounted on the canopy legs. This dimensional change in wheel size and placement enables the canopy to be wheeled in both collapsed and deployed states without the drag and friction problems of small storage case wheels.
2Ease of operation
If the canopy is placed in a fully enclosed storage case with wheels, then transportability is improved, but the canopy must be in the case to utilize the wheels making the process time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel system is segmented from the storage case and directly integrated onto the canopy legs. This allows the wheels to be part of the canopy structure itself rather than an attachment to the storage case, enabling better performance and eliminating the need to stuff the canopy into the case to use the wheels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the canopy is deployed and needs to be moved a short distance, then operational flexibility is improved, but there is no convenient way to move the deployed canopy
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy leg structure is made dynamic by adding wheels that can be locked or unlocked. When locked, the legs remain stable for deployment; when unlocked, the wheels can be engaged to roll the canopy. This dynamic capability allows the same structure to serve both as a stable support and a movable platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy legs serve multiple functions: they provide structural support when deployed and simultaneously serve as wheeled platforms for transport. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate carrying or relocation methods for deployed canopies.
4Ease of operation
If a wagon is used to transport the canopy, then ease of transport is improved, but the wagon's cargo space is consumed by the canopy reducing ability to transport other items
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy leg structure is made dynamic by adding wheels that can be locked or unlocked. When locked, the legs remain stable for deployment; when unlocked, the wheels can be engaged to roll the canopy. This dynamic capability allows the same structure to serve both as a stable support and a movable platform.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable shade system that can be wheeled in both the collapsed and deployed states, consisting of a swivel caster wheel for each canopy leg. The wheels are connected to plates that are secured to the bottom of the canopy legs. A series of breakaway connectors between the plates and wheels combined with the ability to lock the caster rotation of the two primary wheels provides the structural rigidity needed for the portable shade system to roll on two wheels similar to a dolly. A storage case with an open bottom design is pulled over the collapsed canopy and secured around the breakaway connectors. The case features one or more handles used to push or pull the portable shade system.