Portable Shade Canopy With Integrated Weighting Pockets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable shade systems, such as umbrellas and tents, face challenges in providing effective shade from sunlight while being easy to assemble, stylish, and able to withstand environmental conditions, particularly in windy situations without requiring complex anchoring mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A portable shade system featuring a frame connected to a ground surface via screw posts, with a canopy that includes fins with pockets to hold material weighing between 5 and 10 pounds, which secures the canopy in place and reduces flapping noise, utilizing a sleeve for attachment and allowing for easy assembly without additional anchoring devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional anchoring mechanisms are used to secure the canopy in windy conditions, then the stability of the shade system is improved, but the device complexity and ease of assembly deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the anchoring function with the canopy structure itself by integrating pockets directly into the canopy fabric. These pockets hold weighting material (sand, water, or other materials) that provides anchoring stability without requiring separate anchoring devices. This merging of functions resolves the contradiction by maintaining stability while eliminating complex separate anchoring mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy structure serves its own anchoring needs through integrated pockets that can be filled with weighting material. The system is self-sufficient for stabilization without requiring external anchoring equipment. Users simply fill the built-in pockets with available materials like sand or water, making the system self-service capable and eliminating the need for complex separate anchoring systems.
2Stability of the object's composition
If separate anchoring devices are used to secure the canopy, then the stability in windy conditions is improved, but the ease of operation and assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring function is merged into the canopy structure through integrated pockets. This eliminates the need for separate anchoring devices and simplifies the assembly process to merely filling the pockets with weighting material, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy structure provides its own anchoring capability through built-in pockets that can be filled with weighting material. This self-service approach allows users to quickly secure the canopy using readily available materials like sand or water, eliminating the need for complex separate anchoring equipment and simplifying the overall assembly process.
3Weight of moving object
If the canopy is made lightweight for portability, then the ease of transportation is improved, but the ability to withstand wind and environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a lightweight canopy structure and separate weighting material. The canopy itself remains lightweight for portability, while the anchoring function is achieved by adding weight only when needed through the integrated pockets. This segmentation allows the canopy to be transported easily while still providing the option to withstand environmental conditions when the pockets are filled with weighting material.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its weight characteristics. The canopy is lightweight for transportation, but when deployed and subjected to windy conditions, users can add weighting material to the pockets to increase stability. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to transition between lightweight portability mode and stable environmental resistance mode as needed.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the canopy includes integrated pockets for weighting material, then the stability and noise reduction are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring function is merged into the canopy structure through integrated pockets. While this adds some structural elements, it eliminates the need for separate anchoring devices, overall simplifying the system. The pockets are simple fabric compartments that can be filled with any weighting material, providing stability without significant complexity increase.
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 system provides effective shade, reduces noise and flapping, and simplifies assembly by using the weight of material in the pockets to maintain the canopy's position, eliminating the need for separate anchors and reducing component complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the pockets are configured to hold material to maintain a position of the canopy relative to the frame
Implementation Method 2
the second edge is partially supported by a wind force
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for providing shade from sunlight. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a portable shade system for providing shade from sunlight, including: a frame; and a canopy, wherein the canopy includes a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, wherein the canopy is connected to the frame adjacent the first edge, wherein the second edge is partially supported by a wind force, wherein the canopy includes pockets adjacent the first edge of the canopy, and wherein the pockets are configured to hold material to maintain a position of the canopy relative to the frame.