Fixed Shade Sail Support Tie-Rod for Drainage Without Inclination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fixed shade sails require rigid support elements to prevent water stagnation, leading to increased production costs and complex installation processes.

Innovation Solution

A fixed shade sail design incorporating a flexible secondary tie-rod below the tarpaulin, which provides support and drainage without inclination, using adjustable tensioning means to maintain tautness and avoid rigid elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If rigid support elements are inserted into tubular seats on the tarpaulin to prevent water stagnation, then water drainage is enabled without inclination, but production costs increase and installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater stagnationVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the rigid support elements and tubular seats from the system. Instead of adding complex rigid structures to the tarpaulin, the solution uses the existing flexible nature of the tarpaulin combined with strategic anchoring points and tie-rods to achieve water drainage without inclination, thereby eliminating the need for additional rigid components and simplifying installation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the approach from adding rigid structural elements to modifying the tensioning and anchoring parameters of the existing flexible tarpaulin system. By adjusting the tensioning of tie-rods and positioning of anchoring points, the tarpaulin is configured to drain water effectively without requiring rigid support elements, thus reducing complexity while maintaining drainage functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If rigid support elements are inserted into tubular seats on the tarpaulin to prevent water stagnation, then water drainage is enabled without inclination, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater stagnationVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces expensive rigid support elements with simpler, more cost-effective flexible components such as textile tie-rods and standard anchoring hardware. This substitution maintains the water drainage functionality while significantly reducing material costs and manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the tarpaulin is mounted with inclination to allow natural water drainage, then water stagnation is avoided, but the aesthetic appearance is compromised and installation space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater stagnationVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of inclining the tarpaulin to enable drainage (traditional approach), the invention inverts the problem-solving approach by keeping the tarpaulin horizontal and using strategic anchoring and tensioning to create drainage pathways through the flexible material itself. This inversion maintains the desired aesthetic appearance while achieving effective water drainage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

Enables effective water drainage without inclination, simplifying manufacturing and installation, reducing costs, and minimizing packaging and transport complexity.

Implementation Method 1

A fixed shade sail (1) comprises a tarpaulin (10) on which there are identified: a lower face (10'), which in use is the tarpaulin face facing downwards; and an upper face (10''), which in use is the tarpaulin face facing upwards.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTension: Tension

Implementation Method 2

said secondary tie-rod (30) is operatively associated with said tensioning means (40) adapted to adjust the length of said tie-rod between two ends (30', 30'') of the tie-rod itself

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4682333A1Fixed shade sail

Publication Date: 2026.01.21 BEGA SRL SOCIETÀ BENEFIT

Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a fixed shade sail (1) comprising: - a tarpaulin (10) on which a lower face (10') and an upper face (10") are identified; - a plurality of anchoring bodies (11, 12, 13, 14) connected to the tarpaulin along the peripheral edge of the tarpaulin itself; - a plurality of main tie-rods (21, 22, 23, 24) which are connectable to said anchoring bodies (11, 12, 13, 14) for tensioning, in use, said tarpaulin between a plurality of supports (50) either directly or indirectly anchored to the ground. The sail (1) comprises at least one secondary tie-rod (30) of flexible type which is arranged at the lower face (10') of the tarpaulin and can be either directly or indirectly anchored to the tarpaulin itself close to or at its two ends (30', 30"). The length (L) of said secondary tie-rod (30) between the points of direct or indirect connection with the tarpaulin (10) is adjustable through tensioning means (40) so that said secondary tie-rod can be taut between two different portions of the tarpaulin until it adheres to the lower face (10') of the tarpaulin (10), which portions are chosen so that the tie-rod passes at least close to the central area of the tarpaulin and acts as a support element for the tarpaulin itself.