Slide-Lateral Arm Box Awning for Motor Homes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing retractable awnings for motor homes and recreational vehicles fail to provide independent operation and are prone to wind noise due to non-retractable support arms, which also allow debris accumulation and lack of sheltered area regardless of the coach slider's position.

Innovation Solution

A slide-lateral arm box awning system with an elongate encasement, roll bars, and lateral arms that can be independently operated to provide a sheltered area adjacent the coach slider, whether extended or retracted, minimizing wind resistance and debris accumulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If support arms are hingeably attached to the coach or slider to provide shelter, then sheltered area is provided, but wind noise increases because they cannot be fully retracted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheltered areaVSAvoidwind noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support arms are extracted from the traditional hingeable attachment to the coach or slider, and instead are integrated into the encasement structure. This allows the support arms to be fully retracted within the encasement when not in use, eliminating wind noise while still providing sheltered area when deployed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support arms are nested within the encasement structure, allowing them to be fully retracted inside the encasement when not providing shelter. This nesting arrangement eliminates the wind noise problem while maintaining the ability to provide sheltered area when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If awning is attached to moving parts like coach slider, then awning can follow slider position, but debris accumulation occurs when slider is extended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveawning follows slider positionVSAvoiddebris accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The awning is extracted from direct attachment to the moving coach slider and instead is attached to the stationary encasement. This allows the awning to remain in a fixed position that prevents debris accumulation while still providing shelter, independent of the slider's extended or retracted position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The awning system is designed to provide shelter in multiple configurations - whether the coach slider is extended or retracted. The awning attached to the stationary encasement can serve both positions, providing universal shelter coverage without the debris accumulation problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If awning system is integrated with coach slider, then combined function is achieved, but independent operation is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombined functionVSAvoidindependent operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The awning system is segmented into two independent components: a slider awning attached to the coach slider and a lateral arm awning attached to the stationary encasement. This segmentation allows each awning to be operated independently, providing flexibility in creating sheltered areas regardless of the slider's position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dual-awning system provides multi-functionality by enabling independent operation of each awning component. The slider awning can provide coverage when extended, while the lateral arm awning can provide coverage independently, allowing shelter to be created in various configurations based on different operational needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Area of stationary object

If lateral arms are extended for shelter, then sheltered area is provided, but wind resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheltered areaVSAvoidwind resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lateral arms are extracted from traditional external mounting and are instead integrated within the encasement structure. When retracted, they are positioned to minimize wind resistance and create a streamlined profile, while still enabling the lateral arm awning to extend and provide sheltered area when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The lateral arms are designed to be dynamic - fully retracted within the encasement during vehicle motion to minimize wind resistance, and extendable when the vehicle is stationary to provide sheltered area. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between shelter provision and wind resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7513289B2Slide-lateral arm box awning for motor home and recreational vehicle use

Publication Date: 2009.04.07 LIPPERT COMPONENTS MANUFACTURING INC

AI summary

A slide-lateral arm box awning system for motor homes and recreational vehicles having an extendable coach slider includes a encasement, a slider awning and a lateral arm awning. First and second roll bars are disposed within the encasement and attached respectively to the slider awning and the lateral arm awning within the encasement. Independent of operation of the roll bars enables independent operation of the slider awning and the lateral bar awning.