Sliding Eave Mount with Spherical Detent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Collapsible canopy structures face difficulties in effectively locking and unlocking sliding eave mounts, which are often cumbersome due to the use of pop-pin arrangements, making it hard to deploy or collapse the structures efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a detent element with a round or spherical surface that engages an opening on the vertical poles, combined with a spring mechanism, allows for easy locking and unlocking of the sliding eave mounts, enabling smooth transition between open and closed states by applying a downward force on a single sliding eave mount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pop-pin arrangement is used to lock the sliding mount, then the sliding mount can be retained in a deployed position, but it becomes difficult to actuate for locking and unlocking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spherical detent element that engages with a corresponding spherical recess in the vertical support member. This curved geometry allows the detent to be easily pushed into the recess for locking and to be disengaged by applying pressure, significantly improving the ease of operation compared to traditional pop-pin arrangements while maintaining reliable retention through the spherical engagement geometry
2Reliability
If multiple sliding eave mounts are individually locked, then each mount is securely retained, but the process of deploying or collapsing the structure becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent connects all sliding eave mounts to a single common vertical support member, allowing one detent element to control the position of multiple eave mounts simultaneously. When the single detent is engaged or disengaged, all connected eave mounts are locked or unlocked together, enabling the entire canopy structure to be deployed or collapsed in one action rather than requiring individual manipulation of each mount
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
This solution simplifies the process of collapsing and deploying canopy structures by allowing a single point of force application to overcome the engagement force, making it easier to transition between open and closed states without the need to individually disengage each sliding eave mount, thus improving usability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
combined with a spring mechanism, allows for easy locking and unlocking of the sliding eave mounts
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible canopy structure includes one or more eaves, one or more fixed eave mounts, one or more sliding eave mounts and one or more vertical poles. Each of the vertical poles has a top end and a bottom end. Each of the vertical poles is connected by at least one of the one or more eaves. At least one of the fixed eave mounts is coupled to at least one of the eaves and attached proximate to the top end of at least one of the vertical poles. At least one of the sliding eave mounts is coupled to at least one of the eaves and slidingly coupled to one of the vertical poles between its top end and its bottom end. One or more detent elements include a round or spherical detent surface that engages an opening of the one or more vertical poles.