Spring Assist Canopy Frame One-Handed Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable tents are complex in structure and require two hands to open and close, making them inconvenient for single-person use and storage.
Innovation Solution
A clamping and supporting structure featuring a tube piece, tube holder, handle, and locking sleeve with a spiral inclined surface, allowing the tent to be unfolded and folded with one hand using a spring-assisted mechanism for easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional snap-in device with expansion rod and clamping blocks is used, then the tent structure can be locked, but the structure becomes complicated and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex expansion rod and clamping block mechanism from the conventional snap-in device, retaining only the essential locking function through a simplified sleeve structure that interacts directly with the unfolding rod
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using an active clamping mechanism that requires multiple components to engage, the patent uses a passive locking approach where the sleeve simply needs to be inserted into the unfolding rod, and the locking occurs automatically through the interaction of the sleeve's inner wall with the unfolding rod's outer surface
2Ease of operation
If a conventional two-handed operation mechanism is used, then the tent can be opened and closed, but it requires two hands making it inconvenient for single-person use
Solution Approach 1:
The spring component automatically provides the force needed to push the sleeve along the unfolding rod during opening, and to return the sleeve to its initial position during closing, eliminating the need for manual manipulation of multiple components and enabling one-handed operation
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-loaded to store elastic potential energy that is automatically released during the opening and closing operations, providing the necessary mechanical assistance without requiring the user to manually compress or tension any components
3Reliability
If a complex snap-in device is used, then the tent can be supported, but it takes time to open and close affecting productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into independent functional components: the sleeve for locking, the spring for actuation, and the unfolding rod for structural support, allowing each component to perform its function efficiently and independently
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve is designed to move dynamically along the unfolding rod during operation, transitioning from an initial retracted position to an extended locked position, with the spring providing continuous dynamic assistance throughout the motion range
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 quick and efficient one-handed operation for unfolding and folding the tent, improving user convenience and reducing effort required for setup and storage.
Implementation Method 1
The tube piece is provided with a spring capable of assisting the tube piece to move opposite to the tube holder and handle in the vertical direction
Data Source
AI summary
A spring assist system for a canopy frame. The system including an extension spring, an upper center cap, and a lower center cap. One end of the extension spring is coupled to the upper center cap and the other end is coupled to the lower center cap. A force of the extension spring draws, in an axial direction, the lower center cap toward the upper center cap to decrease a length of the extension spring.