Sunshade Blade Constraint System for Compact Packing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sunshade systems with packable and adjustable blades suffer from bulkiness due to thick blade holders, resulting in significant light loss when packed, particularly with large-sized sunshades.
Innovation Solution
A constraint and articulation system for sunshade blades using zamak elements, brass eyelets, steel or plastic pegs, and thermoplastic components, which reduces the overall thickness and dimensions of packed blades by utilizing a C-shaped blade holder with a cylindrical sleeve, quadrangular plate, and snap-clip mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional blade holder systems are used, then the blades can be properly constrained and articulated, but the thickness of the blades increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The blade holder is divided into multiple separate components: a C-shaped support element, a pin element, and a blade element. These segmented parts assemble together to provide the necessary constraint and articulation functions while minimizing the overall thickness of the packed blade assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin element with its rectangular hole is nested within the C-shaped support structure. The blade holder components are designed to fit together in a nested arrangement where the pin fits into the C-shaped support, creating a compact assembly that reduces overall thickness while maintaining structural integrity.
2Reliability
If thicker blade holders are used to ensure proper articulation, then the articulation mechanism is more robust, but the light loss increases due to larger packed dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the articulation mechanism into discrete functional elements (C-shaped support, pin, blade), the design achieves robust articulation through precise geometric relationships rather than relying on increased thickness. This allows for a compact profile that minimizes light loss while maintaining mechanical reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation mechanism is designed to operate efficiently in the planar dimensions with minimal thickness requirement. The C-shaped support and pin arrangement creates a low-profile hinge mechanism that provides robust articulation without adding significant thickness in the dimension that affects light loss.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2
AI summary
Sunshade blade comprising a system of constraint and articulation of the lamellae and further comprising at least one lamella in which the constraint and articulation system substantially comprises a plurality of elements (2, 2') to form two hinges (4) at whose articulation nodes are articulated blade holders (14) which have a cross shape and are formed by a cylindrical sleeve (20) to which a substantially quadrangular plate (22) presenting a slot (24) is integral, a blade (28) being attached to said blade holder (14) formed by a central body (30) slightly curved which extends into two lateral fins (32) rolled up at the ends (34), characterized by the fact that said central body (30) presents a slot (36) whose dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the slot (24), the connection of the blade (28) to the blade holder (14) being obtained by means of a clip (40) with curved appendages (42) which engage as undercut in the slots (24, 26), and by the fact that the elements (2, 2'), the blade holder (14), the plate (22), the central body (30) and the clip (40) have a height of less than 7 mm.