Flexible Sunshade Support-Line Layout for Wind Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sunshades are prone to violent movement and noise in moderate winds due to their large size and lack of stability, causing stress on attachment points and generating annoyance.

Innovation Solution

A sunshade design featuring a flexible panel with fastening means and groups of attachment elements that accommodate support lines, allowing for stabilization through tightening, reducing wind-induced movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a sunshade with large area (4-20 square meters) is used to provide adequate shading coverage, then the shading effectiveness is improved, but the sunshade becomes prone to violent movement in wind and generates noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshading coverage areaVSAvoidwind stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The sunshade is divided into multiple panels that can be independently suspended and stabilized. Each panel can be secured separately with support lines, allowing the large overall structure to maintain stability through distributed anchoring points rather than relying on a single rigid structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sunshade system incorporates flexible elements and adjustable support lines that allow the structure to adapt to wind conditions. The panels can move slightly and the support lines can be tensioned or relaxed to balance shading coverage with wind stability dynamically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If a simple sunshade design with minimal components is used to reduce complexity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but stability against wind movement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidsuspension stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support lines serve multiple functions: they suspend the sunshade panels, provide stabilization against wind, and allow for adjustable tensioning. This multi-functional element adds stability without requiring separate complex stabilization mechanisms for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Attachment elements with canals act as intermediaries between the sunshade panels and support lines. These elements simplify the connection process while providing stable anchoring points, reducing overall system complexity by standardizing the interface between components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If traditional fastening methods are used to simplify attachment, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of attachment under wind load deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment easeVSAvoidattachment reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment elements with canals convert the potential harm of complex attachment procedures into benefit by providing pre-formed, easy-to-use anchoring points. The canals guide the support lines into proper positions, making the attachment process simpler while ensuring reliable securing under wind loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP4671466A1A sunshade
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 FOGSTRUP POLSTRING APS
  • EP4671466A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4671466A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4671466A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sunshade 100 is disclosed. The sunshade comprises a flexible panel 2 having a first surface 4 and an opposite second surface 6 in combination with one or more support lines 8,8a,8b,8c.The flexible panel 2 is having a periphery 10 comprising a plurality of fastening means 12 for fastening of the flexible panel to a structure, and the flexible panel 2 at a surface thereof comprises one or more groups 14 of attachment elements 16, wherein each attachment element is defining a through-going canal 18 configured to accommodate one or more of said support lines8,8a,8b,8c. The support lines 8 are accommodated in respective through-going channels 18 of the attachment elements. The sunshade can be stabilized by these support lines, when being suspended, thereby being less prone to flicking movement e.g. caused by wind gusts.