Garden Swing Canopy Tilt Adjuster With Dual-Axis Lever Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Garden swing canopies are often heavy and difficult to adjust, especially when users are seated, as existing mechanisms may not allow for easy multi-directional tilt adjustments to align with changing sun positions.
Innovation Solution
A multi-directional canopy tilt adjustor system with a support member and dual adjustment mechanisms, allowing independent rotation around two perpendicular axes to adjust the canopy's tilt in multiple directions, enabling users to control the canopy's position with ease, even while seated, using lever mechanisms and positioning brackets for locking and releasing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the canopy is made heavy to provide adequate sun protection, then the sun protection effectiveness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users cannot easily adjust it while seated
Solution Approach 1:
A mechanical adjustment mechanism with lever and cam components acts as an intermediary between the user and the heavy canopy. The user applies small force to the lever, which through mechanical advantage and the cam's wedge shape, translates into large force to move the heavy canopy support arm, enabling easy adjustment while seated
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy support arm is designed with dynamic adjustment capability through the mechanical mechanism, allowing the canopy to be repositioned from fixed to movable state. The lever and cam system enables the heavy canopy to be dynamically adjusted to different angles and positions as needed
2Ease of operation
If a simple adjustment mechanism is used to improve ease of operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates as multi-directional adjustment is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into two independent rotation systems: a first rotation system with a support arm and second rotation system with an adjustment arm. Each system handles one degree of freedom, allowing simple individual mechanisms to combine into a versatile multi-directional adjustment system
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical adjustment mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides both first and second rotation capabilities, enables adjustment in multiple directions, and maintains ease of operation throughout. The same lever and cam components are used to achieve both rotational degrees of freedom
3Adaptability or versatility
If a multi-directional adjustment mechanism is implemented to improve adaptability, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases making the mechanism more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
Two rotation mechanisms are merged into a single integrated assembly where the support arm and adjustment arm share common mounting points and coordination. The lever and cam components are combined into one mechanism that controls both rotation systems, reducing overall complexity compared to two separate mechanisms
4Stability of the object's composition
If the canopy is made heavy to ensure stability, then the stability is improved, but the ease of operation worsens as users cannot easily manipulate it while seated in a moving swing
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical adjustment mechanism with lever and cam acts as an intermediary that decouples the user's small input force from the heavy canopy's weight. This allows the heavy canopy to remain stable when positioned while enabling easy manipulation through the mechanical advantage provided by the intermediary mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy system transitions from a static heavy structure to a dynamically adjustable system. The heavy canopy maintains stability in its positioned state while the mechanical mechanism enables dynamic repositioning when needed, accommodating the moving swing environment
Data Source
AI summary
A garden swing canopy adjustor comprising; a support member having a first end configured to be coupled to a garden swing canopy and a second end; a first adjustment mechanism fixedly coupled to the second end of the support member, the first adjustment mechanism is operable to rotate the support member around a first axis to adjust a tilt of the garden swing canopy in a first direction; and a second adjustment mechanism coupled to the first adjustment mechanism, the second adjustment mechanism is operable to rotate the support member around a second axis to adjust the tilt of the garden swing canopy in a second direction, and wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis and comprises a fixed orientation.