Thermo-formed Tent Frame Joint Cover for Canopy Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional frame tent installations are time-consuming and labor-intensive, with the tent canopy being vulnerable to wear and tear, especially during assembly and disassembly, due to exposure to hardware and ground contact, which leads to abrasions and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional, self-restraining cover made of Kydex thermo-formed material that snaps onto tent frame joints, encapsulating hardware and wrapping around tubes to protect the canopy from abrasions and exposure, allowing for preassembly off-site and reducing on-site installation complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional frame tent installations are performed without protective covers, then the assembly process is simpler and faster, but the canopy suffers from wear and tear, abrasions, and damage due to exposure to hardware and ground contact
Solution Approach 1:
Protective covers are pre-installed on frame components before canopy assembly, creating a protective barrier in advance that prevents canopy damage during installation and use, eliminating the need for post-installation repairs or replacements
Solution Approach 2:
Protective covers act as intermediary elements between the canopy and harsh environmental factors (hardware edges, ground contact, UV exposure), isolating the canopy from direct contact with damaging elements while maintaining the structural integrity of the tent assembly
2Reliability
If protective covers are installed on all frame joints, then canopy protection is improved, but installation time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover system is divided into modular components that can be selectively installed on specific frame joints based on the canopy's vulnerability and environmental conditions, allowing for optimized protection without requiring complete coverage of all frame components
Solution Approach 2:
Protective covers are designed to be self-installing or self-adhering to frame components, reducing the need for additional fasteners, tools, or complex assembly procedures, thereby minimizing installation time while maintaining effective protection
3Adaptability or versatility
If the canopy is assembled on-site without preassembly, then adaptability to different locations is improved, but the canopy is more vulnerable to damage during assembly and the process is more labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy and frame components with protective covers are pre-assembled in a controlled environment before transport to the final location, allowing for quality control and damage prevention during assembly while maintaining the ability to quickly deploy to various locations as a pre-assembled unit
Solution Approach 2:
The protective covers are integrated into the frame structure itself, with covers nested within or attached to frame components, creating a compact and protected assembly that can be easily transported and deployed to different locations without compromising protection or adaptability
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
The cover reduces installation time, minimizes canopy wear, and extends the lifespan of both the canopy and hardware by preventing contact with harsh surfaces and contaminants, enabling more efficient tent deployments and longer-lasting tent structures.
Implementation Method 1
A three-dimensional, self-restraining cover made of Kydex thermo-formed material that snaps onto tent frame joints
Data Source
AI summary
The tent frame fitting cover is a durable, self-restraining structure serving to smooth the harsh upper surfaces of the tent frame joint and protect the fabric of the tent canopy. After snapping on, the cover holds itself in place by friction fit on the tent frame and encapsulates hardware, including pins and bails, and tubing. The cover includes a central body and a plurality of projections. The projections extend in various directions from the tent fitting, tracking with the tent frame member components. Many cover embodiments are provided to accommodate many tent junction variations. By heat pressing, the projections are initially formed into arms that wrap and secure the cover structure to the tent tubing. The thermo-formed material retains the initial shape in a flexible manner to allow pressing installation and prying removal of the cover from the tent. The cover increases tent installation efficiency and extends canopy life.