Tent Joint Assembly with Retractable Slide Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional joint assemblies in foldable frames, such as tents, expose pins that penetrate through the cloth housing when folding, causing damage.

Innovation Solution

A joint assembly comprising a female joint, a male joint, a slide, and a resilient member, where the slide is slidably mounted between the joints and abuts a resilient member, allowing the protrusion to pass through a through hole to lock the joints, and retracting to allow rotation, preventing damage during folding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional joint assemblies with exposed pins are used, then the frame can be easily folded, but the exposed pins penetrate through the cloth housing causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding operationVSAvoiddamage to cloth housing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pin is nested within the joint assembly structure during folding. The joint assembly includes a housing with a pin receiving cavity that accommodates the pin when the frame is folded, preventing the pin from penetrating the cloth housing while maintaining the folding capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The joint assembly dynamically adjusts the pin position based on the frame state. When the frame is unfolded, the pin extends to lock the joints; when folded, the pin retracts into the housing to avoid damaging the cloth housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the pin is exposed for locking function, then the joints can be securely locked, but the exposed pin causes damage during folding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking functionVSAvoiddamage to components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The joint assembly preliminarily positions the pin in a safe retracted state before folding occurs. The resilient member keeps the pin engaged with the locking surface, and during folding, the pin is guided to retract into the housing before contact with the cloth housing, preventing damage in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the slide is extended for locking, then the joints are held from rotating, but the extended slide may cause damage during folding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint stabilityVSAvoiddamage to components

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The slide dynamically changes position based on frame configuration. The resilient member enables the slide to extend into the locking position when the frame is unfolded for stability, and retract into the housing when the frame is folded to prevent damage to the cloth housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 joint assembly prevents damage to other components by fully retracting the slide during folding, ensuring the joints can rotate freely and easily lock/unlock, enhancing usability and safety.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient member (40) mounted between a proximal end of the slide (30) and the sidewall of the male joint (20)... When the frame is folded, the slide (30) is pushed to retract completely between the female and male joints (10, 20)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2312092B1Joint assembly for a frame of a tent

Publication Date: 2013.12.11 SPORTSMAN

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AI summary

A joint assembly is mounted between adjacent supports of a frame of a tent and has a female joint (10), a male joint (20) and a slide (30). The male joint (20) covers on the female joint (10). The slide (30) is mounted slidably between the joints (10, 20) and abuts a resilient member (40). The female joint (10) has a partition (13) with at least one through hole (131) to allow a protrusion (33) of the slide (30) to selectively pass through. When the slide (30) moves to completely retract between the joints (10, 20), the protrusion (33) leaves the through hole (131) to allow the joints (10, 20) to rotate relative to each other. Therefore, when the frame is folded, the slide (30) is completely retracted to avoid damage other components.