Umbrella Assembly with Auger and Deployable Legs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beach umbrellas are difficult to use, set up, and secure in the ground, and lack resistance to wind damage and uprooting.
Innovation Solution
A beach umbrella assembly featuring a central shaft with an auger and nonslideable collar/hub, coupled with legs that deploy upwardly and retract to a stowed position, and a flexible material with an opening for the shaft, providing stability and resistance to wind.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional beach umbrella anchors are used, then the umbrella can be set up in the ground, but it lacks resistance to wind damage and uprooting
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor system is segmented into multiple functional components: an auger for ground penetration, multiple legs for distribution of force, a collar/hub for structural connection, and flexible material for additional stabilization. Each segment performs a specific function that contributes to overall wind resistance without requiring a single complex anchor mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor system transitions from traditional single-point or simple stake anchoring to a multi-dimensional stabilization structure. The legs extend in multiple directions from the central shaft, creating a three-dimensional anchor pattern that distributes wind forces across multiple contact points with the ground, significantly improving resistance to uprooting.
2Reliability
If the umbrella structure is made more complex to improve stability, then wind resistance improves, but ease of use and setup deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The collar/hub is pre-configured with attached legs and the auger is pre-attached to the central shaft. This preliminary assembly means that during setup, the user simply needs to insert the central shaft into the ground with the auger, and the legs automatically deploy into their stabilizing positions without requiring separate assembly steps or complex manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor system is designed to self-deploy and self-stabilize. Once the central shaft with the pre-attached legs and auger is inserted into the ground, the legs automatically extend outward to their stabilizing positions, and the flexible material unfolds to provide additional grounding. The system performs its own stabilization function without requiring active user intervention beyond the initial insertion.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed collar/hub position is used to maintain stability during leg deployment, then structural integrity improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The collar and hub functions are merged into a single integrated component that is nonslideably coupled to the central shaft. This unified structure eliminates the need for separate collar and hub parts, reducing the number of precision alignment requirements between multiple components while maintaining the fixed position needed for structural integrity during leg deployment.
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 design enhances ease of use, stability, and resistance to wind damage, ensuring the umbrella remains securely planted in the ground.
Implementation Method 1
an auger extending from the second end of the central shaft
Implementation Method 2
a flexible material having an opening through which the central shaft extends
Data Source
AI summary
An umbrella assembly including a central shaft, the central shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a canopy coupled to the first end of the central shaft; an auger extending from the second end of the central shaft; a collar/hub nonslideably coupled to the central shaft and spaced from the auger; a plurality of legs, each of the plurality of legs having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of each of the plurality of legs is coupled to the collar/hub, the second end of each of the plurality of legs extends towards the auger, and the collar/hub remains in a fixed position with respect to the central shaft when the second end of each leg extends outwardly from the central shaft to a deployed position and returns towards the central shaft from its deployed position to a stowed position; and a flexible material having an opening through which the central shaft extends and wherein the second end of each leg is coupled to the flexible material.