Umbrella Canopy Tensioning via Enclosed Rib Ends
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional umbrella designs pose safety hazards due to exposed rib ends, are prone to canopy detachment and frame inversion in strong winds, and inefficiently tension the canopy, leading to potential damage and wasted user effort.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a shaft with pivotally connected rib members, a sliding mechanism, and force-spreading means within pockets on the canopy periphery, which includes secondary struts and a load-spreading surface to efficiently tension the canopy and enhance structural stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional umbrella designs with exposed rib ends are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but safety hazards occur due to exposed rib ends at eye level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful exposed rib ends from the frame structure by incorporating them into enclosed channels within the canopy fabric. The rib ends are taken out of the dangerous exposed position and integrated into the canopy's internal structure, eliminating the safety hazard while maintaining frame simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib ends are nested within channels formed in the canopy fabric. The channel structure provides an enclosing space that houses the rib ends, effectively hiding them from view and contact while maintaining the overall simplicity of the umbrella design.
2Reliability
If conventional umbrella designs are used, then the structure is simple, but the canopy may become detached from the frame in strong wind conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the canopy attachment function with the rib structure itself. The rib ends serve dual purposes: supporting the canopy structure and providing attachment points through the channel system. This integration strengthens the canopy-frame connection without adding separate attachment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel structure is pre-formed in the canopy fabric during manufacturing, creating built-in attachment pathways before the umbrella is assembled. This preliminary preparation ensures that the canopy is securely anchored to the frame from the outset, preventing detachment in strong winds.
3Reliability
If conventional umbrella designs with exposed rib ends are used, then the frame structure is simple, but the frame has a tendency to turn inside-out in strong winds resulting in irreparable damage
Solution Approach 1:
The channel structure acts as a protective cushioning element that prevents the rib ends from protruding outward during inversion. When strong winds attempt to turn the frame inside-out, the channels constrain the rib ends, absorbing and distributing the stress to prevent catastrophic failure and irreparable damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the rib end configuration by enclosing them in channels rather than leaving them symmetrically exposed. This asymmetric design creates structural resistance to inversion forces, as the enclosed rib ends cannot freely pivot or protrude during wind-induced stress.
4Ease of operation
If conventional umbrella designs are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the canopy material is not optimally tensioned due to inefficient force conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the rib structure by enclosing the rib ends in channels at specific angles and positions. This parameter modification optimizes the force transmission path from the ribs to the canopy, improving the efficiency of force conversion and canopy tensioning without fundamentally altering the frame structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An umbrella (1) in which the canopy is supported, tensioned and retained on a frame without any external points. The ends of conventional ribs (6,7) are provided with force spreading components (8) which are located within pockets (9) at the periphery of the umbrella canopy (3). As the umbrella is erected, the force spreading components open to provide a surface which pushes outwardly against a bearing surface formed between a pocket and the canopy, which “spread” outwards. The spreading of the components (8) is initiated by the radially outward movement of slidable tubes (7) upon inner rods (6) attached at their inner ends to the shaft (2) of the umbrella. Inner rods (6) and outer tubes (7) together form the ribs or spokes of the umbrella which are supported and raised/lowered by primary struts (11) connected between the ribs and a primary shaft slider (12). Outward sliding movement of the outer tubes (7) over the inner rods (6) is assisted by secondary struts (13) which connect a secondary shaft slider (14) (positioned between the primary shaft slider (12) and the canopy end of the shaft) and a respective primary strut (11).