Tiltable Umbrella Guide Track Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing design of patio umbrellas with tilting mechanisms faces challenges in forming tight clearances and smooth internal surfaces, leading to cord damage and difficulty in re-threading, which increases manufacturing time and scrap components.
Innovation Solution
A tilt device with a guide track assembly comprising separate guide track members that form an enclosed guide track, allowing for smooth movement of the driver and cord, and a cord guide member with an elongate concave surface to facilitate cord movement, reducing wear and friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If inner core molding is used to form tilting components, then the manufacturing process is efficient, but tight clearances and smooth internal surfaces cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The guide track assembly is divided into separate first and second guide track members that can be manufactured independently and then assembled together. This segmentation allows each member to be precisely manufactured with smooth surfaces and tight clearances using conventional methods, while maintaining overall manufacturing efficiency through modular assembly rather than requiring complex inner core molding for the entire assembly.
2Manufacturing precision
If stripping and burr trimming processes are applied after molding, then surface quality improves, but manufacturing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The guide track members are designed with built-in features during the molding process that prevent burr formation and ensure smooth surfaces from the start. By incorporating prevention measures into the design phase rather than relying on post-processing trimming operations, the patent achieves high surface quality without the time-consuming stripping and burr trimming steps that would otherwise be required.
3Loss of time
If incomplete stripping and burr trimming processes are used, then manufacturing time is reduced, but cords can be damaged or cut
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the guide track into separate members with accessible pathways, the design allows complete removal of burrs and irregularities from critical cord contact areas during manufacturing. This segmentation enables thorough post-processing of specific regions without time penalties, ensuring cord integrity while maintaining efficient production through modular assembly.
4Ease of repair
If separate guide track members are used to form enclosed guide track, then access for cords and control devices is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide track assembly is segmented into separate first and second guide track members that can be easily accessed, removed, and serviced independently. This segmentation provides excellent access for cords and control devices during maintenance while the modular nature actually reduces overall complexity compared to a monolithic molded structure, as each component can be replaced without removing the entire assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A tilt device for an umbrella is a guide track assembly disposed in one of a first tilt member and a second tilt member. The guide track assembly has a first guide track member and a second guide track member. An enclosed guide track is within the guide track assembly. The guide track assembly is slideably received within the first tilt member. A driver that has an upper portion disposed in the second tilt member and a lower portion. The lower portion is disposed in the enclosed guide track. The enclosed guide track is configured to guide movement of the lower portion of the driver within the first tilt member. Movement of the driver causes the second tilt member to tilt relative to the first tilt member. The guide track assembly includes an open channel forming a part of a cord channel through the tilt device.