Light Guide Bar Lighting for Umbrella Frameworks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sunshade umbrellas with LED lighting suffer from reduced strength due to drilling requirements, complex assembly, and difficult maintenance due to excessive wiring and numerous light-emitting diodes.

Innovation Solution

The use of light guide bars on frameworks with surface mount device (SMD) lamps for continuous refraction and reflection to create a light band, reducing complexity and enhancing maintenance by connecting multiple light guide bars in series and employing a novel light emitting device with clamping flanges and fixed bases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If LED lamp beads are mounted on frameworks by drilling bores, then lighting effect is achieved, but structural strength deteriorates and assembly becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting effectVSAvoidframework strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The framework is divided into modular components with pre-formed light-emitting segments. Each segment contains integrated LED lighting elements that can be independently assembled, eliminating the need for drilling bores through the entire framework structure and preserving structural integrity while achieving lighting functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting elements are merged with the framework structure into integrated light-emitting segments. The LED lamp beads, supporting structures, and framework components are combined into unified modular units that maintain structural strength while providing lighting functionality without requiring separate drilling and mounting operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Illumination intensity

If numerous LED lamp beads are used to achieve good lighting effect, then illumination is improved, but wiring circuits become excessive and mounting complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting effectVSAvoidwiring circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system is segmented into modular light-emitting units, each containing integrated wiring and LED components. This segmentation allows independent assembly and simplifies the overall wiring architecture by breaking down complex continuous wiring into manageable modular connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular light-emitting segments are designed as universal components that can be applied to different framework positions and configurations. Each module contains integrated wiring solutions that can be standardized across the entire umbrella structure, reducing overall wiring complexity while maintaining lighting effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Illumination intensity

If individual lamp beads are mounted separately in bores, then lighting coverage is achieved, but maintenance becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting coverageVSAvoidmaintenance convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system is segmented into modular light-emitting units that can be independently removed and replaced. This segmentation enables maintenance personnel to access and replace specific lighting modules without disassembling the entire framework, significantly improving maintenance convenience while maintaining comprehensive lighting coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light-emitting segments are pre-assembled with all necessary wiring, mounting components, and LED elements before installation. This preliminary assembly reduces on-site maintenance complexity by providing self-contained modular units that can be quickly swapped without requiring complex wiring work or specialized tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of manufacture

If drilling bores is performed on every framework component, then LED mounting is achieved, but production time and labor consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveLED mounting capabilityVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process is segmented into separate operations: framework assembly and light-emitting module assembly occur independently, then modules are integrated. This eliminates the need for drilling bores during framework assembly, allowing parallel production and significantly improving overall manufacturing productivity while maintaining LED mounting capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Light-emitting modules are pre-assembled and tested before integration with the framework. This preliminary preparation of modular components allows for streamlined final assembly without time-consuming drilling and mounting operations during main production, thereby increasing assembly speed and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This solution enhances the structural integrity and simplifies assembly and maintenance while providing effective and uniform lighting with reduced labor and time consumption.

Implementation Method 1

making surface mount device (SMD) lamps cling to the light guide bars, a light band is formed through continuous refraction and reflection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

making surface mount device (SMD) lamps cling to the light guide bars, a light band is formed through continuous refraction and reflection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3039985B1A lighting umbrella
Publication Date: 2018.07.18 LINHAI ZHONGTIAN ELECTRONICS APPLIANCE CO LTD
  • EP3039985B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3039985B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3039985B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A lighting umbrella, comprises a lower slot (2) and an upper slot (6) fixed on the top of a stick (3), one end of a long framework (4) being articulated with the upper slot (6) while the other end thereof supporting a cover, one end of a short framework (1) being articulated with the lower slot (2) while the other end thereof being articulated with the middle of the long framework (4), wherein a notch (101) having a light emitting device provided therein is formed in one or both of the long framework (4) and the short framework (1); the light emitting device comprises a light guide bar (14) clamped inside the notch (101) and provided with a light source on its end surface; and the light source is fixed on a fixed base (7) that is fixedly connected to the frameworks and sleeved with a stopper (8) for the purpose of protection.