Portable Umbrella Stand With Expandable Base and Threaded Anchors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing umbrella stands are limited in their ability to provide stability on both soft soil and hard surfaces, and they often sacrifice portability and lightweight design for increased stability.
Innovation Solution
A portable umbrella stand with a base featuring adjustable extensions and threaded anchors, combined with a stanchion and telescoping member, allows for secure anchoring on various surfaces while maintaining portability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If umbrella stands use larger and heavier materials to increase stability, then stability is improved, but portability and lightweight design are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The umbrella stand is divided into distinct functional segments: a lightweight base structure, removable threaded anchors for ground engagement, and adjustable extensions. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the base remains lightweight for portability while anchors provide stability when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The stand incorporates dynamic elements including adjustable extensions that can be extended or retracted, and threaded anchors that can be screwed in or removed. These dynamic features allow the stand to adapt its stability characteristics based on usage conditions while maintaining a lightweight base structure for portability.
2Reliability
If umbrella stands are designed for soft soil conditions, then anchoring capability is improved, but adaptability to hard surfaces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stand employs threaded anchors that can engage with both soft soil and hard surfaces such as concrete or wood. The same anchor mechanism provides reliable anchoring across diverse surface types, eliminating the need for different stand designs for different environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded anchors can be adjusted in depth and angle of insertion, allowing the user to modify the anchoring parameters based on the specific surface conditions. This parameter adjustment capability enables effective anchoring whether the surface is soft soil or hard concrete.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed extension design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different umbrella sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The extensions are designed to be adjustable rather than fixed, allowing users to modify the stand's dimensions to accommodate different umbrella sizes. This dynamic adjustment capability is achieved through simple mechanical means that maintain manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving versatility.
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 stand provides enhanced stability on different surfaces without compromising its lightweight and portable nature, ensuring secure anchoring for umbrellas.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the threaded anchors of the plurality of threaded anchors comprises external threading configured to cooperate with a plurality of apertures within the base so that rotating a respective threaded anchor in a first direction causes the respective threaded anchor to move downward relative to the base
Implementation Method 2
The pair of opposing jaws may spring-loaded and biased in an open position
Data Source
AI summary
A portable umbrella stand includes a base having a plurality of slots, a plurality of extensions slidingly engaged with the plurality of slots and configured to be deployed outwards beyond a perimeter of the base, and a plurality of threaded anchors removably coupled to the base. The stand also includes a stanchion where a lower end is coupled to the base and an upper end extends away from the base. In addition, the stand includes a telescoping member having a lower end removably coupled to the upper end of the stanchion. An adjustable clamp is secured to the upper end of the telescoping member, where the adjustable clamp has a rotatable coupling configured to rotate relative to the telescoping member. The adjustable clamp comprises a bracket secured to the rotatable coupling and the bracket has a pair of opposing jaws extending therefrom that are configured to grasp an umbrella shaft.