Umbrella Rib Structure for Tangential Folding and Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional curved-rib umbrellas experience increased storage size and packaging costs due to the central shaft and runner blocking the ribs when closed, leading to bulkier packaging and higher shipping costs.
Innovation Solution
The ribs and stretchers are designed to collapse tangentially to one side of the central shaft and runner, avoiding interference with the central shaft and runner, allowing for a reduced umbrella size and minimized packaging material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If curved ribs are used to form a circular arc canopy, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the storage size increases due to interference with the central shaft and runner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the pivot points of the ribs and stretchers at different radial distances from the central shaft. The ribs are pivoted at a first radial distance while the stretchers are pivoted at a second radial distance that is greater than the first, creating an asymmetric configuration that allows the ribs to collapse tangentially without interfering with the central shaft and runner, thus maintaining the circular arc canopy shape while reducing storage size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimensional arrangement by transitioning from a conventional perpendicular configuration to a tangential configuration. The ribs and stretchers are arranged to collapse in a tangential direction relative to the central shaft rather than radially, utilizing the tangential dimension to achieve compact storage while preserving the aesthetic circular arc canopy shape when open
2Shape
If curved ribs are used to form a circular arc canopy, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the packaging material and shipping costs increase due to larger storage size
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric pivot point configuration allows the umbrella to achieve a compact collapsed form that requires less packaging material, while still maintaining the desired circular arc canopy shape when open. This resolves the contradiction between aesthetic shape and packaging material quantity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optimized geometric configuration that copies the essential aesthetic feature (circular arc canopy) while eliminating the problematic radial interference, achieving the same visual effect with reduced material requirements for packaging
3Device complexity
If ribs are positioned perpendicular to the central shaft, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the storage size increases due to interference with the central shaft and runner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a simple perpendicular radial arrangement to a tangential arrangement, utilizing the tangential dimension to allow the ribs and stretchers to collapse alongside the central shaft without interference, thereby reducing storage volume while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic positioning where the ribs and stretchers can change their angular orientation during opening and closing operations. The asymmetric pivot configuration allows the structure to dynamically adjust its position, collapsing tangentially for compact storage and expanding to form the circular arc canopy when needed
Data Source
AI summary
An umbrella has a central shaft, a crown, a runner, a plurality of ribs, and a plurality of stretchers. The crown is a polygon each side of which includes a pivot pin mounted in a perpendicular direction to pivotally connect the upper end of a respective one of the ribs to the crown. The runner is a polygon and has a pivot pin mounted to each side in perpendicular direction to pivotally connect the lower end of a respective one of the stretchers to the runner. When the umbrella is closed, each of the ribs and the stretchers is collapsed in a tangential angle to set at one side of the central shaft and the runner and is not interfered with by the central shaft and the runner.