Velomobile Canopy Hinge System With Adjustable-Radius Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing velomobiles face challenges in correctly closing their canopies due to bending effects caused by a user's weight, leading to misalignment and potential damage, especially when subjected to windy conditions or lateral parking, without increasing vehicle weight or compromising usability.

Innovation Solution

A hinge system with parallel hinges featuring adjustable radii between the canopy and the axis of rotation, utilizing telescoping mechanisms and flexible arms, allows for precise alignment and robust maneuvering of the canopy, even when the vehicle is bent, without adding significant weight or complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the velomobile body is stiffened to minimize bending effects, then the canopy can close correctly, but the vehicle weight increases substantially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecanopy closing reliabilityVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge system incorporates adjustable radius mechanisms that allow the hinge geometry to adapt dynamically to the bent state of the velomobile body. This enables the canopy to close correctly on a flexible, lightweight body without requiring the body to be stiffened, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the hinge system, specifically the radius of the hinge connection, to compensate for the bending of the velomobile body. By adjusting these parameters, the system accommodates body flexure and ensures proper canopy closure without increasing structural stiffness or weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If bigger components and thicker parts are used in the velomobile body, then bending effects are reduced, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebody stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of creating a statically stable, heavy body structure, the invention introduces a dynamic adjustment mechanism in the hinge system that adapts to the body's natural flexible state, eliminating the need for oversized components and complex manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the velomobile body is made lightweight with minimal material, then ease of riding is improved, but the canopy cannot close correctly due to bending

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of ridingVSAvoidcanopy closing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge system's adjustable radius mechanism allows it to adapt to the lightweight, flexible body structure, maintaining reliable canopy closure while preserving the ease of riding associated with minimal material usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By adjusting the hinge radius parameter, the system compensates for body bending in lightweight velomobiles, ensuring proper canopy closure without compromising the lightweight design and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If the canopy is designed to force a closed position, then alignment is improved, but the velomobile body bending is not compensated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecanopy alignment precisionVSAvoidadaptability to body bending

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable radius mechanism transforms the static, fixed-geometry hinge into a dynamic system that can adapt its geometry to compensate for body bending, maintaining alignment precision while gaining adaptability to flexible body structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces adjustable geometric parameters in the hinge system that allow it to adapt to body bending while maintaining precise canopy alignment, combining manufacturing precision with adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4140866B1Hinge system for manoeuvring a canopy to and from a closed position on a velomobile, and a velomobile

Publication Date: 2025.10.22 PHAL AS

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Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a hinge system for manoeuvring a canopy to and from a closed position on a velomobile. The hinge system comprises at least two hinges operating in parallel, each hinge being for rotating the canopy relative to the velomobile about an axis of rotation. Also, a radius between the canopy and the axis of rotation of at least one of the hinges is adjustable for mitigating a misalignment between the canopy and the velomobile when closing the canopy. Moreover, the present invention also relates to a velomobile comprising a canopy and the hinge system.