Claims:WE CLAIM
1. A retractable panel assembly (100) characterized by having:
- at least one operative upper layer (102) having at least one panel (104);
- at least one operative lower layer (106) comprising at least one auxetic structure (108), the at least one operative lower layer (106) being operatively coupled with the operative upper layer (102); and
- a mechanism for pulling an operative end of the at least one operative lower layer (106), wherein
in a deployment mode the mechanism when actuated pulls the operative lower layer (106) thereby deploying the at least one operative upper layer (102) having the at least one panel (104); and
in a retracting mode the mechanism when released facilitates retracting of the at least one operative upper layer (102) having the at least one panel (104).
2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a base layer (112) which being configured to displaceably hold and support the at least one operative upper layer (102), and the at least one operative lower layer (106).
3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the auxetic structure (108) and the at least one panel (104) are one and the same layer comprising foldable flexible at least one panel (104) which being disposed on the base layer (112) comprising a base (112a), and a slidable structure (112b) to which the auxetic structure (108) is operably coupled with, wherein when the slidable structure (112b) is pulled, the foldable flexible at least one panel (104) is deployed, and when the slidable structure (112b) is retracted, the foldable flexible at least one panel (104) is retracted.
4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the auxetic structure (108) comprising at least one unit having:
- a central longitudinal member (108L) having a first end (108e1) and a second end (108e2);
- at least one longitudinal member (108L1) one each disposed on either side of the central longitudinal member (108L) in a spaced apart configuration from the central longitudinal member (108L);
- at least one horizontal member (108H) disposed and coupled between the central longitudinal member (108L) and the at least one longitudinal member (108L1) forming a net structure;
wherein each of the central longitudinal member (108L), the at least one longitudinal member (108L1), and the at least one horizontal member (108H) being made of an auxetic material.
5. The assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one panel (104) being made of four foldable flexible sheets (104a) being foldably coupled with other two of the four foldable flexible sheets (104a), wherein when the central longitudinal member (108L1) is pulled, the at least one panel (104) is deployed, and when the central longitudinal member (108L1) is pushed, the at least one panel (104) is retracted.
6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 having:
- two panels (104); and
- two auxetic structures (108);
wherein one of the two panels (104) is operatively disposed between the two auxetic structures (108), and the other of the two panels (104) is disposed operatively above the two auxetic structures (108);
wherein when the two auxetic structures (108) are actuated the one of the two panels (104) is deployed, followed by deployment of the other of the two panels (104), such that the upper of the two panels (104) having spaces configured therebetween, which facilitate exposure of the lower of the two panels (104).
7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one panel (104) is a photovoltaic panel.
8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one panel (104) is a glass panel.
9. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanism having a connector a pneumatically actuated piston operably disposed within a piston cylinder, the piston being connected to a rod, the rod being connected to the auxetic structure (108) via the connector the piston cylinder being configured to receive a fluid under pressure for operations thereof.
Dated this 14 August 2021
For the applicants

Shaikh Saad Jawed
The Applicants’ Patent Agent
IN/PA - 3775
To,
The Controller of Patents,
The Patent Office, At Mumbai

, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to panels which can be deployed and retracted. More specifically, the present invention relates to panels which can be retracted and/or deployed in a simple and effective manner employing auxetic structures. The panels can be chosen from the group consisting of metal sheets, glass sheets, polycarbonate sheets, solar panels, and combinations thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Energy forms the most important resource of the current times. Energy can be said to be the currency of the present and future. Energy is obtained from renewable and non-renewable resources. While non-renewable resources are being consumed at very high rate and would be depleted in the near future, there is an urgent need to develop alternative sources of energy.
One such alternative source of energy is solar energy. Solar cell or photovoltaic cells or panels are generally employed to capture the solar energy and convert the same to electricity.
In relation to the solar panels, at times there is a need for disposing the solar panels in such a manner that the solar panels are deployed at one point of time and are retracted at other point of time. For example, in a solar powered two-wheeler vehicle, when the vehicle is not operational, it is required to have the solar panels deployed so as to capture maximum solar energy, and when the vehicle is operational, it is required to have the solar panels retracted to facilitate easy movement and operational ease of the vehicle occupant.
It has been observed that the conventionally known mechanisms for deploying the solar panels or panels of other types are plagued with certain drawbacks.
One drawback of the conventionally known mechanisms is that they are bulky and heavy and hence difficult to operate, manufacture, and deploy.
Another drawback of the conventional mechanisms is that they are costly, and inefficient in deploying the panels.
Thus, there exists an urgent need for providing an alternative, which replaces the conventional mechanisms for deploying the panels and overcome one or more drawbacks associated therewith.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Some of the objects of the presently disclosed invention, of which at the minimum one object is fulfilled by at least one embodiment disclosed herein are as follow:
An object of the present invention is to provide an alternative, which overcomes at least one drawback encountered in the existing prior art;
Another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly to retract and deploy panels;
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly to retract and deploy panels which are relatively less bulky and heavy and hence easy to operate, manufacture, and deploy; and
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly to retract and deploy is relatively cost effective and efficient in deploying the panels.
Other objects and benefits of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description which is not intended to bind the scope of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to panels which can be retracted and/or deployed in a simple and effective manner employing auxetic structures. The panels can be chosen from the group consisting of metal sheets, glass sheets, polycarbonate sheets, solar panels, and combinations thereof.
The retractable panel assembly comprises at least one operative upper layer having at least one panel, at least one operative lower layer comprising at least one auxetic structure, the at least one operative lower layer being operatively coupled with the operative upper layer, and a mechanism for pulling an operative end of the at least one operative lower layer, wherein in a deployment mode the mechanism when actuated pulls the operative lower layer thereby deploying the at least one operative upper layer having the at least one panel, and in a retracting mode the mechanism when released facilitates retracting of the at least one operative upper layer having the at least one panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a retractable panel assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of at least one operative lower layer comprising at least one auxetic structure of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 1 in retracted form;
FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic bottom view of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 1 in retracted form;
FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic side view of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic bottom view of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 1 in deployed form;
FIG. 6 illustrates a retracted form of the at least one panel of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 illustrates a deployed form of the at least one panel of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view of a retractable panel assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic side view of a retractable panel assembly of FIG. 8;
FIG.10 illustrates a schematic view of a retractable panel assembly in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic bottom view of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 10; and
FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic side view of a retractable panel assembly of FIG. 10.
LIST OF NUMERALS
100 – Retractable panel assembly
102 – Operative upper layer
104 – at least one panel
104a – Foldable flexible sheets
106 – Operative lower layer
108 – Auxetic structure
108e1 – First end
108e2 – Second end
108H – Horizontal member
108L – Central longitudinal member
108L1 – Longitudinal member
112 – Base layer
112a – Base
112b – Slidable structure
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
All the terms and expressions, which may be technical, scientific or otherwise, as used in the present invention have the same meaning as understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs, unless and otherwise explicitly specified.
In the present specification, and the claims, the articles “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The term “comprising” as used in the present specification and the claims will be understood to mean that the list following is non-exhaustive and may or may not include any other extra suitable features or elements or steps or constituents as applicable.
Further, the terms “about” or “approximately” used in combination with ranges relating to sizes of parts, or any other physical properties or characteristics, are meant to include small variations that may occur in the upper and/or lower limits of the ranges of the sizes.
The present invention relates to panels which can be retracted and/or deployed in a simple and effective manner employing auxetic structures. The panels can be chosen from the group consisting of metal sheets, glass sheets, polycarbonate sheets, solar panels, and combinations thereof.
The present invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a retractable panel assembly (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The retractable panel assembly (100) comprising at least one operative upper layer (102) having at least one panel (104), at least one operative lower layer (106) comprising at least one auxetic structure (108), the at least one operative lower layer (106) being operatively coupled with the operative upper layer (102), and a mechanism for pulling an operative end of the at least one operative lower layer (106), wherein in a deployment mode the mechanism when actuated pulls the operative lower layer (106) thereby deploying the at least one operative upper layer (102) having the at least one panel (104), and in a retracting mode the mechanism when released facilitates retracting of the at least one operative upper layer (102) having the at least one panel (104).
FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of at least one operative lower layer comprising at least one auxetic structure of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 1 in retracted form, FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic bottom view of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 1 in retracted form, wherein the auxetic structure (108) comprising at least one unit having a central longitudinal member (108L) having a first end (108e1) and a second end (108e2), at least one longitudinal member (108L1) one each disposed on either side of the central longitudinal member (108L) in a spaced apart configuration from the central longitudinal member (108L), at least one horizontal member (108H) disposed and coupled between the central longitudinal member (108L) and the at least one longitudinal member (108L1) forming a net structure, wherein each of the central longitudinal member (108L), the at least one longitudinal member (108L1), and the at least one horizontal member (108H) being made of an auxetic material.
FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic side view of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic bottom view of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 1 in deployed form.
FIG. 6 illustrates a retracted form of the at least one panel of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 illustrates a deployed form of the at least one panel of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 1, wherein the at least one panel (104) being made of four foldable flexible sheets (104a) being foldably coupled with other two of the four foldable flexible sheets (104a), wherein when the central longitudinal member (108L1) is pulled, the at least one panel (104) is deployed, and when the central longitudinal member (108L1) is pushed, the at least one panel (104) is retracted.
FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view of a retractable panel assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic side view of a retractable panel assembly of FIG. 8, wherein auxetic structure (108) and the at least one panel (104) are one and the same layer comprising foldable flexible at least one panel (104) which being disposed on the base layer (112) comprising a base (112a), and a slidable structure (112b) to which the auxetic structure (108) is operably coupled with, wherein when the slidable structure (112b) is pulled, the foldable flexible at least one panel (104) is deployed, and when the slidable structure (112b) is retracted, the foldable flexible at least one panel (104) is retracted.

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic view of a retractable panel assembly in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the assembly comprises two panels (104), and two auxetic structures (108). The assembly is so formed such that one of the two panels (104) is operatively disposed between the two auxetic structures (108), and the other of the two panels (104) is disposed operatively above the two auxetic structures (108), wherein when the two auxetic structures (108) are actuated the one of the two panels (104) is deployed, followed by deployment of the other of the two panels (104), such that the upper of the two panels (104) having spaces configured therebetween, which facilitate exposure of the lower of the two panels (104).
FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic bottom view of the retractable panel assembly of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic side view of a retractable panel assembly of FIG. 10.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one panel (104) is a photovoltaic panel.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one panel (104) is a glass panel.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the mechanism having a connector a pneumatically actuated piston operably disposed within a piston cylinder, the piston being connected to a rod, the rod being connected to the auxetic structure (108) via the connector the piston cylinder being configured to receive a fluid under pressure for operations thereof.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
The presently disclosed invention, as described herein above, provides several technical advances and advantages including, but not limited to, a retractable panel assembly, which:
- is easy to build, operate, and deploy;
- is relatively less bulky;
- is light in weight;
- is cost efficient; and
- is efficient in deployment.