Initial Sketches

Reflecting on my progress from the last update, I decided I wanted to focus on a simpler mechanism that put more emphasis on the movement of the fabric.

Starting out, I decided to try a prototype where turning a gear stretches a piece of fabric with the fabric’s tension pulling it back to a resting state. I also experimented with using rubber bands to supplement the pulling back force. Unfortunately the force from a single rubber band was too strong limiting the amount of rotation. I plan to explore wrapping the band around the smaller gear with the string or using a chain of rubber bands to test if those work better.

Turning the gear wraps four strings around the smaller gear, pulling the fabric from 4 directions at the same time.

The concept for this prototype would be a cover for an overhead light that switches it from a more ambient light to an overhead reading light.

However, because the felt I initially used was not very stretchy, I also explored concept where the felt was replaced with a pleated thinner fabric.

Second Direction

One thing I wanted to explore, however, was a larger scale of actuation. With the first idea, I felt the movement of the fabric was not that great. Keeping the same principle, but this time limiting it to 1 direction of force with two strings, I decided to explore a window blind-like concept where the fabric provides a privacy screen for people studying in the library.

In particular, I was interested in the booths on the second floor of the library along the windows. I felt that these alcoves which already implied a desire for solitude might attract people that would also like privacy screens.

Here is a prototype of how this would work.