Adjustable bar, leg assembly and table having same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable tables are not height-adjustable and lack safety features, leading to accidental folding or collapsing due to unprotected control switches, posing safety risks, especially for children.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an adjustable bar system with a locking/unlocking mechanism featuring a tubular bar, inner bar, and one-way restriction structures, along with a pin and lever system, which allows for controlled height adjustment while preventing accidental folding through a secure locking mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a control switch is used for height adjustment, then the table becomes height-adjustable, but the control switch is not protected or locked, allowing accidental folding or collapsing
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is nested within a cavity that is accessible only when the cover is opened. The cover itself is pivotally coupled to the casing, creating a nested structure where the control mechanism is protected inside. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining height adjustability through the pin-cavity-restriction hole alignment mechanism while preventing accidental folding through the protective cover that must be intentionally opened.
2Ease of operation
If the control switch is exposed for easy access, then height adjustment is convenient, but children or users may press the switch by accident causing unexpected folding
Solution Approach 1:
The cover acts as an intermediary element between the user and the control pin. Users must first open the cover (intentional action) before accessing the pin for height adjustment. This intermediary step maintains ease of operation for legitimate use while preventing accidental activation, as the cover provides a physical barrier that must be deliberately removed.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent accidental folding, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the pin for locking, the cavity for housing, the cover for protection, and the restriction holes for engagement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply, resolving the contradiction by providing comprehensive safety through multiple simple elements rather than one complex locking system.
4Reliability
If the pin is always inserted into restriction holes to prevent folding, then safety is improved, but the table cannot be adjusted to different heights
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between locked and unlocked states based on pin position. The pin can be selectively inserted into different restriction holes (providing stability at specific heights) or removed from the cavity (allowing height adjustment). This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by providing both structural stability when needed and adjustability when required.
Data Source
AI summary
A table includes a tabletop and a leg assembly to support the tabletop. The leg assembly includes first and second supports each movably connected with the table top. The leg assembly also includes an adjustable bar disposed substantially perpendicular to a height direction of the leg assembly. The adjustable bar has a first end connected with the first support and a second end connected with the second support such that changing a length of the adjustable bar changes a height of the leg assembly.