Adjustable Bed Leg Assembly with Slotted Collar Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adjustable bed leg assemblies are prone to instability and damage due to stress from movement, especially when adjusted to higher heights, as existing designs often rely on simple tubular structures that become wobbly or unstable.
Innovation Solution
A leg assembly design featuring a tubular receiver with multiple holes, a threaded leg, a slotted collar, and a wedge with a tapered outer diameter, along with a push pin assembly, which stabilizes the leg assembly by expanding the slotted collar against the receiver's interior surface upon rotation, maintaining stability across various heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the height of the leg assembly is increased, then the adjustability and versatility of the bed is improved, but the stability of the bed deteriorates causing wobble
Solution Approach 1:
The leg assembly uses a dynamic stabilization mechanism where the slotted collar can expand and contract. During adjustment, the collar is compressed to allow height changes, then expands to lock the leg in place, providing stability at any selected height. This dynamic response allows the structure to adapt between adjustability and stability modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the slotted collar from a compressed state during adjustment to an expanded state during stabilization. By varying the expansion parameter of the collar, the system achieves both height adjustability and stability, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Device complexity
If a simple tubular leg structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of the leg assembly deteriorates under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The leg assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the receiver tube, slotted collar, wedge, and push pin assembly. Each component performs a specific function - the collar provides expansion capability, the wedge provides mechanical advantage for expansion, and the push pin secures the adjustment. This segmentation allows complexity to be distributed across components rather than requiring a single complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a nested structure where the slotted collar fits over the leg tube, the wedge fits inside the collar, and the push pin assembly fits within the wedge. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional elements to be integrated in a compact space, providing reliable stabilization without excessive overall complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the leg assembly is made rigid to prevent wobble, then the stability is improved, but the ease of operation for height adjustment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism uses periodic action through the threaded wedge. Rotating the wedge periodically engages the threads to incrementally expand the collar, locking the leg at the desired height. This periodic threading action provides easy, controlled adjustment while maintaining rigid stabilization once set, resolving the contradiction between adjustability and stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design allows for adjustable leg lengths without compromising stability, preventing wobble and damage by securely fixing the leg assembly at desired heights, ensuring the bed remains stable regardless of its position.
Implementation Method 1
causing the slotted collar to expand outwardly against an inside surface of the receiver to stabilize the leg assembly
Implementation Method 2
Upon rotation of the leg, the threaded member of the leg causes an upper edge of the leg to push the slotted collar upwardly
Implementation Method 3
The lower portion of the wedge has a tapered outer diameter... causing the slotted collar to expand outwardly against an inside surface of the receiver
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable leg assembly for use in a bedding product, such as an adjustable bed, may be stabilized by rotating the leg of the leg assembly. To change the length of the leg assembly, a leg must be rotated in the opposite direction to loosen a slotted collar located inside a receiver welded to a frame of the adjustable bed. A wedge is fixed inside the receiver with a push pin assembly above the slotted collar. A threaded member of the leg extends through the wedge. Rotation of the leg moves the leg slightly upwardly relative to the stationary wedge, causing an upper portion of the slotted collar to expand over a portion of the stationary wedge until the slotted collar contacts an inside surface of the receiver and stabilizes the leg assembly.