Adjustable post assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture, particularly tables, often lack the ability to adjust height easily, leading to increased costs and storage needs for facilities that require multiple table heights for different functions, and existing adjustable tables may require significant manual effort or be costly due to electrical components.
Innovation Solution
An extendable support system comprising a support structure with an inner and outer post, guided by rollers to allow longitudinal movement, and an actuator requiring multiple movements to adjust the height, providing smooth and controlled height adjustment without the need for electricity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-height furniture is used, then manufacturing and purchase costs are reduced, but adaptability to different functions and elevations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The post is divided into an inner post and an outer post that can move independently relative to each other. The inner post is surrounded by the outer post, creating a telescopic structure that allows height adjustment while maintaining a relatively simple overall form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner post is nested within the outer post, with the inner post having a smaller diameter and being surrounded by the outer post. This nesting arrangement allows one post to move within the other, enabling height adjustment without significantly increasing the footprint or visual complexity of the furniture leg.
2Ease of operation
If electrical motors are used for height adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism automatically provides the force needed for height adjustment. When the user applies minimal force to move the inner post, the spring expands or contracts to assist the movement, and when the user releases the post, the spring automatically returns it to its original position without requiring electrical power or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a spring-based pneumatic/mechanical system instead of electrical motors. The spring expands and contracts to provide the necessary force for height adjustment, eliminating the need for electrical components, power sources, and associated control systems while maintaining ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If manual effort is required for height adjustment, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism automatically provides the force needed for height adjustment. When the user applies minimal force to move the inner post, the spring expands or contracts to assist the movement, and when the user releases the post, the spring automatically returns it to its original position without requiring electrical power or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a spring-based pneumatic/mechanical system instead of electrical motors. The spring expands and contracts to provide the necessary force for height adjustment, eliminating the need for electrical components, power sources, and associated control systems while maintaining ease of operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple furniture pieces are used for different heights, then adaptability is improved, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single table with the telescopic post mechanism can serve multiple functions by adjusting its height to different levels. This eliminates the need for multiple separate tables of different heights, reducing storage space requirements while maintaining the ability to accommodate various uses such as dining, working, or socializing.
Data Source
AI summary
An extendable support system for supporting an object on a surface, the support system comprising a support structure comprising an inner post and an outer post arranged such that the relative longitudinal position of the inner post and the outer post effects a change in an overall length of the support structure to vary the height of the object above the surface; a guide assembly comprising one or more guides positioned between the inner post and the outer post, the guides being configured to maintain the lateral position of the inner post and the outer post with respect to one another while allowing longitudinal movement of the inner post and outer post with respect to one another along the length of the support structure.