Adjustable table apparatus and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable table systems face challenges in safely transitioning between operative and collapsed positions, maintaining balance during adjustment and transport, and providing a sleek aesthetic while concealing mechanical components.
Innovation Solution
The adjustable table apparatus features movable fascia members and dual-bend swing arms that pivot to adjust the table legs, allowing the table to shift between horizontal and vertical orientations, ensuring balance and aesthetic appeal while facilitating easy transport and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the table uses fixed legs in a traditional configuration, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the table cannot be safely adjusted between operative and collapsed positions while maintaining balance
Solution Approach 1:
The leg mechanism is divided into separate functional segments: fixed legs provide stable support, while movable legs with swing arms provide adjustment capability. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without requiring the entire structure to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg mechanism transitions from a static fixed configuration to a dynamic system where movable legs can pivot about vertical axes and swing arms can rotate about horizontal axes. This dynamic capability enables safe adjustment between operative and collapsed positions while maintaining balance throughout the transition.
2Reliability
If the table employs movable legs with swing arms, then the table can maintain balance during adjustment and transport, but the mechanical components become visible and the aesthetic appearance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The swing arms are extracted from the visible vertical profile of the legs and repositioned horizontally. By configuring swing arms to rotate about horizontal axes rather than vertical ones, the mechanism is removed from the aesthetic-critical vertical view while retaining its balance-maintaining function during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing arm mechanism is shifted from the vertical dimension (where it would be visible and affect aesthetics) to the horizontal dimension. This dimensional repositioning allows the mechanical components to perform their balance-maintaining function while remaining concealed from the primary aesthetic viewing angle.
3Ease of operation
If the table uses a single user adjustment mechanism, then the ease of operation is improved, but the control and safety during complex position transitions may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The movable legs are pre-configured with pivot axes and swing arm orientations that automatically guide the transition path. This preliminary geometric configuration ensures that a single user can initiate the adjustment, and the pre-designed mechanical paths will automatically maintain control and balance throughout the complex position transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg mechanism is designed to self-regulate during adjustment through its geometric configuration. The pivot axes and swing arm orientations create inherent mechanical guidance that maintains balance and control automatically, requiring minimal user intervention while ensuring reliable operation throughout the transition.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable table apparatus and related method can include a table configured to adjust between an operative position and a collapsed position.