Ballasted Support Base With Gravity-Fed Weight Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bases for stabilizing objects like parasols and Christmas trees lack flexibility and ease of transportation, as they require direct insertion of ballast weights and do not efficiently distribute weight for stability.
Innovation Solution
A base design with a radially arranged receiving position for ballast weights, featuring a transport surface inclined at an angle to facilitate gravity-assisted movement and a holding device with adaptable inserts for various objects, allowing easy loading and positioning of ballast weights for enhanced stability and transportability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ballast weights are directly inserted into the base, then the base achieves stability, but the ease of operation and transportation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feed area that allows ballast weights to be preliminarily placed before being transported to the receiving position. This preliminary action enables easy loading of ballast weights into the base without requiring direct insertion into the final position, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a transport surface as an intermediary mechanism between the feed area and the receiving position. This transport surface facilitates the movement of ballast weights from the loading area to the stabilizing position, resolving the contradiction between easy loading and stable positioning.
2Strength
If ballast weights are positioned radially outward, then the tilting moment and stability are increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a gravity-based transport system where the inclined transport surface allows ballast weights to move automatically from the feed area to the receiving position without additional mechanical complexity. The radial outward positioning of the receiving area maximizes the tilting moment while the gravity-assisted transport minimizes the complexity of ballast weight positioning mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the base is designed for high stability with fixed ballast weight positioning, then the reliability is improved, but the adaptability to various objects is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the base with a universal receiving area that can accommodate different types and numbers of ballast weights. The feed area and transport surface provide a standardized interface for loading various ballast configurations, allowing the same base structure to adapt to different stability requirements and various objects while maintaining reliable ballast weight positioning.
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 base provides high tilting stability and ease of transportation by allowing ballast weights to be easily introduced and positioned, ensuring the base remains stable while being lightweight, and can be adapted for different objects.
Implementation Method 1
the transport surface is inclined overall at an angle of between 5° and 30°, preferably between 10° and 22°, in particular between 12° and 18°, relative to a standing side. With suitable ballast weights, such an inclination enables at least a gravity-assisted, preferably gravity-based, movement of the ballast weight.
Data Source
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AI summary
Proposed is a base (10) with a holding device (12) for holding an object (250) to be set up, with a receiving area (20) for receiving a removable ballast weight (60) in a receiving position (24), the receiving position (24) being radial is arranged on the outside and a raised area (28) is arranged radially on the inside from the receiving position (24), in the circumferential direction at least in sections, the base (10, 10b) having a ballast weight (60) for weighing down the base (10, 10b). , wherein the ballast weight (60) comprises a multiplicity of ballast elements (64) which are or can be flexibly connected to one another, preferably a multiplicity of essentially spherical, cylindrical or barrel-shaped individual weights or ballast elements (64) which are flexibly connected to one another, and the ballast weight (60) is arranged in the receiving position (24).