Barrier Support Foot with Magnetic and Mechanical Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing queue management system barrier supports are prone to misalignment and easy displacement due to strong magnetic attraction, leading to an untidy queuing system, as the magnets can become dislodged from the post when removed and alignment is difficult due to the magnetic force.
Innovation Solution
A barrier support design featuring a cooperatively shaped foot and floor plate with a single circular aperture and a centrally located cylindrical protruding part, utilizing magnets for secure magnetic attachment, where the foot is made of injection moulded plastic with screws or bolts for magnet retention, ensuring accurate and secure positioning without the need for precise rotational alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnets are used to hold the post on the floor plate, then the post is held securely in position, but the magnets can become dislodged from the post when removed and alignment is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The foot is divided into two functional parts: a lower portion containing magnets for magnetic attachment to the floor plate, and an upper portion that receives the upright post. This segmentation allows the magnetic function to be separated from the structural support function, enabling the post to be easily aligned during installation while maintaining secure positioning during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic attachment mechanism is extracted as a separate functional component within the foot structure. The magnets are embedded in the lower portion of the foot, allowing them to be engaged with the floor plate independently of the post attachment mechanism. This enables alignment to be achieved before magnetic engagement locks the position.
2Reliability
If strong magnetic attraction is used to hold the post, then the post is securely fixed, but the post can be easily pushed or knocked out of position
Solution Approach 1:
Two different fixation mechanisms are merged into a single integrated foot structure: magnetic attraction for secure attachment to the floor plate, and mechanical interlocking (recess and protrusion) for resistance to lateral displacement. The combination of these mechanisms provides both strong fixation and displacement resistance that neither mechanism could achieve alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot is constructed as a composite structure combining magnetic elements (lower portion) with mechanical engagement features (upper portion with recess and protrusion). This composite design allows the foot to exhibit both magnetic attraction properties for secure fixing and mechanical interlocking properties for displacement resistance.
3Device complexity
If the foot and floor plate have the same diameter, then the design is simple, but precise alignment is difficult due to magnetic attraction
Solution Approach 1:
The foot is designed with asymmetric internal structure despite having a circular external shape matching the floor plate. The lower portion contains magnets for magnetic attachment, while the upper portion contains a recess with a protrusion that provides mechanical alignment guidance. This asymmetric internal arrangement enables precise alignment while maintaining the simple circular external design.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess and protrusion feature acts as an intermediary alignment mechanism between the foot and floor plate. During installation, the protrusion guides the foot into correct alignment with the floor plate aperture before the magnetic attraction fully engages, overcoming the difficulty of alignment caused by strong magnetic forces.
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 solution allows for precise and secure positioning of the post on the floor plate, preventing misalignment and displacement, maintaining a tidy queuing system by ensuring the post is accurately located and held in place magnetically, enhancing user experience and system orderliness.
Implementation Method 1
one or more magnets are located in the foot and/or the floor plate such that the post can be magnetically secured to the floor plate
Data Source
AI summary
A barrier support for a queue management system that includes a post having an upright portion adapted to support at least one barrier device and having at its bottom end a foot and a floor plate. A lower portion of the foot and an upper portion of the floor plate are cooperatively shaped such that the lower portion of the foot can securely fit into and/or over the upper portion of the floor plate and thereby locate the post and one or more magnets are located in the foot and/or the floor plate such that the post can be magnetically secured to the floor plate. The barrier support allows a post to be properly positioned on a floor plate without danger of misalignment and then be held in that position magnetically. The floor plate is circular and has a single centrally located circular aperture faulted therein and the foot is circular and has a single centrally located cylindrical portion that is sized to securely locate in the aperture.