Bathroom Stool Plug-In Connection Using Elastic Tab Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bathroom stools require tools for assembly and disassembly, and the connection between the stool legs and seat board can be unstable, posing a risk of loosening over time.
Innovation Solution
A bathroom stool design featuring a plug-in connection structure between the seat board and support legs, utilizing elastically retractable protrusions that engage with engagement holes to ensure secure fastening, eliminating the need for tools during assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screws are used to connect stool legs to seat board, then connection stability is improved, but assembly complexity and tool requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional screw-based mechanical connection system with an elastic tab insertion system. The elastic tab with protrusion engages with the slot and engagement hole through elastic deformation, eliminating the need for screws and screwdrivers while maintaining connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic tab structure provides self-aligning and self-locking functionality. The protrusion automatically engages with the engagement hole when the support leg is inserted into the slot, and the elastic deformation of the tab ensures secure retention without requiring external tools or complex assembly procedures.
2Ease of operation
If elastic tabs are used for tool-free assembly, then ease of operation is improved, but connection stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement hole is designed with a rounded bottom surface that matches the curvature of the protrusion. This curved geometry ensures smooth insertion and secure engagement of the elastic tab protrusion with the slot, maintaining connection stability while enabling tool-free assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the elastic properties and dimensions of the tab structure. By carefully selecting the elastic modulus, thickness, and geometry of the tab, the design achieves both ease of insertion and reliable connection stability under normal usage conditions.
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 simplifies the assembly process, enhances the stability of the connection between the support legs and seat board, and reduces production costs and assembly complexity by eliminating the need for internal limit structures in the support legs.
Implementation Method 1
a first compression elastic tab is disposed inside the support leg, a first protrusion being securely arranged on a side of the first compression elastic tab, the first protrusion protruding, from the first through hole, out of the side wall of the support leg; wherein the first protrusion is configured to: during a process that the top end of the support leg is inserted into the first slot, tightly press the first compression elastic tab under pressing by an inner wall of the first slot and retract into the first through hole
Data Source
AI summary
A bathroom stool includes a seat board, and a plurality of support legs. A plurality of first slots are defined in a bottom edge of the seat board, and a top end of each of the plurality of support legs is inserted into one first slot; a first engagement hole is defined in a side wall of the first slot; and a first through hole is defined in a side wall of the top end of the support leg, and a first compression elastic tab is disposed inside the support leg, a first protrusion being securely arranged on a side of the first compression elastic tab, the first protrusion extending, from the first through hole, out of the side wall of the support leg.