Collapsible Bistro Table Leg Brackets for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional collapsible tables with longer legs than the table surface face challenges in storage, packaging, and transportation due to the legs extending awkwardly, requiring additional steps to secure them, which increases time and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible table design featuring pivotally connected legs and support bars that can be secured to the bottom surface using integrally formed brackets, allowing the legs to collapse perpendicular to the table surface, enabling easy transition between use and storage positions, with receiving channels for compact storage and preventing rotation of support bars.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the legs are made longer than the table surface dimensions, then the table provides adequate support and stability in use position, but the legs extend awkwardly and are difficult to secure in storage position
Solution Approach 1:
The support bars are designed to be movable between two positions: extended outward to support the legs in use position, and retracted into recesses in the tabletop in storage position. This dynamic adjustment allows the same structure to provide both adequate leg support and compact storage, resolving the contradiction between support stability and storage convenience.
2Productivity
If conventional folding table mechanisms are used, then the table can be collapsed, but additional steps are required to wrap rope or cord around table surfaces to secure the legs
Solution Approach 1:
The support bar securing function is merged with the tabletop structure through integrally formed brackets that are molded as part of the tabletop. These brackets receive and secure the support bars in both use and storage positions, eliminating the need for separate rope or cord wrapping mechanisms and reducing the number of steps required to collapse and secure the table.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrally formed brackets automatically secure the support bars through their built-in receiving structures, eliminating the need for external securing elements like ropes or cords. The structure serves its own securing function, reducing complexity and operation time.
3Volume of moving object
If the legs are pivotally connected to allow collapsing, then the table can be compacted, but the support bars may rotate or become unstable without proper securing
Solution Approach 1:
The brackets are designed with specific local features at critical locations: recesses that receive the support bars in storage position and protrusions that engage with the support bars in use position. These localized structural features provide stability exactly where needed, preventing rotation and ensuring proper positioning while allowing the overall structure to collapse compactly.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible table includes a tabletop, a first pair of collapsible legs, and a second pair of collapsible legs. The first pair of legs includes a first support bar for connecting a first leg to a second leg adjacent their top end portions, and the first support bar is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the tabletop. The second pair of legs includes a second support bar for connecting a third leg to a fourth leg and a third support bar spaced apart from the second support bar for connecting the third leg to the fourth leg. One or more brackets are disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the tabletop and are positioned and configured to removably secure the second support bar to the bottom surface of the tabletop in a use position and removably secure the third support bar to the bottom surface in a storage position.