Blow-molded table
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional folding tables lack a secure mechanism to maintain the table top in an expanded-use position while allowing easy conversion to a collapsed-storage position, often resulting in instability and difficulty in use.
Innovation Solution
A folding table design featuring a table top elevator with table-locker legs and support legs that pivot and slide between locked and unlocked positions, using leg-slider guides to control motion and maintain the table top in the expanded-use position, and a hinge unit allowing rotation between panels for easy folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional folding tables use simple leg mechanisms, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability and reliability of the table top in expanded-use position deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The leg mechanisms are designed to be dynamic, transitioning between stowed and support positions, and between locked and unlocked states. The table-locker legs pivot and slide to engage with support legs, providing stability only when needed in the expanded configuration, while remaining simple and compact during folding.
Solution Approach 2:
The table-locker legs act as intermediary elements between the table top and support legs. They pivot from under the table top and slide to engage with support legs, mediating the connection and providing the necessary locking mechanism for stability without requiring complex direct attachment systems.
2Stability of the object's composition
If table-locker legs are positioned to extend under both panels, then the table top stability is improved, but the ease of operation for folding deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The table-locker legs are designed with pivot joints that allow them to dynamically change position. They can pivot from an extended position under both panels (providing stability) to a retracted position (facilitating folding). This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by making the stabilizing structure adaptable to different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg mechanism is segmented into multiple movable components (table-locker legs and support legs) that can independently pivot and slide. This segmentation allows the stability function to be activated only when needed, while individual segments can be easily moved for folding operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If leg-slider guides are used to control leg motion, then the manufacturing precision of leg positioning is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leg-slider guides act as intermediary elements that simplify the control of leg motion. Rather than requiring complex control systems, the guides provide passive mechanical constraints that naturally guide the table-locker and support legs into precise positions during pivoting and sliding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg-slider guides are designed to automatically guide the legs into correct positions through their geometric constraints. The mechanism is self-guiding, requiring no external control systems or active components, thus providing precision positioning while maintaining relative simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A folding table includes a table top and a table top elevator. A hinge unit is coupled between panels of the table top to allow the folding table to be folded.