Cam-Clip Dock Assembly With Adjustable Telescoping Support Legs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dock assemblies lack efficient mechanisms for inter-assembling individual dock sections and facilitating vertical adjustability between telescoping support legs, leading to instability and difficulty in adapting to varying water depths.
Innovation Solution
A locking mechanism incorporating cam profiled engaging clips and lever lock or cam-clamp handle mechanisms for inter-assembling dock sections, along with a non-concentric ribbed engagement profile for maintaining frictional engagement, allowing for vertical adjustability of telescoping support legs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional locking mechanisms are used to inter-assembly dock sections, then the assembly process becomes complicated and time-consuming, but the structural stability and ease of operation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism employs a rotatable cam member that transitions from an unlocked position to a locked position, dynamically changing the engagement state between dock sections. This dynamic mechanism allows quick assembly while maintaining secure locked engagement through the cam's rotational movement and corresponding engagement/disengagement of locking surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam member utilizes a curved cam surface that engages with a corresponding curved surface on the engaging member. This curved geometry enables smooth rotational movement during locking while providing progressive engagement force, ensuring both ease of operation and reliable structural stability through the mechanical advantage of the cam curve.
2Adaptability or versatility
If telescoping support legs are used to adapt to varying water depths, then adaptability improves, but the complexity of the support structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support leg is divided into telescoping inner and outer leg sections that can extend and retract independently. This segmentation allows the support structure to adjust to varying water depths while maintaining a compact form when retracted, reducing overall structural complexity compared to a fully extended rigid structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping leg mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of leg length through extension and retraction movements. The leg can be extended to match water depth requirements and locked in position, or retracted when not needed, providing adaptability without requiring a permanently complex extended structure.
3Productivity
If cam profile clips are used for inter-assembling dock sections, then assembly speed improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cam member incorporates a curved cam surface with specific geometric profile that engages with a corresponding curved surface on the engaging member. This curved geometry provides self-aligning characteristics during rotation, tolerating minor manufacturing variations while maintaining effective locking engagement, thus reducing stringent precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism provides more than sufficient engagement force during the locking rotation, ensuring that even with moderate manufacturing tolerances, the locking surfaces achieve complete and secure engagement. This excessive engagement capability compensates for manufacturing variations without requiring ultra-precise cam profile fabrication.
4Ease of operation
If lever lock mechanisms are used for vertical adjustability, then ease of adjustment improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever lock mechanism is integrated directly into the telescoping leg structure, with the cam member and engaging member forming part of the leg assembly itself. This merging of functions allows vertical adjustment through a simple lever action while avoiding the need for separate, complex locking systems, thus improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
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
Enables secure inter-assembly of dock sections and adjustable support legs, enhancing stability and adaptability to varying water depths, reducing the likelihood of dislodgment during installation.
Implementation Method 1
exhibit a non-concentric ribbed engagement profile for maintaining frictional engagement in a selected locking position
Implementation Method 2
locking mechanism incorporating cam profiled engaging clips for inter-assembling individual dock sections
Data Source
AI summary
A dock assembly with inter-engaging dock sections such as associated with a temporary dock supported upon a body of water. The assembly teaches a locking mechanism incorporating cam profiled engaging clips for inter-assembling individual dock sections. The present invention also discloses either of a lever lock or cam clamp handle mechanism for facilitating vertical adjustability between inner and outer telescoping support legs incorporated into an underside supporting dock stand section. The lever lock or cam clamp handles each exhibiting a similar non-concentric ribbed engagement profile for maintaining frictional engagement in a selected locking position for engaging the inner telescoping legs to outer fixed legs.