Collapsible Clothes Rack with Integrated Hinges to Reduce Part Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothes racks are not collapsible, leading to storage space issues and potential loss of parts when detached, making them difficult to reassemble if one part is missing.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible clothes rack design featuring a lateral center bar with center hinge assemblies, foldable wing assemblies, collapsible main leg assemblies, and a leg support assembly with hinges that allow for easy assembly and disassembly, including over-flange members to prevent over-twisting and secure connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional clothes racks are made non-collapsible, then structural stability is maintained, but storage space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The clothes rack is divided into multiple detachable segments including foldable wing assemblies, collapsible main leg assemblies, and a lateral center bar. Each segment can be independently folded or collapsed, allowing the entire structure to be disassembled into compact components for storage while maintaining structural integrity when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The clothes rack incorporates dynamic folding mechanisms with hinges and pivot points that allow the structure to transition between an extended stable configuration for use and a collapsed compact configuration for storage. The foldable wing assemblies and collapsible main leg assemblies enable this dynamic transformation while maintaining structural stability during the extended state.
2Ease of operation
If detachable clothes racks are designed for easy assembly, then ease of operation improves, but risk of part loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple components are merged into integrated assemblies such as the center hinge assemblies that combine multiple hinge mechanisms into a single unit, and the foldable wing assemblies that integrate multiple structural elements. This merging reduces the total number of separate parts that could be lost while maintaining ease of assembly through the unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
Components are designed to nest within each other when collapsed, with the foldable wing assemblies nesting against the lateral center bar and the collapsible main leg assemblies nesting together. This nested configuration keeps all parts contained and organized, preventing loss during storage and transport while allowing easy reassembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hinge assemblies allow full rotation, then flexibility of movement increases, but risk of over-twisting and structural damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assemblies incorporate preliminary protective features including over-flange members and restricted rotation mechanisms that prevent over-twisting before structural damage can occur. These features allow the hinges to rotate through the necessary range of motion for folding and collapsing while automatically stopping rotation to protect the structural integrity of the connected components.
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 allows for efficient storage and transport of the clothes rack while preventing over-twisting and ensuring easy assembly and disassembly, addressing the issues of storage space and part loss in conventional racks.
Implementation Method 1
each of the hinge members includes an over-flange member configured adjacent to an edge of its circular hub such that when assembled the over-flange members on a paired hinge member restrict movement to prevent over twisting of the hinges
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a collapsible clothes rack. The rack includes a lateral center bar with ends distal to each other, each end being attached to a center hinge assembly. A pair of foldable wing assemblies are attached to the center hinge assemblies and extend transversal to the lateral center bar. A pair of collapsible main leg assemblies are each attached to the center hinge assemblies, and wherein the center hinge assemblies are configured to pivot the main leg assemblies to a predetermined angle from each other to define a base on a surface. Finally, a leg support assembly secured between the pair of collapsible main leg assemblies, and wherein the leg support assembly includes leg support hinges configured to permit the pair of collapsible main leg assembles to pivot away from each other at the predetermined angle.