Collapsible Desk Leg-and-Brace Assembly for Tool-Free Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional collapsible desks require lengthy assembly processes and tools, making them difficult to set up quickly and efficiently, especially in confined spaces, and are not optimized for compact shipping.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible desk design featuring a working platform with pivoting leaves and elongated legs that can be easily extended or retracted, secured using pivotable braces and attaching plates, allowing for rapid assembly and disassembly without tools, facilitating quick conversion between usage and shipping positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional collapsible desks are designed with multiple legs and working platform, then the desk can provide adequate working surface and support, but the assembly process becomes lengthy and complex requiring multiple steps and instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The desk is divided into modular components: a working platform, four legs with attached braces, and four leaves. Each leg-brace assembly is pre-configured as a unit that attaches to the platform in a single operation, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The braces are pre-attached to the legs during manufacturing, and the leaves are pre-positioned on the platform. This preliminary preparation allows the user to simply attach complete assemblies rather than assembling individual parts, reducing assembly time from hours to minutes.
2Strength
If conventional collapsible desks use multiple legs and platform construction, then the desk provides necessary structural support, but requires hand tools such as screwdrivers, hammers and wrenches for assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The brace is integrated with the leg as a single pre-assembled unit, combining structural support and positioning functions. This merger eliminates the need for separate fastening operations and hand tools, as the integrated design allows for tool-free attachment to the platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The desk components are designed to self-assemble without external tools. The pre-attached braces and leaves are positioned to engage with the platform through simple manual manipulation, allowing the structure to build itself through gravity and mechanical engagement rather than requiring powered or manual fastening tools.
3Volume of moving object
If the desk is designed to be collapsible for shipping, then the desk occupies smaller space during transport, but the assembly process becomes more complex requiring precise mounting instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible design segments the desk into the platform, legs with braces, and leaves as distinct but pre-configured modules. This segmentation allows the structure to collapse into a compact configuration for shipping while maintaining simple assembly, as each module is pre-prepared and requires only attachment rather than construction.
4Stability of the object's composition
If conventional desks are made non-collapsible, then the desk maintains stable structure and size, but cannot be transported through confined hallways and doorways
Solution Approach 1:
The desk transitions from a static, fixed-size structure to a dynamic, reconfigurable system. The leaves can pivot between aligned and right-angled positions, and the legs can extend and retract, allowing the desk to adapt its configuration for both stable use and compact transport through confined spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
When collapsed, the legs retract to be located in juxtaposition with the bottom surface of the working platform, and the leaves fold against the platform, creating a nested, compact configuration that fits through confined spaces while maintaining the same structural components for stable deployment.
Data Source
AI summary
A desk that has a working platform which has a set of legs that are mounted on the bottom surface of the working platform. The legs are pivotable from a retracted position in juxtaposition with the working platform to an outwardly extended position located transverse to the working platform. Attached to each leg is a brace and this brace is swingable to engage the outer free end of the brace with an attaching plate that is fixed relative to the bottom surface of the working platform. There is a separate attaching plate for each leg. With the brace clamped to the attaching plate, each leg will be securely positioned in the extended position permitting the working platform to rest in a spaced relationship relative to a supporting surface permitting a chair to be used in conjunction with the desk with a human user to be located in the chair and the user to then perform tasks on the desk.