Collapsible grill
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grills lack an efficient collapsible support assembly that allows for easy transportation and storage, as existing designs do not effectively transition between standing and collapsed configurations without compromising structural integrity or ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable pin collar assembly with a spring pin and housing that enables slidable and lockable connections between legs, allowing the grill to transition from a standing locked configuration to a collapsed configuration, where the legs telescope and cross each other, facilitating easy folding and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the grill support assembly is made collapsible to improve transportation and storage, then ease of operation is improved, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly is divided into multiple leg subassemblies (first leg subassembly with first and second legs, second leg subassembly with third and fourth legs) that can be independently collapsed and stored, allowing the grill to be disassembled into manageable segments for transportation while maintaining structural integrity when assembled
Solution Approach 2:
The legs are designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing them to transition between extended (for use) and collapsed (for storage) positions. The rotatable pin collar assemblies enable controlled movement and locking of legs in different configurations, providing both stability during operation and compactness during storage
2Ease of manufacture
If the leg subassembly uses a rotatable pin collar assembly with spring pin for slidable connection, then ease of assembly is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring pin in the rotatable pin collar assembly is designed to automatically engage with the retaining aperture when the leg is properly positioned, eliminating the need for manual alignment or additional fastening steps. The spring-loaded mechanism self-locks the leg in place, simplifying the assembly process despite the apparent complexity of the mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable pin collar assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the legs, providing a standardized interface that simplifies connection. The housing with longitudinal and transverse apertures serves as a mediator that guides the spring pin into the retaining aperture, making the assembly process more straightforward
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 solution provides a stable and functional grill that can be easily converted between operational and storage modes, ensuring ease of use and transportation while maintaining structural integrity and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a rotatable pin collar assembly configured to couple the first leg to the second leg in a slidable and lockable connection, the rotatable pin collar assembly including a spring pin
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of a support assembly for a grill may include a leg subassembly comprising a first leg and a second leg, a leg subassembly comprising a first leg and a second leg, the first leg defining a retaining aperture, and a rotatable pin collar assembly configured to couple the first leg to the second leg in a slidable and lockable connection, the rotatable pin collar assembly including a spring pin configured to be retained in the retaining aperture at a first longitudinal position on the first leg when the grill is in a standing locked configuration and configured to be positioned at a second longitudinal position on the first leg when the grill is in a collapsed configuration.