Concentric Anchor Base for Wind-Stable Portable Safety Signs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current temporary signage lacks stability in adverse conditions, often blowing over in wind due to insufficient weight, necessitating heavy bases or trailer transport, which are cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A modular foldable safety sign system with a base featuring foldable legs, a concentric anchor, and a sign body that can be securely anchored to a substrate using an auger, screw, or spike, allowing for easy setup and enhanced visibility through reflective materials and printed indicia.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the base is made heavy to prevent blowing over in wind, then stability is improved, but the sign becomes cumbersome to move
Solution Approach 1:
The base is divided into separate components: legs that can be folded and an anchor that can be detached. This segmentation allows the sign to achieve stability when deployed through the anchor-substrate connection while maintaining portability during transport by folding the legs and removing the anchor.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor is pre-attached to the shaft in a ready-to-deploy configuration. Before deployment, the anchor is positioned to be easily inserted into the substrate. This preliminary preparation enables quick stabilization without requiring heavy permanent fixtures, resolving the contradiction between stability and portability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the base is made heavy to prevent blowing away, then stability is improved, but ease of transport deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The base transitions from a static heavy structure to a dynamic foldable structure. The legs can be folded parallel to the shaft for compact transport, and the anchor can be detached for easy carrying. When deployed, the legs extend and the anchor secures the sign, providing stability without requiring excessive weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor is extracted as a separate removable component from the base structure. This allows the anchor to be taken out and stored separately during transport, significantly reducing the weight and bulk of the movable base while maintaining stability when the anchor is inserted into the substrate.
3Stability of the object's composition
If an anchor is inserted into the substrate to maintain stability, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft serves multiple functions: it supports the legs, holds the anchor, provides a rotating connection for the sign body, and acts as a structural backbone. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, maintaining simplicity while achieving stability through the anchor-substrate connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor is combined with the shaft through concentric positioning, where the anchor is attached to the shaft and both work together as an integrated stabilization system. This merging simplifies the overall structure compared to having separate mounting mechanisms, as the shaft rotation directly drives the anchor insertion into the substrate.
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 system provides stable and visible signage in various hazardous or caution conditions, facilitating easy transport and setup while maintaining stability in adverse weather, and can be used for both warning and informational purposes.
Implementation Method 1
The anchor may be inserted into a substrate to maintain the stability of the base
Implementation Method 2
The legs can include printed indicia and/or reflective material to increase the overall visibility of the base
Data Source
AI summary
A base for supporting an object comprising a plurality of legs, a shaft concentrically located relative to the legs, an anchor attached to the shaft, and an attachment point for receiving an object. The anchor can be inserted into a substrate to maintain the stability of the base.