Portable Desk Surface Extender With Non-Damaging Clamp Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a portable and temporary solution to extend the surface of desks, as students often require additional workspace but are limited by room size and cannot purchase larger desks permanently.
Innovation Solution
A portable surface extender that can be readily mounted and dismounted, utilizing mechanical gripping or tensioning means such as spring biased clamps, binder clips, or screw tightening mechanisms to attach to existing desk surfaces, providing additional workspace without damaging the desk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a portable surface extender is mounted to a desk, then additional workspace area is provided, but the device must be easily removable and non-damaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible mounting mechanism with binder clips that can conform to the desk surface and apply distributed pressure without concentrating force on single points, preventing damage while securing the extender
Solution Approach 2:
The binder clips act as intermediary elements between the extender and desk surface, providing a reversible mounting mechanism that secures the extender without directly attaching to or damaging the desk
2Reliability
If mechanical gripping means are used to secure the extender, then stable attachment is achieved, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The binder clips serve multiple functions: they attach the extender to the desk, adjust to different desk thicknesses, and provide easy release mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded binder clips automatically adjust and secure the extender to the desk without requiring additional fastening steps or complex adjustment mechanisms, achieving stable attachment through self-adjusting behavior
3Adaptability or versatility
If the extender accommodates varying desk thicknesses, then versatility is improved, but the mounting mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The binder clips incorporate spring mechanisms that dynamically adjust to different desk thicknesses, allowing the mounting pressure and grip to self-regulate based on the specific desk dimensions without requiring manual adjustment
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 surface extender effectively increases desk space temporarily and securely, accommodating varying desk thicknesses and surfaces, allowing users to work comfortably without the need for larger desks, while being easy to install and remove.
Implementation Method 1
spring biased clamps
Data Source
AI summary
A portable surface extender for temporarily extending the surface of a desktop or such similar surface. The extender is a slender panel having gripping members on at least on side. The gripping members attach to a desktop. Alternatively, a panel is attached to a desk by way of a conjoining adaptor, which has two opposing groups of gripping members. One group of members grips a desk or tabletop, whereas, an opposing group of members grips a panel or the like.