Extensible table

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing extendable tables face limitations in achieving a significantly longer extension length while maintaining structural integrity and stability, often requiring additional table legs and compromising on rigidity.

Innovation Solution

The design features a central part with cassette-shaped receiving sections formed by parallel support elements and transverse webs, where the end sections of the pull-out elements are vertically oriented as 'swords' to absorb loads, and an extension mechanism allowing for two-stage extension without additional legs, providing a torsion-resistant and rigid structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If traditional extendable table designs are used with additional table legs on pull-out elements, then extension length can be increased, but structural rigidity and stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextension lengthVSAvoidstructural rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The end sections of the pull-out elements are oriented vertically instead of horizontally, changing the dimensional orientation of the load-bearing components. This vertical orientation allows the end sections to effectively absorb vertical loads and bending moments, maintaining structural rigidity while enabling extended length without additional table legs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The design changes the geometric parameters of the pull-out elements by orienting end sections vertically and configuring them with specific lengths and spacing. This parameter optimization allows the pull-out elements to achieve both extended length and sufficient load-bearing capacity without requiring additional support legs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Length of moving object

If additional table legs are provided on pull-out elements for long extension, then structural stability is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextension lengthVSAvoidnumber of table legs
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pull-out elements are designed to serve multiple functions: they provide the extending mechanism for increasing table length while simultaneously serving as load-bearing structural components through their vertically oriented end sections. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate additional table legs, reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The design extracts the load-bearing function from separate additional table legs and integrates it directly into the pull-out elements themselves. By making the pull-out elements themselves structurally sufficient through vertical end sections, the invention removes the need for extra support components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If pull-out elements are extended horizontally without vertical orientation, then extension mechanism is simple, but load-bearing capacity and resistance to bending deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextension mechanism simplicityVSAvoidload-bearing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The end sections are rotated from horizontal to vertical orientation, utilizing the vertical dimension for load-bearing purposes. This dimensional reorientation allows the same structural components to effectively resist vertical loads and bending moments while maintaining the simplicity of the extension mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3288417B1Extensible table
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 SCHMITZ ULRICH
  • EP3288417B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3288417B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3288417B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Extensible table (10) having a table frame (11) which bears a tabletop (15) consisting of at least two tabletop halves (28), wherein the table frame (11) has a central part (12) on which are provided two extension elements (13), which can be extended on either side of the central part (12), and the central part (12) has two cassette-like accommodating portions (16), which are spaced apart from one another and are oriented in the direction of extension of the extension elements (13), and each extension element (13) comprises at least two end portions (22), which can be extended in the same direction, wherein in each case at least one end portion (22) of the extension element (13) is guided in one of the two cassette-like accommodating portions (16), wherein the cassette-like accommodating portion (16) of the central part (12) has an open carrying structure formed by two parallel carrying elements (18) which are spaced apart from one another by crosspieces (19) arranged therebetween and the crosspieces (19), for each extension element, have a guide (21).