Flexible U-Shaped Roller Stop with Bendable Band
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roller stops fail to effectively prevent movement of heavy furniture mounted on rollers, as they either damage easily or allow residual movement even when locked, due to inadequate friction and structural support.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable roller stop with a U-shaped body made of flexible material, featuring spaced side legs and a bendable metal band that engages the roller wheel, providing adjustable frictional engagement and retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the roller stop is made of rigid material to support heavy furniture, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the roller stop damages easily
Solution Approach 1:
The roller stop employs a flexible U-shaped body made of elastomeric material that can deform under load and return to its original shape. This flexibility allows the stop to accommodate heavy furniture weights while preventing permanent damage, resolving the contradiction between needing high strength for load-bearing and durability against damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from rigid to flexible elastomeric material, enabling the roller stop to dynamically adapt its stiffness based on the applied load. This parameter change allows the stop to be sufficiently strong to support heavy furniture while remaining flexible enough to avoid permanent damage.
2Strength
If the roller stop is positioned underneath the roller to provide support, then the structural support is improved, but the roller stop allows residual movement
Solution Approach 1:
The roller stop features curved inner surfaces that conform to the cylindrical shape of the roller wheel. This curvature maximizes the contact area between the stop and wheel, creating superior frictional engagement that prevents both vertical movement and residual horizontal movement, while the underlying flexible material provides structural support.
3Ease of operation
If the side legs are spaced apart to allow roller insertion, then the ease of installation is improved, but the frictional engagement is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The roller stop utilizes dynamic deformation of the flexible U-shaped body to achieve effective engagement. During installation, the spaced side legs allow easy insertion, and during operation, the flexible material deforms under the weight of the furniture to press the inner surfaces against the roller wheel, dynamically increasing frictional engagement to prevent movement.
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 adjustable roller stop effectively prevents movement of heavy furniture by enhancing frictional engagement between the stop and wheel, ensuring secure positioning without damage to the stop or furniture.
Implementation Method 1
an elongated bendable band preferably constructed of metal is attached to one side of the body. The band, furthermore, enjoys high plasticity so that the band may be bent and, once bent, retains its bent shape.
Implementation Method 2
The side legs are then deformed so that the side legs frictionally engage the wheel on the furniture.
Data Source
AI summary
A furniture roller stop having a U-shaped body constructed from a flexible material. The body includes two spaced apart side legs and a base leg connecting the side legs together thus forming a channel between the side legs dimensioned to fit around the roller of the furniture so that the side legs are positioned closely adjacent the roller. A bendable band is attached to the body and extends around the base leg and at least a portion of each side leg. The shape of the channel is adjustable by bending the band which thereafter retains the bent side legs in the new position.