Foldable Bathtub Tray Self-Locking Hinge to Prevent Accidental Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable bathtub trays lack a reliable locking mechanism, leading to accidental folding and potential damage or loss of articles placed on them.
Innovation Solution
A foldable bathtub tray design featuring a connection assembly with a first and second connection seat, a rotating shaft, and a limiting flange, which allows for self-locking when unfolded, preventing accidental folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent accidental folding, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection assembly automatically locks when the support plates are unfolded to the working position, and automatically unlocks when folded. The limiting flange and side wall of the connection seat form a self-locking mechanism that requires no additional locking components or user intervention, thus improving reliability while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The limiting flange acts as an intermediary element between the connection seat and rotating shaft, providing the locking function through its geometric shape rather than requiring an active locking mechanism. This mediator structure enables reliable locking through passive geometric constraints.
2Reliability
If conventional locking mechanisms are used, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The self-locking connection assembly automatically engages when the support plates are unfolded and automatically disengages when folded, eliminating the need for manual locking operations. This self-service mechanism maintains reliability while significantly improving ease of operation, especially during frequent unfolding and storage.
3Ease of operation
If support plates are hinged for folding storage, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting flange serves as a mediator that provides geometric constraints to the connection seat, creating a passive locking effect that ensures stability during use while maintaining the hinge's folding capability for convenient storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure's inherent weakness (potential for accidental folding) is converted into a benefit by using the same hinge mechanism to enable automatic locking through the limiting flange geometry, thus improving reliability while preserving ease of storage.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a foldable bathtub tray, including a first support plate and a second support plate, where the first support plate and the second support plate are hinged by using a connection assembly; the connection assembly includes a first connection seat, a second connection seat, and a rotating shaft; the first connection seat includes a first sub-seat and a second sub-seat, and the first sub-seat extends to form a limiting flange in a direction of the second sub-seat; and a part of a side wall of the second connection seat fits with an inner wall of the limiting flange. The side wall of the second connection seat abuts against the inner wall of the limiting flange to implement self-locking.