Foldable Beach Table with Auger Securement and Nested Slat Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beach tables are bulky, not easily transportable, and lack securement options, making them unsuitable for easy transportation and secure use on sandy surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A foldable beach table design that collapses into a closed position for easy transport and secures into the sand or ground, featuring a shaft with an auger for stability, slidable members for position transition, and support members to create a flat tabletop surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional beach tables are designed to provide a stable surface, then they can protect belongings from sand, but they become bulky and difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The table is divided into multiple slats that can be separated and folded together. The support members are segmented into upper and lower arms that can be collapsed. This segmentation allows the table to maintain structural integrity when assembled while being compact when folded for transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The slats are designed to nest within each other when folded, and the upper arms of support members nest within the lower arms. The shaft with auger provides a central core around which all components are nested. This nesting arrangement minimizes the volume of the folded table while maintaining the ability to form a stable surface when deployed.
2Weight of moving object
If conventional beach tables are made lightweight for transport, then they are easier to carry, but they lack securement options in sandy ground
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is equipped with an integrated auger that enables the table to self-secure into the sandy ground. By rotating the shaft, the auger threads engage with the sand and advance the shaft into the ground, providing secure anchoring without requiring additional tools or heavy components. This self-service mechanism adds minimal weight while effectively solving the securement problem.
3Length of moving object
If the table is designed to collapse for transport, then it becomes portable, but it may become unstable when deployed
Solution Approach 1:
The support members utilize a dynamic linkage system with upper and lower arms connected by hinges. When deployed, these arms form a stable geometric configuration that rigidly supports the slats. The ability to transition between collapsed and deployed states is achieved through controlled movement of these dynamic linkages, ensuring stability is maintained when the table is in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft with auger is inserted into the ground before the table is fully assembled and deployed. This preliminary anchoring action provides a stable base that prevents the table from shifting or collapsing when the slats and support members are arranged into the final configuration. The preliminary action of securing the shaft ensures subsequent assembly results in a stable structure.
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 foldable table provides a stable and convenient elevated surface for belongings, protecting them from sand and easy to set up and take down, addressing the need for a portable and secure beach table solution.
Implementation Method 1
a shaft with an auger for stability
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable table is disclosed. The table includes a shaft having a first end and a second end. An auger used for twisting the table into the ground is located at the shaft's first end. A fixed member that houses a handle is located at the shaft's second end. The shaft also includes a slidable member that causes the table to move between open and closed positions. In the open position, upper slats form a tabletop surface. In the closed position, upper slats are folded inwardly such that the table can be easily stowed away or transported. Support members support the weight of the tabletop surface and are coupled to the fixed member, the upper slats, and the slidable member.