Foldable Stool with Segmented Telescopic Legs for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable stools are not convenient for carrying and storage due to their large folded length, despite reduced volume when folded in half with crosswise legs.
Innovation Solution
A foldable stool with a stool surface made of flexible materials that can be folded into a storage compartment, featuring swingly connected support legs with elastic ropes allowing for easy separation and rotation of sections into the compartment, and a zipper or hasp for forming a storage bag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the stool surface is made of rigid materials and legs are folded crosswise, then the stool has good stability and structure strength, but the folded length remains large and is not convenient for carrying
Solution Approach 1:
The support legs are divided into multiple telescopic sections (first support leg portion, second support leg portion, third support leg portion) that can be separated and stored independently within the stool surface, reducing the overall folded length
Solution Approach 2:
The support leg portions are nested within each other through telescopic structures, with smaller sections fitting inside larger sections, minimizing the folded length while maintaining structural integrity
2Weight of moving object
If the stool surface is made of flexible materials, then the stool becomes lighter and easier to fold, but the structural strength and stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The stool combines flexible stool surface material with rigid support leg portions made of metal or hard plastic, creating a composite structure that achieves both light weight and sufficient structural strength
Solution Approach 2:
The support legs incorporate elastic ropes that provide dynamic tension and recovery force, allowing the rigid leg portions to be easily collapsed and stored while maintaining structural integrity when extended
3Ease of operation
If multiple support leg portions are used with elastic ropes, then the folding and storage becomes easier, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic ropes are pre-installed within the support leg portions and automatically provide the force needed for folding and expansion, eliminating the need for additional mechanisms or manual effort
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic ropes are integrated into the telescopic support leg structure, combining the functions of structural support, folding mechanism, and storage assistance into a single unified system
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 design results in a lightweight, easy-to-fold, and compact stool that is simple in structure, reducing volume significantly and facilitating convenient carrying and storage.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic rope runs through inside of each support leg, when the elastic rope is extended, the upper, middle and lower sections of the support leg are separated with each other and rotatably folded into the storage compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable stool has a stool surface and two support legs; the stool surface is made of flexible materials capable of being folded to form a storage compartment; two support legs are swingly connected to each other, the top of two support legs are respectively connected to the left side and right side of a bottom surface of the stool surface; each support leg is hollow inside with an upper section, a middle section and a lower section connected together; an elastic rope runs through inside of each support leg, when the elastic rope is extended, the three sections are separated from each other and rotatably folded into the storage compartment. The stool is simple in structure, light and easy to use and low in cost, easy to carry and also is very beautiful.