Foldable Support Linkage for Flush Wall Stowage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable support mechanisms, such as seats and tables, are not suitable for environments like shower enclosures due to the need for minimal component manipulation and space efficiency, as they often protrude from the wall when folded, potentially causing tripping hazards and obstructing space.
Innovation Solution
A foldable support mechanism that can be moved between a deployed horizontal position and a stowed vertical position, with a platform member and support structure comprising two links that lie in the same plane when folded, minimizing protrusion from the wall and ensuring a clear surface, using a quadrilateral linkage and pivotable connections to a wall or fixed support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional foldable support mechanisms are used, then the platform can be folded away, but the mechanism protrudes from the wall and creates tripping hazards and obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure transitions from a two-dimensional planar configuration when deployed to a three-dimensional collapsed configuration when folded, with limbs arranged in substantially the same plane parallel to the wall. This dimensional transformation allows the mechanism to achieve minimal projection distance from the wall while maintaining structural integrity during the folding operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure employs a nesting arrangement where the two limbs of the quadrilateral linkage are positioned to lie in substantially the same plane when folded, with one limb potentially passing through or alongside the other. This nesting configuration minimizes the overall projection distance from the wall and eliminates tripping hazards by creating a compact, flush-mounted appearance.
2Strength
If the support structure uses traditional linkages, then the platform can be supported, but the limbs intersect and create protuberances that obstruct space
Solution Approach 1:
The quadrilateral linkage is designed with asymmetric limb configurations where the two limbs are shaped or profiled differently to prevent intersection. One limb may be positioned slightly offset from the other, or their cross-sectional shapes are designed to nest within each other, allowing the structure to maintain full load-bearing capability while occupying minimal space in the folded position.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement of the quadrilateral linkage limbs, transitioning from a planar configuration during deployment to a nested three-dimensional arrangement when folded. This allows the limbs to occupy different depths relative to the wall surface, eliminating protuberances while maintaining structural strength.
3Area of stationary object
If the platform is folded completely against the wall, then space is maximized, but component manipulation becomes difficult on slippery floors
Solution Approach 1:
The foldable support mechanism incorporates self-latching features where the quadrilateral linkage automatically engages and locks into its folded position through gravitational force and mechanical interlocking of the limbs. This eliminates the need for manual manipulation or gripping of components on slippery floors, as the mechanism self-completes the folding action and secures itself in the compact position.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism employs counterbalancing forces through the quadrilateral linkage geometry and pivot arrangements that use gravity to assist the folding operation. As the platform is pushed toward the wall, the linkage configuration creates mechanical advantage that guides the folding motion and automatically engages stops or latches to hold the folded position, reducing the effort required by the user.
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 mechanism provides a compact, safe, and unobstructed folding solution, ideal for shower enclosures and other space-constrained areas, ensuring easy movement and minimal encumbrance when folded, while maintaining a stable and usable platform when deployed.
Implementation Method 1
a support structure comprising two links, each pivotally connected to the platform member and at least one of which is pivotally connectable directly or indirectly to the said wall or other fixed support
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable support mechanism attachable to a wall or other fixed support, comprising a platform member movable between a substantially horizontal, deployed position and a substantially vertical, stowed position in which the platform member is adjacent to and substantially parallel to the said wall or other fixed support and in which a support surface of the platform member faces away from the said wall or other fixed support, and a support structure comprising two links, each pivotally connected to the platform member and at least one of which is pivotally connectable directly or indirectly to the said wall or other fixed support, in which the links of the said support structure each include a respective limb, the two limbs being so formed or so positioned that, in the said stowed position, at least a portion of the said limbs lies in substantially the same plane as one another, parallel to the wall or other fixed support, in which the said limbs are shaped or profiled at the regions where they meet in the stowed position.