Foldable Table Saw With Pivotable Extensions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional table saws are cumbersome and difficult to transport and store due to their size, and they often require the saw blade to be removed or adjusted during transport, posing risks of injury and damage.

Innovation Solution

A foldable table saw assembly with pivotable extensions that allow the saw blade to be protected within a cavity during transport, maintaining a large work surface area and eliminating the need for blade removal or adjustment, featuring a base portion with slots and connecting pins that support the extensions in both deployed and stowed configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the table saw is made large to provide sufficient work surface area, then the work surface area is improved, but the ease of transport and storage deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework surface areaVSAvoidease of transport
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The table saw is divided into a base portion and one or more extensions that can be separated or folded. The extensions can be pivoted relative to the base portion, allowing the table saw to be configured in deployed and stowed positions. This segmentation enables the work surface area to be large when needed while allowing compact storage when folded.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The table saw incorporates movable extensions that can pivot between deployed and stowed configurations. This dynamic structure allows the table saw to transition from a large work surface configuration to a compact folded configuration, resolving the contradiction between providing large work area and ease of transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the saw blade is removed or adjusted during transport, then the risk of injury and damage is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to additional steps required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk of injury and damageVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The extensions are designed to automatically cover the saw blade opening when pivoted to the stowed position, before transport begins. This preliminary protective action eliminates the need for separate blade removal or adjustment steps, maintaining ease of operation while reducing injury and damage risks during transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The protective function is merged with the folding mechanism itself. The extensions serve dual purposes: providing additional work surface area when deployed and automatically protecting the saw blade when folded. This integration eliminates the need for separate protective actions, maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the table saw is made foldable to improve portability, then the ease of transport is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of transportVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The table saw is segmented into a base portion and extensions connected by pivot assemblies. This segmentation allows the structure to be folded while maintaining relative simplicity of individual components. The pivot assemblies provide the folding mechanism without requiring complex articulation, balancing portability with structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2766138B1Table saw with foldable tabletop
Publication Date: 2020.09.16 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2766138B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2766138B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2766138B1 patent drawingFigure 4A

AI summary

A table saw assembly (100) in one embodiment includes a base portion (102), a saw blade opening (112), a saw assembly (114) and a first extension (120). The base portion (102) includes a base work piece support surface (104) which defines a support plane (106). The saw blade opening (112) is defined in the base work piece support surface (104). The saw assembly (114) includes a saw blade (115) which is positionable to extend upwardly through the saw blade opening (112). The first extension (120) includes a first extension work piece support surface (122) which is pivotable with respect to the base portion (102) between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first extension work piece support surface (122) is coplanar with the base work piece support surface (104). In the second position, the first extension work piece support surface (122) is located above the support plane (106).