Folding Ladder Top Tray with Rotating Movable Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing A-frame ladders have a small top tray area, leading to tools easily sliding off and inefficient folding and storage due to the tray's design.
Innovation Solution
A top tray with a fixed plate and a movable plate that rotates between unfolded and folded positions, featuring connection shafts and grooves for stable support and reduced height when folded, and inclined surfaces for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the top tray area is increased to prevent tools from sliding off, then tool placement stability is improved, but the folding and storage convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The top tray is divided into a fixed plate and a movable plate that can rotate relative to each other. The movable plate can be rotated to a folded position for compact storage or unfolded for expanded tool placement area, resolving the contradiction between stability and convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable plate is designed to rotate between fixed and unfolded positions, transforming the top tray from a static structure to a dynamic one that can adapt its configuration based on usage needs, thereby achieving both stability when needed and compactness when stored.
2Volume of moving object
If the movable plate is designed to rotate for folding, then storage space is reduced, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism is segmented into connection shafts and grooves that work together to enable rotation. This segmentation allows the movable plate to rotate for compact storage while using simple, modular components that minimize overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection shafts are disposed within grooves on the movable plate, creating a nested arrangement where the rotation mechanism is integrated within the plate structure itself, reducing additional components and simplifying the overall design.
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
Increases the usable area of the top tray for secure tool placement, improves stability during use, and reduces storage space by allowing the movable plate to fold upward, while maintaining stability with abutting surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a rear surface of the fixed plate abuts a front surface of the movable plate to maintain the movable plate in a horizontal position and to resist a downward force of gravity
Implementation Method 2
the movable plate is rotatably connected to the fixed plate, and the movable plate is configured to be rotated to switch between an unfolded position and a folded position
Implementation Method 3
a rear surface of the fixed plate abuts a front surface of the movable plate to maintain the movable plate in a horizontal position
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a folding ladder and a top tray thereof. The top tray comprises a fixed plate and a movable plate. The movable plate is disposed on a rear side of the fixed plate and is rotatably connected to the fixed plate, and the movable plate is configured to be rotated to switch between an unfolded position and a folded position. When the movable plate is in the unfolded position, the movable plate is horizontally arranged side-by-side with the fixed plate, and a rear surface of the fixed plate abuts a front surface of the movable plate to maintain the movable plate in a horizontal position and to resist a downward force of gravity. When the movable plate is subjected to an upward pushing force and is rotated to be folded into the folded position, the movable plate abuts the rear side of the fixed plate.