Folding Railway Table with Vertical Shelf Storage to Free Knee Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional facing tables in railway passenger vehicles occupy excessive space at the legs and knees, making it difficult for passengers with reduced mobility to access seats and requiring significant effort to fold/unfold, which is complex and costly to manufacture and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A table design with folding shelves that store vertically within a fixed housing above the unfolded plane, allowing easy folding and unfolding with minimal effort, incorporating a central leg, vertical end uprights, and a support bar for accessibility and safety, along with an SOS call device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the shelves are folded horizontally in the plane of the tablet, then the table structure is simple, but the volume occupied at knee level is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning the shelf folding motion from horizontal (in the plane of the tablet) to vertical (perpendicular to the tablet plane). The shelf pivots about a transverse axis to move from a horizontal extended position to a vertical retracted position within the housing, thereby reducing the volume occupied at knee level while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Volume of stationary object
If the shelves are folded vertically in a housing at knee level, then the volume at knee level is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing serves multiple functions: it provides the structural framework for vertical shelf storage, contains the pivot mechanism, and defines the retracted position of the shelf. By integrating these functions into a single housing structure rather than separate components, the patent reduces overall device complexity while achieving vertical shelf retraction.
3Reliability
If complex mechanical elements are used for folding, then the folding mechanism is robust, but manufacturing and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex mechanical folding mechanism from the design by using a simple pivot connection between the shelf and the housing. Instead of using multiple linkages, cam mechanisms, or motorized systems, the solution relies on a single pivot axis with a stop mechanism to define the folded position, significantly simplifying manufacturing and maintenance while maintaining reliability.
4Stability of the object's composition
If significant effort is required to fold the shelves, then the structure is stable, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a spring mechanism that acts as a counterweight to balance the shelf during folding and unfolding operations. The spring is pre-loaded to provide assistance force that counteracts the gravitational load on the shelf, reducing the effort required by the user while maintaining structural stability when the shelf is in either extended or retracted position.
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
This design frees up space at the knees, facilitates easy access and reduced effort for users, enhances safety by preventing accidental opening, and simplifies manufacturing and maintenance while providing assistance for passengers with mobility issues.
Implementation Method 1
each tablet being arranged opposite a seat and comprising a first portion articulated with a second portion at the level of an edge
Implementation Method 2
To fold the shelves, a first hinged portion is thus folded over a second portion by performing a pivoting movement about a horizontal axis
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a table (1) to be set up in a passenger railway vehicle and positioned between at least two seats facing each other, said table (1) comprising at least two folding trays (2, 3, 22), each tray (2, 3, 22) being arranged facing a seat and comprising a first portion (4) hinged to a second portion (5) at an edge (6), the table comprising a stationary housing (7) set up over the plane defined by the trays (2, 3, 22) when the latter are arranged in a horizontal unfolded position, said stationary housing (7) being capable of receiving the trays (2, 3, 22) when they are arranged in a vertical folded back position wherein the first (4) and second (5) portions are arranged vertically, one against the other, the second (5) portion being hinged to the stationary housing (7) at an edge (8) opposite the edge (6) engaging with the first portion (4) of the tray (2, 3, 22).