Folding stool or folding table
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing integrated folding tables and benches are unstable, especially when supporting a heavy human body or during movement, due to misalignment of the support rod, leading to instability and potential collapse.
Innovation Solution
The design features bilaterally symmetrical table and bench boards connected via a pivot bracket with support brackets, cross bars, and connecting members that allow for stable support and rotation, preventing jamming and enhancing stability by using sliding and rotating connections, and arc-shaped grooves for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the bench board is connected to the bracket by rotation with a simple support rod structure, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the bench board becomes unstable when supporting weight or during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The support rod is divided into multiple segments that can rotate relative to each other, allowing the support structure to adapt to different states (open/folded) while maintaining stability. The support rod includes a first support rod segment connected to the bracket and a second support rod segment connected to the bench board, with a support rod joint enabling rotation between segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The support rod structure incorporates dynamic rotation capabilities at multiple joints (support rod joint between segments, and connection joints to bracket and bench board), enabling the structure to transition smoothly between open and folded states while maintaining stability in each state through proper geometric configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support rod is designed to rotate and retract for folding, then the folding function is achieved, but the support rod becomes misaligned and loses support capability under heavy load or movement
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple rotation joints are introduced in the support rod structure, allowing each segment to rotate independently to maintain proper alignment during transitions and in both open and folded states. The support rod joint connects the first and second support rod segments with rotation capability, ensuring continuous alignment maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The support rod segments are designed to nest within each other during the folding process, with the second support rod segment rotating to retract toward the first support rod segment. This nested configuration reduces the overall footprint while maintaining structural integrity and alignment through the rotation joints.
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 solution provides a stable and safe folding table and bench structure that prevents misalignment and collapse, ensuring the bench board is securely supported in both open and folded states, and reduces the risk of accidental finger entrapment.
Implementation Method 1
the connecting members are slidably connected to the bench board... the connecting members slide to ends of the bench board... the connecting members slide to a middle portion of the bench board
Implementation Method 2
the cross bars disposed on a bottom of the bench board rotate from a horizontal direction to a longitudinal direction and cooperate to support the bench board
Implementation Method 3
the support brackets are symmetrically disposed on a front end and a rear end of the pivot bracket... the support brackets rotate to be folded... the support brackets rotate to be opened
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated collapsible table and stool, comprising two table plates (10), two bench boards (20) and a hinging frame (30), wherein the table plates (10) are rotatably hinged to the hinging frame (30), the hinging frame (30) is movably connected to the table plates (10) and the bench boards (20) on the same side of the hinging frame (30) by a pair of supporting frames (40); the supporting frames (40) are symmetrically arranged at the front and rear ends of a fixing panel (36); the supporting frames (40) comprise vertical shafts (42), table plate supporting rods (44) connected to the upper end portions of the vertical shafts (42) and bench board supporting rods (46) connected to the lower end portions of the vertical shafts (42); the vertical shafts (42) are rotatably connected to the hinging frame (30); the bottoms of the bench board supporting rods (46) are used for support on the ground, and the tops of the bench board supporting rods (46) are connected to a cross bar (48); the cross bar (48) is rotatably and slidably connected to the bench boards (20) by a connecting member (50); the connecting member (50) is slidably connected to the bench boards (20), and the connecting member (50) is rotatably connected to the cross bar (48). The supporting frames (40) may stably support and connect the bench boards (20). In an opened state, two cross bars (48) at the bottom of the bench boards (20) are switched from the transverse direction to the longitudinal direction so as to support the bench boards (20) together and to make the bench boards (20) stable to use.