Folding Table Pivot Joint for Stable Locking and Symmetrical Legs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding tables with U-shaped legs lack stability when folding and unfolding, and the offset arrangement of legs in the unfolded position results in an unattractive appearance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of swivel joints with an outer and inner body, where the outer body is attached to the table top and the inner body is pivotably accommodated within, ensuring a stable connection and axial movement of the legs during folding and unfolding, allowing for symmetrical leg arrangement and secure locking in both positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the legs are not directly attached to the underside of the tabletop, then the table allows folding and unfolding movement, but the connection becomes relatively unstable during folding and unfolding
Solution Approach 1:
A pivot joint is introduced as an intermediary component between the legs and the tabletop. This pivot joint includes a pivot bracket with a pivot axis that is hinged to the tabletop, and the legs are hinged to this bracket. The intermediary pivot joint provides a stable rotational connection point, ensuring reliability during folding and unfolding while maintaining the adaptability of the folding mechanism.
2Reliability
If the legs are directly attached to the tabletop, then the connection is stable, but the legs cannot be folded in and out
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the legs and tabletop is made dynamic through the pivot joint mechanism. The pivot bracket is hinged to the tabletop, allowing rotational movement, while the legs are hinged to the bracket, enabling folding. This dynamic connection provides stability during use (when unfolded) while allowing folding and unfolding movements, thus maintaining both reliability and adaptability.
3Shape
If the pivot joints are arranged to allow symmetrical leg positioning, then the unfolded appearance is improved, but the folded position becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the pivot brackets asymmetrically (offset laterally in opposite directions from the center), the invention achieves symmetrical leg arrangement when unfolded, improving appearance. The asymmetric bracket positioning simplifies the folding mechanism compared to alternative symmetric arrangements, as it naturally guides the legs into a compact folded position against the tabletop.
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 enhances stability and functionality by ensuring the legs rest directly on the table top in the folded position and can be arranged symmetrically in the unfolded position, with improved force distribution and ease of use through a spring-loaded locking mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the two pairs of legs can be locked in the folded and unfolded positions by means of spring action
Implementation Method 2
the outer body and the inner body have a complementary inner or outer contour which causes an axial movement between the outer and the inner body during the pivoting movement
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a folding table with a tabletop (2) and two U-shaped pairs of legs (3,4) hinged to it, which can be folded in and out and which, in the folded position, lie against the underside (2a) of the tabletop and lie within each other over part of their length, and which can be locked in the folded and unfolded positions by spring action, wherein a swivel bracket (5,6) is hinged to each pair of legs (3,4), which can be fixed to the underside (2a) of the tabletop with its web area (5a,6a).It is provided that the respective pair of legs (3,4) is mounted in at least one pivot joint (7) on the underside (2a) of the tabletop, wherein the respective pivot joint (7) has an outer body (8) attached to the underside (2a) of the tabletop and an inner body (9) pivotably received within the outer body (8), which is rotationally fixed to the web area (3a,4a) of the associated pair of legs (3,4), wherein the outer body (8) and the inner body (9) have a complementary inner or outer contour (10,11) which causes an axial movement between the outer and inner bodies (8,9) during the pivoting movement.