Adjustable Food Shield Mounting for Flexible Panel Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food shields lack sufficient adjustability and configurability to adapt to various settings and uses, limiting their effectiveness in protecting displayed food from contamination and debris.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable food shield system featuring a post with a carrier clamping mechanism, a link, and an arm that allows for rotational and translational adjustments of a clear panel, enabling it to be positioned optimally between food and viewing locations without the need for tools, using detent features and fixing mechanisms for precise angular and positional control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed food shield structure is used, then the structure is simple and stable, but the adaptability to different settings and uses is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The food shield structure incorporates multiple movable components including a carrier that can slide along the post, a link that can rotate relative to the carrier, and an arm that can rotate relative to the link. These dynamic elements enable the clear panel to be positioned at various locations and angles without requiring a completely different structure for each setting, thus achieving adaptability while controlling complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The food shield is divided into separate functional components: a post, a carrier with clamping mechanism, a link, an arm, and a clear panel. Each component can be independently adjusted or repositioned, allowing the system to adapt to different configurations. This segmentation enables versatility while keeping each individual component relatively simple in design
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustment mechanisms are added to increase configurability, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier combines multiple functions into a single component: it attaches to the post, holds the link, and provides the clamping mechanism. The link serves both as a structural connector and as a rotational joint between the carrier and arm. This merging of functions reduces the total number of separate components needed, achieving high configurability without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The post serves multiple purposes: it provides vertical support, acts as a guide for the carrier's sliding motion, and serves as the central anchor point for the entire assembly. The clear panel can be positioned to serve different functions (full shield, partial shield, or completely removed) depending on the configuration needs. This multi-functionality allows a single structure to adapt to various settings without requiring multiple specialized components
3Adaptability or versatility
If the carrier can be moved along the post, then the positional adjustability improves, but the stability of the connection may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism is designed to be self-adjusting through the wedge portion. When the nut is tightened, the wedge automatically converts the rotational motion into clamping force that secures the carrier to the post. This self-service mechanism ensures stable connection without requiring additional locking components or complex fastening procedures, maintaining reliability while enabling positional adjustability
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 system provides extensive adjustability and configurability, allowing for optimal protection of displayed food while ensuring easy access, thus enhancing food safety and adaptability to different environments.
Implementation Method 1
The sleeve may include a wedge portion that converts relative motion of the carrier and the nut to a clamping motion of the sleeve against the post
Implementation Method 2
The link fixing mechanism may include a knob with a threaded stud, the threaded stud passing through the link and engaging a threaded hole in the carrier
Implementation Method 3
The detent features may comprise a set of radial ribs on one of the carrier or the link, each of the radial ribs aligned substantially perpendicular to the axis about which the carrier and the link relatively rotate, and a set of radial slots on the other of the carrier or the link, the radial slots of a size and position to complementarily engage the radial ribs in the preferred rotational positions
Implementation Method 4
the arm defines two holes through which threaded fasteners pass to couple the clear panel to the arm
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable food shield includes a panel mounting mechanism that enables extensive adjustability of the food shield. The food shield may include a post having a longitudinal axis, and a carrier coupled to the post, the carrier including a carrier clamping mechanism. The carrier clamping mechanism is loosenable to enable the carrier to be moved along at least a portion of the length of the post, and is also tightenable to fix the carrier at a certain location on the post. The mounting mechanism may also include a link having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the carrier. An arm may be pivotally coupled to the distal end of the link and extend from the link. The adjustable food shield may include a clear panel coupled to the arm such that the clear panel is movable to different positions by rotating the link, the arm, or both.