Four-Leg Stabilizing Linkage for Uneven Ground Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support mechanisms for objects with four or more legs, such as tables, fail to adapt to uneven surfaces without operator intervention, leading to instability and rocking, as they require complex linkages or significant height, which is not aesthetically pleasing and incompatible with flat pack shipping.
Innovation Solution
A stabilizing arrangement using interconnected lever parts with pivot axes at specific angles, allowing for warp displacement of ground engaging means to maintain contact with uneven surfaces, providing stability without operator intervention and minimizing vertical height for shipping and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If four or more legs of equal length are rigidly attached to support a flat table top, then the structure is simple and robust, but the feet cannot all contact the ground simultaneously on uneven surfaces causing instability and rocking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the legs dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. Each leg is equipped with an adjustment mechanism that allows it to independently change its position and orientation to adapt to uneven surfaces. This enables all four legs to maintain contact with the ground simultaneously, providing stability without requiring complex linkages between legs, as each leg operates independently to conform to the surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the support structure into four independent, adjustable leg units rather than a rigid unified base. Each leg can be individually adjusted to compensate for surface irregularities, allowing the table to stabilize on uneven ground without requiring complex inter-leg linkages. This segmentation approach simplifies the overall mechanism while achieving the stability goal.
2Shape
If complex linkages are used to maintain perpendicular leg angles on uneven surfaces, then aesthetic appearance is maintained, but the mechanism becomes heavy and fragile
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex rigid linkages to maintain perpendicular leg angles, the patent employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms at each leg that allow independent adaptation to surface irregularities. This maintains the visual appearance of perpendicular legs while avoiding the weight and fragility issues associated with complex linkage systems, as each leg adjusts its own position rather than being constrained by inter-leg linkages.
3Adaptability or versatility
If significant height is provided for central stem or support column mechanisms, then leg adjustment capability is achieved, but the mechanism is not compatible with flat pack shipping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by distributing the adjustment functionality across four independent compact leg units rather than requiring a tall central stem mechanism. Each leg contains its own adjustment mechanism in a compact form factor, eliminating the need for significant vertical height and enabling flat-pack shipping while maintaining full surface adaptation capability.
4Ease of operation
If user intervention is required to operate locking mechanisms, then adjustment control is achieved, but ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by designing adjustment mechanisms that automatically respond to surface irregularities without requiring user intervention. The mechanisms detect ground unevenness and adjust leg positions autonomously, eliminating the need for manual operation of locking mechanisms while maintaining precise control over the adjustment process.
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 mechanism ensures all ground engaging means remain loaded and continuously in contact with the surface, reducing free motion and enhancing stability on uneven surfaces, while maintaining a compact design suitable for shipping and operation.
Implementation Method 1
an interconnection means interconnecting at least three lever parts including a first lever part, a second lever part and a third lever part, each connected to the interconnection means by a respective pivot having a respective pivot axis
Data Source
AI summary
A stabilizing arrangement supports an object on four ground engaging devices on uneven ground has an interconnection mechanism, and three or four lever parts connected to the interconnection mechanism by respective pivots each with a pivot axis. The first and third pivot axes are at an angle of up to thirty degrees from parallel to each other and within thirty degrees of perpendicular to the second pivot axis. The first lever part includes a first engaging region engaging with the second engaging region of the second lever part. The third lever part includes a second engaging region engaging with the first engaging region of the second lever part. Rotation of the first lever part drives rotation of the second lever part which drives rotation of the third lever part opposite to the first lever part, allowing warp displacement of the four ground engaging devices.