Gravity-Locked Adjustable Legs for Leveling on Uneven Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices struggle to stabilize and level on uneven surfaces without additional support, which can lead to instability and safety risks, as traditional solutions often lack secure anchoring and require manual adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A device with adjustable legs featuring a slidable mechanism and a flexible member that automatically adjusts leg lengths using gravity, eliminating the need for manual handling or external equipment, and incorporates a locking structure that secures the legs once the surface is evenly supported.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional supporting plates or blocks are placed underneath legs to compensate for uneven surfaces, then the device can be stabilized on uneven surfaces, but the solution is unsafe and unstable with high probability of tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The leg assembly performs self-adjustment through a gravity-based mechanism. When the device is placed on an uneven surface, the flexible member (string or chain) automatically tensions and triggers the locking mechanism to extend or retract the telescoping leg, compensating for surface irregularities without requiring external support plates or manual intervention. This self-service capability eliminates the instability associated with traditional supporting plates while maintaining reliability through automatic mechanical locking.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of leg lengths is implemented, then the device can be positioned on uneven surfaces, but it requires additional equipment such as handles or motor drives
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for external adjustment equipment such as handles, motors, or electronic controls. The leg length adjustment function is achieved through a purely mechanical gravity-based system where the flexible member connects to the locking mechanism, allowing the leg to automatically extend or retract based on the device's orientation and surface conditions, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical or electronic adjustment systems with a simple gravity-based mechanical mechanism. Instead of using motors, sensors, or electronic controls, the system utilizes the device's own weight and gravity to tension the flexible member, which in turn actuates the locking mechanism to adjust leg length automatically, substituting complex systems with a elegant mechanical solution.
3Extent of automation
If automatic leg adjustment is achieved using gravity and flexible members, then no separate adjustment means are needed, but the locking mechanism must reliably prevent movement when legs are supported
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the flexible member (string or chain) that transmits gravitational force, the locking element that engages with the telescoping leg, and the leg segments themselves. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function reliably - the flexible member provides automatic actuation through gravity, while the locking element provides secure mechanical engagement when the leg is supported, ensuring both automation and reliability.
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 device can be securely and automatically leveled on uneven surfaces, ensuring stability and safety by adjusting leg lengths to compensate for surface irregularities without additional support, using a purely mechanical mechanism that requires no electronic control.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible member is strained by gravity when a free end at least one of the slidable leg parts is unsupported. The force required to strain the flexible member derives from gravity acting on the weight of at least one of the slidable leg parts.
Data Source
AI summary
A device (10), such as a ladder, scaffold, piece of furniture or a support for any other appliance has at least two legs (12;14), each of which has a slidable leg part (30;32) slidably positioned with respect to another part (18;20) of the device to form a leg having an adjustable length. A locking structure (34;36) is arranged to prevent movement of each of the slidable leg parts (30;32) with respect to said other part (18;20) of the device in a locked state of the locking structure (34;36), and to allow movement of each of the slidable leg parts (30;32) with respect to said other part (18;20) of the device in an unlocked state of the locking structure (34;36). A flexible member (38) interconnects the slidable leg parts (30;32) and is arranged such that it pulls the locking structure (34;36) into the unlocked position when strained under the action of gravity acting on at least one of the slidable leg parts (30;32).