Height-adjustable table leg

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional table legs with elevation adjustment mechanisms experience surface wear and noise due to friction between the movable and fixed tubes during height adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A height-adjustable table leg design featuring a movable inner tube with rotating members, such as balls or rollers, that reduce friction by rotating against the fixed outer tube, accompanied by a gas pressure bar for height adjustment, and a bushing with openings to facilitate smooth movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a movable inner tube is inserted in a fixed outer tube for height adjustment, then the table leg height can be adjusted to meet different user needs, but friction between the tubes causes surface wear and noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight adjustabilityVSAvoidsurface wear and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Rotating members (balls or rollers) are introduced as intermediary elements between the movable inner tube and fixed outer tube. These rotating members reduce direct friction contact by converting sliding friction into rolling friction, thereby minimizing surface wear and noise while preserving the height adjustment functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the direct sliding mechanical contact between tubes with a rolling contact system using rotating members. This substitution transforms the mechanical interaction from high-friction sliding to low-friction rolling, effectively reducing wear and noise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 effectively minimizes surface wear and noise by reducing friction between the moving parts, enhancing the durability and quiet operation of the table leg.

Implementation Method 1

the friction generated between the fixed outer tube and the moveable inner tube can be reduced by the rotation of the rotating members

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction reduction through rolling: Roller

Implementation Method 2

The gas pressure bar has a retractable rod with a distal end thereof connected to a bottom plate of the fixed outer tube. Thus, when the retractable rod extends, the moveable inner tube is driven by the retractable rod to move upwards.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas pressure: Pressurisation

Data Source

PatentUS10595629B2Height-adjustable table leg

Publication Date: 2020.03.24 KO & CO KFT

AI summary

A table leg includes a fixed outer tube, a movable inner tube vertically movable in the fixed outer tube and having two pairs of parallel walls, and a plurality of rotating members rotatably mounted to one pair of the parallel walls of the movable inner tube and partially protruding out from an outer surface of the movable inner tube and stopped against an inner surface of the fixed outer tube, such that the rotating members are rotatable when the movable inner tube is moved relative to the fixed outer tube.