Interlocking Shim Structure for Adjustable Furniture Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Furniture and machinery often experience instability, wobbling, tipping, or vibration due to uneven surfaces and improper leveling, which can lead to damage and noise, especially in dynamic settings like food service establishments where quick adjustments are necessary.
Innovation Solution
A stabilizing device composed of two identical pieces that interlock with interlocking channels and guides, allowing for adjustable height and enhanced rigidity under weight, preventing slippage and providing stability on various surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional single-piece stabilizers are used, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot adapt to different gap sizes and surfaces, reducing versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer is divided into two separate pieces that can be used individually or interlocked together. Each piece can independently fill different gap sizes, and when interlocked, they provide enhanced stability on uneven surfaces. This segmentation allows the device to adapt to various conditions without requiring multiple different stabilizer types.
Solution Approach 2:
The two stabilizer pieces are designed to interlock with each other through complementary shapes and features. One piece can be nested within or alongside the other, creating a combined structure that provides both gap filling and surface adaptation capabilities in a single integrated system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-height stabilizers are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the device cannot accommodate different furniture heights, reducing versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer incorporates adjustable height mechanisms that allow users to modify the effective height of the stabilizer pieces. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the same stabilizer pieces to work with furniture of various heights without requiring custom-manufactured stabilizers for each height requirement.
3Ease of operation
If stabilizers are designed for quick deployment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stabilization effect may be insufficient on uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer pieces are designed with self-adjusting features that automatically adapt to the surface conditions once deployed. The interlocking mechanism and surface-contact features are configured to self-adjust and distribute weight effectively, providing reliable stabilization without requiring complex adjustment procedures or additional tools.
Data Source
AI summary
A stabilization device comprising of two identical pieces is disclosed. The pieces can be used individually as stabilizing shims, or it can be interlocked with one another such that it creates an adjustable stabilizer that can be reused again. The piece comprises of an external surface, an internal surface, an interlocking channel within the internal surface, and an interlocking guide that can be inserted into said interlocking channel.