Keyed Interlocking Support Stand Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional support stands are challenging to assemble due to confusion regarding corresponding components, leading to difficulties in correct coupling.
Innovation Solution
A keyed interlocking support stand system featuring adjustable annular clamps, keyed socket elements, and transverse members with viewable keyed indicia to facilitate easy assembly, utilizing keyed posts that insert into sockets to interlock the transverse member between support members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional support stands use simple coupling mechanisms, then the device structure is simple, but assembly becomes confusing and difficult due to inability to identify corresponding components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using keyed indicia (such as asymmetric shapes, numbers, or letters) on the support members and corresponding keyed receptacles that only accept matching keys. This asymmetric design creates a unique coupling relationship between components, eliminating confusion during assembly while maintaining structural integrity. The keyed system ensures that only the correct components can be coupled together.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyed indicia and keyed receptacles serve as intermediary elements that facilitate correct component identification and coupling. These intermediaries provide a clear visual and physical guide for assembly, allowing users to easily identify which components correspond to each other without confusion, thereby improving assembly ease.
2Ease of operation
If keyed indicia are added to identify corresponding components, then assembly ease improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes color changes as a form of visual indication system. Different colors or color-coded markings on keyed indicia help users quickly identify corresponding components during assembly. This visual differentiation method is relatively simple to implement during manufacturing while significantly improving assembly ease by providing clear visual cues.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyed indicia are essentially simplified copies or representations of the coupling relationship. Rather than creating complex mechanical coupling mechanisms, the patent uses simplified visual copies (indicia) that replicate the functional relationship between components, making assembly intuitive while keeping manufacturing relatively simple.
3Adaptability or versatility
If positionably adjustable annular clamps are used, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The annular clamps are designed with universal applicability, allowing them to be positioned at various locations along the support members. This multi-functional design enables the same clamp mechanism to serve multiple purposes and accommodate different configuration needs, providing adaptability without requiring multiple different types of clamps, thus managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamps are designed to be positionably adjustable along the support members, introducing dynamic positioning capability. This allows the support stand to adapt to different configurations and support requirements. The dynamic adjustment feature is implemented through a relatively simple mechanism that allows movement and securing at various positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A keyed interlocking support stand including a pair of support members; a pair of annular clamps coupled one each to the support members, each annular clamp positionably adjustable in relation to a support member length; a pair of keyed socket elements disposed one each within the annular clamps, each keyed socket element defining a keyed socket; a transverse member; and a pair of keyed posts coupled one each to opposing transverse member ends; whereby each keyed socket is configured to insertingly receive one of the keyed posts to interlock the transverse member between the support members.