Foldable Ladder Stepping Platform Strength via Segmented Protruding Strips
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current stepping platforms for foldable ladders face challenges in enhancing strength while minimizing production costs, as structural improvements have reached a bottleneck.
Innovation Solution
A foldable ladder stepping platform design featuring a plate body with protruding strips, end caps with inserting pins, and C-shaped hanging grooves that form a support grid, providing enhanced stability and assembly convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If ribs are arranged on the stepping platform to improve strength, then the strength of the stepping platform is improved, but the production cost increases and structural improvement enters a bottleneck stage
Solution Approach 1:
The plate body is divided into multiple segments by adding protruding strips that extend forward from the plate body. These protruding strips are further divided into first protruding strips and second protruding strips, creating a segmented structure that improves strength without requiring expensive rib arrangements. The segmentation allows for easier manufacturing while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional two-dimensional plate reinforcement to a three-dimensional structure by adding protruding strips that extend forward from the plate body. This dimensional change creates a stepped configuration that improves strength without increasing production cost, as the protruding strips can be easily formed during the plate manufacturing process.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional plate structures are used, then production cost is minimized, but strength improvement has reached a bottleneck stage
Solution Approach 1:
The plate body is segmented into multiple regions by the protruding strips, creating a stepped structure that enhances strength. The segmentation is achieved through simple geometric features that can be manufactured cost-effectively, avoiding the need for expensive rib structures while still achieving significant strength improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding strips are strategically positioned at specific locations on the plate body to provide localized reinforcement. This local quality approach concentrates strength enhancement where needed most, rather than uniformly distributing reinforcement, thereby maintaining cost-effectiveness while achieving bottleneck-breaking strength improvement.
3Strength
If complex rib structures are added to enhance strength, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The structure is segmented into simple geometric features (protruding strips) rather than complex continuous rib structures. This segmentation simplifies the overall design while maintaining strength enhancement, as the protruding strips can be easily manufactured and assembled without requiring complex forming processes or multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding complex rib structures to a flat plate, the invention inverts the approach by creating a stepped structure with protruding strips that extend forward from the plate body. This inversion simplifies the structure while achieving the same strength enhancement effect, reducing device complexity significantly.
Data Source
AI summary
A stepping platform of a foldable ladder comprises a plate body, a front end cap, and a rear end cap. The plate body, when in use, is rotatably supported between two front leg tubes of the foldable ladder. The front end cap and the rear end cap are respectively connected to the plate body from a front-and-rear direction. A bottom of the plate body comprises a plurality of protruding strips. The plurality of protruding strips are hollow. The plurality of protruding strips are arranged at intervals. The front end cap comprises a plurality of first inserting pins configured to correspond to the plurality of protruding strips, and the rear end cap comprises a plurality of second inserting pins configured to correspond to the plurality of protruding strips. The plurality of first inserting pins and the plurality of second inserting pins are respectively inserted into the plurality of protruding strips.