Leveling device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional leveling devices for tables, especially in restaurants and bars, are often unsightly, unstable, and prone to deterioration when wet, requiring frequent replacement and disrupting the aesthetic quality of the establishment.
Innovation Solution
A wedge-shaped leveling device with a planar bottom surface, a sloped top surface, and interlocking mechanism, featuring flow-through channels to prevent liquid pooling and increased friction grooves for stability, constructed from durable materials like polymers or metals, allowing for adjustable height and easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If improvised leveling devices (folded paper or coasters) are used to level tables, then convenience and availability are improved, but stability and aesthetic appearance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from paper/cardboard to polymer or metal, fundamentally altering the physical properties to achieve both stability and water resistance while maintaining the wedge shape and leveling function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction with polymer or metal materials that combine durability, water resistance, and aesthetic appearance, potentially incorporating rubberized coatings or textured surfaces to enhance grip and stability
2Ease of operation
If improvised leveling devices (folded paper or coasters) are used to level tables, then convenience and availability are improved, but resistance to liquid deterioration worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from absorbent paper/cardboard to non-absorbent polymer or metal, fundamentally altering the material's interaction with liquids to prevent deterioration while maintaining the wedge shape and leveling function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates drainage channels within the wedge structure that allow liquids to pass through rather than pool, preventing water accumulation that would cause deterioration while maintaining structural integrity
3Strength
If oversized wedges are used to level tables, then durability and stability are improved, but ease of operation and aesthetics worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dimensional parameters of the wedge, creating a compact size that is durable yet easy to handle and position under table legs, with proportions specifically designed for table-leveling applications rather than general-purpose wedging
4Strength
If oversized wedges are used to level tables, then durability and stability are improved, but aesthetic appearance worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dimensional parameters and proportions of the wedge to create an aesthetically pleasing compact form factor that is suitable for restaurant and bar environments, rather than the bulky appearance of traditional oversized wedges
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies that the wedge can be provided in various colors including white, black, or custom colors to match different establishment decors, and may feature logos or branding elements, transforming the aesthetic appearance from unsightly to visually appealing
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 provides a stable, aesthetically pleasing, and durable solution for leveling tables, preventing liquid accumulation and enhancing user safety with interlocking capabilities for increased height adjustment, while maintaining a clean and visually appealing appearance.
Implementation Method 1
continuous channels that allow liquids and air to flow through the channels from one side of the leveling device to the other
Implementation Method 2
increased friction grooves for stability
Data Source
AI summary
The described leveling device includes a substantially planar bottom surface that intersects a substantially constantly sloped top surface at a front portion to form a substantially wedge shaped device. The front portion of the device may include a non-linear profile. The top surface may include a zone of increased friction configured to receive at least a portion of an object to be leveled. The bottom surface may include at least one continuous channel spanning from side-to-side of the leveling device. The leveling device may also include a contoured depression on a top surface and a matching contoured depression on the bottom surface. The contoured protrusion of one leveling device is configured to mechanically engage the contoured depression of another leveling device when the leveling devices are stacked, thereby interlocking the two leveling device and preventing motion of one leveling device in relation to the other leveling device.