Adjustable Massage Table Leg Lock for Quiet Stable Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing massage tables lack effective mechanisms for quiet operation, ease of adjustment, and cost-effective manufacturing while maintaining strength and portability, which are essential for therapeutic massage applications.
Innovation Solution
A massage table design featuring a leg assembly with adjustable sections secured by a section stop and section clamp mechanism, allowing for controlled movement and attachment of leg sections to ensure quiet use, ease of assembly, and reduced manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If larger clearances are used between leg sections, then manufacturing costs are reduced and ease of use is increased, but relative movement between leg sections occurs causing noise and instability
Solution Approach 1:
A clearance compensator mechanism is introduced as an intermediary element between the first and second leg sections. This compensator absorbs the larger clearance gaps through mechanical engagement features (such as teeth, ramps, or cam surfaces), converting the potentially noisy clearance movement into controlled mechanical action. The compensator maintains quiet operation while allowing the beneficial larger clearances for ease of manufacture and assembly.
2Ease of operation
If leg sections are made movable for adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but stability and rigidity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The leg assembly employs a dynamic locking mechanism that transitions between movable and fixed states. During adjustment, the leg sections can be moved relative to each other; once positioned, the mechanism locks to provide rigid stability. This dynamic behavior allows the same structure to satisfy both adjustability during operation and stability during use, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If clearance between leg sections is reduced for stability, then rigidity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and ease of use decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The clearance compensator serves as a mediator that allows larger clearances between leg sections to be used without compromising rigidity. The compensator mechanism itself provides the necessary stiffness and stability, decoupling the clearance dimension from the rigidity requirement. This enables manufacturers to use more tolerant (and thus cheaper and easier to manufacture) leg section dimensions while maintaining structural rigidity through the compensator design.
Data Source
AI summary
A massage table for supporting a person above a surface during a massage includes a table top assembly and a leg assembly. The table top assembly supports the person. The leg assembly is secured to the table top assembly and supports the table top assembly above the surface. The leg assembly includes a plurality of legs. At least at least one of the legs includes (i) a first leg section that is attached to the table top assembly, (ii) a second leg section that is movable relative to the first leg section to adjust the position of the table top assembly relative to the support, and (iii) a section attacher that selectively attaches the first leg section to the second leg section. In one embodiment, the section attacher includes a section stop and a section clamp. The section stop inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section. The section clamp also selectively inhibits relative movement between the first leg section and the second leg section. With this design, in certain embodiments, the leg is designed to inhibit relative movement between the leg sections to insure quiet use of the massage table.