Monolithic Polyurethane Street Furniture Base Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing street furniture systems lack self-righting and self-fronting base assemblies that are both unitary and cost-effective, often requiring complex spring, pulley, or cam arrangements, which increase manufacturing costs and vulnerability to failure.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece, monolithic base assembly formed from polyurethane polymer with a base mounting portion, an intermediate portion, and a street furniture receiving portion, which is self-supporting, self-righting, and self-fronting, eliminating the need for additional components and complex manufacturing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring, pulley, or cam arrangements are used to provide self-righting and self-fronting functionality, then the base assembly achieves the desired restorative forces, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (mounting plate, base assembly, and street furniture element) into a single monolithic structure. The base assembly is integrated directly with the mounting plate and street furniture element, eliminating the need for separate spring, pulley, or cam mechanisms while maintaining self-righting and self-fronting capabilities through the unified structural design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters by using a specific polyurethane polymer formulation that provides the necessary elasticity and mechanical properties for self-righting and self-fronting behavior. The material's viscoelastic properties enable the base assembly to deform under impact and return to its original configuration without additional mechanical components.
2Reliability
If complex spring, pulley, or cam arrangements are used, then self-righting and self-fronting functionality is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (mounting plate, base assembly, and street furniture element) into a single monolithic structure. The base assembly is integrated directly with the mounting plate and street furniture element, eliminating the need for separate spring, pulley, or cam mechanisms while maintaining self-righting and self-fronting capabilities through the unified structural design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters by using a specific polyurethane polymer formulation that provides the necessary elasticity and mechanical properties for self-righting and self-fronting behavior. The material's viscoelastic properties enable the base assembly to deform under impact and return to its original configuration without additional mechanical components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used in the base assembly, then specific functions can be assigned to each part, but the likelihood of failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (mounting plate, base assembly, and street furniture element) into a single monolithic structure. The base assembly is integrated directly with the mounting plate and street furniture element, eliminating the need for separate spring, pulley, or cam mechanisms while maintaining self-righting and self-fronting capabilities through the unified structural design.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a two-stage production process with multiple moulds is used, then a two-part flexible base assembly can be produced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (mounting plate, base assembly, and street furniture element) into a single monolithic structure. The base assembly is integrated directly with the mounting plate and street furniture element, eliminating the need for separate spring, pulley, or cam mechanisms while maintaining self-righting and self-fronting capabilities through the unified structural design.
Solution Approach 2:
While the overall structure is monolithic, the base assembly is designed with segmented functional zones: a mounting plate portion for attachment, a base assembly portion with intermediate and receiving portions for structural flexibility, and a street furniture receiving portion for supporting elements. This segmentation of function within a unified structure allows for optimized performance without requiring multiple manufacturing stages.
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 polyurethane base assembly provides resistance to deflection and rotation without additional components, ensuring street furniture remains upright and oriented correctly after impacts, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs while enhancing durability.
Implementation Method 1
the polyurethane material from which the base assembly is formed has a hardness of from 70 to 100 on the Shore A hardness scale
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3
Figure 4a~6
AI summary
A street furniture system comprising a mounting plate, a plurality of street furniture base assemblies and a plurality of street furniture elements, wherein the mounting plate defines two or more base assembly mounting locations, a base assembly is secured to each base assembly mounting location, and each base assembly supports a respective street furniture element; and wherein each base assembly is formed as a monolithic component from a polyurethane polymer and defines a base mounting portion and an elongate street furniture receiving portion projecting from the base mounting portion, the base mounting portion comprising one or more fixing elements via which each base assembly is secured to its respective mounting location.