Paint Tray Stair Adaptor for Leveling on Uneven Steps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing paint trays are not compatible with various workbenches and cannot be used on unlevel surfaces such as stairwells or staircases, limiting their versatility and functionality in different painting and repair scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A multi-functional paint tray with a tray body featuring utility recesses for paint cans, stirrers, and brushes, along with a stair adaptor that includes a base, tubular leg seats, and locking mechanisms to secure the tray on uneven surfaces, allowing it to be used on staircases and small workbenches without sliding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard paint tray is used on unlevel surfaces such as staircases, then the tray cannot provide stable support or securement, but adding adaptation mechanisms increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The paint tray system is divided into separate functional modules: a standard tray body for paint containment and a detachable stair adaptor for stability on unlevel surfaces. This segmentation allows the tray to maintain simplicity for standard use while providing enhanced functionality when needed, resolving the contradiction between reliability on unlevel surfaces and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stair adaptor acts as an intermediary component between the paint tray and the unlevel staircase surface. It features adjustable legs with levelers that can be configured to match the specific geometry of staircase steps, providing stable support without requiring modification to the tray itself. This intermediary approach maintains simplicity while achieving reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a paint tray is designed for universal compatibility with various workbenches and surfaces, then adaptability improves, but the design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The paint tray is designed with universal compatibility features including a standardized base configuration that can interface with different workbench types, and an optional stair adaptor that enables use on staircases. The tray body includes recesses and attachment points that accommodate various configurations, providing multi-functionality without requiring multiple specialized trays.
Solution Approach 2:
The stair adaptor incorporates adjustable and movable components, including legs that can be positioned at different angles and levelers that can be adjusted to compensate for varying step heights. This dynamic adjustability allows the same adaptor to work on different staircase configurations and workbench types, enhancing adaptability without increasing fundamental design complexity.
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 tray provides stability and securement on both level and unlevel surfaces, ensuring paint containment and easy access to painting tools, enhancing usability in various locations and environments.
Implementation Method 1
A least one locking bar is shaped to engage an end of the mating member such that upon engagement by friction the mating member can be locked in place to secure the stair adaptor.
Data Source
AI summary
A tray for use during painting includes a stair adaptor for leveling the tray along stairs and maintaining the tray on a workbench. The tray body has at least one utility recess defined therein for situating paint cans, paint stirrers, and paint brushes. A roller tray is further defined within the tray body. A front cut-out is defined along the front which is well-suited to allow the tray to be secured to a workbench by way of workbench swivel pegs. Slots are defined within the underside traveling an entire width of the tray body. A stair adaptor is adapted to engage the slots. As a result, upon placement of the tray body on an upper step of a stairway the stair adaptor levels the tray while the base of the stair adaptor rests on an adjacent lower step.