Pivoting Cable Channel Structure for Table Legroom and Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable ducts on office and work tables are often positioned too low, making it difficult to access and manage cables efficiently, and existing solutions that allow for table displacement are not space-efficient and may restrict legroom.
Innovation Solution
A cable duct system that can be adjusted between a functional position close to the table top and a wiring position with increased clearance, using offset base bodies and pivoting retaining rails that allow the cable duct to be lowered for easy cabling and raised back for secure anchoring, utilizing a click mechanism and corrugations for frictional retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the cable duct is positioned close to the table top to save space and improve legroom, then space efficiency is improved, but accessibility for cable routing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cable duct is designed to be movable between a raised functional position (close to table top) and a lowered wiring position (with increased clearance). The retaining rails allow the cable duct to be dynamically adjusted between these positions, enabling easy cable access when needed while maintaining space efficiency during normal use.
2Ease of operation
If the cable duct is lowered to provide clearance space for cable routing, then accessibility is improved, but legroom is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The cable duct transitions from a static low-positioned design to a dynamic system that can be raised to a functional position close to the table top. This eliminates the need for permanent clearance space while maintaining accessibility during cable installation or maintenance through the lowering mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the cable duct is made displaceable or foldable to access the cable duct, then accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of complex foldable or displaceable table tops, the invention uses relatively simple retaining rails that allow the cable duct itself to move vertically. This provides the necessary accessibility with a simpler mechanism that only requires the cable duct and rails to be movable, not the entire table structure.
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
Enables easy and space-efficient access to the cable duct for routing and removal of cables without compromising legroom, providing a secure and efficient mechanism for transitioning between operational and cabling positions.
Implementation Method 1
the retaining rails are provided with a corrugation on one or at least preferably two opposite sides, preferably on their opposite narrow sides, the maximum outer spacing of which is adapted to the passage opening in the cable duct so that it is not freely longitudinal of the support rail can fall down when the support rail is swiveled down, but can be slowly pushed down due to the friction effect caused by this
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
An improved item of furniture, especially a table with a cable channel (3), is characterized by the following features: on a mounting device (9) there are base bodies (13) lying offset from one another and positioned in the longitudinal direction of the cable channel (3). On each of the base bodies (13) there is a support rail (25), each pivotable around a rotating axis (24), between a cabling position hanging down and a support position facing it and extending at least for the most part parallel to the cable channel (3). in the operating position the cable channel (3) is raised up so far that the rotating axis (24) lies underneath the cable channel (3).An abutment (25b), lying offset from the rotating axis (24), is constructed on the support rails (25), wherein the cable channel (3) in the dropped cabling position directly or indirectly rests on the abutment (25b) in a lower lying plane relative to the raised operating position.