Pivoting Room Service Table With Drawer Warmer for Legroom and Nesting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing room service tables in hotels face challenges with limited legroom due to food warmers, which obstruct comfortable seating and require separate storage, taking up additional space when collapsed.
Innovation Solution
A room service table design featuring a moveable, pivotally connected table top and legs that can tilt upwards for nesting, incorporating an insulated drawer with a heating element as a food warmer, allowing for integrated storage without removing the warmer, and a lift mechanism using an articulated quadrilateral mechanism assisted by a gas strut.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a food warmer is placed on the room service table, then food warmth is maintained, but leg room is reduced and comfortable seating is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the food warmer function directly into the drawer unit of the room service table. The drawer itself is insulated and contains a heating element, combining the storage and warming functions into a single integrated component rather than using a separate food warmer box on the table surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawer unit serves multiple functions: it provides food storage, acts as an insulated container, contains a heating element for warming food, and functions as part of the table structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate food warmer equipment that would occupy table space.
2Temperature
If a separate food warmer is used, then food warmth is maintained, but additional storage space is required when collapsed
Solution Approach 1:
The food warmer functionality is merged into the drawer unit, which is already part of the table's collapsible structure. When the table is collapsed for storage, the drawer unit folds along with the table frame, eliminating the need for separate storage of a food warmer box.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawer unit is designed to nest within the table structure when collapsed. The insulated drawer with heating element folds into the compact table frame, similar to a nested doll configuration, maximizing space efficiency during storage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the table top is fixed, then structural stability is maintained, but nesting of multiple tables is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable connection mechanism between the table top and legs that allows the table top to pivot and tilt. This dynamic capability enables the table top to be tilted upward for nesting while maintaining stability during normal use through a locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the table top and legs is segmented into movable joints rather than a fixed rigid connection. This segmentation allows independent movement of the table top relative to the legs, enabling tilting and nesting operations while maintaining structural integrity.
4Ease of operation
If more leg room is provided for comfortable seating, then guest comfort is improved, but storage efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The table is designed with collapsible legs and a movable table top that can be tilted for nesting. During use, the table provides full leg room for guest comfort. During storage, the entire structure collapses to a compact form factor, maximizing storage efficiency without compromising comfort during operation.
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
This design provides comfortable seating with sufficient leg clearance, integrates a food warmer for maintaining meal warmth, and enables efficient storage by nesting multiple tables, reducing service time and handling-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
A gas strut may be utilised to assist with lifting of the table top to the tilted orientation
Implementation Method 2
The drawer may be an insulated drawer to act as a food warmer
Implementation Method 3
The drawer may additionally include a heating element to ensure heat within the drawer is maintained
Data Source
AI summary
A room service table, including a table top having two opposing edges; at least two opposing legs adjacent a respective opposing edge, for supporting the table top, the legs having wheels for rolling the table along a surface; a drawer located underneath of the table top for receiving food for room service delivery; wherein the table top is moveably connected to the opposing legs, and whereby the table top and drawer can be tilted upwards with respect to both of the opposing legs to allow nesting together of two or more like room service tables.