Portable folding table
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of portable folding tables that can be conveniently used on the go and at various events, such as concerts, sporting events, or picnics, and can be worn on a person or used as a lap table, while also being foldable and storable in a small device.
Innovation Solution
A portable folding table design featuring sliding hinge locks that secure the panels in both flat and folded positions, with optional telescoping legs, cup holders, and straps for wearing around the neck or waist, made from materials like plastic, wood, or metal, allowing it to be compact and versatile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional foldable tables with pivotally attached legs are used, then the table can be moved between use and storage positions, but the table becomes big and cannot be conveniently carried around to events or picnics
Solution Approach 1:
The table is divided into multiple panels (first panel, second panel, third panel, fourth panel) that can be folded relative to each other along edges, allowing the table to be segmented into smaller portable units while maintaining functionality when assembled
Solution Approach 2:
The panels are designed to fold nested against each other along the edges, with each panel containing or accommodating adjacent panels in a compact configuration, similar to nested dolls, enabling the table to collapse into a small portable form factor
2Adaptability or versatility
If trays or boxes are used to hold food, then food can be transported, but these solutions are not foldable and cannot be conveniently reused, stored away or worn on a person
Solution Approach 1:
The table structure incorporates dynamic folding mechanisms with hinges and locks that allow the table to transition between expanded usable state and collapsed storage state, enabling repeated use and convenient storage while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The table design provides multiple functions: it can be used as a portable table surface, folded into compact storage, worn on a person via straps, and repeatedly assembled and disassembled, making it a universal solution for various portable needs
3Reliability
If sliding hinge locks are added to secure panels in flat and folded positions, then the table can be locked securely during use and stored, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding hinge locks are designed to be operated by the user through simple sliding motion, where the user themselves secures the panels in position without requiring additional tools or complex mechanisms, making the locking system self-service and user-friendly
Data Source
AI summary
A portable folding table comprising: a first panel, a second panel, a first rotating hinge configured to couple with the first and the second panels. The first rotating hinge is configured to allow the first and second panels to move between a flat position and a folded position. The portable folding table further comprises a first rail and a first sliding hinge coupled with the first rail and configured to move between a first position and a second position on the first rail. The first sliding hinge in the second position prevents the first rotating hinge from rotating and prevents the first and second panels from moving from the flat position to the folded position.