Portable Table-Bench Assembly With Nested Folding Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable picnic tables remain bulky even in their folded and disassembled configurations, and parts such as fasteners and structural components can be easily misplaced during disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A portable table assembly with a movable bench that transitions between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, where the table and bench collectively reduce in size by at least half in both width and height, utilizing pivotable and sliding mechanisms to facilitate compact storage and transportation, and incorporating features like removable table tops and benches to prevent loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the picnic table is folded and disassembled for storage, then the storage space requirement is reduced, but the table remains bulky and parts can be easily misplaced
Solution Approach 1:
The bench is designed to nest within the table structure when collapsed, with the bench seat and backrest fitting into the table's frame and leg assembly. This nesting arrangement significantly reduces the overall storage volume compared to separate storage, while keeping all components connected and organized to prevent misplacement
Solution Approach 2:
The table and bench are merged into a single integrated assembly through movable couplings. The bench is attached to the table legs via hinges and sliding mechanisms, allowing the entire assembly to fold together as one unit. This merging eliminates the need to store separate components and prevents parts from being misplaced during storage preparation
2Ease of operation
If the picnic table uses removable seating portions for easy storage, then the disassembly process becomes simpler, but fasteners and structural components can be easily misplaced
Solution Approach 1:
The bench is permanently attached to the table structure through movable couplings (hinges and sliding mechanisms) rather than being completely removable. This merging ensures that all structural components and fasteners remain connected to the main assembly, eliminating the risk of misplacement while still allowing the bench to be folded and collapsed for storage
3Shape
If the picnic table is designed with foldable legs and seating portions, then the table can be collapsed into a flat configuration, but the collapsed size is still too large for convenient storage
Solution Approach 1:
The bench components (seat and backrest) are designed to nest within the table's frame structure when collapsed. The bench folds inward toward the table center and fits into the space between the table legs, reducing the overall collapsed volume to approximately half of conventional designs. This nesting is achieved through coordinated hinge mechanisms that guide the bench into the compact position
Solution Approach 2:
The table and bench assembly utilizes three-dimensional folding mechanisms that collapse the structure in multiple directions simultaneously. The legs fold horizontally while the bench folds vertically and inward, transforming the extended rectangular prism into a compact, multi-layered configuration that optimizes space utilization in all dimensions
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a table and a bench movably coupled to the table. The table and the bench collectively have a first configuration and a second configuration. The table has a first width when the table and the bench are in the first configuration. The table and the bench collectively have a first height when the table and the bench are in the first configuration. The table and the bench collectively have a second width and a second height when the table and the bench are in the second configuration. The second width is less than half of the first width, and the second height is less than half of the first width.