Room service table
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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 with a pivoting and tilting table top mechanism, integrated with an insulated drawer serving as a food warmer, allowing the table to nest for storage without removing the warmer, utilizing a lift mechanism and gas strut for efficient space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a food warmer is placed on the room service table, then food can be kept warm, but leg room is limited and storage space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the food warmer function directly into the table structure by integrating a heating element within the table top, eliminating the need for a separate food warmer box. This merging of functions resolves the contradiction by providing food warming capability while maintaining adequate leg room, as the heating element occupies minimal space within the table structure itself rather than adding external volume.
2Temperature
If a food warmer is placed on the room service table, then food can be kept warm, but storage space increases when collapsed
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated within the table top structure, merging the food warming function into the existing table volume. This eliminates the need for a separate food warmer box that would need to be stored separately, thereby reducing the total storage volume when the table is collapsed.
Solution Approach 2:
The table features a nested design where the table top can be folded or collapsed into the table frame structure. The integrated heating element is positioned within the table top, allowing the entire assembly to be compacted efficiently for storage, minimizing the volume occupied during storage.
3Strength
If the table top is made rigid for stability, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability for different positions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The table top is designed with movable joints connecting it to the table frame, allowing the table top to be adjusted to different positions and angles. This dynamic design enables the table top to adapt to various configurations while maintaining structural strength through properly engineered joint connections, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.
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
Provides comfortable seating with sufficient leg clearance, integrates a food warmer for extended heat retention, and allows for compact 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 includes a heating element to ensure heat within the drawer is maintained
Implementation Method 3
The drawer is an insulated drawer to act as a food warmer
Data Source
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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.