Self-Supporting Sign Single Fold Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-supporting signs require complex configurations, such as folding and adhesive coupling, and often necessitate large material amounts, making them cumbersome and inefficient to deploy and store.
Innovation Solution
A self-supporting sign design featuring a unitary sheet with a base and upper portion that can be folded once about a central line, allowing the sign to transition from a planar to a use configuration with the base horizontal and upper portion raised, using a rigid laminate construction and retaining members for data and item support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If multiple folds and adhesive couplings are used to construct the sign, then the sign can stand without a separable base, but the device complexity and material requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sign is divided into distinct functional segments: a base portion for support and an upper portion for displaying information. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, achieving stability without requiring complex multi-step construction procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The fold line is pre-defined during manufacturing, creating a permanent crease that enables easy deployment. The sign is prepared in advance with the fold line positioned optimally, so that during use, the user simply needs to fold along the pre-defined line rather than performing complex assembly operations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple folds and adhesive couplings are used to construct the sign, then the sign can stand without a separable base, but the manufacturing time and material quantity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fold line is pre-defined during manufacturing, creating a permanent crease that enables easy deployment. The sign is prepared in advance with the fold line positioned optimally, so that during use, the user simply needs to fold along the pre-defined line rather than performing complex assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary construction steps (multiple folds, adhesive couplings) while retaining the essential function of creating a stable standing sign. By removing these redundant operations, the deployment process is significantly simplified and accelerated.
3Ease of operation
If a unitary sheet with single fold is used, then deployment and storage are simplified, but the sign must rely on inherent rigidity to maintain configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The material properties are optimized to achieve the right balance between rigidity and flexibility. The sign material is selected and engineered to provide sufficient structural strength to maintain the folded configuration while remaining easy to manipulate during deployment and storage operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The sign is divided into distinct functional segments: a base portion for support and an upper portion for displaying information. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, achieving stability without requiring complex multi-step construction procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Self-supporting signs and methods of manufacturing are provided. One self-supporting sign includes a generally planar base portion and a generally planar upper portion extending from the base. The upper portion is foldable relative to the base about a fold line for movement between a storage configuration in which the base and upper portions are generally coplanar and a use configuration in which the base is generally horizontal and the upper portion is raised relative to the base. Only folding about the fold line is necessary to move from the storage configuration to the use configuration, and the base and upper portions are sufficiently rigid such that the upper portion remains at the use configuration after being moved to the use configuration. At least one of the base portion and the upper portion has a removable section independently usable for carrying data.