Shapeable Support Stand Structure for Wide Items on Uneven Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support stands for personal items like cameras and phones are limited in their ability to accommodate items wider than themselves and fail to adapt to both even and uneven surfaces effectively.
Innovation Solution
A shapeable support stand comprising a pliable fabric backing member with a shapeable filler, a footer member, and a spacer member, allowing the stand to adjust its shape to support items of varying sizes and angles on different surfaces, including irregular ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid support stand structure is used, then it can provide stable support, but it cannot accommodate items wider than the stand itself or adapt to uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The support stand incorporates a flexible backing member made of pliable material that can deform and conform to irregular surfaces and different item shapes, while still providing stable support through the distributed filler material within its structure
Solution Approach 2:
The backing member's physical parameters (shape, density, firmness) can be changed by adjusting the filler material composition and distribution, allowing the same structure to adapt to various items and surface conditions while maintaining stability
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size opening is provided in the heel section, then the holder structure remains simple, but it cannot hold items whose width exceeds the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The support stand is designed with a universal opening structure that can accommodate items of various widths through the flexible backing member, which adjusts its shape to match different item dimensions without requiring multiple specialized openings or complex adjustment mechanisms
3Adaptability or versatility
If the backing member is made of rigid material, then it maintains its shape, but it cannot modify its shape to accommodate the desired slant of the item or adapt to irregular surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The backing member transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can change its shape in response to item placement and surface conditions, while the filler material provides internal stability to maintain the new configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The backing member combines pliable material with filler material to create a composite structure that exhibits both flexibility for shape adaptation and internal stability for maintaining the adapted configuration under load
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
The solution enables stable support of items wider than the stand on various surfaces, including sloped and uneven ones, by reshaping to accommodate the item's slant and surface irregularities, providing versatile and adaptable support.
Implementation Method 1
The backing member is provided by a pliable fabric containing a shapeable filler such as beads and is configured to provide a generally rectangular bottom (when placed on a horizontal surface), generally triangular sides and a generally triangular front face. The item to be supported is positioned in the channel between the backing member and the footer member and leaned against the backing member, which will modify its shape (due to the filler therein) to accommodate the desired slant of the item.
Implementation Method 2
The backing member is provided by a pliable fabric containing a shapeable filler such as beads. The footer member is provided by a pliable fabric covering an elongated insert. The spacer member is also provided by a pliable fabric, the pliable fabric of all three members preferably being a single piece of pliable fabric suitably stitched. The shapeable support stand can be placed on flat surfaces, or on irregular or sloped surfaces and still function as a support stand due to the shapeable nature of the backing member and the pliability of the spacer member.
Data Source
AI summary
A shapeable support stand for items such as portable phones and cameras includes a shapeable backing member, a footer member and a spacer member therebetween, the spacer member providing a channel between the backing member and the footer member which is open at both ends and thus can accommodate items having widths greater than that of the support stand. The support stand can be made from a single piece of pliable fabric which is sewn to provide all three members, with the pliable fabric of the backing member containing a shapeable filler such as beads. The pliable fabric is advantageously microsuade, and the footer member can contain an elongated insert such as a tube of closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam.