Adjustable Slant Board With Nested Struts for Wide Tilt Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slant boards are complex, heavy, costly, unstable, and offer a limited range of adjustable angles, failing to provide a simple, lightweight, and ergonomically beneficial solution for viewing, reading, or working at convenient angles with hands-free object retention.
Innovation Solution
A slant board design featuring a table and base with pivotally coupled struts of varying lengths and pivot axes, engaging with stops to provide a broad range of adjustable tilt angles, made of lightweight molded plastic with a shelf and rotatable, telescopable retaining arms for secure object placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple struts with different lengths and pivot axes are used, then the range of adjustable tilt angles is increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing multiple struts of different lengths within a shared recess structure. The struts are arranged concentrically with longer struts forming the outer boundary and shorter struts nested inside, allowing multiple tilt angle adjustments while minimizing the overall footprint and structural complexity of the mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared recess structure serves multiple functions: it acts as a common mounting location for multiple struts, provides a unified storage area when struts are retracted, and establishes a consistent reference point for pivot axes. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate structural elements for each strut, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If struts are made longer to increase tilt angle range, then the adjustable range is improved, but the weight of the slant board increases
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting shorter struts within the space occupied by longer struts, the design achieves a broad tilt angle range without requiring each strut to be independently long. The concentric arrangement allows the system to achieve maximum extension equivalent to the longest strut while keeping the retracted profile compact, thereby minimizing weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The tilt angle adjustment mechanism is segmented into multiple discrete struts of varying lengths rather than using a single long strut. This segmentation allows the system to achieve the same or greater range of motion with shorter individual components, reducing the total material required and overall weight.
3Stability of the object's composition
If struts are positioned at different lateral pivot axes, then the stability at various angles is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pivot axes are merged into a shared recess structure that provides a common reference frame. By establishing a unified recess geometry, the patent reduces the number of independent alignment references from multiple separate mounting points to a single master template, thereby reducing cumulative tolerance errors and simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess structure is designed with locally optimized features at each pivot axis location, such as localized reinforcement ribs or precision-machined reference surfaces only where needed. This allows high precision to be applied only at critical pivot points rather than throughout the entire structure, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining stability.
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 design offers a stable, adjustable, and cost-effective slant board with a wide range of tilt angles from 5 to 55 degrees, enhancing ergonomic benefits and hands-free object retention, addressing the limitations of existing slant boards.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of struts, each strut pivotally coupled to the inner face along respective lateral pivot axes
Implementation Method 2
a base pivotally coupled to the table to define a tilt angle therebetween
Implementation Method 3
The plurality of stops may include laterally elongated grooves
Implementation Method 4
The at least one recess may include magnets for releasably engaging the struts
Implementation Method 5
The pair of retaining arms may be rotatable, telescopable and inwardly biased
Data Source
AI summary
A slant board for viewing, reading, or working an object at a convenient angle is provided. The slant board includes a table. The table includes an inner face, an outer face, and a plurality of struts, each strut pivotally coupled to the inner face along respective lateral pivot axes. The slant board also includes a base pivotally coupled to the table to define a tilt angle therebetween. The base includes a plurality of stops for engaging the struts. At least two struts have different lateral pivot axes and/or different lengths. Each of the plurality of struts is engageable with at least one of the plurality of stops to provide a range of tilt angles.