Slidable Tile Track With Click-Lock Notches Against Unintended Sliding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slidable tile and track systems for sliding charts and similar applications face issues with round and rectangular tiles sliding unintentionally due to external forces or gravity, especially when the track is tilted, leading to frustration and potential jamming.
Innovation Solution
The system employs slidable tiles with peripheral notches that click into place with 'clicker' protrusions along the track, forming a locked engagement that resists gravity and external forces without requiring perfect fitment or machining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standard round or rectangular tiles are used in a track system, then the tiles can be easily manufactured and installed, but the tiles will unintentionally slide when the track is tilted or subjected to external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The tile is segmented with peripheral notches that divide the continuous periphery into discrete engagement points. These notches allow the tile to form locked engagements with the track at specific positions while maintaining ease of manufacture. The segmentation creates distinct locked positions without requiring complex tile geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The tile features asymmetric peripheral notches positioned at specific locations around the periphery. This asymmetric arrangement creates preferred locked positions where the notches engage with the track, preventing unintended sliding while maintaining simple tile manufacturing. The asymmetric notch placement ensures stability at discrete positions rather than continuous contact.
2Stability of the object's composition
If tiles are designed to resist sliding under gravity, then the tiles remain stable on tilted tracks, but the tiles require perfect fitment with the track which increases manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The track incorporates flexible rail segments that can dynamically adjust their position to accommodate variations in tile dimensions. The flexible rails bend to maintain proper engagement with the peripheral notches, allowing the system to compensate for manufacturing tolerances while maintaining stable locked positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the engagement parameter from continuous contact to discrete notched engagement. By using peripheral notches that click into place with the track, the system transforms the engagement mechanism to be less sensitive to dimensional variations, reducing the required manufacturing precision while maintaining stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If tiles are designed with precise fitment to prevent sliding, then the tiles remain stable, but the tiles will bind and jam if manufacturing is not perfect
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible rail segments provide dynamic adjustment capability that absorbs manufacturing variations. When tiles are moved along the track, the flexible rails can bend and adapt to slight dimensional differences, preventing binding and jamming while maintaining reliable movement and stable locked positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible rail acts as an intermediary element between the tile and the rigid track structure. It mediates the interaction by absorbing dimensional variations and preventing direct transmission of misalignment forces that would cause binding, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing stability.
4Ease of operation
If round objects are used to slide along the track, then the objects can move smoothly, but the objects cannot stay in place when subjected to external forces or gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous circular periphery is segmented with peripheral notches at specific positions. These notches create discrete locked positions where the tile can rest stably, while the spaces between notches allow smooth sliding movement. The segmentation transforms the round object from continuously unstable to discretely stable while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral notches are arranged periodically around the tile periphery, creating a series of discrete locked positions. As the tile slides, it periodically engages with these notches, providing stable resting positions at regular intervals while allowing smooth movement between positions, combining ease of operation with position stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A slidable tile and track system having a tile with one or more peripheral notches and a track having one or more track rails along which the tile rides there along. Each track rail extends in a longitudinal direction and co-planar but spaced apart from a supporting surface so that there is a gap between the track rail and the supporting surface. Each track rail having a distal rail protrusion extending therefrom and the rail protrusion dimensioned and shaped to form a locked engagement with each of the one or more peripheral notches, whereby the force of gravity by itself is insufficient to move the locked engagement to an unlocked engagement. Moreover, during the formation of the locked engagement, the track rail flexes into the gap and an audible click is produced when the biases track rail elastically snaps or flexes back into the peripheral notch.