Stepladder Bracket With Pivoting U-Shaped Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stepladders lack a stable fixation mechanism for heavy objects and fail to securely store the hanger when not in use, leading to potential detachment and noise issues during use.
Innovation Solution
The stepladder features a U-shaped shell element with side and transverse limbs that accommodate a pivoting bracket, where the bracket's side arms extend within cavities in a first position and are supported by the shell element in a second position, providing stable fixation and absorption of leverage forces, and includes plastic caps to prevent scratching and deformation of the bracket's ends for secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the bracket is made movable to allow easy storage and retrieval, then ease of operation is improved, but stability and reliability of fixation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed as a movable component that can pivot between a retracted position (stored against the shell element) and a deployed position (extending outward to support objects). This dynamic configuration allows the bracket to transition between ease of storage and operational stability, resolving the contradiction between mobility and fixation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
A pivot connection serves as an intermediary mechanism between the bracket and the shell element, enabling controlled movement while maintaining secure attachment. The pivot allows the bracket to rotate smoothly for easy storage while providing stable support when deployed, mediating between the conflicting requirements of mobility and reliability.
2Strength
If the bracket is extended outward to support heavy objects, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but the risk of detachment and noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is pre-configured with connection features (such as engagement elements or locking mechanisms) that are prepared in advance to securely attach to the shell element. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the bracket is extended to bear heavy loads, it maintains reliable connection and prevents detachment, resolving the contradiction between strength and reliability.
3Strength
If the bracket is made of rigid material to support heavy objects, then strength is improved, but abrasion and noise during movement occur
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket or its contact surfaces are constructed using composite material structures, combining rigid materials (for strength and load-bearing) with softer or low-friction materials (to reduce abrasion and noise). This composite approach allows the bracket to maintain structural integrity while minimizing harmful effects during movement, resolving the contradiction between strength and reduction of abrasion/noise.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a stepladder (10) comprising front stiles (12, 14) having steps (20, 22) extending therebetween, rear stiles (16, 18) connected to the front stiles in a hinged manner, a connecting member (34) extending between the top ends of the front stiles, and a U-shaped bracket (72), which extends from the connecting member so as to be able to swivel and/or slide and which spans a plane extending transversely to the stepladder in the usage position. In order to enable the bracket to be stably fixed in the usage state, and at the same time to ensure that the bracket is undetachable in particular when the ladder is not being used, the connecting member (34) has a through-hole in the area of each front stile (12, 14), said through-hole enabling a connection to the cavity of the front stiles, each through-hole is penetrated by a respective side limb of the bracket, in a first position of the bracket the side limbs of the bracket extend within the cavities and the cross limb be accommodated by the connecting member (34), and in a second position of the bracket, said bracket extends on the plane extending transversely to the stepladder (10) and the side limbs of the bracket extend outside the cavities and are supported at the ends on the connecting member (34), wherein at least one of the side limbs of the bracket has in the free end area thereof an effective cross-section that is greater than the effective cross-section of the through-hole.