Strap-Suspended Adjustable Table for Precise Manual Height Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Height-adjustable tables with hydraulic or motorized mechanisms are bulky, heavy, and inflexible, making them unsuitable for frequent position changes and space-efficient storage.

Innovation Solution

A table design featuring a height-adjustable tabletop supported by straps that connect to side walls, allowing manual, stepless height adjustment and easy folding for compact storage, using a system of bands and a winding shaft with a hand crank for precise control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If hydraulic or motorized mechanisms are used for height adjustment, then height adjustment comfort is improved, but device weight and bulk increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustment comfortVSAvoidsupport structure weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex hydraulic or motorized mechanisms with a simple manual crank mechanism. The crank converts rotational motion into linear motion of the support leg, enabling height adjustment through manual operation. This substitution eliminates heavy hydraulic cylinders or motors while maintaining adjustability functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and removes the heavy hydraulic or motorized components from the support structure, retaining only the essential height adjustment functionality through a simplified manual mechanism. This extraction reduces overall device weight and bulk while preserving the core function of height adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If hydraulic or motorized mechanisms are used for height adjustment, then height adjustment precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustment precisionVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex hydraulic control systems or motorized actuators with a simple manual crank mechanism. The crank provides direct mechanical control over the support leg position, achieving sufficient height adjustment precision without the complexity of fluid pressure control or electrical motor control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The height adjustment mechanism is segmented into discrete rotational positions of the crank, which correspond to specific height positions of the table. This segmentation allows for controlled, precise height adjustments through discrete crank rotations rather than continuous complex control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If traditional support structures are used, then table top stability is improved, but storage space efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetable top stabilityVSAvoidstorage space requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The support structures are designed to be dynamically adjustable between extended and retracted positions. When the table is not in use, the support legs can be folded or retracted to minimize the storage footprint, while during use they extend to provide stable support for the table top.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support structures are designed to nest or fold into a compact configuration when not in use. The legs can be folded against each other or nested within the table frame, allowing the entire table to occupy minimal storage space while maintaining full functionality during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Ease of manufacture

If fixed height tables are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoiduser position adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The table incorporates dynamically adjustable support structures that allow the table height to be changed according to different user needs. This dynamic capability enables the same table to accommodate both sitting and standing work positions, as well as different user heights, while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing through the use of standardized adjustable components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables convenient, efficient, and precise height adjustment without the need for electricity, while allowing the table to be easily folded and stored, addressing the limitations of bulkiness and inflexibility in existing designs.

Implementation Method 1

a winding shaft, with the at least one belt running over the winding shaft so that it can be wound onto the winding shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWinding shaft mechanism: Differential Windlass

Data Source

PatentEP3200653B1Height-adjustable table
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 VITRA PATENTE AG
  • EP3200653B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3200653B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3200653B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a table having a height-adjustable table top and supporting structures, the table top is secured on the supporting structures so that the supporting structures support the table top. The supporting structures are placeable on a floor. The table includes at least one band which connects the supporting structures and the table top to each other, so that the table top is supported by the supporting structures in that it hangs at the supporting structures with the aid of the band. The table permits a simple, convenient, quick and precise adjustment of the height of the table top according to the needs of the respective user of the table.