Support Stand Ratchet Slider for Stable Screen Angle Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support stands for flat-panel electronic devices suffer from screen wobbling and unstable support due to backlash in gear/rack mechanisms, and the angle adjustment process is time-consuming and strenuous.
Innovation Solution
A support stand design featuring a slider with rotatable ratchets and pawls that engage with racks, allowing smooth angle adjustments through longitudinal sliding, and a release member for intuitive angle control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gear/rack positioning mechanism is used to enable segmented angle adjustments, then the support angle can be adjusted in segments, but backlash between gear and rack causes screen wobbling and unstable support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional gear/rack positioning mechanism with a slider-ratchet mechanism. The slider moves along a rack with ratchet teeth, engaging with pawls to lock at different positions. This substitution eliminates the backlash problem inherent in gear/rack systems while maintaining the segmented angle adjustment capability, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and support stability.
2Ease of operation
If a gear/rack positioning mechanism with pull handle is used, then angle adjustment is possible, but the process becomes time-consuming and strenuous
Solution Approach 1:
The slider-ratchet mechanism is designed to be operated directly by the user's hand motion along the rack, without requiring a separate pull handle. The slider itself serves the dual function of positioning and releasing the ratchet engagement, making the adjustment process more self-service oriented and reducing the time and effort required for angle changes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a gear/rack mechanism is used, then angle adjustment can be achieved, but additional pull handle operation is required for both increasing and reducing support angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional gear/rack mechanism by using a slider that moves along a rack with ratchet teeth. The pawls engage with the ratchet teeth to lock the slider at different positions. This inverted approach allows intuitive bidirectional adjustment: the user simply moves the slider along the rack in the desired direction, and the ratchet-pawl mechanism automatically locks at appropriate positions, eliminating the need for separate pull handle operations for increasing or decreasing angles.
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 provides stable support and intuitive angle adjustment, eliminating screen wobbling and reducing the effort required for angle changes, enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The first ratchet is rotatably disposed on the slider. The first ratchet has a plurality of first ratchet teeth and is engaged with the first rack.
Implementation Method 2
The first stop arm stops the first stop surface for unfolding the connection base on the support base via the connection arm
Implementation Method 3
When the connection base stops pivoting and presses the connection arm by gravity to rotate the first ratchet in the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A support stand includes a support base, a connection base connected to an electronic device and pivoted to the support base, a slider, a connection arm, a ratchet, a pawl and a release member. The slider is slidably disposed through a longitudinal slot of the connection base. The connection arm is pivoted to the support base and the slider for slide the slider along the longitudinal slot. The ratchet is pivoted to the slider and engaged with a rack of the connection base. The pawl is pivoted to the slider. The release member slides longitudinally to rotate a linkage arm of the pawl to disengage a stop arm of the pawl from the ratchet or release the linkage arm to drive the stop arm to stop the ratchet for supporting the connection base on the support base. When the connection base pivots upward, the stop arm slides along the ratchet.