Table with molded plastic table top
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional banquet tables are cumbersome due to their large size, weight, and complex assembly requirements, leading to increased storage, transportation, and manufacturing costs, as well as potential damage from heavy materials and sharp edges.
Innovation Solution
A molded plastic table top with a hollow interior and integrated support structures, featuring a frame with side rails and depressions that allow for a lightweight, strong, and easily assembled design, enabling nesting for reduced storage space and easy transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If table tops are constructed from heavy materials like wood, particle board or metal, then the table top strength and durability are improved, but the table weight increases making it difficult to move and increasing shipping costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining a plastic table top with integrated wood blocking and particle board substrate. This composite structure provides the strength of heavy materials while maintaining the weight advantages of plastic, resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by strategically placing wood blocking and particle board substrate only in specific areas where structural support is needed, rather than using heavy materials throughout the entire table top. This provides strength where required while minimizing overall weight.
2Weight of moving object
If light-weight materials like plastic are used for table tops, then the table weight is reduced making it easier to move, but the table top strength decreases requiring additional reinforcing members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the plastic table top with integrated wood blocking and particle board substrate into a single composite structure. This combination maintains the lightweight advantage of plastic while incorporating the strength of wood and particle board where needed, eliminating the need for separate reinforcing members.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining a plastic table top with integrated wood blocking and particle board substrate. This composite structure provides the strength of heavy materials while maintaining the weight advantages of plastic, resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
3Strength
If additional reinforcing members, braces, brackets and fasteners are added to strengthen the plastic table top, then the table top strength is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reinforcing elements (wood blocking and particle board substrate) directly into the table top structure during molding. This integration eliminates the need for separate reinforcing members and fasteners, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-integrating the wood blocking and particle board substrate into the table top during the molding process. This preliminary incorporation of strengthening elements eliminates the need for subsequent assembly steps involving separate reinforcing members and fasteners.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional tables with large table tops and folding legs are designed, then the table functionality and versatility are improved, but the storage area required increases making it problematic for facilities with limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by designing the table legs to fold into and nest within the hollow interior portion of the table top. This nesting arrangement allows the table to be compacted to a minimal storage footprint while maintaining full functionality when deployed, resolving the contradiction between versatility and storage space requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A table may include a molded plastic table top with an upper surface, a lower surface and a hollow interior portion disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface. The upper surface, lower surface and hollow interior portion of the table top may be integrally formed during the molding process as part of a unitary, one-piece construction. The table may also include a side rail of a frame connected to the lower surface of the table top and a plurality of depressions disposed between the side rail and the upper surface of the table top. The plurality of depressions may be integrally formed in the lower surface of the table top during the molding process as part of the unitary, one-piece construction. The plurality of depressions may be sized and configured to support the portion of the table top disposed above the side rail of the frame.