Telescopic Post With Retractable Caster For Folding Shelter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible shelters are limited in size due to structural rigidity and weight-bearing capacity, and their telescopic uprights face issues with rigidity and ease of positioning, requiring cumbersome wheel removal during assembly and disassembly.
Innovation Solution
The telescopic uprights are designed with a lower element sliding inside an upper element, featuring integral movement means like wheels that emerge below the base in the folded position and disappear in the deployed position, along with guide means and reinforcing plates for enhanced stability and ease of handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If telescopic uprights use a lower element sliding inside an upper element, then the structure achieves compactness in folded position, but the rigidity of the assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lower element is nested inside the upper element to achieve compact folding. The telescopic design allows the lower element to slide within the upper element, enabling the structure to compact into a smaller volume for storage and transport while maintaining structural integrity when deployed.
2Ease of operation
If wheels are added to the base for positioning, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheels are integrated directly into the base structure, merging the positioning function with the existing support element. This combination eliminates the need for separate positioning mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining ease of operation during assembly and disassembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lower element is made of smaller section to fit inside upper element, then telescopic function is achieved, but rigidity of the assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cross-sectional dimensions of the lower element are optimized locally to fit within the upper element while maintaining adequate rigidity. The geometry of both elements is specifically designed to provide sufficient structural strength at the reduced size required for telescopic operation, achieving a balance between adaptability and stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a telescopic post (8) for a folding structure, which can be used to move the structure from a raised deployed position to a folded position and vice versa. The inventive post (8) includes a lower element (9) which can slide inside an upper element (10) which is solidly connected to the structure, the lower part (14) of said lower element (9) resting on the ground to form a base (11). The invention is characterised in that the upper element (10) is solidly connected to movement means, such as at least one caster (22), such that the caster (22) projects downward from the base (11) in the folded position but is withdrawn in the deployed position owing to the vertical movement of the upper element (10). The invention also relates to one such structure which is provided with the inventive post.