Touch Screen Support Arms for Variable Ground Clearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing support devices for large touch screens face difficulties in navigating uneven floors and obstacles due to fixed ground clearance, making them hard to move over small steps or inclined ramps, which hinders their deployment in external operational sites.

Innovation Solution

A support device with oscillating arms equipped with gas springs and directional wheels, allowing adjustable ground clearance and enhanced stability, facilitating easy transport and deployment on varied terrain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the support device has a fixed ground clearance, then it provides stable support for the touch screen, but it becomes difficult to move on floors with variations in level such as steps or inclined ramps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility on varied terrainVSAvoidground clearance stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support device employs oscillating arms that can dynamically adjust their angle relative to the base, transforming the fixed ground clearance into a variable parameter. This allows the device to adapt its ground clearance to different terrain conditions while maintaining stability during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device changes the parameter of ground clearance by allowing the oscillating arms to pivot between different angular positions. This parameter change enables the base to either elevate for mobility or lower for stability depending on operational requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the support device uses oscillating arms with elastic means, then it achieves variable ground clearance for easy transport, but it requires additional locking means to maintain position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevariable ground clearanceVSAvoidlocking mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic means (gas springs) automatically provide the force necessary to maintain the oscillating arms in their desired angular positions without requiring active control systems. The locking means simply needs to hold the position, while the elastic elements do the work of maintaining that position against gravitational and operational forces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the support device has directional wheels, then it improves steering capability, but it increases the complexity of the wheel assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesteering capabilityVSAvoidwheel assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the wheel itself, the directional control mechanism, and the connection to the oscillating arm. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while simplifying the overall design and maintenance of the steering system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 easy transport and deployment on external operational sites by providing variable ground clearance and increased stability, overcoming obstacles like steps and ramps with improved mobility and stability.

Implementation Method 1

the elastic means comprises at least one gas spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas spring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3784950B1Supporting device for a touch screen
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 KNDS FRANCE
  • EP3784950B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3784950B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3784950B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a supporting device (1) for a touch screen (100), the screen (100) being capable of being fixedly joined to the device (1) in the region of a vertical foot (2) which is connected to a base (4), which device (1) is characterised in that the base (4) comprises at least two pivoting arms (5) which are arranged on either side of the foot (2), the arms (5) each comprising, in the region of a first end (5a), a horizontal pivot connection which is fixedly joined to the base (4) and at least one pair of wheels (7) in the region of the second end (5b) thereof, the device (1) comprising at least one resilient means which is connected to each arm (5) and which is arranged so as to provide a force which tends to compensate for the weight of the device (1) which is provided with the screen (100), the device (1) comprising a means (16) for blocking the angular displacement of the arms (5) relative to the base (4).