Ball-and-Socket Tree Stand for Crooked Trunk Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Decorative and natural trees with non-straight trunks pose challenges in being properly oriented and secured in stands, often requiring cutting or difficult adjustments to achieve a desirable stance.
Innovation Solution
A stand design featuring a hollow cylindrical base with support legs, a securing portion with a ball-and-socket mechanism, and locking members that allows for adjustable orientation and secure fastening of objects, accommodating crooked trunks and enabling easy adjustment and locking of the object's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional fixed stand is used to support a tree, then the tree can be held in position, but trees with non-straight trunks cannot be properly oriented without cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the securing portion rotatable and tiltable within the base portion through a ball-and-socket mechanism. This allows the securing portion to dynamically adjust its orientation to match irregular tree trunk shapes, eliminating the need for cutting while enabling proper orientation of decorative trees with non-straight trunks
2Adaptability or versatility
If the securing portion is made fixed to simplify the structure, then manufacturing is easier, but adjustment of object orientation becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the stand into distinct functional components: a base portion and a separately movable securing portion. This segmentation allows the securing portion to be independently positioned and oriented within the base, providing adjustability while keeping each component relatively simple in design
Solution Approach 2:
The ball-and-socket mechanism enables the securing portion to rotate and tilt independently within the base portion, providing multi-degree-of-freedom adjustment capability. This dynamic mechanism allows orientation adjustment without requiring complex actuation systems, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity
3Stability of the object's composition
If locking members are added to fix the securing portion in position, then orientation stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking members are designed to be manually operable by the user without requiring additional tools or complex mechanisms. The user can directly engage or disengage the locking members to secure or adjust the tree orientation, making the system self-sufficient and avoiding the need for motorized or pneumatic locking systems that would increase complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A stand may be provided. The stand may include a base portion. The base portion may be a hollow cylinder with an open top, capable of retaining liquid. The base portion may also have support legs extending therefrom. There may be brace members situated within the base portion that may form a socket for receiving a securing portion. The securing portion may be able to rotate and tilt within the socket formed by the brace members. The securing portion may be a hollow sphere with receiving aperture defined by an open ended cylinder extending therefrom. There may be locking members for locking the securing portion in a desired orientation and there may be fastening members for securing an object within the securing portion.