Tripod Legs Assembled into Clamping Support Rod

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing measuring arrangements, such as laser measuring devices, face challenges in positioning the device at a desired height within a room without requiring precise adjustment of tripod leg lengths, which can be cumbersome and impractical.

Innovation Solution

The tripod legs are assembled to form a variable-length support rod, allowing the measuring device to be fixed along this rod, which can be clamped between room boundaries like a floor and ceiling, using integrated fixing and clamping elements, such as spring-loaded clamping elements or union nuts, to secure the device in place without needing exact leg length alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a separate clamping rod is used to position the measuring device at the desired height, then the device can be easily positioned, but the overall device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of positioningVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the tripod legs to form an integrated support rod structure, merging the positioning function into the existing tripod components rather than using a separate clamping rod. This eliminates the need for additional separate components while maintaining the ease of positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tripod legs are designed to serve dual purposes: providing structural support for the tripod and forming a clamping support rod for positioning the measuring device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate positioning components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining positioning ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If tripod leg lengths are precisely adjusted to achieve desired height positioning, then positioning accuracy improves, but the setup time and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsetup time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-loaded clamping element automatically adjusts and secures the support rod at the desired position without requiring manual precision adjustment of tripod leg lengths. The spring mechanism provides self-adjusting clamping force that maintains positioning accuracy while eliminating time-consuming manual adjustment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the positioning mechanism from precise tripod leg length adjustment to a spring-loaded clamping system that secures the support rod at various positions. This parameter change allows quick positioning at different heights without requiring precise adjustment of individual leg lengths, reducing setup time while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate components are used for positioning and clamping, then the adaptability to different room dimensions improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to room dimensionsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the tripod legs into a unified support rod structure that can be clamped between room boundaries. This integrated approach provides adaptability to different room dimensions while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate positioning components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated support rod formed by tripod legs serves multiple functions: providing structural support, enabling positioning at various heights, and allowing clamping between different room boundaries. This universal design achieves adaptability to different room dimensions without increasing device complexity through multiple specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 the measuring device to be easily and securely positioned at any desired height within a room, simplifying the setup process and eliminating the need for separate clamping rods, thus enhancing flexibility and ease of use.

Implementation Method 1

which is surrounded by a spring element such as a helical spring and is attached on the one hand to the outer tube and on the other hand to the tube or rod element. As a result, the tubular or rod element can be adjusted axially, with a force directed outwards via the spring element acting on the tubular or rod element.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP1767899B1Measuring apparatus
Publication Date: 2010.08.18 STABILA MESSGERATE GUSTAV ULLRICH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP1767899B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1767899B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP1767899B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Measuring arrangement has a measuring instrument (12) with a housing, which is detachably connected with a support. The support has a support head (16) and support legs (18, 20, 22), which length changeably come from the head and are deviated by rotatable or tiltable hinges (24, 26, 28). Two of the support legs are assembled with a length changeable grip bar clamped between two clippings, running at a distance to each other, of a cavity.