Tripod Foot Tube Locking Structure Against Inward Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tripods lack effective mechanisms to constrain the foot tube from folding inward, leading to instability and potential collapse under strong acting forces, such as those generated by recoil from firearms.
Innovation Solution
A foot tube locking structure featuring a gimbal base with locking tooth grooves and a locking mechanism that includes a locking element and a locking rod, which constrains the locking element from separating from the grooves, preventing the foot tube from folding inward.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the manual control plate is engaged with the tooth-shaped boss to lock the foot tube, then the foot tube is constrained from flipping outward, but the foot tube can still be folded inward, affecting stability or causing collapse under strong acting forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional locking approach by designing the locking tooth on the foot tube and the locking groove on the control plate, rather than the conventional configuration. This inversion enables bidirectional locking capability where the foot tube cannot flip outward due to the locking tooth-groove engagement, and cannot be folded inward due to the elastic element's restoring force, thereby solving the stability issue under strong acting forces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of strong acting forces (recoil forces) that could cause foot tube folding into a beneficial locking mechanism. The elastic element is pre-loaded to exert a locking force that counteracts the external forces, transforming the potential failure mode into a stable locked state that prevents both outward flipping and inward folding
2Device complexity
If the foot tube locking structure uses a simple engagement mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the foot tube cannot be effectively constrained from folding inward under strong acting forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the locking function in a specific localized area through the locking tooth and locking groove engagement. The elastic element is positioned at a critical location to provide localized restoring force, creating a simple yet effective locking mechanism that prevents both outward and inward movement without requiring complex structures throughout the entire assembly
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
The locking mechanism effectively prevents the foot tube from folding inward, enhancing tripod stability and preventing collapse under strong acting forces.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element is configured to apply an outward movement acting force to the locking plate
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a foot tube locking structure for a tripod, including a gimbal base and a foot tube, where one end of the foot tube is rotatably connected to the gimbal base, a locking tooth base is disposed on the gimbal base, a plurality of locking tooth grooves are arranged on the locking tooth base along a rotating direction of the foot tube, a locking element embedded into any one of the locking tooth grooves is movably disposed on the foot tube, a locking mechanism is disposed on the foot tube, and the locking mechanism is configured to perform position locking on the locking element, to constrain the locking element from separating from the locking tooth groove. According to the present invention, based on the locking mechanism, the foot tube may be prevented from being folded inward, use stability of the tripod may be effectively improved.