Tripod Leg Engagement Tube for Quick Length Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional extension/retraction devices for tripods and similar equipment face challenges in achieving quick and precise length adjustment due to reliance on frictional engagement, which can lead to instability under heavy loads and user safety issues, and often require complex radial strokes for engagement.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a cylindrical movable leg section with a spiral length adjustment member, an engagement tube that pivots about the leg's center, and an extension/retraction member that biases the engagement tube to facilitate easy length adjustment without a long radial stroke, ensuring reliable engagement and reduced risk of interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a displacement member is used to frictionally engage with an engagement member for affixing the movable leg, then the leg position can be held, but the structure becomes complex and operation takes time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the displacement member from the engagement mechanism, replacing it with a simple engagement member that has an engagement section. This simplifies the structure by removing unnecessary components while maintaining the leg position holding function through the biasing member that automatically engages the movable leg at desired positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement member is designed to automatically engage and hold the movable leg position through the biasing member without requiring additional displacement mechanisms. The system serves itself by using the natural biasing force to maintain engagement, eliminating the need for complex manual operation components.
2Reliability
If the engagement section penetrates a long distance through the length adjustment member, then reliable engagement is achieved, but the device size increases and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the engagement section penetrate deeply through the length adjustment member, the patent inverts the approach by having the engagement section contact the length adjustment member at its end surface. This reverses the engagement direction, achieving reliable engagement with minimal penetration distance, thus reducing device size and complexity.
3Reliability
If the engagement tube is fixed without pivoting capability, then the structure is simple, but the engagement section cannot reliably engage with the length adjustment member
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement tube is designed with pivoting capability, transforming it from a static fixed structure to a dynamic adjustable component. This allows the engagement section to reliably engage with the length adjustment member by adjusting its angle, while the pivoting mechanism remains simple and does not significantly increase overall device complexity.
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
This configuration allows for efficient fine-tuning of the leg length, enhances user safety by preventing accidental pinching, and simplifies maintenance by eliminating exposed components, while maintaining a compact device size.
Implementation Method 1
an extension/retraction member, which is installed in parallel with the length adjustment member in the movable leg section, for biasing the engagement tube in a direction of separating from the movable leg section
Data Source
AI summary
An extension/retraction device includes a cylindrical stationary leg section having a base at the upper end thereof, a cylindrical movable leg section in which the stationary leg section is fitted so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction, an engagement tube having an upper end formed in a stepped shape and installed in the stationary leg section so as to be coaxial with the movable leg section and so as to be pivotable about the cylinder axis of the movable leg section, a pressing spring installed within both the movable leg section and the stationary leg section, a pulling spring held within the pressing spring, a guide tube having an upper end affixed to the base and installed in the engagement tube, an engagement section fitted to the lower end of the engagement tube, and a spacer installed between the lower end of the guide tube and the engagement tube.