Tray with under-mattress mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bedside trays do not provide adequate support and adjustability for various user needs, such as holding devices, eating, writing, or assisting users in getting out of bed, while minimizing disruption to sleep and accommodating different mattress sizes.
Innovation Solution
A tray assembly with a planar support that extends under the mattress, an upright post, and an adjustable arm with a worksurface platform, featuring mechanisms for height, tilt, and secure attachment, along with optional ergonomic handles for enhanced usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional bedside tray is used, then it provides a surface for eating or writing, but it does not provide adequate support for various user needs such as holding devices or assisting users in getting out of bed
Solution Approach 1:
The bedside tray is designed with multiple functions including a worksurface for eating/writing, a device holder with adjustable positioning, and an integrated handle for assistance in getting out of bed. This multi-functional design allows a single device to serve various user needs without requiring multiple separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The tray incorporates adjustable components including height adjustment mechanism, tilt adjustment, and repositionable device holder that can be moved along tracks. These dynamic features allow the tray to adapt to different user preferences and activities while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
2Ease of operation
If an adjustable arm with multiple functions is added to the tray, then it provides height and tilt adjustments for better ergonomics, but it increases the complexity of the device
Solution Approach 1:
The arm assembly includes height adjustment capability and tilt adjustment mechanism that allow the worksurface to be positioned ergonomically. These adjustments are achieved through mechanical linkages and locking mechanisms that provide ease of operation while maintaining a manageable level of structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The arm is divided into multiple segments with independent adjustment capabilities - height adjustment at the base and tilt adjustment at the worksurface connection. This segmentation allows each degree of freedom to be controlled separately through simple mechanisms rather than a complex integrated system
3Reliability
If the tray is designed to extend under the mattress for secure attachment, then it provides stable support, but it disrupts the mattress comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism extends under the mattress in a vertical dimension to achieve secure attachment, while the main body of the tray remains above the mattress surface. This dimensional separation allows the attachment function to operate in one dimension (under the mattress) without significantly disrupting the mattress comfort in the horizontal dimension where the user contacts it
Data Source
AI summary
A tray assembly for use with a bed includes a planar support configured to extend under a mattress of the bed, an upright post connected to the planar support, an arm connected to the upright post, and a worksurface platform mounted to an end of the arm opposite the upright post, wherein the arm provides an adjustable spacing between the upright post and the worksurface platform.