Utility Tray C-Clamp Attachment for Secure Bed Frame Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing utility trays fail to securely attach to certain support structures, such as bed frames, due to inadequate attachment means.
Innovation Solution
The utility tray is designed with right-angle brackets and frictional engagement mechanisms, including screws, straps, and protruding members, which allow it to be securely attached to various support structures by forming channels and using threaded holes or slots, ensuring stability even under weight or force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional attachment means are used, then the utility tray can be attached to simple support structures, but it fails to securely attach to certain support structures such as bed frames
Solution Approach 1:
The utility tray employs multiple attachment mechanisms (screws, straps, protruding members forming channels) that can adapt to different support structure types, making the attachment system universal across various applications including bed frames and other furniture
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system is divided into separate functional components: screws for threaded attachment, straps for frictional engagement, and protruding members for channel formation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for specific attachment scenarios while working together to achieve secure attachment to diverse support structures
2Reliability
If the tray is designed to be securely attached to various support structures, then attachment reliability improves, but the device complexity increases due to multiple attachment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple attachment mechanisms (screws, straps, protruding members) are integrated into a single tray design, combining their functions to achieve secure attachment. The brackets serve as a common structure that accommodates all attachment types, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability
3Strength
If frictional engagement mechanisms are used, then the tray resists rotation and slipping under applied forces, but the attachment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Straps serve as intermediary elements that create frictional engagement between the tray and support structure. These straps act as mediators that convert simple mechanical attachment into secure friction-based connection, resisting rotation and slipping without requiring complex locking mechanisms
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 tray remains firmly horizontal and stable on diverse support structures, accommodating items and resisting rotation or slipping, regardless of applied forces.
Implementation Method 1
A screw is inserted through a threaded hole of the bracket and engages a threaded hole
Implementation Method 2
The strap is tightened to frictionally engage the bracket with the support structure
Data Source
AI summary
The tray has a horizontal base and an edge. A C-clamp has a horizontally oriented side coupled to a bottom surface of the base, normal to and adjacent the edge. The C-clamp has first and second vertically oriented sides extending downward. The second vertically oriented side has a threaded hole. A screw has a shaft, a handle at a first end, and a shoe at a second end of the shaft. The second end of the screw passes through the threaded hole of the second vertically oriented side of the C-clamp and extends horizontally toward the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp. Moving the handle causes the second end of the screw to further extend horizontally toward the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp such that the shoe and the first vertically oriented side of the C-clamp frictionally engage the support structure when positioned therebetween.