Accordion-Fold Play Structure With Retained-Fastener Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional children's play structures are bulky and require many pieces to assemble, making them difficult to store and set up, often sacrificing decorative and functional elements for ease of assembly.
Innovation Solution
A foldable play structure with accordion-style walls and a self-expanding roof, featuring interconnected panels with hinges that allow for compact storage and easy assembly, along with an assembly device that simplifies the process by retaining fasteners and aligning them for secure attachment without the need for additional tools or assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional play structures are made bulky to maintain structural integrity and decorative elements, then strength and aesthetics are improved, but ease of assembly and storage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The play structure is divided into multiple panels that can be folded relative to each other. Each panel maintains its structural integrity and decorative elements, while the segmented design allows the entire structure to be collapsed into a compact configuration for easy assembly and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The play structure incorporates movable joints and hinges that allow panels to transition between fixed and folded positions. This dynamic design enables the structure to adapt between a stable, decorative configuration for play and a compact, easy-to-store configuration.
2Strength
If traditional play structures include many pieces to maintain structural integrity and decorative elements, then strength and aesthetics are improved, but device complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple structural and decorative elements are merged into integrated panel assemblies. Each panel combines structural framing, decorative surfaces, and connection mechanisms into a single unit, reducing the total number of separate pieces while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic value.
3Ease of operation
If traditional play structures require multiple people for assembly to handle heavy pieces and fasteners, then ease of assembly deteriorates, but reliability of assembly improves
Solution Approach 1:
A fastener retention mechanism serves as an intermediary between the fasteners and the assembly process. This mechanism holds fasteners in place on the panels during transport and automatically presents them during assembly, eliminating the need for multiple people to handle and track fasteners while ensuring reliable attachment.
4Volume of moving object
If traditional play structures are disassembled for storage to reduce space, then volume is reduced, but assembly time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The panels are pre-assembled with decorative elements, structural components, and fastener retention mechanisms attached before shipping. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for complex on-site assembly while maintaining a compact folded configuration for storage, significantly reducing both assembly time and 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
The solution enables compact storage and quick assembly of play structures, reducing the need for extra hands and minimizing lost hardware, while maintaining aesthetic and functional value without increasing assembly time.
Implementation Method 1
at least one panel connected to another by at least one hinge
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments may relate to a foldable play structure which may be easily assembled and which may be form of four or more panels each connected to another to provide an accordion fold structure; corner hinges comprising a first hinge portion attached to one panel of the at least four panels; a second hinge portion attached to another panel of the at least four panels; and a fastener configured to be retained within either the first portion or the second portion; and mid-wall hinge(s) attached to two of the panels and located between the corner hinges. Typically, in a first configuration, the panels of the accordion fold structure are folded to be stacked in substantially parallel planes, and in a second configuration, the panels are unfolded forming a play structure. The retained fastener may be used to secure the corner panels together.