Adjustable Infant Carrier Seat Panels for Growing Infant Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional soft-sided infant carriers have a fixed seat size, limiting adaptability as infants grow, while wrap-style carriers are difficult to put on and secure, lacking the ease of use of soft-sided carriers.
Innovation Solution
An infant carrier with adjustable side panels and a torso band that mimics the feel of a wrap-style carrier, allowing for seat size adjustment and easy placement and securing of the infant, combining the comfort of wrap-style and ease of use of soft-sided carriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size seat portion is used in soft-sided carriers, then the carrier structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the carrier cannot adapt to infants of different sizes or growth stages
Solution Approach 1:
The side panels are divided into multiple sections that can be independently adjusted. Each side panel includes an adjustable section with fastening elements that allow the panel to be configured in different widths, enabling the seat portion to accommodate infants of various sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The side panels transition from a fixed structure to an adjustable dynamic structure. The adjustable side panels can be reconfigured between multiple width positions using fastening elements, allowing the carrier to adapt to different infant sizes and growth stages without requiring a completely different carrier design
2Ease of operation
If wrap-style carriers are used to provide adaptability and comfort, then the carrier conforms to the wearer and infant shape, but the carrier is difficult to put on and secure
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is divided into distinct functional components: a central panel, adjustable side panels, and a torso band. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall carrier easier to put on and secure compared to integrated wrap-style designs
Solution Approach 2:
The torso band acts as an intermediary element that simplifies the securing process. It provides a straightforward mechanism for fastening the carrier to the wearer's body, eliminating the complexity of traditional wrap-style securing while maintaining comfort and adaptability
3Adaptability or versatility
If the seat portion is made too large to accommodate growing infants, then the carrier can be used for longer periods, but the seat is too big for younger or smaller infants
Solution Approach 1:
The side panels are designed with adjustable configurations that allow the seat width to be dynamically changed. This enables the seat to provide proper support for smaller infants when configured narrowly and accommodate growing infants when expanded, maintaining reliability across different infant sizes
Solution Approach 2:
The width parameter of the side panels can be changed between different configurations. By adjusting the side panel width, the carrier maintains proper support characteristics for different infant sizes, ensuring reliability while accommodating growth
Data Source
AI summary
An infant carrier which provides the comfort of a wrap-type carrier and the ease of use of a conventional soft-sided infant carrier. The infant carrier includes a pair of adjustable side panels which allow a wearer to selectively transition the side panels between narrow and wide seat configurations to accommodate the size of the infant seated within the carrier. The carrier also includes a torso band, which enables adjustment of the infant support panel relative to the wearer, and also rests higher than conventional waist belts commonly employed on most soft-sided infant carriers.