Adjustable Child Seat with Sliding Torso and Headrest

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing child restraints lack the ability to adjust in size to accommodate growing children, limiting their usability as children grow taller, and often require complex installations that can be confusing for caregivers.

Innovation Solution

A child restraint system featuring a variable-height shell with a slidable torso section and a torso-section lock system, allowing caregivers to expand or contract the child-receiving space by moving the torso section up or down, and a separate headrest-height controller for independent adjustment of the headrest, enabling the system to adapt to different child sizes and orientations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the child restraint is designed with a fixed size, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot accommodate growing children

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of growing childrenVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shell is designed with a slidable torso section that can move between multiple elevated positions, transforming the fixed structure into a dynamic, adjustable one. This allows the child restraint to adapt to growing children while maintaining a relatively simple base structure that doesn't require complete redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The shell is divided into a slidable torso section and a fixed base section, with the torso section capable of independent movement. This segmentation enables adjustability without complicating the entire structure, as only the torso portion needs sliding mechanisms rather than the entire shell.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the child restraint includes multiple adjustment mechanisms, then it can fit different child sizes, but the installation becomes complex and confusing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefitment for different child sizesVSAvoidinstallation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The slidable torso section with multiple elevated positions provides adjustment capability while maintaining operational simplicity. The sliding mechanism allows caregivers to easily reposition the torso section without complex assembly or disassembly, balancing adaptability with ease of use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the headrest is fixed relative to the torso section, then the structure is simple, but it cannot properly support children of different heights

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead support for different heightsVSAvoidheadrest adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The headrest is designed to slide with the torso section, maintaining its relative position while adapting to different child heights. This dynamic positioning ensures continuous head support as the child grows, without requiring independent headrest adjustment mechanisms that would complicate the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10507743B2Juvenile vehicle seat with adjustable headrest

Publication Date: 2019.12.17 DOREL JUVENILE GROUP INC

AI summary

A child restraint is adapted to set on a passenger seat in a vehicle. The child restraint includes a seat bottom, a seat back, and a movable headrest.