Adjustable Crib Side Rail for Easier Child Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child beds, such as cribs, often require lifting the child over the wall to enter or exit, which can be cumbersome, especially when space constraints prevent attachment to a parent's bed, making it difficult to move the child in and out safely and easily.
Innovation Solution
A child bed design featuring a movable frame member that adjusts in height and is locked at specific positions using a locking mechanism, allowing for safe and easy access without attachment to a parent's bed, with the frame member biased to move from a higher position to lower ones for improved accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the wall height is reduced or wall is removed to improve ease of placing child in bed, then the ease of operation improves, but the safety and containment of the child deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frame member is made movable between different height positions (first, second, and third predetermined positions) rather than being fixed. This allows the wall height to be dynamically adjusted: lowered to the third position for easy child access, and raised to the first or second position for safety containment, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and child safety
Solution Approach 2:
The height parameter of the frame member is changed between discrete predetermined positions. By adjusting this parameter, the system transitions between safety mode (higher positions) and ease of access mode (lower third position), allowing both contradictory requirements to be satisfied at different times
2Ease of operation
If the wall is removed to improve ease of access, then the ease of operation improves, but the need for attachment to parent's bed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable frame member provides dynamic height adjustment that allows the bed to function independently without requiring attachment to a parent's bed. When lowered to the third position, the bed becomes easily accessible like an open bed; when raised, it provides containment similar to a traditional crib, making the attachment feature unnecessary
3Ease of operation
If the frame member is made movable to enable height adjustment, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member automatically urges the frame member toward the first predetermined position, providing self-service functionality. The frame member moves automatically when force is applied, and the locking mechanism engages automatically at predetermined positions, reducing the complexity of control systems while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism acts as an intermediary that simplifies the interaction between the movable frame member and the user. It provides discrete, stable positions and automatic engagement, making the complex movable structure easy to control and safe to use
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
Enhances ease of moving children in and out of the bed by adjusting the frame height, ensuring safe and convenient access without the need for attachment to a parent's bed, improving usability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the position of the movable frame member is biased to move from the third predetermined position toward the first and second predetermined positions
Data Source
AI summary
A bed includes a base, an upper frame, and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the base to the upper frame. One of the frame members is a movable frame member that is movable relative to another of the frame members in order to adjust a height of a portion of the rim formed by the movable frame member relative to the base. The upper frame is configured such that the movable frame member is movable between first, second, and third predetermined positions relative to the base. The upper frame includes a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the movable frame member at the first and second predetermined positions. The upper frame is configured such that the position of the movable frame element is biased to move from the third predetermined position toward the first and second predetermined positions.