Adjustable Heater Orientation for Infant Crib Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing infant care apparatuses with fixed heaters cause overheating issues, rough operation perceptions, and unstable movement due to the heater's high and immobile position, leading to discomfort and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A design where the heat radiation opening of the heater can change direction from facing the bed to not facing the bed, allowing the heater to move up and down or pivot, ensuring it does not radiate heat when not in use and remains at a lower position during movement, thus preventing overheating and unstable swings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the heater is fixed at a high position to radiate heat rays to the bed, then the heating function is effective, but the apparatus becomes unstable during movement and the heater may hit or hook on objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating effectivenessVSAvoidapparatus stability during movement

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The heater is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position between a first position (for effective heating) and a second position (for stable movement and storage). This resolves the contradiction by enabling the heater to adapt its position based on operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The heater is moved to the second position in advance before movement of the apparatus, preventing potential collisions and instability during transport. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the risk of the heater hitting objects while maintaining heating capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Temperature

If the heater remains at a high position during movement, then heating coverage is maximized, but the swing of the heater is amplified causing uncomfortable movement for the infant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating coverageVSAvoiduncomfortable swing transferred to infant

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heater's position is dynamically adjusted to a lower second position during movement, reducing the amplitude of swings and minimizing discomfort transferred to the infant. The heater can be returned to the first high position when stationary to maximize heating coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Temperature

If the heater radiates heat rays continuously while located inside the top hood, then the heating function is always active, but heat accumulates inside the hood causing the infant to be overheated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating functionVSAvoidheat accumulation causing overheating

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heater's orientation is dynamically adjusted so that the heat radiation opening faces the bed only when needed. When the heater is in the second position or when not in use, the opening is redirected away from the bed, preventing heat accumulation and overheating while maintaining the ability to provide heating when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Temperature

If the heater is always positioned to face the bed for effective heating, then the heating efficiency is maximized, but the remaining heat may transfer to the infant when the heater is not actively controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidremaining heat transfer to infant

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heater's orientation is dynamically controlled so that the heat radiation opening faces the bed only during active heating operations. When not in use, the opening is redirected to a second direction away from the bed, eliminating the risk of remaining heat transferring to the infant while preserving heating efficiency when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This configuration prevents unnecessary overheating, reduces mental health impacts, and ensures stable movement of the apparatus, maintaining a comfortable environment for the infant and reducing the risk of heater-related accidents.

Implementation Method 1

a heater configured to radiate heat rays to the bed, wherein the heat rays are radiated from a heat radiation opening of the heater to the bed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS8419610B2Infant care apparatus

Publication Date: 2013.04.16 ATOM MEDICAL CORP

AI summary

In an infant care apparatus according to this invention, heat rays are radiated from a heat radiation opening of a heater to a bed. The direction of the heat radiation opening can be changed from the first state in which the heat radiation opening substantially faces the bed to the second state in which the heat radiation opening does not substantially face the bed. According to the infant care apparatus of this invention, when the heater is not used, there is no possibility that the remaining heat of the heater is transferred to the infant laying on the bed. There is therefore no possibility that the infant will be unnecessarily overheated. There is no need to operate the heater and the like of the infant care apparatus in such a manner that the infant lying on the bed and surrounding people have feelings that rough operation is performed. This will keep the infant and the surrounding people free from adverse effects in terms of mental health.