Adjustable Hub Mount for Infant Stroller Rocking Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional infant strollers lack the ability to provide a rocking motion, which can be beneficial for soothing infants during transportation, and do not allow for adjustable levels of rocking to accommodate different user preferences.
Innovation Solution
A wheel system with an adjustable hub mount that can be slid into various positions within a support member to impart a rocking motion to the carriage, allowing users to customize the amount of rocking from none to a significant amount by engaging biased pins with openings in the slot, thereby positioning the wheel axle off-center relative to the rim.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed wheel systems are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the ability to provide rocking motion is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel system transitions from a fixed static configuration to a dynamic adjustable configuration. The hub mount can be positioned at multiple locations along the support member, allowing the wheel axle to be offset from the rim center. This dynamic repositioning capability enables the system to provide rocking motion when needed while maintaining structural simplicity when the hub is centered, directly resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the hub mount is positioned off-center to create rocking motion, then soothing motion is provided, but the structural symmetry is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention intentionally introduces asymmetry into the wheel assembly by allowing the hub mount to be positioned off-center along the support member. This asymmetric positioning of the hub relative to the rim creates the desired rocking motion. The support member with its elongated slot provides a structured framework that accommodates this controlled asymmetry, enabling adjustable rocking levels while maintaining overall structural integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustment positions are provided for the hub mount, then user preference accommodation is improved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is segmented into multiple discrete positioning locations along its length, with openings at specific intervals. The hub mount can be positioned at any of these segmented locations and secured with pins. This segmentation provides multiple adjustment positions for different user preferences while avoiding the complexity of continuous adjustment mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and component count.
Data Source
AI summary
A carriage rocking system is provided, which is engageable to a front wheel of a carriage to impart a rocking motion thereto during travel. A wheel having a sliding hub is engaged with an axle of the front wheel of the carriage. Translation of a hub assembly to differing positions on a support member of the wheel imparts more or less rocking motion to the carriage.