Animal Bed with Elastic Straps for Structural Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current animal beds lack adequate rigidity to maintain their proper form when subjected to animal movements, leading to disfigurement and reduced effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

An animal bed design featuring a bottom member surrounded by a bolster forming an outer wall, with a plurality of straps that are elastic and configured to hold a rigid member in contact with the bottom member, thereby maintaining the bed's structure and form.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the animal bed is made pliable with soft materials for comfort and ease of cleaning, then animal comfort and ease of cleaning are improved, but the ability to maintain proper form and structure deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The animal bed is divided into multiple functional components: a pliable bottom member for comfort and cleaning, bolster walls for structure, and elastic straps for form maintenance. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function without compromising the others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic straps provide dynamic adaptation to animal movements while maintaining overall bed structure. The straps can stretch and flex with animal activity but return to their original state, continuously maintaining the bed's proper form without rigid constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the animal bed is made pliable to allow animal movement and nesting, then animal comfort is improved, but the bed becomes disfigured and ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to animal movementsVSAvoidbed form

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic straps act as flexible elements that can deform with animal movements but maintain the overall geometric form of the bed. These flexible components provide the necessary adaptability while preventing permanent disfigurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

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

The animal bed effectively maintains its structure and form despite animal movements, providing comfort and ease of cleaning while preventing disfigurement.

Implementation Method 1

each of the plurality of straps includes a degree of elasticity configured to hold a rigid member in contact with the bottom member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12317858B2Animal bed assembly

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 MID WEST METAL PRODS CO INC

AI summary

An animal bed for supporting an animal includes a body having a bottom member and a bolster forming an outer wall of the body. The outer wall is positioned about a perimeter of the bottom member and extends outwardly therefrom to define a recessed area for accommodating the animal. A plurality of straps is coupled to and extending at least partially across the bottom member opposite the recessed area. Each of the plurality of straps includes a degree of elasticity configured to hold a rigid member in contact with the bottom member.