Assembly Ring Coupling for Separable Small Animal Habitat Shells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional small animal habitats with unique shapes and designs are limited due to the need for separable portions for owner access and ease of manufacture, restricting creativity in design beyond typical cage-like configurations.
Innovation Solution
A small animal habitat designed in the shape of an automobile, featuring a top shell and bottom shell with assembly rings that use clips and slots to securely engage without additional fasteners, allowing for easy separation and reattachment for access and cleaning, while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the habitat uses a separable design with multiple shell portions for ease of manufacture and access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The habitat is divided into multiple separable shell portions (top shell, bottom shell, wall portions) that can be easily assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows owners to access the interior for cleaning and pet removal while maintaining the overall structural integrity through designed coupling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanisms are integrated within the shell portions themselves, with coupling features embedded in the walls and shell portions. This nesting approach allows the coupling system to be part of the habitat structure without adding external complexity, maintaining both ease of assembly and structural strength.
2Ease of manufacture
If the habitat uses a separable design with multiple shell portions for ease of manufacture, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The habitat is divided into multiple separable shell portions (top shell, bottom shell, wall portions) that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing of individual components while the integrated coupling features minimize the complexity of assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanisms are merged with the shell portions themselves, with coupling features integrated into the walls and shell portions. This combining of coupling functions with the structural components reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall device complexity.
3Shape
If the habitat uses unique themes and shapes for aesthetic appeal, then the shape is improved, but the ease of manufacture worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The habitat is divided into multiple shell portions that can be manufactured using standard molding techniques and then assembled into unique shapes. This segmentation allows for aesthetic diversity while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular production of individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanisms are designed to be universal and adaptable to different shell portion configurations. This allows the same coupling system to work with various unique shapes and themes, maintaining ease of manufacture across different design variations.
Data Source
AI summary
A small animal habitat in the form of, e.g., an automobile and a method for coupling respective halves of a small animal habitat. The small animal habitat includes a top shell portion, the top shell portion including a plurality of top wheel portions, each of the top wheel portions forming a top half of a respective wheel section. The habitat also includes a bottom shell portion, the bottom shell portion having a plurality of bottom wheel portions, each of the bottom wheel portions forming a bottom half of a respective wheel section. Additionally, a plurality of assembly rings are provided, wherein each assembly ring is configured to couple the top wheel portion to the bottom wheel portion of a respective wheel section so as to hold the top shell portion and the bottom shell portion of the small habitat in engagement.