Child Carrier Canopy Latch Mechanism for Easy Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional canopy mechanisms for child carriers are difficult to disengage, prone to damage, and costly due to complex designs and materials, with issues in molding and assembly.
Innovation Solution
A canopy mechanism featuring a cantilever structure with position-limiting parts and a protruding operation part, allowing easy engagement and disengagement, using a flexible iron wire canopy frame and plastic canopy support for reduced complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional canopy mechanism uses a flexible tab for engagement, then the engagement is easy, but the tab is easy to be damaged and requires a tool to disengage
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy support is divided into distinct functional parts: a combining part and an engaging part with lateral walls forming a chamber. This segmentation allows the engaging part to provide a robust structural interface while the combining part handles the connection function, eliminating the need for a separate flexible tab and improving both durability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A plate is introduced as an intermediary element that interacts with the cantilever structure's protruding part. When the plate is pressed, it activates the cantilever mechanism to disengage the position-limiting parts, providing a tool-free disengagement method that improves reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
2Shape
If the canopy frame uses a bar-shaped plastic mold with thin and long recess, then the structure is formed, but it is difficult to mold and results in defects
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy support is segmented into a combining part and an engaging part with defined lateral walls and chamber. This segmentation creates well-defined mold cavities with appropriate thickness distributions, eliminating the thin and long recess problems associated with bar-shaped molds while maintaining the required structural shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the geometric parameters of the canopy support by creating a chamber structure with lateral walls instead of a bar-shaped cross-section. This parameter change transforms the molding problem from a thin-walled long recess to a more manageable chamber structure that is easier to mold without defects.
3Device complexity
If the lever arm of the head is short in traditional designs, then the structure is compact, but it is not comfortable for users to press and the finger gets stuck easily
Solution Approach 1:
The cantilever structure is pre-configured with a protruding part that extends through the lateral wall. This preliminary action creates a built-in lever mechanism that amplifies the user's pressing force, providing comfortable operation without requiring a long lever arm, thus maintaining structural compactness while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the operational interface to another dimension by having the protruding part extend through the lateral wall to a position where users can comfortably apply force. This dimensional relocation of the actuation point improves ergonomics without increasing the overall structural complexity.
4Reliability
If the canopy frame uses an inverted U-shaped member with plate spring assembly, then the engagement is achieved, but the cost is higher and assembly is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging part of the canopy support is merged with the canopy support itself, forming an integrated structure with lateral walls and chamber. This eliminates the need for a separate plate spring assembly, reducing both cost and assembly complexity while maintaining reliable engagement through the cantilever structure and position-limiting parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging part serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, creates the engagement chamber, and houses the cantilever structure for disengagement. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate plate spring components, simplifying the overall design and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining engagement reliability.
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
Ensures strong engagement, easy operation, low-cost production, and reduced assembly complexity, with a comfortable pressing mechanism and fewer elements, enhancing user experience and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a cantilever structure, extending from a side of the opening therein, wherein the cantilever structure has a first position-limiting part
Data Source
AI summary
A canopy mechanism comprises a canopy support and a canopy frame. The canopy support comprises a combining part and an engaging part. A terminal of the engaging part connects the combining part, and another terminal of the engaging part extends opposite to the combining part. The engaging part comprises a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall. A chamber is formed between the first and second lateral walls, and one terminal of the chamber has a chamber entrance. The second lateral wall has an opening, and a cantilever structure extends from a side of the opening therein. The cantilever structure has a first position-limiting part. The canopy frame has a connection part with a second position-limiting part. The connection part of the canopy frame inserts into the chamber via the chamber entrance to engage the first and second position-limiting parts to fasten the canopy frame and the canopy support.