Infant Car Seat Wheeled Frame for Handle-Free Stroller Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing infant child seat and stroller systems are cumbersome and inefficient due to their separate designs, with prior attempts to consolidate them either resulting in redundant handles or increased weight through foldable legs with wheels.

Innovation Solution

A wheeled frame is coupled to an infant child seat, allowing it to be converted into a stroller, with a handle that can be manipulated to facilitate carrying and pushing, and the frame is foldable for compact storage, eliminating the need for a separate stroller handle and reducing weight and size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the infant child seat is incorporated into the stroller by rotating the handle into a stowed position, then the child seat can be secured to the stroller, but a redundant handle remains on the child seat creating complexity and interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration of child seat with strollerVSAvoidredundant handle structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the handle structure from the infant child seat entirely, extracting the redundant component that causes complexity. The child seat is designed to be handled and positioned without an integrated handle, eliminating the interference and redundancy issues while maintaining secure attachment to the stroller frame.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The stroller handle serves multiple functions: it is used to maneuver the stroller when the child seat is attached, and it can be used to carry the child seat when detached. This universal handle design eliminates the need for a separate child seat handle, reducing overall complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If foldable legs with wheels are incorporated into the infant child seat itself, then the child seat becomes a stroller, but the weight and size of the system significantly increase making carrying burdensome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconversion to strollerVSAvoidweight of child seat system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate modular components: a lightweight infant child seat and a separate wheeled frame. The child seat remains compact and easy to carry, while the wheeled frame provides stroller functionality. This segmentation allows the user to carry only the essential child seat portion and attach the wheeled frame when stroller functionality is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A coupling mechanism serves as an intermediary between the child seat and wheeled frame, allowing easy attachment and detachment. This mediator enables the system to transition between carrying mode (seat only) and stroller mode (combined), providing adaptability without permanently increasing the weight of the child seat itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a separate stroller is used in addition to the infant child seat, then stroller functionality is provided, but the combined bulk makes transportation together difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual functionality of child seat and strollerVSAvoidcombined storage space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the infant child seat and stroller into a single integrated system where the child seat attaches directly to the wheeled frame. This combination eliminates the need to transport two separate devices, reducing the total volume and making transportation much more convenient while maintaining both child seat and stroller functionalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12195072B2Systems and methods for adding wheels to an infant child seat

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 GRACO CHILDRENS PROD INC

AI summary

A system for converting an infant child seat to a stroller may include an infant child seat, a wheeled frame, and a handle. The handle is coupled to the infant child seat and configured to manipulate the wheeled frame when the infant child seat is mounted. A wheeled frame, being removably securable to an infant child seat, may include a frame movable between a folded storage configuration and an expanded stroller configuration. The frame is configured to removably receive an infant child seat and includes a plurality of wheels. The wheeled frame does not define a handle. A method of converting an infant child seat including a handle to a stroller may include coupling the seat to a wheeled frame. The method further includes manually actuating, by a first hand of a user, the handle into a stroller position. The seat coupled to the frame are operable as a stroller.