Infant Carrier Handle Support With Universal Clamshell Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supplemental supports for infant carrier handles are cumbersome and difficult to attach to various shapes and sizes of infant carrier handles, often resulting in sloppy attachments and potential movement during use.
Innovation Solution
A universal attachment design featuring a top clamshell, bottom clamshell, upper arm support, and retention strap assembly, which securely locks onto the handle using a clamshell spring lock and safety lanyard, eliminating the need for inserts and simplifying the attachment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a supplemental support is designed to fit specific handle profiles, then attachment security is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of operation increase due to needing multiple inserts
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental support employs a universal attachment mechanism consisting of a retention strap with an adjustable buckle and a clamshell closure system that can accommodate various handle shapes and sizes without requiring multiple specialized inserts. The retention strap can be positioned at different locations around the handle, and the clamshell closure provides a standardized locking mechanism that secures the attachment regardless of handle profile.
2Reliability
If retention strap is tightened before closing clamshell, then attachment security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult tightening access
Solution Approach 1:
The retention strap is pre-threaded through the clamshell structure and handle during manufacturing, positioning the strap and buckle in optimal locations before use. This preliminary arrangement allows the user to simply pull the strap to tighten it without needing to route or position components during the attachment process, making tightening both secure and easy to perform.
3Ease of operation
If clamshell closure is used, then ease of operation is improved through simple closing action, but attachment security may deteriorate without proper locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the clamshell closure mechanism with a spring-loaded latch and retention strap system. The simple closing action of the clamshell triggers the spring latch to engage with a corresponding receptacle, simultaneously securing the retention strap in place. This integration ensures that the ease of the closing action directly produces a secure, locked attachment without requiring separate tightening or locking steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A supplemental support for infant carrier handle has top and bottom clamshells and a retention strap assembly. An upper arm support and a safety lanyard assembly can also be incorporated. In order to install the supplemental support on an infant carrier handle, the retention strap is initially tightened over the handle. Once the retention strap is initially snug, the user can push the bottom clamshell upwards towards the top clamshell, hinging the supplemental support into a closed configuration. Because of the unique function of the clamshell hinge, the hinging action tightens the retention strap even further upon closing. The bottom and top clamshells can then lock together. The supplemental support for infant carrier handle is thereby securely locked onto the infant carrier's handle and the user can simply place the bottom clamshell on his or her forearm and proceed to securely and comfortably carry the infant carrier.