Infant Carrier Release Actuator Safety Lock Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infant carrying apparatuses, such as strollers, lack a safety mechanism to prevent accidental operation of the release actuator, leading to unintended unlocking of the backrest, which poses safety risks to the child.
Innovation Solution
The infant carrying apparatus incorporates a release actuator with a safety lock feature, comprising a support element, transmission elements, a latch mechanism, a release button, and a safety latch key that allows for convenient operation while preventing accidental unlocking by requiring two directional movements to switch between locked and unlocked states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a release actuator is provided on the backrest for adjusting the backrest position, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to accidental operation
Solution Approach 1:
The release actuator is divided into functionally independent components: a release button for initiating unlocking and a safety latch key for confirming the unlocking operation. This segmentation ensures that accidental presses of the release button cannot cause unlocking without the deliberate additional action of moving the safety latch key, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
2Reliability
If a safety lock mechanism is added to prevent accidental operation, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety latch key is integrated into the existing backrest structure rather than being a separate complex mechanism. The key can be formed as part of the backrest frame or support element, merging the safety function with existing structural components. This approach provides reliable accidental operation prevention while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If the safety latch key blocks the release button in locked state, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to additional steps
Solution Approach 1:
The safety latch key is designed to be movable between a blocking position (when the backrest is locked) and a non-blocking position (when unlocking is intended). This dynamic configuration allows the system to provide maximum security in the locked state while enabling straightforward operation when needed, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A release actuator can comprise a support element, a latch mechanism, a release button movably assembled with the support element, a transmission element connecting the latch mechanism with the release button, and a safety latch key disposed adjacent to the release button. The release button can be movable parallel to a first axis for driving unlocking operation of the latch mechanism. The safety latch key and the release button are assembled so as to be movable relative to each other parallel to a second axis for either blocking or unblocking movements of the release button parallel to the first axis. Moreover, one embodiment of an infant carrying apparatus is also described.