Child Bed with Fabric Door Panel and Secure Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current children's beds with bars are criticized for hindering child development, are bulky, and lack modularity, while existing alternatives either lack safety or are not designed for young children, and there is a need for a bed that promotes the well-being and safety of both children and adults.

Innovation Solution

A bed with solid walls and a secure, flexible door system that includes a fabric door panel with lateral guide means and a locking mechanism, allowing for easy and secure access, made from materials like mosquito net fabric or 100% fire-rated polyester, and featuring a modular design that can be adapted to different spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bars are used in children's beds, then structural strength and safety are improved, but child development is hindered and the bed becomes bulky

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidchild development
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid bars with flexible fabric panels that form the walls of the sleeping module. These fabric walls provide containment and safety for the child while being visually less obstructive and more adaptable to movement, thus resolving the contradiction between structural strength and child development freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Strength

If bars are used in children's beds, then structural strength is improved, but the bed becomes bulky and space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidbed volume
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric walls replace bulky rigid bar structures, significantly reducing the overall volume of the bed while maintaining sufficient strength to contain the child. The flexible nature of the fabric allows for a more compact design that occupies less nursery space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If a secure locking mechanism is added to the door, then child safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechild safetyVSAvoiddoor mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is designed to be automatically engaged when the door is closed, requiring no manual operation by the user. The system self-locks through the interaction of the door frame and locking elements, providing secure child containment while maintaining operational simplicity for adults who need to access the child.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If a fabric door panel is used, then accessibility and comfort are improved, but security may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric door panel provides soft, comfortable access that is gentle on children, while the integrated locking mechanism ensures security when closed. The fabric material allows for easy opening and closing operations, and the flexibility of the material enables smooth movement without the harshness of rigid components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP4070690B1Furniture item for a child
Publication Date: 2023.09.13 TOUZET NICOLE
  • EP4070690B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4070690B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4070690B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to furniture for young children. More particularly, it relates to at least one bed comprising solid sides and a vertically opening access door associated with a secure locking mechanism. The door consists of a fabric panel (15) connected to two lateral guide means (11, 12), a fixed lower door bar (13), and a movable upper door bar (14) allowing the door (3) to be opened and closed. The locking/unlocking mechanism (10) consists of a locking means (16) fixed to a rotating axis (17), associated with a latch (18) allowing the locking means (16) to be unlocked.