Foldable Child Enclosure Cable-Driven Hub for Stable One-Motion Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable play yards and cribs are cumbersome to open and fold due to complex and heavy designs, making them difficult to handle, especially when attending to young children.
Innovation Solution
A child enclosure apparatus with a centrally located hub assembly that simultaneously moves all movable components, featuring a sliding cam-follower plate and latching connectors, allowing for easy opening and folding, and the option to be operated manually or with a motor, resulting in a robust and efficient structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a foldable play yard uses a complex structure with diagonal braces and multiple side members to achieve stability, then the enclosure becomes more stable and robust, but the device becomes heavier and more cumbersome to open and fold
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into modular sections with individual panels that can be independently manipulated. Each panel is connected through simplified hinge mechanisms rather than a complex integrated structure, allowing segments to be opened and folded separately, reducing the overall operational complexity while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The diagonal braces and complex side members are removed from the structure. Instead, the patent uses a simpler framework relying on the inherent rigidity of rectangular panels and strategic placement of support elements, eliminating unnecessary components that added weight and operational difficulty.
2Reliability
If the enclosure includes multiple latching mechanisms and complex release means to secure the structure, then the enclosure becomes more reliable and stable when deployed, but the operation becomes more complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple latching functions are combined into integrated latch assemblies where a single release mechanism controls multiple latching points simultaneously. The release means are consolidated into centralized control points that can disengage several security connections through one motion, reducing operational steps while maintaining reliable securing.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching mechanisms are designed with universal features where a single latch type can be used across multiple locations and orientations. The release means are engineered to handle various latching configurations through a common operational interface, simplifying the user interaction while ensuring reliable engagement across the entire structure.
3Strength
If the enclosure uses a heavy and robust structure with multiple braces and side members, then the enclosure maintains its shape and stability when deployed, but it becomes difficult to handle and maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure utilizes thin, rigid panel materials that provide sufficient structural strength when in the deployed position. These panels act as stiff shells that maintain the enclosure shape without requiring heavy internal bracing, reducing overall weight while preserving structural integrity during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure transitions from a rigid, heavy configuration during deployment to a more flexible, collapsed state during folding and transport. The design allows the panels and connections to adapt dynamically between these states, providing strength when needed and flexibility when maneuvering, effectively reducing the perceived weight and handling difficulty.
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
The apparatus enables quick and smooth operation, reducing the effort required to open and fold the enclosure, providing a stable and compact design for use, transport, and storage, while maintaining a lightweight and robust construction.
Implementation Method 1
a sliding cam-follower plate that enables the correct geometric movement of various components of the enclosure
Implementation Method 2
a set of cables connected to the upper arms and to the latch to move the upper arms and the latch to positions consistent with an opened enclosure and to positions consistent with a folded enclosure
Implementation Method 3
a lower corner structure that pivots slightly from a position when the enclosure apparatus is opened to another position when the enclosure is folded so that a tendency for the enclosure to swing partially open on it own is avoided
Data Source
AI summary
A child enclosure apparatus that includes a hub assembly, a base assembly having four base legs in an X-shaped configuration, a side structure having four side posts, an upper assembly having four pairs of upper arms with each pair connected with medial latch connectors, lower corner assemblies, each having a pair of plates that are pivotally mounted to a side post and a pair of base legs, upper corner assemblies, each having two pair of plates that are configured at a right angle to each other, and cables extending from the base assemblies, through the side posts and being connected to the upper arms and to the latch connectors. The enclosure apparatus is operated by linear movement of the hub assembly, either by a motor assembly or manually, to cause simultaneous movement of the base legs, the upper arms and the latch connectors between opened and folded positions by tensioning the cables. The lower corner assemblies are pivotally connected to the side posts and the base legs so as to prevent unintended opening of the enclosure from a folded position.