Convertible Child Seat Adapter With Stable Swing Locking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multifunctional children's chairs that convert into swings or seesaws pose a risk of injury to children during conversion due to instability, as they can tip over during the transformation process.

Innovation Solution

A versatile adjustment mechanism with a peg-like adapter and lever system that allows for safe conversion of a child's chair to a swing or seesaw, requiring the child to be removed before adjustment, ensuring stability and safety by locking the arched support elements in place using a fastening element and return spring mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a complex gear system is used to convert the children's chair to a swing, then the conversion function is achieved, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion functionVSAvoidgear system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism is divided into independent arcuate support elements that can be individually adjusted between vertical and inclined positions, eliminating the need for a complex integrated gear system. Each support element has its own adjustment capability through the lever system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a complex gear mechanism to achieve conversion, the patent uses a simple lever system that directly moves the support elements between positions. The adjustment is achieved by the opposite approach: simple mechanical leverage rather than complex gearing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the adjustment mechanism allows conversion while the child is seated, then the conversion is convenient, but the child is exposed to injury risk due to instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion convenienceVSAvoidinjury risk from instability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent requires the child to be removed from the seat before adjustment can take place. The adjustment mechanism includes a safety feature that prevents operation when the seat is occupied, ensuring the child is not exposed to instability during conversion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening element with return spring provides automatic stabilization of the support elements during and after adjustment. This cushioning mechanism ensures that any instability during the transition is immediately compensated, preventing injury even if adjustment occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If standardized child seats are made compatible with the chair, then the versatility and usability increase, but the device complexity increases due to the adapter system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat compatibilityVSAvoidadapter system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate any standardized child seat. The simple structural design of the adapter allows it to work with multiple types of seats without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms for each seat type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. Its straightforward construction using basic materials makes it cost-effective and simple to produce.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 solution provides a safe and easy-to-manufacture conversion mechanism that prevents children from being injured during the transformation process, ensuring the child's safety and versatility in using the chair as a high chair, swing, or cradle, with any standardized child seat being easily attachable and detachable.

Implementation Method 1

a rod (20) which is movably connected to a fastening element (12) on its side opposite the tilting element (18), wherein the tilting element (18) is actuated in a simple manner exclusively by the gripping element (17), in which the gripping element (17) is pulled out of the opening (16) in each case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2468144B1Multifunctional children's seat
Publication Date: 2015.01.07 ROLEF DAVID
  • EP2468144B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2468144B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2468144B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4c

AI summary

The invention relates to a multifunctional children's chair that can be converted into a children's swing by means of an adjustment mechanism. To manufacture a multifunctional children's chair cost-effectively and easily, and which also allows for simple attachment of a children's chair, it is provided that an adapter (10) is used to accommodate a child seat (2).