Collapsible Changing Tent with Conical Structure and Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable changing tents lack a conical housing and side panels that allow parents or guardians to assist children in changing privately, especially in public locations without accessible restrooms or changing areas, leading to inconvenience and exposure.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible changing tent with a conical structure comprising a first circular ring base and a smaller circular ring top connected by perpendicular flexible metallic rods, covered with opaque synthetic fabric, featuring an opening with overlapping flaps for access and ventilation slots for airflow, allowing private and comfortable changing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a portable changing tent is used to provide privacy for children changing in public locations, then privacy and convenience are improved, but the device complexity increases compared to simple towel coverage methods
Solution Approach 1:
The changing tent is divided into modular components including a conical housing, multiple side panels, a base ring, and a top ring that can be independently assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows the complex structure to be built from simple parts, maintaining ease of operation while achieving the privacy function.
Solution Approach 2:
The side panels are designed to be movable and adjustable, allowing parents to dynamically open or close panels during the changing process. This dynamic configuration enables convenient access while maintaining privacy when needed, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the changing tent provides full enclosure for privacy, then privacy is improved, but ventilation and air flow deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The tent structure implements different properties in different locations: the fabric material provides opacity for privacy in most areas, while specific ventilation slots are strategically positioned to provide localized air flow. This local differentiation allows the enclosure to maintain privacy function while addressing ventilation needs through targeted openings.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the tent structure is made rigid for stability, then stability is improved, but portability and ease of storage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting rods are designed with flexible metallic construction that allows them to be rigid when extended for stability during use, but can be bent and folded when collapsed for storage. This dynamic property enables the structure to provide structural stability when needed while maintaining portability and ease of storage when not in use.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable changing tent made of flexible fabric construction affixed to a folding frame structure designed for easy portability and storage. The folding frame structure includes a plurality of flexible metal coils that are designed to be movable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. In the expanded configuration, the frame defines a conical housing having an interior volume that can be accessed via a closure flap or other door opening disposed on the flexible fabric material. The flexible fabric material can include additional openings that allow a parent or guardian to assist a child when changing within the conical housing. When in the collapsed configuration, the portable changing tent can be stored in a carrying bag for easy and compact storage.