Collapsible Animal Crate with Pivotable U-Shaped Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal crates are often difficult for laypersons to assemble and cannot be easily collapsed for transport, particularly those designed for large animals.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible animal cage assembly featuring a support frame with pivotably and slidably coupled U-shaped and V-shaped members, allowing the frame to transition between upright and collapsed positions, and an outer covering that can be easily configured for transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the cage is designed to be large and sturdy for containing large animals, then the enclosure strength and safety are improved, but the ease of transport and storage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is divided into multiple modular panels that can be independently connected and disconnected. Each panel maintains structural strength when assembled, but can be separated for compact transport, resolving the contradiction between enclosure strength and ease of transport
Solution Approach 2:
The cage employs dynamic connection mechanisms that allow the structure to transition between a rigid assembled state for containing animals and a flexible disassembled state for transport. The panels can be quickly connected and disconnected to change the cage's structural properties
2Reliability
If the cage is designed with complex assembly structures to ensure durability, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of assembly for laypersons deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cage panels are pre-assembled with connection mechanisms already attached, and alignment features are pre-positioned to guide users during assembly. This preliminary preparation ensures structural reliability while significantly simplifying the assembly process for laypersons
Solution Approach 2:
The cage incorporates self-aligning connection mechanisms with visual indicators and intuitive coupling systems that automatically guide proper assembly without requiring technical expertise. The design enables users to assemble the durable structure themselves through simple connect-and-lock actions
3Stability of the object's composition
If the cage is designed as a fixed rigid structure for safety, then the stability is improved, but the collapsibility for storage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cage uses dynamic connection joints that maintain rigid, stable connections during normal use but allow the structure to be collapsed by releasing and repositioning the panels. The same connection mechanism provides both stability when assembled and adaptability when collapsed
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a collapsible cage assembly including an outer covering and a support frame for supporting the outer covering in an upright position. The outer covering can have a top, bottom, front, back, first side, and second side. The support frame can include a top frame body and a bottom frame body, a first side member and a second side member each being pivotably coupled to the top frame body and bottom frame body, and a top support member coupled to the top frame body. The top support member can define a V-shaped portion. The frame can also include a U-shaped member have a first end and a second end, each of the first end and second end slidably and pivotably coupled to the bottom frame body. The U-shaped member is removably coupled to the V-shaped portion of the top support member in the upright position.