Collapsible play yard
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child containment devices, such as play yards, are often heavy and difficult to set up, making them cumbersome for parents and caregivers, and may hinder access to the contained space.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight collapsible play yard frame with a frusto-pyramidal structure and a detachable liner, featuring a unique folding system with gear hinges and barrel hinges, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and improved accessibility with a varying elevation design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If lower horizontal frame members are included to provide structural stability, then the structural integrity is improved, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lower horizontal frame members from the play yard structure, extracting the heavy components that were providing structural stability. This extraction reduces weight while the remaining frame geometry (vertical posts with upper cross-members only) is redesigned to provide adequate stability without the lower members.
2Strength
If multiple frame cross-members are used to ensure structural integrity, then the strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is segmented into distinct vertical post members and horizontal cross-member components that can be separately assembled. The cross-members are positioned at specific heights to provide structural strength where needed, while allowing simpler assembly procedures and reduced overall complexity compared to fully interconnected frame designs.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible play yard including a structural support frame, a liner attached to the frame and one or more folding systems. The structural support frame includes an upper frame and a plurality of leg members. The proximal end of each leg member attaches to the upper frame member which is the single point of contact between the leg member and the remainder of the frame. The collapsible play yard can include a first folding system to shorten the width of the play yard and a second folding system to shorten the height of the play yard. Each folding system can be folded and unfolded independent of the other.