Convertible Infant Carrier Latch for Bassinet-to-Seat Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infant strollers require separate purchase and storage of bassinet and seat components, increasing expenses and space requirements due to their individual installation and removal from the stroller frame.
Innovation Solution
A convertible infant carrier that can pivot between bassinet and seat configurations, featuring a latching mechanism to lock the carrier in either configuration, allowing for installation on or removal from a stroller frame for independent use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate bassinet and seat components are purchased and installed individually on the stroller frame, then the stroller can accommodate multiple utility features, but expenses and storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the bassinet and seat into a single integrated infant carrier unit that can be attached to the stroller frame. This unified structure eliminates the need for separate bassinet and seat components, reducing both the number of parts and storage requirements while maintaining the ability to provide multiple utility features through configuration changes
Solution Approach 2:
The infant carrier is designed to perform multiple functions - serving as both a bassinet and a seat - within a single universal unit. The carrier can be configured in different positions and modes to accommodate various infant needs, replacing the requirement for multiple specialized components
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate bassinet and seat components are purchased and stored individually, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the bassinet and seat functions into one physical unit, the patent reduces the total storage space needed from two separate storage locations to one. The integrated carrier maintains functional optimization through its ability to be configured in different operational modes while occupying only a single storage footprint when not in use
3Quantity of substance
If a single infant carrier is designed to convert between bassinet and seat configurations, then storage needs and expenses are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infant carrier employs dynamic, movable components including pivotally connected elements and a slidable latch mechanism that enables transformation between bassinet and seat configurations. These dynamic features allow the single unit to adapt its structure and geometry to provide different functional configurations without requiring multiple separate components
Data Source
AI summary
An infant carrier includes a surrounding frame, a seat portion pivotally connected with the surrounding frame, a headrest portion pivotally connected with the surrounding frame, a backrest portion respectively connected pivotally with the seat portion and the headrest portion, and a latching mechanism assembled with the backrest portion and operable to selectively engage with either of the seat portion and the headrest portion, the latching mechanism being configured to lock the infant carrier in either of a bassinet configuration and a seat configuration. The seat portion and the backrest portion are substantially coplanar and the headrest portion extends at an angle from the backrest portion to the surrounding frame when the infant carrier is in the bassinet configuration, and the headrest portion and the backrest portion are substantially coplanar and the backrest portion extends at an angle from the seat portion when the infant carrier is in the seat configuration.