Crib Docking Station for Detachable Infant Carrier Transfer

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current cribs lack a mechanism to support infant carriers, requiring parents to move sleeping babies from infant carriers to cribs, which can wake the baby up.

Innovation Solution

An infant-carrier docking station is integrated into the crib frame, featuring a support part across opposite handrails and a carrier holder that can detachably hold the infant carrier above the crib, allowing for seamless transfer without disturbing the baby.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If parents move the sleeping baby from the infant carrier to the crib, then the baby can be placed in the crib for sleeping, but the baby may be woken up during the moving process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebaby sleep continuityVSAvoidbaby transfer process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the infant carrier and crib into a single integrated system by providing a docking station that couples the carrier to the crib frame. This allows the baby to remain in the carrier during transfer, eliminating the need to wake the baby while still achieving the goal of placing the baby in the crib environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The docking station acts as an intermediary mechanism between the infant carrier and the crib. It provides a coupling interface that securely attaches the carrier to the crib frame, enabling smooth transition without disturbing the sleeping baby.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the crib is equipped with an infant carrier docking station, then the baby can be moved with the carrier without waking up, but the device complexity of the crib increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebaby transfer processVSAvoidcrib structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The docking station is designed as a separate, detachable component that can be independently installed on the crib frame. This segmentation allows the complex function to be added without redesigning the entire crib structure, and the docking station can be removed or adjusted as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The docking station is designed to accommodate different infant carrier types and can be installed on various crib frame configurations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized components, thereby managing complexity while providing versatile functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8321973B2Infant-carrier docking station and crib therewith

Publication Date: 2012.12.04 WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG

AI summary

An infant-carrier docking station includes a support part and a carrier holder. The support part is disposed across on opposite handrails of a crib frame. The carrier holder is connected to the support part above the crib frame. The carrier holder can hold an infant carrier of a safety seat in a detachable way. A crib includes a bed frame and the infant-carrier docking station. The infant-carrier docking station is disposed across on opposite handrails of the bed frame. Therefore, the invention is convenient for a caregiver to directly move the infant carrier from any place else to the infant-carrier docking station without waking up the baby sleeping on the infant carrier.