Baby Crib Sidewall Structure for Safe Bedside Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing baby cribs with detachable walls for easy access still pose a risk of the baby escaping through the gap between the crib and the adult bed, despite efforts to minimize this gap, due to the flexible material used in the stationary wall portion.

Innovation Solution

A baby crib design featuring a detachable and overturnable wall portion made of transparent flexible material, supported by a frame with adjustable legs and a telescopic structure, including a rigid belt for secure positioning next to the adult bed, which prevents the baby from rolling out by providing additional resistance and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the perimeter walls are made of flexible material to allow easy access and positioning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability is worsened because the baby may escape through the gap between the crib and the adult bed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of accessVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The perimeter wall is divided into a stationary portion and a detachable/overturnable portion. The stationary portion remains fixed to maintain safety and prevent escape through the gap, while the detachable portion can be removed or overturned to provide easy access. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The detachable wall portion is extracted from the overall wall structure, allowing it to be separately managed. This extracted portion can be removed or overturned independently, providing access when needed while the remaining stationary wall maintains the safety barrier against the adult bed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If the detachable wall portion is made of transparent flexible material to maintain visibility and flexibility, then the ease of operation is improved, but the strength is worsened because transparent flexible material may not provide sufficient resistance to prevent baby escape

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidresistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the wall have different qualities: the stationary portion is made of rigid or strong flexible material to provide resistance and prevent escape, while the detachable portion can be transparent flexible material to maintain visibility and allow easy removal. Each portion's material property is optimized for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The wall is segmented into stationary and detachable portions, allowing the use of different materials with different properties in each segment. The stationary portion uses strong material for safety, while the detachable portion uses transparent material for visibility and ease of removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2976973B1Baby crib
Publication Date: 2017.04.19 ARTSANA SPA
  • EP2976973B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2976973B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2976973B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A baby crib with perimeter walls (1, 2, 3, 4) made of a flexible material and supported by a frame (10) composed of rid-like element, wherein one of the perimeter walls (4) of greater longitudinal extent comprises a portion (6) that can be detached from the adjacent walls (1, 3) and overturned toward the exterior of the crib on the same wall (4) by being folded around a line (7) substantially parallel to the plane of the bottom (5) of the crib. The line (7) around which overturning occcurs is spaced from the bottom (5) of the crib, by the provision of a stationary portion (9). A rod-like element (21) comprises a pair of opposed sections (22) which extend along the height of said stationary portion (9) from the plane of the bottom (5) of the crib and at least one section (23) which extends along at least one middle section of the length of said stationary wall portion (9).