Baby Crib Top Frame Coupler Structure for Compact Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable baby cribs have bulky pivot joints that increase packaging and transport costs due to their complex structure and high manufacturing costs, as they do not allow the support rods to be brought close together when folded.
Innovation Solution
A baby crib design featuring a top frame unit with three-way couplers and top frame rods that are removably connected to upright support rods, eliminating the need for bulky pivot joints and allowing for easier folding and storage by using anchor caps and positioning units to maintain structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pivot joints are used to connect top frame rods to support rods, then the crib can be folded, but the pivot joints become bulky and increase packaging and transport costs
Solution Approach 1:
The top frame rod is divided into two rod segments that can be relative moved with respect to each other. The first rod segment connects to the coupler, while the second rod segment can be folded relative to the first segment, enabling compact folding without bulky pivot joints.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the traditional pivot joint component entirely from the connection between top frame rods and support rods. Instead, it uses a coupler with tube parts that receive rod segments directly, eliminating the bulky pivot joint structure while maintaining foldability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pivot joints with lock control units are used, then stability is enhanced, but the complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the lock control unit from the joint structure. Stability is achieved through the friction fit between the rod segment and tube part, along with the positioning provided by the cap-receiving recess, eliminating the need for complex locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint structure provides its own stability through the friction fit and geometric constraints of the tube parts and rod segments. The cap-receiving recess automatically positions and secures the rod segments without requiring additional active locking components.
Data Source
AI summary
A top frame unit of a baby crib includes a plurality of three-way couplers and a plurality of top frame rods. Each coupler includes a root part and first, second and third tube parts that extend in different directions from the root part. The root part is formed with a cap-receiving recess that is in spatial communication with the first tube part. Each top frame rod includes a rod body that has opposite first and second rod ends, and an anchor cap that is mounted on the first rod end of the rod body. Each top frame rod is extended removably through the first tube part of one of the couplers such that the anchor cap thereof is disposed removably in the cap-receiving recess, and such that the second rod end of the rod body is extendible removably into the second tube part of another one of the couplers.