Foldable Baby Crib with Pivoting Upper Frame for Simplified Collapse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible cribs require separation of legs from the upper frame and reconnection during storage and transportation, and complex mechanisms are needed to coordinate the closing process, making them cumbersome and difficult to use.
Innovation Solution
A baby crib design featuring an upper frame with pivotally articulated half-parts and support structures that move toward each other during closure, allowing for simplified folding and unfolding without separating the legs or removing the bottom, using a straightforward mechanism actuated at the junction devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the crib is designed to be collapsible with legs separated from the upper frame, then the footprint and storage size are reduced, but the complexity of assembly and disassembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper frame is divided into two independent C-shaped half-parts that can pivot relative to each other at the junction devices. This segmentation allows each half-part to be collapsed independently toward the center, simplifying the overall collapsing process while maintaining the reduced footprint benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The legs are permanently integrated with the support structures, which are in turn integrated with the upper frame half-parts. This merging eliminates the need to separate legs from the frame during collapsing, reducing the number of disassembly steps while achieving compact storage through the pivoting mechanism of the half-parts.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a complex mechanism is used to coordinate the closing movements of multiple arms, then the structural stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The junction devices incorporate pivoting joints that allow dynamic movement of the upper frame half-parts during collapsing. This dynamic mechanism enables coordinated movement of multiple arms through simple pivotal actions at the junction devices, maintaining structural stability during transformation without requiring complex coordination systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting mechanism at the junction devices allows the crib to collapse and reopen through simple user action at two points on the upper frame. The structure itself guides the coordinated movement of all arms through the pivotal connections, eliminating the need for external complex coordination mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If the legs are permanently connected to the upper frame, then the ease of operation is improved, but the volume for storage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper frame half-parts collapse by pivoting in a rotational dimension rather than by linear folding. This dimensional change allows the legs to remain permanently connected while the overall structure reduces its footprint significantly, as the C-shaped half-parts rotate toward each other to form a compact configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and efficient folding and unfolding of the crib, maintaining its original width and height, and reducing the overall size for storage, without the need for complex mechanisms or disassembly, allowing for compact storage and easy transportation.
Implementation Method 1
each half-part of the upper frame simultaneously pivots relative to its respective support structure and to the opposite half-part
Data Source
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AI summary
A foldable baby crib (1) comprising a flexible enclosure (20) adapted to accommodate a baby, an upper frame (30) for supporting the enclosure (20) along its upper edge (23), and two support structures (40) connected to the upper frame (30) to hold the enclosure (20) in a lifted position. The upper frame (30) comprises two half-parts (34) which are pivotally articulated to each other at two junction devices (35) and are pivotally articulated each to a respective support structure (40). The support structures (40), which are initially spaced apart from each other, move toward each other as the crib is being closed (1), while the half-parts (34) of the upper frame (30) pivot relative to each other and to the support structures (40). The two junction devices (35) of the upper frame (30) are spaced apart from each other both in the open configuration and in the closed configuration of the crib (1) at a substantially constant distance.