Foldable Caster Housing With Integrated Locking for Infant Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable caster devices for infant rocking beds have complex locking structures that increase manufacturing costs and affect the device's appearance, making them difficult to operate and assemble.
Innovation Solution
A caster device with a housing and a rotating member that converts between unfolded and folded positions using engaging portions, allowing the caster to be easily switched between external and internal positions, reducing the number of components and assembly time while maintaining a neat appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a locking member projects from the top portion of the housing to engage openings in the rotatable member, then the caster can be positioned at extended or retracted positions, but the outer appearance of the caster device is adversely affected and the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is integrated into the housing body rather than being a separate projecting component. The housing includes a recess that receives the locking member, merging the locking function into the housing structure itself, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining positioning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member is disposed within the recess of the housing, creating a nested arrangement where the locking mechanism is contained within the housing structure. This nesting approach eliminates the need for the locking member to project outward, improving appearance while maintaining the locking function.
2Ease of operation
If a locking member projects from the top portion of the housing to engage openings in the rotatable member, then the caster can be positioned at extended or retracted positions, but the manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is integrated into the housing body rather than being a separate projecting component. The housing includes a recess that receives the locking member, merging the locking function into the housing structure itself, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining positioning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, defines the outer appearance, and integrates the locking mechanism through the recess. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs.
3Ease of operation
If a locking member projects from the top portion of the housing to engage openings in the rotatable member, then the caster can be positioned at extended or retracted positions, but the assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is integrated into the housing body rather than being a separate projecting component. The housing includes a recess that receives the locking member, merging the locking function into the housing structure itself, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining positioning functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A caster includes a housing, a rotating member, and a caster. The housing defines an accommodation space having an open bottom end. The rotating member is disposed within the housing, and is rotatable between first and second angular positions. The caster is co-rotatable with the rotating member. One of the housing and the rotating member has first and second engaging portions. The other one of the housing and the rotating member has a third engaging portion, which engages the first engaging portion so that the caster is unfolded and disposed outwardly of the housing when the rotating member is at the first angular position and which engages the second engaging portion so that the caster is folded and disposed at a folded position and within the accommodation space when the rotating member is at the second angular position.