Foldable Cot Quick-Lock Tensioning for Sag-Free Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable cots suffer from sagging flexible sheets due to lack of longitudinal tension when unfolded, making them inconvenient for use and storage, and they are often bulky and difficult to transport.
Innovation Solution
A foldable cot with a quick lock system featuring transverse arms and coupling joints that rotate to enhance tension on the cot panel, allowing it to be easily assembled and disassembled, stored, and transported in a compact form, while maintaining durability and low manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the flexible sheet is supported only by side rails without longitudinal supports, then the cot structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the flexible sheet sags downward in the middle due to gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal arm is divided into multiple sections that can be interconnected, allowing the structure to maintain simplicity while providing distributed support points along the longitudinal direction. This segmentation enables the flexible sheet to be supported at multiple locations rather than just at the ends, preventing sagging without requiring a completely complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces longitudinal support elements that extend in the longitudinal direction, adding a dimensional aspect to the support system. This creates a two-dimensional support network (both longitudinal and transverse) rather than relying solely on transverse support from side rails, thereby maintaining sheet tension.
2Volume of moving object
If the cot is designed to fold in half for compact storage, then the storage space is reduced, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The quick lock system is pre-configured on the longitudinal arms and supporting legs, with locking surfaces and engagement features prepared in advance. This preliminary arrangement of locking components allows users to simply push or pull the legs to engage or disengage locks, eliminating the need for complex manual assembly procedures and significantly reducing setup time.
Solution Approach 2:
The quick lock system is designed to automatically engage or disengage when the supporting legs are moved into position. The mechanical locking features self-activate through the natural movement of the legs during assembly or disassembly, requiring minimal user intervention and no specialized tools, thereby saving time and simplifying the process.
3Ease of operation
If the cot panel is loosely supported, then the structure is easier to assemble, but the cot panel lacks proper tension and becomes unstable during use
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning system incorporates movable components such as adjustable arms or tensioning mechanisms that can dynamically transition from a relaxed state during assembly to a tensioned state during use. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to be easy to assemble initially while automatically providing the necessary tension and stability when the cot is set up for use.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables change in the tension parameter of the cot panel through the quick lock system and supporting structure. During assembly, the panel can be loosely installed with minimal tension, but once the supporting legs are positioned and locked, the system automatically increases the tension parameter to provide stable support, thus adapting the panel's tension state to different operational phases.
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
The system effectively maintains the cot panel's tension when unfolded, allowing for a more stable and compact foldable cot that is easy to assemble and transport, addressing the issues of sagging and bulkiness in existing designs.
Implementation Method 1
each of the transverse arms is rotated between a releasing position that the cot panel is loosely supported by the longitudinal arms and the transverse arms, and a setup position that the cot panel is stretched towards the four peripheral edges thereof for enhancing a tension of the cot panel
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of supporting legs pivotally coupling between the two longitudinal arms
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable cot includes a cot frame includes two longitudinal and a plurality of supporting legs, and a fabric made cot panel, wherein the longitudinal arms are coupled with the longitudinal edge portions of the cot panel respectively. A tensional enhancing arrangement includes two transverse arms coupled with the transverse edge portions of the cot panel, and four coupling joints rotatably mounted with end portions of the transverse arms to couple with four ends of the longitudinal arms respectively, wherein each of the transverse arms is rotated between a releasing position that the cot panel is loosely supported by the longitudinal arms and the transverse arms, and a setup position that the cot panel is stretched towards the four peripheral edges thereof for enhancing a tension of the cot panel.