Foldable Pet Staircase with Articulating Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices, such as ramps and rigid or folding steps, fail to safely and efficiently allow pets to ascend and descend from elevated surfaces without risking injury to the pet or the handler, and they are often cumbersome and difficult to use in tight spaces.
Innovation Solution
A foldable staircase with articulating links that pivot to form a stowed position and multiple extended positions, allowing secure and stable access to elevated surfaces, and can be used as a litter or stretcher, with optional latches for securing positions and non-slip features for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ramp is used to allow pets to ascend and descend from elevated surfaces, then the pet can avoid jumping, but the ramp must be shallow to be negotiable by the pet, making it too long to be usable in tight spaces and difficult to stow
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp is divided into multiple foldable sections that can be articulated to create a steeper overall angle while maintaining manageable individual section angles. This segmentation allows the ramp to achieve the necessary height in shorter horizontal distances, making it suitable for tight spaces while remaining stowable when folded.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp incorporates adjustable and foldable sections that can be dynamically reconfigured between different extended positions and a compact stowed position. This dynamic structure allows the ramp to adapt to various height requirements and space constraints, providing both extended functionality for pet access and compact storage capability.
2Reliability
If a rigid or folding staircase is used to allow pets to ascend and descend from elevated surfaces, then the pet can negotiate steeper angles, but the device becomes cumbersome and difficult to transport and handle
Solution Approach 1:
The staircase is divided into multiple lightweight tread sections connected by foldable joints, allowing each section to be small and manageable while collectively providing the necessary height. This segmentation enables the staircase to be both functional for pet access and easy to transport when folded into a compact configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The staircase incorporates foldable joints and articulating connections that enable dynamic transformation between an extended configuration for pet use and a compact folded configuration for storage and transport. This dynamic capability maintains ease of operation while providing the structural integrity needed for pet safety.
3Ease of operation
If a foldable staircase with articulating links is used to allow pets to ascend and descend from elevated surfaces, then the device becomes lightweight and collapsible to a compact folded size, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The staircase uses standardized, repeated tread and link assemblies that can be manufactured using the same processes and then simply assembled together. This modular segmentation reduces manufacturing complexity while enabling compact folding capability and lightweight construction for easy portability.
4Reliability
If a latch is added to selectively secure the staircase in a selected extended position, then the staircase can prevent further pivoting of treads, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is designed to automatically engage with the tread structure when the staircase is extended to a desired position, using the existing structural elements of the staircase itself. This self-service approach provides stable positioning without requiring additional complex external components, maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are provided, for allowing pets to ascend and descend on a foldable staircase having a plurality of stair treads operatively connected by articulating links in such a manner that the treads can be pivoted in unison from a stowed position of the staircase, in which the treads are substantially stacked upon one another, to a plurality of extended positions, in which the links position the treads in a spaced and parallel relationship to one another. A latch selectively secures the staircase in a selected one of the extended positions. The latch is configured for preventing further pivoting of the treads in either direction between the stowed and extended positions of the staircase, when the latch is engaged.