Foldable play yard
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional play yards are difficult for caregivers to fold and unfold, making them cumbersome for use and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A foldable play yard design featuring a floor assembly, top rail assembly, and corner post assembly, where the floor assembly drives the corner post assembly to fold or unfold the top rail assembly, allowing easy operation with a single hand and compact folding for transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional play yard design is used, then structural stability is maintained, but folding and unfolding becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the column assemblies movable relative to each other through pivot connections. The first and second columns can pivot relative to the floor assembly and to each other, enabling the structure to transition dynamically between folded and unfolded states. This dynamic mechanism allows caregivers to easily fold and unfold the play yard by simply moving the floor assembly, which automatically drives the column assemblies to pivot and collapse the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by allowing the first column to be disposed inside the second column when the play yard is folded. This nested configuration compactly stores the structural components, reducing the overall footprint and making the play yard easy to transport. The first column can slide within the second column while maintaining connection through the pivot mechanism, creating a space-efficient folded state.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional play yard design is used, then structural integrity is maintained, but device complexity increases making it hard to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the floor assembly to serve multiple functions: it supports the weight of the play yard when unfolded, drives the folding mechanism through pivot connections, and acts as the primary structure during both folded and unfolded states. The same floor assembly and column components perform both structural support and mechanism-driven folding functions, reducing the need for separate dedicated parts and simplifying the overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If multiple steps are required for folding, then structural stability during operation is ensured, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the folding actions of multiple components into a single integrated mechanism. When the floor assembly is moved, it simultaneously drives both the first and second column assemblies to pivot and collapse through their connected pivot joints. This combined motion allows the entire play yard structure to fold and unfold in one continuous action rather than requiring separate steps for each component, enabling single-hand operation while maintaining structural stability throughout the folding process.
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 quick and easy folding and unfolding of the play yard, facilitating easy storage and transportation by allowing caregivers to operate the entire structure with one hand.
Implementation Method 1
A lower end of the first column is pivoted to the floor assembly
Implementation Method 2
An upper end of the first column is movably connected to the at least one top rail assembly
Implementation Method 3
The second column includes at least one lower pin adjacent to on the lower end of the second column and slidably passing through the at least one lower slot
Implementation Method 4
the lower end of the second column is rotatably and slidably disposed on the second end of the at least one floor beam
Implementation Method 5
at least one latch pivoted to the lower end of the first column for engaging with the second column, so as to stop the second column from being driven by the at least one floor beam to move relative to the first column
Implementation Method 6
at least one resilient component for biasing the at least one latch to engage with the second column
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable play yard includes a floor assembly, a top rail assembly and a corner post assembly. The corner post assembly includes a first column and a second column movable relative to the first column. A lower end of the first column is pivoted to the floor assembly. An upper end of the first column is movably connected to the top rail assembly. A lower end of the second column is movably connected to the floor assembly. An upper end of the second column is pivoted to the top rail assembly. The floor assembly drives the second column to move relative to the first column to drive the top rail assembly to be folded when the floor assembly is folded, and the floor assembly drives the second column to move relative to the first column to drive the top rail assembly to be unfolded when the floor assembly is unfolded.