Foldable play yard

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional play yards are difficult for caregivers to fold and unfold, making them cumbersome to use and transport.

Innovation Solution

A foldable play yard design featuring a floor assembly that drives the top rail assembly to fold, with a latch system that prevents folding when engaged, allowing easy transition between unfolded and folded states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional play yard design is used, then structural stability is maintained, but folding and unfolding becomes difficult and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of folding and unfoldingVSAvoidfolding mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the floor assembly and top rail assembly into a single integrated folding mechanism. The floor assembly is operatively connected to the top rail assembly such that folding one automatically folds the other, reducing the number of independent folding actions required and simplifying the overall operation for caregivers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic folding system where the floor assembly can drive the top rail assembly to fold through operative connection. This allows the structure to transition smoothly between unfolded and folded states, making the play yard adaptable and easy to manipulate during folding and unfolding operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the play yard is designed to be easily foldable, then portability improves, but safety and stability during use may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of foldingVSAvoidstructural stability during use

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The latch mechanism prevents the floor assembly from folding when engaged, ensuring structural stability during use. This preliminary protective action maintains the play yard in its intended configuration, preventing accidental folding that could compromise safety while allowing easy folding when the latch is disengaged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The latch acts as an intermediary between the floor assembly and the folding action. When engaged, it mediates to prevent folding and ensure stability; when disengaged, it allows the floor assembly to drive the top rail assembly to fold, thus balancing safety and ease of folding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If multiple steps are required for folding, then structural control is improved, but user convenience and speed of folding deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol during foldingVSAvoidtime required for folding

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the folding actions of the floor assembly and top rail assembly into a single operatively connected system. When the floor assembly is driven to fold, it automatically drives the top rail assembly to fold as well, reducing multiple folding steps into one unified action, thus saving time and improving user convenience while maintaining control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 caregivers to easily fold and unfold the play yard with one hand, enhancing convenience and safety by ensuring the play yard remains secure in its intended configuration.

Implementation Method 1

The foldable play yard includes at least one latch that is transitionable between an engaged state and a disengaged state, wherein in the engaged state, the floor assembly is prevented from driving the at least one top rail assembly to fold

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Fastener: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 2

The floor assembly is configured such that when the floor assembly is driven to fold, the floor assembly drives the at least one top rail assembly to fold thereby transitioning the foldable play yard from the unfolded state to the folded state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

The foldable play yard includes at least one corner post assembly, at least one top rail assembly and a floor assembly operatively connected to the at least one top rail assembly via the at least one corner post assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Connection: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS12285119B2Foldable play yard

Publication Date: 2025.04.29 WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG

AI summary

A foldable play yard includes at least one corner post assembly, at least one top rail assembly and a floor assembly operatively connected to the at least one top rail assembly via the at least one corner post assembly. The foldable play yard is transitionable between a folded state in which both of the floor assembly and the at least one top rail assembly are folded, and an unfolded state in which both of the floor assembly and the at least one top rail assembly are unfolded to define a child containment enclosure therebetween. The floor assembly is configured such that when the floor assembly is driven to fold, the floor assembly drives the at least one top rail assembly to fold thereby transitioning the foldable play yard from the unfolded state to the folded state.