Foldable Tailgate Slide with Strap Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional playground equipment is not portable and cannot be easily attached to a truck tailgate, limiting its use in tailgating events and other mobile settings where children need engaging activities.
Innovation Solution
A portable, foldable tailgate slide with a slide portion, sidewalls, and a handle, featuring straps for secure attachment to a truck tailgate, and a mechanical connection allowing it to be folded for easy transport and use on an incline plane with adjustable angles and safety features like a handlebar and flap for stability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional playground equipment is used, then children have playground activities, but the equipment is difficult to transport and ship due to large size
Solution Approach 1:
The slide is divided into multiple sections that can be folded together. The foldable design allows the slide to be broken down into manageable segments for easy transport and storage, while maintaining the complete slide structure when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The foldable sections of the slide are designed to nest within each other when collapsed, similar to nested dolls. This maximizes compactness during transport while allowing the full slide structure to be reconstructed when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional playground equipment is used, then children have playground activities, but the equipment is not adapted for use on a tailgate or truck end
Solution Approach 1:
The slide is designed with universal attachment features that allow it to be installed on various surfaces including truck tailgates, playgrounds, and other elevated structures. The attachment mechanism is adaptable to different mounting surfaces and configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide utilizes the vertical dimension by attaching to elevated surfaces like tailgates, transforming a two-dimensional playground surface into a three-dimensional play structure that leverages height for sliding functionality.
3Ease of operation
If the slide is made portable and foldable, then the slide is easy to transport, but the mechanical connection and attachment mechanisms increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical connection system uses dynamic, movable components rather than fixed rigid connections. The foldable joints and adjustable attachment points allow the structure to move and adapt during assembly and transport, simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable tailgate slide is disclosed. The portable tailgate slide includes a slide portion, having a smooth top surface for sliding, sidewalls, and a bottom surface, wherein the slide portion includes a top end portion comprising at least one aperture, and wherein the bottom surface of the slide portion includes a handle protruding from therefrom, and at least one strap configured to loop around a tailgate of a truck, wherein the strap is configured to attach to the tailgate slide from the aperture to the handle.