Foldable Tray Anchoring Clamps for Secure Child Item Holding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current children's trays lack features to securely hold toys, media players, and are not foldable or storable, making them unsuitable for younger children's needs.
Innovation Solution
A tray system with a cylindrical pad, U-shaped lip, elongated protrusions, and a hinged anchoring system with foldable clamps that can be securely attached to a flat surface, allowing for the fixation of items and easy storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If anchoring elements are added to fixate toys and media players, then the tray's functionality for children is improved, but the tray's portability and storability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring system is divided into separate clamp components that can be independently folded and stored. Each clamp is a distinct element that can be collapsed against the tray body, allowing the functionality to be segmented into storable units rather than a permanent fixed structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamps are designed with hinged connections that allow them to transition between extended (functional) and collapsed (storage) positions. This dynamic capability enables the anchoring elements to adapt their configuration based on whether they are being used or stored, resolving the contradiction between functionality and portability.
2Reliability
If anchoring elements are added to securely hold items, then the tray's stability is improved, but the tray's foldability and storability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The hinged clamp mechanism allows the anchoring elements to be extended when stability is needed and collapsed when foldability is required. The hinge connection enables smooth transition between states, maintaining both stability during use and foldability for storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamps are designed to fold back against the tray body and nest within the overall structure when not in use. This nesting arrangement allows the anchoring elements to be stored within the footprint of the tray itself, maintaining compactness while providing stability when deployed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fixing elements are added to hold toys and media players, then the tray's versatility for children is improved, but the tray's simplicity and ease of storage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fixing elements are provided as separate, identical clamp units that can be independently folded and stored. Each clamp is a standardized component that can be individually collapsed, making it easy to store multiple elements without increasing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamps are designed as universal anchoring elements that can serve multiple functions - holding toys, media players, and other items. This multi-functionality allows a single standardized component design to provide versatility across different use cases while maintaining simple storage characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A tray system including a tray; a pad coupled to a proximal end of the tray; a lip having a U-shaped configuration, the lip extending away from a top surface of the tray, the lip located adjacent a periphery of a bottom surface of the tray; and a plurality of fixing elements extending from the top surface. The plurality of fixing elements includes a pair of substantially elongated protrusions extending away from the top surface; and a circular loop. The tray system includes an anchoring system hinged to the bottom surface of the tray and includes at least one clamp. Each clamp includes a proximal portion having a C-shaped frame defining a first end; a distal portion integrally connected to and extending from the proximal portion, the distal portion defining a G-shaped clamp and configured as a resilient arm; and a screw threadably connected to the resilient arm.