Folding Pet Ramp with Telescoping Rungs for Adjustable Slope
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pet steps and ramps often fail to accommodate the mobility issues of older and smaller pets, as they may be too steep or require significant space, and existing foldable solutions are not versatile enough to serve both purposes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A modular pet step and ramp apparatus with movable platform members that can transition between step and ramp modes, featuring a frame with cross supports, latching mechanisms, and foldable leg support for easy storage and use, allowing configuration as steps, a ramp, or a combination of both.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pet ramp is made foldable for easy storage, then storage convenience is improved, but the ramp becomes too steep or requires significant space making it difficult for pets to climb
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp is divided into multiple telescoping sections that can be independently adjusted. Each section contains rungs that can be positioned at different heights, allowing the ramp to be segmented into manageable portions that reduce the effective climbing angle while maintaining compact storage capability when collapsed.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp incorporates telescoping mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of the ramp's length and angle. The rungs are positioned on telescoping sections that can extend or retract, enabling the ramp to adapt its geometry to provide a gentler slope when extended and compact form when retracted, thus resolving the contradiction between storage convenience and climbing ease.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pet steps are made solid for stability, then stability is improved, but the steps cannot be folded down for storage
Solution Approach 1:
The steps are divided into multiple individual platform members that can be independently folded. Each platform member is supported by a telescoping section with rungs, allowing the structure to be segmented into collapsible units that maintain stability when deployed but can be folded flat for storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The solid platform members are connected through telescoping mechanisms that allow dynamic transformation between extended (stable) and retracted (compact) states. The rungs on telescoping sections provide structural support when extended while allowing the entire assembly to fold compactly when retracted, resolving the contradiction between stability and storage capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a pet ramp is made with adjustable rungs for versatility, then adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping sections with adjustable rungs serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, enable angle adjustment, allow length variation, and facilitate both ramp and step configurations. This multi-functionality achieves high adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity, as a single mechanism accomplishes multiple objectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping mechanism with movable rungs provides dynamic adjustability that simplifies the overall structure compared to multiple fixed configurations. The rungs can be positioned at various heights along the telescoping sections, allowing the same basic structure to adapt to different pet sizes and usage scenarios without requiring complex additional components.
Data Source
AI summary
A folding pet ramp and step apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a frame supporting an upper platform member and a lower platform member. The lower platform member has a lower riser and a lower runner. The upper platform member has an upper riser and an upper runner which are movable between a ramp mode and a step mode. The upper riser fixedly supports the upper runner against the frame when in the step mode, and is moveable from the fixedly supported position to permit the upper runner to move to the ramp mode.