Folding Wagon with Middle-Plane Hinge and Spring Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Folding wagons lack an efficient mechanism for compact storage and easy assembly, particularly in limited spaces, such as car trunks, which limits their usability and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A folding wagon design that allows for folding along a middle plane, featuring a hinge-connected frame with a support structure, steerable front wheels, and a spring-biased latch system for automatic engagement and disengagement, enabling easy assembly and compact storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a folding mechanism is implemented to enable compact storage, then the storage space requirement is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into multiple segments (front frame, rear frame, middle supports) that can be independently folded relative to each other. The top rail is segmented into front and rear portions connected by hinges, allowing the entire frame to be collapsed into a compact configuration while maintaining structural integrity when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding mechanism allows the rear frame to be nested within or adjacent to the front frame when collapsed. The middle supports fold parallel to the side rails, creating a compact nested configuration that minimizes storage volume while preserving the complete frame structure for deployment.
2Reliability
If a latch system is added to secure the folded position, then the reliability of the folded state is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch system is designed to automatically engage when the frame is folded through the use of springs that provide automatic latching force. The latch mechanism self-activates during the folding motion without requiring manual intervention, ensuring reliable engagement while minimizing the complexity of control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism replaces complex electronic or manual locking systems with a simple spring-loaded mechanical latch. The spring provides the necessary force for automatic engagement, and the latch geometry itself provides the locking function, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, or complex control circuits.
3Ease of operation
If the frame is designed to fold along a middle plane, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The folding mechanism uses asymmetric hinge placements and connection points that are optimized for ease of folding operation. The hinges are positioned to naturally guide the folding motion along the middle plane, and the connection geometries are designed to self-align during assembly, reducing the need for high-precision manufacturing while ensuring smooth operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge connections and support structures are designed to create equipotential folding paths where the gravitational and structural forces are balanced during the folding motion. This ensures that the frame folds smoothly along the middle plane without requiring precise manual alignment, as the forces naturally guide the components into their correct positions.
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 efficient folding and unfolding, allowing for easy storage in limited spaces while maintaining stability and usability, with the spring-biased latch ensuring secure engagement during use and easy disengagement for storage.
Implementation Method 1
The support latch has a disengaged position that disengages from a lower end of the middle support from the support hinge, when the support latch is in the disengaged position
Implementation Method 2
a spring that is installed to bias the support latch into a latched position
Implementation Method 3
The top rail, the middle rail, and the bottom rail are connected by a hinge means
Implementation Method 4
The front wheels are steerable
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a wagon that can be folded along a middle plane that bisects the wagon between a front and rear portion. The folding wagon comprises of wheels, a folding frame, a support structure, a front panel a handle connected to the frame, wheels, and a bag hanger that are detailed herein. The folding frame includes a top rail formed of a top rail front portion and a top rail rear portion, a middle rail formed of a middle rail front portion and a middle rail rear portion, a bottom rail formed of a bottom rail front portion and a bottom rail rear portion. The top rail, the middle rail, and the bottom rail are connected by a hinge means. The top rail front portion is mounted to the top rail rear portion.