Folding Wagon Frame with Telescopic Canopy Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pull wagons are not collapsible, making them cumbersome to transport in vehicles due to space limitations, especially when used for outdoor activities like camping or beach trips.
Innovation Solution
A folding wagon design featuring a frame with pivotally connected supplemental links, telescopic extensions, and a fabric canopy, allowing the wagon to fold into a compact stowed position while maintaining a spacious open configuration for use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the wagon is designed as a traditional non-collapsible pull wagon, then it provides structural stability and ease of manufacture, but it occupies excessive space during transportation and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The wagon frame is divided into multiple segments including front vertical supports, rear vertical supports, horizontal supports, and supplemental links that can pivot relative to each other. This segmentation allows the frame to collapse into a compact configuration for storage while maintaining structural integrity during use, directly resolving the contradiction between reducing storage volume and maintaining ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic extensions are designed to nest within the hollow vertical supports when retracted, and the supplemental links pivot to nest within the overall frame structure when collapsed. This nesting arrangement minimizes the storage volume of the wagon without adding significant manufacturing complexity, as the nested components share common structural elements.
2Volume of moving object
If the wagon is designed to fold into a compact stowed position, then it reduces storage space requirements, but it increases device complexity through additional folding mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The wagon employs dynamic folding mechanisms where supplemental links pivot between extended and retracted positions, and telescopic extensions move between extended and retracted states. These dynamic elements allow the wagon to transition between use and storage configurations without requiring complex fixed structures, reducing overall device complexity while achieving compact stowed volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The supplemental links serve multiple functions: they provide structural support when extended, enable folding motion when pivoted, and connect multiple frame components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving the compact stowed position.
3Reliability
If telescopic extensions are added to support the fabric canopy, then it provides adjustable height and stability, but it increases the number of parts and assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic extensions are designed to nest within the hollow vertical supports, with the extensions fitting inside the support tubes. This nesting arrangement provides adjustable height support for the fabric canopy while minimizing the number of separate components, as the telescopic mechanism utilizes the existing hollow structure of the vertical supports.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic extension mechanism is combined with the vertical support structure, where the extension slides within the hollow support tube. This merging of functions reduces the total number of parts compared to having separate support posts and canopy holders, while maintaining the reliability and adjustability of the canopy support system.
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 easy storage and transportation by collapsing into a small space while providing ample room for cargo, with the telescopic extensions and fabric canopy ensuring stability and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The telescopic bushings retard retraction when the telescopic extensions are flexed. Retraction is retarded by friction binding of the telescopic extensions against the bushing
Implementation Method 2
The folding frame comprises a pair of front and rear vertical support, a front upper horizontal support extending between the pair of front vertical supports, a rear horizontal support extending between the pair of rear vertical supports, and a pair of lower horizontal support. The folding frame further comprises a pair of front supplemental links and a pair of rear supplemental links. The pair of front supplemental links are pivotally connected to diagonal folding members
Data Source
AI summary
A folding wagon has a folding frame with a stowed position and an open position. The folding frame comprises a pair of front and rear vertical support. The folding frame further comprises a pair of front supplemental links and a pair of rear supplemental links. A plurality of flatbed supports form a central flatbed support joint in the middle of the wagon. The central flatbed support joint folds upward when the folding frame is being configured into stowed position, and the plurality of flatbed supports are pivotally connected to the pair of front vertical supports and the pair of rear vertical supports. Wheels attach to the folding frame.