Infant Cradle Bed Spring Layout for Smooth 3D Rocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional infant cradles fail to replicate the soothing stochastic movements found in environments like prams and cars, leading to difficulties in helping infants fall asleep, and existing solutions with helical coils result in bumpy movements or impractical designs.
Innovation Solution
The use of elongated spring elements extending from the legs of the bed, which provide a harmonic, three-dimensional movement, allowing the bed to rock gently and stably, while being compact enough for easy mobility and safe use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If helical coils are used between the legs and the floor to achieve cradle function, then the bed can rock, but the movement becomes too bumpy and unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spring parameters by using elongated spring elements (10-20 cm length) with specific thickness (0.5-2 cm) and width (1-5 cm) instead of conventional helical coils. This parameter change produces a waved movement pattern that is less bumpy and more suitable for infant cradles while maintaining rocking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring elements extend in multiple directions (length, width, and thickness dimensions) from the legs, creating three-dimensional stochastic movements with harmonic character. This multi-dimensional spring configuration produces gentler movement compared to the single-direction compression of helical coils.
2Reliability
If very long protruding bars with soft springs are used to achieve pleasant movement, then the cradle movement is smooth, but the product size grows too large to be moved in a home
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the spring element dimensions to a specific range (10-20 cm length, 0.5-2 cm thickness, 1-5 cm width) that produces smooth waved movement while keeping the overall bed compact and movable within home environments. This eliminates the need for excessively long protruding bars.
3Length of moving object
If the spring elements are made short for easy mobility, then the bed can be moved through door openings, but the risk of tipping over increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses resilient material with specific elastic properties for the spring elements, creating a composite structure that provides both the necessary flexibility for compact dimensions and the structural stability to prevent tipping. The material properties compensate for the reduced length of the spring elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring elements are pre-bent into curved configurations that store elastic energy and provide inherent stability. This preliminary shaping allows the short spring elements to maintain structural integrity and anti-tip stability without requiring excessive length.
4Ease of operation
If protruding legs extend close to the floor, then the springing effect is achieved, but the risk of hurting toes or feet increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring elements are designed with curved, rounded profiles instead of sharp protruding legs. This curvature eliminates sharp edges and corners that could injure feet, while the rounded shape maintains the springing effect by allowing elastic deformation in a safe manner.
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
The solution enables infants to self-rock to sleep with a stable and compact bed that meets safety standards, reducing the need for parents to move the infant excessively and minimizing the risk of accidents or obstruction.
Implementation Method 1
elongated spring elements, which extend in opposite directions from a leg... The movement of the spring element under stress can be described as waved, which is also optimal for a cradle
Implementation Method 2
elongated spring elements... By adapting length, thickness, width and a certain bias an harmonic movement in three dimensions is obtained
Data Source
AI summary
A bed for infants with cradle function comprising a bed structure (1) and legs (3, 4) attached thereto, wherein the bed has two legs (3, 4) mounted to the bed structure (1) diametrically opposite to each other, seen in a longitudinal direction of the bed, that the respective leg (3, 4) has laterally protruding elements (9, 10; 11, 12) made of a resilient material at its free end, and in that said protruding resilient elements (9, 10; 11, 12) are arranged to protrude obliquely downwards from the leg to a floor so that the lower part of the leg is situated at a distance from said floor.