Infant Support Cushion With Contoured Opening and Secure Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infant support devices do not effectively provide a stable and entertaining seating position with easy access to toys, while ensuring the infant's safety and comfort, particularly during early motor skill development stages.
Innovation Solution
A soft, resilient contoured cushion with a central opening and adjustable strap system that allows the infant to sit comfortably, with integrated toy attachment areas and a secure closure mechanism, providing support and entertainment while allowing for movement and easy access to toys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a contoured cushion body with central opening is used to support the infant, then the infant can be positioned in an upright seating position, but the infant may become unstable or fall without additional containment features
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion is divided into functional zones: a contoured body portion for support, a separate leg portion with recesses for positioning, and distinct toy attachment areas. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function while working together to provide stable containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg portion with contoured recesses is integrated into the larger cushion body, creating a nested structure where the infant's legs are contained within the recesses while the entire assembly is supported by the main cushion body, providing multi-level containment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If toy attachment areas are integrated on the cushion surface, then the infant has easy access to toys for entertainment and motor skill development, but the cushion structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion surface serves multiple functions: it provides the basic seating support surface and simultaneously acts as an attachment platform for toys. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate toy structures while maintaining cushion simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Toy attachment areas are pre-positioned on the cushion surface at locations that are naturally accessible to the infant in the seated position. This preliminary placement ensures easy toy access without requiring complex mechanisms or additional structural elements.
3Reliability
If closure restraint straps are added to secure the access opening about the infant, then the infant is safely contained, but the ease of operation for positioning and removing the infant is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The closure restraint system uses adjustable straps that can be dynamically positioned and secured at different tightness levels. This allows the cushion to transition between an open state for easy infant placement and a secured state for safe containment, adapting to different operational phases.
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 cushion maintains the infant in a stable, upright position, allowing for safe and hands-off caregiver interaction, while enabling the infant to engage with toys and develop motor skills through adjustable and secure positioning.
Implementation Method 1
a soft resilient contoured body member is defined with an infant receiving opening
Data Source
AI summary
An infant support cushion to provide a safe and secure environment for containment and retainment of an infant in a sitting position. The support cushion is provided with a resilient foam cushion body with a child receiving opening centrally therein and a contoured extremity receiving portions defined by an access opening inwardly from its perimeter front edge surface by oppositely disposed extending cushion arm portions. Interlinking fastener elements maintain the arm portions in an engaged closed position maintaining corresponding central opening therewithin and contoured extremity receiving portions for the infant's leg.