Infant Float with Multi-Chamber Buoyancy to Reduce Body Submersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flotation devices designed for young children and infants often submerge a significant portion of the user's body, particularly the lower body, and are not suitable for infants who lack sufficient muscular control to maintain an upright position, making them inappropriate for younger infants.
Innovation Solution
A flotation device with a sloped wall portion and a flexible support member that allows infants to be positioned partially above the water, featuring a sloped wall to prevent rolling and a flexible support member that conforms to the user's body, ensuring partial body support and retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a known recreational flotation device is used for infants, then the device can support the infant on water, but the device submerges a significant portion of the infant's body particularly the lower body
Solution Approach 1:
The flotation device is divided into multiple flotation chambers (first flotation chamber, second flotation chamber, third flotation chamber) positioned at different locations and heights. This segmentation allows different portions of the device to provide buoyancy at different levels, enabling the upper body to remain above water while supporting the lower body without complete submersion.
Solution Approach 2:
The device introduces vertical dimensionality through flotation chambers of varying heights positioned at different locations. The first flotation chamber has a first height, the second flotation chamber has a second height greater than the first, and the third flotation chamber has a third height greater than the second, creating a stepped buoyancy profile that elevates the user's body above the water surface.
2Reliability
If a known flotation device is used for infants, then the device can float on water, but it is not suitable for infants who lack sufficient muscular control to maintain an upright position
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses strategically positioned flotation chambers to create counterbalancing buoyant forces that oppose the natural tendency of the body to sink. The weighted portion is positioned to create a stable center of gravity, while the flotation chambers provide upward buoyant forces at multiple points, maintaining an upright or near-upright position without requiring muscular control from the infant.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the device have different properties: the first portion includes a weighted portion for stability, the second portion includes a cradle-like structure for body support, and the third portion includes flotation chambers of varying heights for buoyancy. This local differentiation of properties allows the device to simultaneously provide stability, support, and flotation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a flotation device with multiple flotation chambers of varying heights is used, then the infant's body can be supported above water, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple flotation chambers are merged into a single integrated device structure. The first flotation chamber, second flotation chamber, and third flotation chamber are combined with the cradle structure and weighted portion to form a unified flotation device, simplifying manufacturing and deployment while maintaining the benefits of multiple chambers.
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 device effectively supports infants in a reclined position with portions of their body above water, preventing submersion and enhancing comfort and safety by maintaining the infant's position and reducing water entry.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable flotation device configured for use by an infant to support the infant at least partially above the water
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates to inflatable flotation devices that support an infant, and having first, second and third inflatable members. The first member has an outer and an inner perimeter and a first and second diameters at first and second end portions. The second member is at least partially within the inner perimeter of the first member. At least a portion of the upper surface of the second member is recessed with respect to an upper surface of the first member. The third member has an inner perimeter disposed about at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the first member. The third member has a maximum height, when inflated, that is less than the maximum height of the first member, at least a portion of the inner perimeter of the third member being spaced apart from the outer perimeter of the first member.