Infant Float with Segmented Chambers for Reclined Water Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recreational flotation devices are not suitable for younger infants as they require sufficient muscular control to remain upright and submerge a significant portion of their body in water, which is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A flotation device with a cradle and support member that allows infants to be positioned partially above water, featuring a sloped wall portion with varying heights to prevent rolling and water ingress, and a segmented inflatable bladder for comfort and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If known recreational flotation devices are used for infants, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the infant's lower body is submerged into the water and the infant cannot be supported above water
Solution Approach 1:
The flotation device is divided into multiple flotation chambers (first flotation chamber, second flotation chamber, third flotation chamber) with different heights and positions. This segmentation allows the device to provide differential buoyancy support, keeping the infant's upper body above water while allowing controlled submersion of the lower body, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and body submersion prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the flotation device have different heights and buoyancy characteristics. The first flotation chamber has a greater height than the second flotation chamber, creating localized variations in support. This local quality differentiation enables the device to support the infant's torso above water while allowing the lower body to remain partially submerged, addressing the contradiction between ease of manufacture and harmful submersion.
2Device complexity
If known flotation devices require upright sitting position, then the device complexity is low, but infants without sufficient muscular control cannot use it safely
Solution Approach 1:
The flotation chambers provide buoyant forces that counteract the infant's weight and gravitational pull. The distributed buoyancy from multiple chambers supports the infant's body in a reclined position without requiring muscular effort to maintain upright posture. This counterweight mechanism resolves the contradiction between simple usage requirements and infant safety by providing passive support.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from requiring vertical upright support to providing horizontal reclined support. By changing the dimensional orientation of support from vertical to horizontal, the device accommodates infants who cannot yet sit upright, reducing usage complexity requirements while maintaining safety through distributed buoyancy support across multiple chambers.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the flotation device supports the infant above water, then body submersion is reduced, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flotation device uses multiple segmented flotation chambers instead of a single large chamber. This segmentation allows the device to achieve effective body support with simpler individual components. Each chamber can be independently constructed with basic materials, reducing overall structural complexity while collectively providing the buoyancy needed to keep the infant's upper body above water.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple flotation chambers are combined within a single integrated device structure that supports the infant collectively. By merging the functions of multiple chambers into one unified device, the invention achieves effective body support without requiring complex external support systems, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the benefit of reduced body submersion.
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 younger infants to float safely with portions of their body above water, providing comfort and stability by preventing water entry and maintaining the infant's position.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable bladder segmented into a first inflatable chamber, a second inflatable chamber, and a third inflatable chamber
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates to flotation devices generally, and particularly to inflatable flotation devices configured for use by an infant to support the infant at least partially above the water and to at least partially retain the infant therein. In some embodiments, an apparatus is a flotation member having an inner perimeter, a top portion and a bottom portion. The flotation member has a first height between its bottom portion and its top portion at a first location of the flotation member. The flotation member has a second height between the top portion and the bottom portion at a second location of the flotation member, the second height different from the first height. The flotation member includes a support member at least partially disposed within the inner perimeter of the flotation member. The support member has a first portion coupled to the top portion of the flotation member at the first location. The support member has a second portion coupled to the top portion of the flotation member at the second location. The support member has a third portion between the first portion and the second portion, and the third portion is coupled to the bottom portion of the flotation member at a third location different from the first location of the flotation member and the second location of the flotation member.