Modular Infant Car Seat Chassis for Flexible Transport Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infant transport systems, such as those combining car seats and strollers, lack flexibility in configuration options, failing to provide a desired range of transport modes efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A modular infant transport system comprising a base, chassis, and infant car seat, with release mechanisms allowing the chassis and car seat to be coupled or decoupled, and legs to be deployed or retracted, enabling configurations as a car seat, carrier, or stroller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a modular design with multiple release mechanisms is implemented, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infant transport system is divided into separate functional modules: a base unit, a chassis with legs, and a car seat. These modules can be independently assembled and disassembled through release mechanisms, allowing the system to be configured in multiple transport modes (stroller mode with all components assembled, carrier mode with seat detached, or base-only mode). This segmentation enables versatility without requiring a completely different design for each mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The base unit and chassis are designed to serve multiple functions across different configurations. The base can function as a stationary carrier when the chassis is detached, while the chassis with legs provides stroller functionality. The release mechanisms enable a single universal structure to adapt to various transport needs, eliminating the requirement for separate dedicated devices for each transport mode.
2Ease of operation
If release mechanisms are added to enable modular assembly and disassembly, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanisms are designed to extract or detach specific components (car seat from base, chassis from base) through simple user actions. The mechanisms isolate the complexity of assembly/disassembly into dedicated release interfaces, allowing users to easily separate or combine modules without dealing with the entire system's complexity. This enables straightforward configuration changes while containing mechanical complexity in localized release components.
Solution Approach 2:
The release mechanisms are designed to be user-operated without requiring external tools or assistance. Users can independently assemble and disassemble the transport system components by activating the release mechanisms, enabling self-service configuration changes. This simplifies operation for end users while the internal mechanism structure handles the complexity of secure attachment and release.
Data Source
AI summary
A system to transport infant children is provided. The system includes a base, a chassis releasably coupled to the base, and an infant car seat releasably coupled to the combination of the chassis and the base. The infant car seat having a first handle operable in a first function to release the infant car seat from the combination of the chassis and the base. The chassis comprises a frame; a pair of rear legs pivotally coupled to the frame at a rear leg pivoting axis; and a pair of front legs, each front leg pivotally coupled to a respective rear leg at a front leg pivoting axis, wherein the rear legs and the front legs are retracted and proximate the frame in a first transport condition, and wherein the rear legs and the front legs are deployable away from the frame to a second transport condition.