Infant Sleep Enclosure with Auto-Return Wall and Latch for Safe Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional bassinets with rigid walls provide secure enclosures but hinder access, and existing solutions with movable walls risk accidental lowering, potentially allowing babies to roll out.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with an upstanding enclosure featuring a moveable front wall biased to return automatically to a secure upper position, equipped with a latch mechanism that is manually releasable for access, combining fail-safe operation with easy one-handed use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid wall surrounds the floor portion, then the baby is securely contained, but access to the baby is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The front wall is made movable between an upper position (preventing baby from rolling out) and a lower position (allowing easier access). This dynamic structure resolves the contradiction by allowing the wall to adapt its state based on whether security or access is the primary need.
Solution Approach 2:
The front wall is divided into multiple segments that can move independently. The upper portion can be lowered to provide access while the lower portion remains in place, allowing partial access while maintaining some containment.
2Ease of operation
If the front wall is made movable to improve access, then easier access is achieved, but the risk of accidental lowering increases
Solution Approach 1:
A latch mechanism is provided that can be engaged before the wall is lowered. This preliminary action (engaging the latch) prevents accidental lowering while allowing intentional lowering when the latch is deliberately disengaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing mechanism applies a preliminary counter-force to prevent the wall from moving downward accidentally. This anti-action (upward biasing force) counteracts any unintended downward movement while allowing controlled movement when the latch is released.
3Ease of operation
If a biasing mechanism is used to automatically return the front wall to the upper position, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of unintended activation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is engaged in advance to lock the front wall in the lower position before the biasing mechanism can accidentally activate it. This preliminary engagement prevents unintended activation while allowing the biasing mechanism to function when the latch is deliberately released.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism acts as a protective measure in advance, cushioning against the potential harm of unintended biasing mechanism activation. By having the latch engaged beforehand, the system prevents accidental activation while maintaining the ease of automatic return function.
4Ease of operation
If the front wall is lowered frequently for access, then ease of operation is improved, but the structural integrity and security may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The front wall is designed as a dynamic structure that can be lowered and raised repeatedly without compromising structural integrity. The wall includes reinforcement elements and is constructed from materials that maintain strength despite frequent movement cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is engaged in advance to secure the wall in the lower position during access operations. This preliminary engagement distributes forces evenly and prevents sudden movements that could compromise structural integrity during frequent access operations.
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
Ensures secure containment while allowing easy access to the baby, reducing the risk of accidental lowering and enhancing operational convenience for tired mothers, with robust and secure design features.
Implementation Method 1
A prior-art bassinet illustrating one approach to improve access to the baby is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,962,012 B1. In this bassinet, a front wall portion (the portion of the wall closest to the mother in use) is movable between upper and lower positions and is biased (for example by a resilient spring) towards the upper position.
Data Source
AI summary
A sleep apparatus for an infant comprises an upstanding enclosure surrounding a sleeping platform. The enclosure has front and rear walls, the front wall being moveable between an upper position for preventing the infant from rolling off the sleeping platform and a lower position allowing access to the infant. A biasing mechanism biases the front wall to return automatically in to the upper position in the absence of a barrier to upward movement, and a latch automatically engages when the front wall is in its upper position. The latch prevents movement of the front wall from the upper position towards the lower position until and unless the latch is released.