Infant Support Frame With Suspended Clearance for Play Yard Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional infant supporting accessories for play yards are limited in space and cannot be used simultaneously or independently, making it difficult to utilize multiple accessories like napper stations, diaper changing stations, and bassinets simultaneously or as standalone devices.
Innovation Solution
An infant supporting apparatus with a leg frame and support frame that allows the infant resting support to be suspended above a clearance, enabling independent use or attachment to a play yard, with a latching structure for secure engagement, allowing for versatile use and space-saving configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If accessories are attached to the top rails of the play yard, then the accessories can be securely attached, but the limited space on top rails makes it difficult to use multiple accessories simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The infant supporting apparatus transitions from horizontal attachment on top rails to vertical suspension from the play yard ceiling, utilizing the vertical dimension of the play yard space. This dimensional shift allows multiple accessories to be stacked vertically without competing for horizontal rail space, thereby increasing the number of simultaneously usable accessories while maintaining secure attachment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If accessories are designed to attach to play yards, then they can be used with play yards, but they cannot be used independently as standalone devices
Solution Approach 1:
The infant supporting apparatus is divided into separable components: a play yard attachment portion and a support structure with infant resting support. The attachment portion can be connected or disconnected from the support structure, allowing the apparatus to function either as an integrated unit with the play yard or as a standalone device independent of the play yard, thereby enhancing versatility without requiring overly complex integrated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The infant supporting apparatus is designed with dual functionality: it can attach to play yards when needed and stand independently on its own foot portions when used alone. The support frame and leg frame structure serves both purposes, allowing the same apparatus to adapt to different usage scenarios without requiring separate designs for play yard attachment and standalone operation.
3Reliability
If the infant resting support is positioned high for safety, then the infant is protected from ground contact, but the apparatus occupies more vertical space
Solution Approach 1:
The infant supporting apparatus utilizes the play yard's vertical space by suspending the infant resting support within the play yard's overhead structure. The apparatus nests within the existing play yard volume, using the play yard's vertical dimension to provide safe elevation without requiring additional external vertical space. This nesting approach maintains infant safety through elevated positioning while efficiently utilizing the play yard's internal volume.
Data Source
AI summary
An infant supporting apparatus includes a leg frame defining a clearance and having foot portions configured to stand on a ground surface, a support frame assembled with the leg frame above the foot portions, and an infant resting support for receiving the placement of a child, the infant resting support being suspended from the support frame above the clearance. The infant supporting apparatus has a configuration of use in which the infant supporting apparatus has the leg frame standing on a ground adjacent to a play yard that is received at least partially through the clearance, the infant resting support being suspended from above the play yard and the infant supporting apparatus being attached with the play yard. Moreover, the infant supporting apparatus can be independently used as a standalone device separate from the play yard.