Infant Swing Arm Layout for Compact Stable Portability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional infant swing apparatuses are bulky and inconvenient to move from one room to another due to their large size, lacking compactness and ease of operation.
Innovation Solution
A compact infant swing apparatus design featuring a base frame with a rearward-inclined support column and a pivotally connected swing arm with a tapered shape, incorporating a motorized driving mechanism and portable features like a carry handle and wheel assemblies, allowing for reduced size and enhanced portability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a large base and rigid support column are used to ensure stability, then the swing apparatus maintains stable operation, but the apparatus occupies significant space and becomes inconvenient to move
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the support column adjustable in height and angle. The support column can be extended or retracted, and its inclination angle can be adjusted, allowing the swing apparatus to adapt its configuration. This enables the apparatus to maintain stability during operation while occupying less space when moved or stored, directly resolving the contradiction between stability and space occupation.
2Strength
If a large base frame is used to support the swing arm, then the swing apparatus achieves adequate load-bearing capacity, but the apparatus becomes bulky and difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the dynamics principle by incorporating an adjustable support column that can change its height and inclination angle. This allows the base frame to maintain adequate load-bearing capacity when needed while reducing its effective footprint for easier transport. The adjustable nature enables the apparatus to transition between a stable operational configuration and a compact transport configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The support column is divided into multiple segments that can be extended or retracted independently. This segmentation allows the load-bearing structure to be broken down into manageable sections, reducing the overall size when not in use while maintaining structural integrity during operation, thus improving portability without sacrificing strength.
3Ease of operation
If the swing arm is made long to provide adequate swing motion, then the pendulum motion is effective for calming the child, but the apparatus occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the support column adjustable, which in turn allows the swing arm's effective length and position to be optimized. The swing arm can be positioned at different heights and angles, enabling effective pendulum motion for calming the child while minimizing the horizontal space occupied by the apparatus when not in use.
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 design results in a more compact, easy-to-operate, and portable infant swing apparatus that maintains the calming and entertaining pendulum motion while requiring less space, facilitating effortless movement between rooms.
Implementation Method 1
a swing arm that can travel in a pendulum motion
Implementation Method 2
The second end portion of the swing arm is pivotally connected with the support column about a pivot axis that is located above the seat support
Data Source
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AI summary
An infant swing apparatus (100) includes a base frame (110), a rigid support column (112) rising from the base frame (110) and having a front (112F) and a rear (112R), and a swing arm (104) arranged at the front (112F) of the support column (112) and having a first end portion (104A) and a second end portion (104B). The first end portion (104A) of the swing arm (104) is connected with a seat support (108), and the second end portion (104B) of the swing arm (104) is pivotally connected with the support column (112) about a pivot axis (R) that is located above the seat support (108), the swing arm (104) having a tapered shape between the first and second end portions (104A, 104B).