Inflatable Animal Crate Using Drop Stitch Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable animal crates lack the structural integrity to provide adequate safety and protection for animals during vehicle crashes due to their size, weight, and material composition, making them difficult to store and move.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable crate assembly formed from a single piece of drop stitch material, featuring a base panel, rear panel, side panels, and a top panel, with drop stitch corners and connecting members that provide structural stability and safety features, allowing the crate to maintain shape under impact and facilitate easy deployment and stowage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional heavy materials (wood, metal, plastics) are used for animal crates, then structural strength and safety are improved, but weight and storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inflatable material to form the crate structure, replacing traditional rigid heavy materials with flexible thin-walled inflatable panels. These panels can be inflated to provide structural strength during use and deflated for compact storage, directly addressing the contradiction between strength and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the crate from rigid to inflatable, allowing the structure to transition between deflated (compact, lightweight for storage) and inflated (structurally strong for use) states. This parameter change enables the crate to meet both weight reduction and strength requirements at different operational phases.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional heavy materials are used for animal crates, then structural stability is improved, but ease of movement and installation in vehicles is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable panels provide structural stability when inflated while being lightweight and flexible enough for easy movement and installation in vehicles. The panels maintain their shape and structural integrity during use but can be easily folded and stored when deflated.
Solution Approach 2:
The crate transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic inflatable structure that can be easily deployed and collapsed. The inflatable panels allow the crate to be quickly set up and taken down, improving ease of operation while maintaining stability during the contained animal's stay.
3Ease of operation
If existing inflatable materials are used for animal crates, then ease of storage and movement is improved, but structural integrity during vehicle crashes is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite construction with multiple layers including inflatable panels, reinforcing members, and connecting elements. This composite structure provides enhanced structural integrity during crashes while maintaining the inflatable nature for easy storage and movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The crate is divided into multiple inflatable panels and sections that can work together to distribute impact forces during crashes. The segmented structure with reinforced corners and connecting members provides both crash protection and flexibility for storage.
4Volume of moving object
If existing inflatable crates are designed for compact storage, then ease of transport is improved, but safety and protection during vehicle crashes is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite inflatable structures with reinforcing elements that maintain high structural strength even when deflated or partially collapsed during crashes. The composite design ensures safety during crashes while allowing compact storage volume when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable structure provides beforehand cushioning by maintaining internal pressure that creates a protective barrier during normal operation and during crash events. The pre-inflated state prepares the structure to absorb and distribute impact forces before a crash occurs.
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 solution enhances the safety and comfort of animals during travel by providing a stable and secure enclosure that meets pet safety certification standards, while also being compact and easy to transport.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable crate assembly formed from a single piece of drop stitch material... allowing the crate to maintain shape under impact
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable crate assembly includes a base panel, a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a top panel, where: the base panel, the rear panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the top panel are all formed from a single piece of drop stitch material; an inner wall of the drop stitch material forms at least a portion of an interior surface of the inflatable crate assembly; and an outer wall of the drop stitch material forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the inflatable crate assembly; and the inflatable crate also includes a drop stitch corner formed between each of the rear panel and the base panel, the first side panel and the base panel, the top panel and the first side panel, and the second side panel and the top panel.