Inflatable Carrier with Elastic-Element Auto-Folding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable water products require significant time and labor for deflation and folding after use, making transport and storage cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable carrier design incorporating a foldable supporting device connected to an inflatable main body via elastic elements, such as torsion springs or stretchy ropes, that allows the supporting device to extend during inflation and fold automatically upon deflation, facilitated by the restoring forces of these elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the inflatable main body is deflated manually, then the folding process can be completed, but it requires significant time and labor
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic elements are configured to automatically fold the foldable supporting device and inflatable main body when the main body is deflated, eliminating the need for manual folding operations and significantly reducing the time and labor required for storage preparation
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic elements are pre-configured to store potential energy during inflation that is automatically converted to kinetic energy during deflation, causing the supporting device to fold automatically before manual intervention is needed
2Strength
If the foldable supporting device is made rigid for stability, then structural strength is improved, but folding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The foldable supporting device employs dynamic connecting portions that allow the supporting elements to rotate relative to each other, enabling the structure to transition between rigid extended states for stability and folded states for storage, with the elastic elements providing the mechanical advantage needed for this transformation
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
Reduces the time and labor required for folding the inflatable carrier by utilizing the elastic elements to automatically fold the supporting device and main body into a compact form when deflated.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elastic elements connected to the foldable supporting device and/or the inflatable main body. When the inflatable main body is inflated to expand, the foldable supporting device is forced to extend by the expanded inflatable main body and the elastic elements are deformed. When the inflatable main body is deflated, restoring forces of the elastic elements cause the foldable supporting device to be folded.
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable carrier includes an inflatable main body, a foldable supporting device connected to the inflatable main body, and a plurality of elastic elements connected to the foldable supporting device and/or the inflatable main body. When the inflatable main body is inflated to expand, the foldable supporting device is forced to extend by the expanded inflatable main body and the elastic elements are deformed. When the inflatable main body is deflated, restoring forces of the elastic elements cause the foldable supporting device to be folded.