Inflatable Stairway Slide with Spaced Base

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional outdoor slides are inconvenient for indoor use, especially on stairways, due to bulkiness and the risk of injury from sharp stair edges, and prior art airplane slides provide a bumpy ride when used on stairways.

Innovation Solution

An inflatable stairway slide assembly with a supportive base that includes longitudinally spaced transversely extending inflatable tubular sections to maintain the slide in a spaced relation with stairway steps, featuring an inflatable deceleration section and detachable mounting for secure attachment, ensuring a safe and smooth sliding experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an inflatable slide is used on stairway steps, then a smooth sliding surface is provided, but the slide may contact sharp stair edges causing injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmooth sliding surfaceVSAvoidcontact with sharp stair edges

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by positioning an inflatable base underneath the slide to cushion the user from sharp stair edges before contact occurs. The inflatable base is inflated to a level that maintains spaced relation between the slide and stair edges, providing protective cushioning in advance of any potential injury.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the slide is tightly secured to stair steps, then stability is improved, but the other side of the stairway becomes unavailable for normal use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslide stabilityVSAvoidstairway accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by using discrete mounting members that are detachably coupled to individual stair steps rather than securing the entire slide tightly to all steps. This segmented approach provides stability through strategic attachment points while leaving portions of the stairway accessible for normal use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the slide assembly is made bulky for comfort, then cushioning is improved, but storage becomes inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecushioning protectionVSAvoidstorage convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by using an inflatable base that can change its physical state between inflated and deflated configurations. When inflated, the base provides bulky cushioning protection; when deflated, it becomes compact for convenient storage. This dynamic transformation allows the same structure to fulfill both cushioning and storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Volume of moving object

If the slide is positioned close to stair steps for compactness, then space utilization is improved, but safety is reduced due to contact risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidcontact with sharp edges

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing an inflatable base as a mediator between the slide and the sharp stair edges. The inflatable base maintains a spaced relation that prevents direct contact between the slide and harmful edges, while still allowing the slide to be positioned in a space-efficient manner on the stairway.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 inflatable stairway slide assembly provides a safe, smooth, and convenient indoor sliding solution by cushioning the user from stair edges and allowing easy assembly and storage, while maintaining the other side of the stairway for normal use.

Implementation Method 1

an inflatable base which underlies the slide to protect a person from being bruised by contact with one or more of the underlying steps as the person slides down the stairway

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressurisation

Implementation Method 2

a separately inflatable deceleration section which includes an enlarged terminal bumper

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir resistance: Drag

Data Source

PatentUS7789761B1Recreational stairway slide

Publication Date: 2010.09.07 HIS MINIST OF SAGINAW

AI summary

A stairway slide assembly including an anchoring approach pad at the top of the stairway, an intermediate inflatable slide section for overlying the stairway steps and an deceleration section at the bottom of the stairway. A slide section includes a plurality of inflatable, longitudinally extending air passages which are formed by sealing laterally spaced apart elongate confronting portions of a pair of air impervious sheets. An inflatable support base is coupled to and underlies the slide and includes transversely extending inflatable air passages received on the steps and supporting the underside of the slide in spaced relation with the underlying steps.