Kid Play Tunnel Radial Compression via Spiral Frame Sliding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional kid play tunnels can only reduce volume in the length direction, failing to compress in the outer diameter direction, which limits their ability to minimize transportation costs.
Innovation Solution
A kid play tunnel with an adjustable diameter during folding, featuring a spiral elastic frame, flexible tube coat, and sliding pipes that allow for radial compression, combined with a flat storage belt for packaging, enabling volume reduction in both length and diameter directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the game tunnel toy uses a foldable structure to reduce volume in length direction, then it facilitates logistics and transportation, but it cannot be compressed in outer diameter direction to further reduce volume
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic frame is designed as a spiral structure that can dynamically change its diameter. The frame includes head sections and connecting sections that can slide relative to each other along the spiral path, allowing the tunnel to transition between expanded and compressed states in the outer diameter direction, thereby enabling versatile compression capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the frame by using a spiral configuration with sliding sections. This allows the diameter parameter to be variable rather than fixed, enabling the tunnel to be compressed in the outer diameter direction by reducing the diameter through sliding of frame sections, thus achieving volume reduction beyond what conventional foldable structures can accomplish.
2Volume of stationary object
If the game tunnel toy is folded by pressing two ends against each other, then the volume is reduced in length direction, but transportation costs cannot be further reduced due to inability to compress in radial direction
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is segmented into multiple head sections and connecting sections that can slide independently. This segmentation allows the compression operation to be simplified - users only need to slide the sections along the spiral path rather than performing complex folding maneuvers, making the radial compression operation as easy as the conventional length-wise folding while achieving greater volume reduction.
3Strength
If the elastic frame uses a conventional rigid structure, then it maintains structural integrity, but it cannot be compressed in outer diameter direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible elastic frame with spiral configuration instead of a rigid structure. The elastic material and spiral geometry allow the frame to maintain its structural integrity and shape when expanded, while simultaneously enabling compression in the outer diameter direction through sliding of frame sections, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and compressibility.
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 allows for significant volume reduction, facilitating cost-effective transportation and logistics while maintaining the toy's functionality, thus saving costs.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic frame (1), wherein the elastic frame (1) is in a spiral shape
Data Source
AI summary
A kid play tunnel comprises an elastic frame, a flexible tube coat, and sliding pipes. The elastic frame is in a spiral shape and comprises head sections and connecting sections connected with the head sections. Each head section of the elastic frame overlaps a respective portion of a corresponding connecting section of the elastic frame to form a frame ring. Each frame ring is closed and comprises a spiral end. The flexible tube coat is arranged on a whole section of the elastic frame. Two ends of the flexible tube coat are annular flexible sleeves. Each annular flexible sleeve is sleeved on a respective frame ring. The sliding pipes limit a circumferential sliding of the head sections with respect to the connecting section of the elastic frame. A diameter of each frame ring is reduced by a corresponding sliding pipe when the kid play tunnel is folded.