Lockable Pivot Hinge Geometry to Prevent Finger Pinching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Child conveyance devices, such as strollers and car seats, often pose a risk of finger pinching due to the design of hinges, which can be problematic for young children with smaller and more delicate fingers.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a non-circular hub element with a groove and an inner hub that rotates within it, incorporating a locking mechanism and tapered sections to prevent pinching, along with angled surfaces and low-friction inset elements to minimize contact and friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional hinge design is used, then the device can fold and collapse, but fingers can be pinched between the moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the dangerous gap between hinge components by introducing a filler element that occupies the space between the first and second elements. This filler element is taken out from the harmful gap and transformed into a protective component that prevents finger pinching while allowing the hinge to maintain its folding functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The filler element acts as an intermediary between the first and second hinge elements. It mediates the interaction between these elements by providing a physical barrier that prevents direct contact of fingers with the pinching gap, while still allowing the hinge to fold and collapse as intended.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the groove width is reduced to prevent pinching, then finger safety improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying solely on precise groove dimensions, the patent extracts the safety function from the groove geometry and transfers it to the filler element. The filler element is designed with dimensions that provide the necessary safety margin, reducing the precision requirements for the groove itself while maintaining effective finger protection.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a locking mechanism is added to secure the hinge position, then structural stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the locking function with the existing hinge structure by integrating the locking mechanism into the groove and filler element assembly. The filler element not only prevents pinching but also works in conjunction with the groove to provide positional stability, combining multiple functions into a unified structure rather than adding separate complex locking components.
Data Source
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AI summary
Lockable pivotable connection (100) for a child conveyance device including two legs ((102, 106) coupled for rotation by two non-circular elements (104, 108). The two non-circular define inner and outer elements (104, 108) have cooperating planar surfaces, whereby the inner element (108) is provided in a groove of the ouher element (104). The two non-circular elements (104, 108) are configured to avoid the pinching of children fingers during rotation. The inner and outer elements (104, 116) are provided with a respective tapered section (116) having an obtuse angle with respect to the respective planar surface.