Motorized Side Protection Block for Foldable Safety Seats

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety seats with side protection blocks often fail to provide adequate side impact protection due to user negligence in unfolding or folding the blocks, leading to reduced functionality.

Innovation Solution

A side protection mechanism featuring a pivotal connection mount, side protection block, and motor that automatically unfolds and folds the block using a gear system, allowing for motor-driven or manual operation, with a locking mechanism to maintain the block's position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If side protection blocks are designed to be foldable to reduce storage space, then the volume of the safety seat is reduced, but the reliability of side impact protection is compromised due to user negligence in unfolding or folding the blocks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidside impact protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects collision conditions and triggers the side protection blocks to unfold without user intervention. The control unit monitors sensor data and autonomously activates the motor-driven mechanism, eliminating the need for users to manually operate the blocks and ensuring protection is always engaged when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The side protection blocks are pre-positioned in a folded state during storage, and the system prepares for potential deployment by continuously monitoring collision sensors. When a collision is detected, the blocks are rapidly deployed from their pre-positioned state, ensuring immediate protection without requiring user reaction time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If side protection blocks are made fixed to ensure consistent protection, then the reliability of side impact protection is improved, but the volume of the safety seat increases and portability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside impact protectionVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The side protection blocks transition from a static fixed design to a dynamic system that can change state between folded and unfolded positions. The motor-driven mechanism allows the blocks to adapt their configuration based on operational needs, providing consistent protection when deployed while maintaining a compact form during storage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical operation of folding and unfolding blocks is replaced with an automated motor-driven system. The motor receives electrical signals from the control unit and automatically positions the blocks, eliminating the need for user interaction while maintaining the ability to change between compact and protective states

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If manual operation of side protection blocks is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation is compromised when users forget to unfold or fold the blocks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical structureVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor collision conditions and provide feedback to the control unit. When a collision is detected, the feedback signal triggers the motor to automatically deploy the side protection blocks, ensuring the system responds appropriately to actual safety needs without relying on user memory or attention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary between the collision sensors and the motor-driven mechanism. It processes sensor data and automatically activates the appropriate response, eliminating the need for direct user interaction with the blocks while ensuring protection is deployed based on actual collision conditions

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

Ensures consistent side impact protection by automatically unfolding and folding the side protection block, reducing the risk of user error and enhancing safety seat functionality.

Implementation Method 1

The motor is connected to the side protection block to drive the side protection block to rotate relative to the pivotal connection mount to fold or unfold

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical transmission: Gear

Implementation Method 2

The pivotal connection mount has a locking slot. The side protection block is pivotally connected to the pivotal connection mount and includes a locking block

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical locking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP4448330B1Side protection mechanism for safety seat and safety seat with side protection mechanism
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
  • EP4448330B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4448330B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4448330B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A side protection mechanism (16) for safety seat (1) includes a pivotal connection mount (162), a side protection block (164) pivotally connected to the pivotal connection mount (162), and a motor (166) disposed in the pivotal connection mount (162). The motor (166) is connected to the side protection block (164) to drive the side protection block (164) to rotate relative to the pivotal connection mount (162) to fold or unfold. A safety seat (1) includes a seat body (14) and the side protection mechanism (16) on a side of seat body (14). After the side protection block (164) rotates to unfold, the side protection block (164) protrudes from the seat body (14) and a locking block (1644) of the side protection block (164) is located outside and directly in front of a locking slot (162a) of the connection mount (162).