Pivoting Support Stool for Ergonomic Feeding Posture Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Breast-feeding and bottle feeding often cause stress on a parent's legs, back, shoulders, and arms due to the sitting position, which existing support solutions fail to adequately address for comfort and ergonomic support.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable support stool with a pivotable top plate and support beams that allows for angular adjustment to accommodate different sitting positions, alleviating stress on the back, shoulders, and arms by enabling ergonomic positioning and elevation of the thighs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed stool design is used, then the structure is simple and stable, but it cannot accommodate different sitting positions and causes stress on the parent's body
Solution Approach 1:
The stool incorporates a pivotable top plate that can rotate relative to the base, transforming the fixed structure into a dynamic one. This allows the sitting position to be adjusted by pivoting the plate, enabling adaptability without requiring multiple separate stools or complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The stool is divided into distinct functional segments: a base, support beams, and a pivotable top plate. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while enabling the overall structure to adapt to different positions through the relative movement of segments.
2Ease of operation
If the top plate is made pivotable for position adjustment, then comfort and ergonomic support are improved, but the structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable top plate provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing users to find comfortable sitting positions. The pivot mechanism enables smooth rotation while maintaining structural integrity through properly designed connection points and support beams.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotability is localized to specific connection points between the top plate and support beams, rather than making the entire structure flexible. This localized movement capability provides ergonomic adjustment while maintaining overall structural stability through rigid support elements.
3Volume of moving object
If support blocks are positioned close to the beams for compactness, then the device size is reduced, but the holding members cannot properly extend through the footplates into the support blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The support blocks are positioned at specific locations relative to the beams, creating localized spaces that accommodate the holding members. This strategic positioning ensures that the holding members can properly extend through the footplates into the support blocks while maintaining a compact overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding members act as intermediaries that connect the footplates to the support blocks. By designing the holding members to extend partially into the support blocks, the connection is established without requiring the blocks to be positioned at extreme distances, balancing compactness with assembly feasibility.
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 adjustable stool provides comfort and reduces stress on the parent's body by allowing customizable positioning, alleviating pain in the back, shoulders, neck, and wrists, while also serving as a regular stepping stool when needed.
Implementation Method 1
The top plate is pivotable, allowing it to be rotated to different angular positions. The footplates and support blocks provide friction-based resistance to maintain the selected position without requiring additional locking mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A support stool is provided. The support stool includes a pivotable top plate and a first support beam pivotably affixed to a bottom surface of the top plate. A first support block and a second support block are affixed to the bottom surface of the top plate. First and second footplates are coupled to corresponding ends of the first support beam and a second support beam, wherein the first and second support blocks are spaced apart from opposing side surfaces of the first and second support beams. The support stool includes a first holding member extending through the first footplate and the first holding member extends partially into a surface of the first support block.