Playard Changing Table With Angled Side Rails for Safe Storage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional changing tables for playards are prone to accidental collapse when a baby rolls, potentially harming the child and caregiver, and the storage solutions are insecure, creating hazards for caregivers and children.

Innovation Solution

A changing table design with angled side rails and secure pivot joints that connect to an organizer, allowing for safe movement between operation and storage positions, preventing accidental collapse and ensuring secure storage without interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the changing table is designed to pivot about the upper frame support for storage, then the changing table can be conveniently moved to storage position, but the folding arms may accidentally collapse when the baby rolls, causing harm to the child and caregiver

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of moving changing table to storage positionVSAvoidstability of changing table when baby is placed on it

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The changing table is divided into a platform portion and a support structure with distinct functions. The platform is supported by braces that extend downward to rest on the playard base, separating the storage function from the support function, thereby preventing collapse while maintaining ease of storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support braces are pre-configured to extend downward and rest on the playard base before the changing table is fully assembled or positioned. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures stability is built-in from the start, preventing accidental collapse before it can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Area of stationary object

If the changing table is located above the playard for storage, then space is utilized, but a gap is formed that may harm the child caregiver's fingers or trap the child's head

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilization above playardVSAvoidhazard to caregiver fingers and child head from gap

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The changing table platform is nested within the playard structure, with the support braces extending downward through or alongside the playard sides to rest on the base. This nesting eliminates the dangerous gap by integrating the changing table structure with the playard boundaries, while still utilizing vertical space for storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of manufacture

If the organizer is attached to the playard by simple suspension, then installation is simple, but the organizer may fall off easily, creating insecurity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of organizer installationVSAvoidsecurity of organizer attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The organizer attachment mechanism is merged with the changing table support structure. The organizer is secured to the support braces or frame members that are already integrated into the playard, combining the storage function with the structural support elements, thereby achieving both simple installation and secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7581269B2Changing table for playard

Publication Date: 2009.09.01 WONDERLAND NURSERYGOODS CO LTD

AI summary

A changing table for a playard has an upper end rail member, a pair of upper side rail members, and a pair of comer pieces connected to the upper end rail member and upper side rail members respectively. The changing table is mounted on top of the playard, having a first rail disposed on top of the upper end rail member a second rail opposed to the first rail, and a pair of side rails respectively connected to the first and second rails. Each respective side rail has a first portion connected to the first rail, and a second portion connected to the second rail. The first portion is connected to the second portion at an angle so that a portion of the side rail is disposed below the upper side rail members of the playard.