Playyard Floor Quick Connect Mechanism to Reduce Dirt Accumulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing playyard floor quick connect mechanisms, such as Velcro® and Dual Lock™ materials, are prone to dirt accumulation and are difficult to clean, posing challenges in maintaining hygiene and safety for children.
Innovation Solution
A playyard floor apparatus featuring a scissoring frame with a flexible pen and upper floor that uses a zipper-based quick connect mechanism with interlocking teeth, where the zipper is strategically positioned under the upper floor to minimize exposure and ease cleaning, eliminating the need for Velcro® or Dual Lock™ materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If Velcro material is used for quick connect mechanism, then connection strength and ease of connection are improved, but dirt accumulation and cleaning difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The quick connect mechanism is extracted from the visible surface and relocated to the underside of the upper floor, removing it from the environment where children play and where dirt accumulation occurs. This allows the floor surface to remain clean while preserving the quick connect functionality in a hidden location.
2Ease of operation
If Velcro material is used for quick connect mechanism, then connection strength and ease of connection are improved, but cleaning difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The quick connect mechanism is extracted from the visible surface and relocated to the underside of the upper floor, removing it from the environment where children play and where dirt accumulation occurs. This allows the floor surface to remain clean while preserving the quick connect functionality in a hidden location.
3Ease of operation
If Dual Lock material is used for quick connect mechanism, then connection strength and ease of connection are improved, but dirt accumulation and cleaning difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The quick connect mechanism is extracted from the visible surface and relocated to the underside of the upper floor, removing it from the environment where children play and where dirt accumulation occurs. This allows the floor surface to remain clean while preserving the quick connect functionality in a hidden location.
4Ease of operation
If Dual Lock material is used for quick connect mechanism, then connection strength and ease of connection are improved, but cleaning difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The quick connect mechanism is extracted from the visible surface and relocated to the underside of the upper floor, removing it from the environment where children play and where dirt accumulation occurs. This allows the floor surface to remain clean while preserving the quick connect functionality in a hidden location.
Data Source
AI summary
The present playyard floor apparatus includes a lower floor that is essentially one-piece with a flexible pen and an upper floor that is removably engaged to the lower floor with a quick connect mechanism. The quick connect mechanism has inner and outer portions. The inner portion of the quick connect mechanism is disposed on the underside of the upper floor and spaced from a periphery of the upper floor. The outer portion of the quick connect mechanism is engaged to a periphery of the lower floor and includes interlocking elements that are spaced from the periphery of the lower floor. The upper floor is resilient and extends over the inner and outer portions of the quick connect mechanism and further extends to the sidewall of the flexible pen.