Pram Frame With Driven Steering Roller Sets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pram frames with freely rotating wheels struggle with unpredictable steering, requiring significant user effort to navigate corners and uneven terrain, and are unsuitable for diverse environments, potentially damaging cargo and straining the user.

Innovation Solution

A pram frame with a mechanism that provides driven steering through roller sets, allowing user-controlled orientation adjustment via actuators and user input devices, with options for locked or selectable steering modes and adjustable sensitivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wheels are allowed to rotate freely about their axles, then the pram can move smoothly on flat surfaces, but the steering becomes unpredictable and requires significant user effort to control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteering controlVSAvoiduser effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional free-rotating wheel mechanism with a roller set that rotates about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of travel. This mechanical substitution fundamentally changes how the pram interacts with the ground, enabling driven steering where the roller's rotation directly controls the pram's direction rather than requiring the user to manually redirect the entire pram frame.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the wheel rotate in the traditional vertical orientation and the user steer by applying force to change direction, the invention inverts the approach by using a horizontally-axis roller where the rotation itself produces the steering effect. The roller rotates about an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel, so that rotation in one direction steers the pram left and rotation in the opposite direction steers right, eliminating the need for complex steering mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional wheels are used, then the pram structure remains simple, but the pram cannot navigate uneven surfaces or obstacles effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterrain suitabilityVSAvoidpram structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The roller set is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing the user to change the angle of the roller relative to the ground. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the pram to adapt to different terrains - the roller can be tilted to climb obstacles, adjusted for uneven surfaces, or positioned for optimal performance on flat ground, transforming a single-function component into a multi-adaptability solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the key parameter of the rolling element from a vertically-rotating wheel to a horizontally-rotating roller, and further allows adjustment of the roller's orientation angle. This parameter change fundamentally improves terrain adaptability - the roller can navigate rocks, uneven surfaces, and obstacles that would be impassable for traditional wheels, while the adjustment mechanism keeps the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If wheels are dragged around corners, then the pram can navigate bends, but the rear wheels create resistance and require significant user strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecornering abilityVSAvoiduser strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional wheel-axle-steering mechanism with a roller set that rotates about a horizontal axis. This substitution eliminates the need to drag wheels around corners, as the roller's rotation directly steers the pram. The user simply rotates the roller to the desired angle, and the pram follows that direction naturally, converting a high-force dragging operation into a low-force rotational control operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the pram is pushed over rocky surfaces, then the wheels may overcome obstacles, but the cargo is disturbed by vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobstacle overcomingVSAvoidcargo disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamically adjustable roller set allows the user to optimize the roller's angle for different terrains. When encountering rocky surfaces or obstacles, the roller can be tilted to maintain better contact and reduce bouncing, thereby minimizing vibrations that would otherwise disturb the cargo. The dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to adapt to terrain variations rather than forcing the terrain to conform to a fixed wheel configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12448020B2Pram frame with roller set

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 AREA 52 LTD

AI summary

There is provided a pram frame (200) comprising a first roller attachment point (221) configured to engage with a first roller set (121) and a mechanism (231) configured to engage with the first roller set (121) via the first roller attachment point (221). The mechanism (231) is configured to provide driven steering of the first roller set (121) when a user steers the pram frame (200).