Foldable Push Chair With Geared 3D Leg Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing push chairs typically fold in only one or two dimensions, leading to inefficient storage and transportation due to their larger size when fully expanded.
Innovation Solution
A push chair design with a central body assembly and rotatable wheel supporting legs connected by a gearing system, allowing for folding in all three dimensions through synchronized rotation of forward and rearward extending legs using epicyclic or main and countershaft gearing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the push chair is designed to fold in only one or two dimensions like conventional push chairs, then the structure is simpler, but the storage and transportation space requirements remain large
Solution Approach 1:
The push chair is divided into multiple independent wheel supporting legs (front legs and rear legs) that can be folded separately. Each leg is connected to the central body assembly through independent folding mechanisms, allowing the chair to be segmented into smaller components for compact storage while maintaining structural integrity when unfolded.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel supporting legs are designed to nest within or alongside each other during the folding process. The front legs and rear legs fold in a coordinated manner to achieve three-dimensional compression, with components occupying overlapping spatial volumes in the folded state, similar to nested dolls.
2Ease of operation
If the wheel supporting legs are connected without a gearing system, then the mechanism is simpler, but the folding operation becomes complex and requires careful manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
A gearing system acts as an intermediary mechanism between the wheel supporting legs and the central body assembly. This gearing system coordinates the folding motion of multiple legs simultaneously, translating a single user input into synchronized movement of all legs, thereby simplifying the user's interaction while managing the complexity internally.
Solution Approach 2:
The gearing system is designed to automatically coordinate the folding and unfolding of wheel supporting legs without requiring manual manipulation of each individual leg. Once the user initiates the folding action, the gearing mechanism self-regulates the motion distribution across all legs, making the operation intuitive and effortless.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sliding bars and other supports are used to connect wheel supporting legs, then the structure is simpler, but fingers of users, items of clothing or other things can be trapped or entangled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional sliding bar mechanisms with a gearing system that uses rotational motion and meshed gears to connect and coordinate the wheel supporting legs. This substitution eliminates the linear sliding interfaces that create trapping hazards, as the gearing system encloses all moving parts within toothed interfaces that cannot pinch or entangle fingers or clothing.
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
Enables the push chair to fold into a more compact form, reducing storage and transportation space requirements without compromising structural integrity or user safety.
Implementation Method 1
the forward and rearward extending legs being coupled together such that they rotate in opposite directions around the central body during a folding or unfolding operation
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The invention provides a foldable push chair comprising: a central body assembly extending across the push chair substantially horizontally and perpendicularly to the normal direction of travel of the push chair, a handle assembly connected to the central body and extending therefrom; at least three wheel supporting legs rotatable around the central body and extending from the central body, in the unfolded state one or more wheel supporting legs extending in a forward direction from the central body and one or more wheel supporting legs extending in a rearward direction from the central body; the forward and rearward extending legs being arranged such that they rotate in opposite directions around the central body during a folding or unfolding operation.