Rotatable Infant Carrier With Compressible Stop for Side Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infant car seat systems face challenges in providing adequate side impact protection and cornering comfort, particularly due to the use of deployable structures that are not compatible with regulatory testing and are dependent on vehicle make and model.
Innovation Solution
The infant car seat system incorporates a docking module and an infant carrier module that is rotatable within the docking module about a rotation axis, with a compressible rotation stop to counteract cornering and side impact forces, thereby enhancing safety and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If deployable structures such as fold out wings are used to limit the distance between the child car seat and the vehicle interior, then side impact protection and cornering comfort are improved, but the device complexity increases and the system becomes incompatible with regulatory testing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the deployable wing structure entirely and replaces it with a static L-shaped support leg that provides the same space-limiting function without requiring deployment mechanisms. This extraction of the complex deployable mechanism while retaining the protective function resolves the contradiction between side impact protection and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a deployable structure that extends outward to limit space, the patent inverts the approach by using a static L-shaped support leg that extends downward to the vehicle floor, thereby limiting the horizontal distance between the car seat and vehicle interior through vertical support rather than horizontal deployment.
2Ease of operation
If deployable structures are used to improve cornering comfort by reducing ride down times, then cornering characteristics are improved, but the system becomes dependent on vehicle make and model and cannot be used in regulatory testing
Solution Approach 1:
The L-shaped support leg is designed as a universal component that works with various vehicle makes and models by anchoring to the vehicle floor and providing consistent geometric support. The static design eliminates vehicle-specific adjustment requirements, enabling both regulatory testing compatibility and broad vehicle compatibility while maintaining cornering comfort.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If significant amounts of engineering or high performance foams and padding are used to improve safety, then side impact protection is improved, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces soft mechanical cushioning systems (foams and padding) with a rigid mechanical support structure (L-shaped support leg) that provides side impact protection through geometric constraint and force distribution rather than material compression, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining protective performance.
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 system effectively reduces peak collision forces and improves cornering comfort by allowing controlled rotation of the infant carrier module, thus enhancing the safety and comfort of the infant.
Implementation Method 1
a rotation stop selectively operable to restrict rotation of the infant carrier module relative to the docking module about the rotation axis; wherein the rotation stop is compressible in a direction of rotation about the rotation axis
Data Source
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AI summary
In some countries, it is a legal requirement for babies, infants and children under a certain age and/or height to be provided with a supplemental car seat when travelling in a vehicle. It is desirable to improve the cornering comfort and vehicle collision, particularly side impact, characteristics of the child car seat. The present disclosure provides an infant car seat system (100) comprising: a docking module (300) configured to be securable to a vehicle seat; an infant carrier module (200) configured to receive an infant therein, the infant car seat system (100) configured such that the infant carrier module (200) is rotatable within the docking module (300) about a rotation axis (410); and a rotation stop (380) selectively operable to restrict rotation of the infant carrier module (200) relative to the docking module (300) about the rotation axis (410); wherein the rotation stop (380) is compressible in a direction of rotation about the rotation axis (410).