Child Safety Seat Load Leg Coupling Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional child vehicle safety seats require two hands and a sequence of steps to release the load leg from a locked state for folding, making it inconvenient to convert between expanded and folded positions.
Innovation Solution
A child vehicle safety seat with a load leg that includes a coupling mechanism featuring a first engaging member, a second engaging member, and a biasing member, allowing the load leg to pivot between expanded and folded positions using a single-handed operation, with the biasing member automatically restoring the load leg to the expanded position when the seat is lifted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the load leg is designed with a coupling mechanism that requires two hands and sequential steps to release, then the load leg can be securely locked in the expanded position, but the ease of operation deteriorates making it inconvenient to fold
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is designed so that the load leg automatically locks into the expanded position through its own weight and the engagement of the first and second engaging members. The biasing member automatically restores the first engaging member to the locked position after folding, eliminating the need for manual intervention to secure the leg.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism transitions from a static locked state to a dynamic folding state through a single-handed pulling motion. The first engaging member is designed to move between a first position (locked) and a second position (unlocked), allowing the load leg to pivot freely when pulled and automatically reset when the seat is lifted.
2Volume of moving object
If the load leg is made foldable to save storage space, then the volume efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases due to the coupling mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a first engaging member on the seat base, a second engaging member on the load leg, and a biasing member. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while keeping the overall structure manageable and the folding operation simple.
3Ease of operation
If the first engaging member is made movable between locked and unlocked positions, then the ease of operation improves allowing single-handed folding, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first engaging member acts as an intermediary between the user's pulling action and the locking mechanism. When pulled, it disengages from the second engaging member to allow folding; when released, the biasing member restores it to the locked position. This intermediary component simplifies the user interaction while managing the complexity internally.
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 convenient and efficient conversion between expanded and folded positions, saving storage space and simplifying the folding process while maintaining the load leg's expanded position when in use.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing member biases the first engaging member to the first position
Data Source
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AI summary
A child vehicle safety seat (100, 400) includes a coupling mechanism (3, 30) for positioning a load leg (2) at an expanded position relative to a seat base (1) . The coupling mechanism (3, 30) includes a first engaging member (31, 340) and a second engaging member (32, 34) provided on the seat base (1) and the load leg (2), respectively. The first engaging member (31, 340) is movable relative to the seat base (1) between first and second positions. The second engaging member (32, 34) engages the first engaging member (31, 340) when the latter is at the first position so as to dispose the load leg (2) at the expanded position, and disengages the first engaging member (31, 340) when the latter is at the second position so as to permit pivoting movement of the load leg (2) to a folded position.