Self-deployable device for a child
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional children's beds, such as folding beds and bassinets, are cumbersome, difficult to set up and fold, and lack adequate support as children grow, leading to sagging structures and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A self-deploying children's area device featuring a hoop structure with a fixed buttress bar that remains connected during deployment and folding, allowing for easier setup and storage, and incorporating guide means and reinforcement elements to maintain structural integrity and prevent sagging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional folding beds are used, then a sleeping space can be provided for children, but the device becomes heavy and bulky for transport
Solution Approach 1:
The bed structure is divided into separate functional components: a collapsible frame that can be segmented into smaller sections for easier transport, and a removable mattress. This segmentation allows the bed to be broken down into manageable pieces that are lighter and easier to handle while maintaining the complete sleeping space when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The bed employs dynamic folding mechanisms with joints and hinges that allow the frame to collapse flat for transport and automatically expand to its full sleeping configuration. The dynamic structure transitions smoothly between compact and deployed states, reducing the physical effort required for setup and breakdown.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional folding beds with multiple connection points are used, then structural stability is improved, but the device becomes complicated to fold and deploy
Solution Approach 1:
The connection logic is extracted and centralized into dedicated locking mechanisms at key structural joints, rather than requiring multiple connection points throughout the entire frame. This allows the majority of the structure to remain simple and open, with stability provided by a few strategic locked connections that can be quickly engaged and disengaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is designed with pre-positioned connection points and guiding features that automatically align components during the folding and deployment process. This preliminary arrangement of connection elements ensures that when the user initiates setup or breakdown, the structure follows a predetermined path that maintains stability without requiring complex manual manipulation.
3Device complexity
If bassinets with hoop structures are used, then the structure is simple, but it sags when the child grows and wants to lean on it
Solution Approach 1:
The bed frame utilizes composite construction combining rigid materials (such as reinforced plastics or aluminum alloys) for the primary load-bearing structural elements with flexible materials for cushioning and comfort components. This composite approach maintains structural strength and resistance to sagging while preserving design simplicity and avoiding overly complex assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame incorporates curved and arched structural elements rather than purely straight lines, distributing mechanical loads more effectively across the structure. The curved design provides inherent structural reinforcement that prevents sagging under child weight while maintaining aesthetic simplicity and flowing lines that avoid the appearance of complex bracing.
4Adaptability or versatility
If removable bars are used in playpens, then adaptability is improved, but the device requires attachment and removal after each use
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable components feature dynamic locking mechanisms that can be quickly engaged and disengaged with simple user actions, such as pressing a release button or sliding a lever. This dynamic design allows the structure to be reconfigured or collapsed rapidly, maintaining adaptability for different use scenarios while minimizing the time required for assembly and disassembly compared to traditional removable bar systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-deploying child support device (1) comprising a hoop structure (110, 120) capable of supporting, in its deployed state, at least one flexible material wall (20) defining a space for a child, and at least one buttress bar (200, 201) to counteract pressure on the hoop structure. Only one (210, 211) of the two ends of the bar is fixedly attached to the hoop structure, so that said bar remains attached to the hoop structure when said structure moves from the folded to the deployed state and/or vice versa.