Stackable Cot Frame With Small-Aperture Safety Covering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cots for children lack safety features to prevent injuries from hair or fingers getting caught in holes and do not facilitate compact storage.
Innovation Solution
A cot design featuring a continuous loop frame with a fabric covering that has no apertures larger than ⅛th of an inch and legs that extend outwardly and downwardly from the frame, allowing for secure mounting and compact stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional cot frame with larger apertures is used, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the safety is compromised due to risk of hair or fingers being caught in holes
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is segmented into multiple tubular members that form a grid pattern, creating numerous small apertures instead of fewer large ones. This segmentation allows the frame to maintain structural integrity while ensuring all apertures are smaller than 1/8th of an inch to prevent child injury
Solution Approach 2:
The frame transitions from a simple perimeter loop to a three-dimensional grid structure with cross members. This adds vertical and horizontal dimensions to the frame design, creating a complex lattice that provides both safety through small apertures and structural strength
2Adaptability or versatility
If legs are positioned directly under the frame, then the cot is more stable, but the stacking capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The legs are positioned asymmetrically relative to the frame center, extending outwardly beyond the frame perimeter. This asymmetric positioning allows the legs to provide stable support when the cot is placed on the floor while creating overlapping geometry that enables compact stacking when cots are stored vertically
Solution Approach 2:
The leg positioning is optimized for different operational states: during use, legs extend outward to maximize stability footprint; during storage, the same outward extension allows legs of upper cots to nest between legs of lower cots, dynamically adapting the stability characteristic based on whether the cot is in use or storage mode
3Strength
If multiple fasteners are used to secure legs to the frame, then the connection is stronger, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leg assemblies are pre-configured with channels and fastening features before final assembly to the frame. The channels are formed during leg manufacturing, and pre-drilled alignment holes are prepared in advance, allowing for quick and accurate attachment to the frame using multiple fasteners without requiring complex assembly procedures
Data Source
AI summary
A cot is provided that has a frame having a shape of a continuous loop. The frame bounds an interior area of the loop and the interior area is covered by a fabric covering. The frame includes an outer perimeter. At least two legs are mounted to the frame and each leg includes a foot portion. The at least two legs are positioned to support the frame above a horizontal floor surface with the foot portions of each leg in contact with the floor surface. Also, each leg extends outwardly and downwardly from the frame such that the foot portions are positioned outwardly of the outer perimeter of the frame in both vertical and horizontal directions.