Stroller Parking Brake Assembly With Ramp-Pin Wheel Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stroller brakes are often ineffective and complicated, making it difficult for parents to quickly and evenly stop heavier strollers, especially during travel, which can disturb or wake the child.
Innovation Solution
A child stroller with a wheel brake assembly that applies braking to both rear wheels via a single brake lever and a parking brake assembly that locks one rear wheel, utilizing materials like PVC, PE, PU, PC, PEEK, stainless steel, and aluminum, with a torsion spring and brake band mechanism for efficient braking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing stroller brakes are used, then the structure is simple, but the braking effectiveness is poor and operation is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The brake assembly is divided into separate functional components: a brake lever for actuation, a cable transmission system for force transfer, and a brake mechanism at each wheel for application. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having complex mechanisms to achieve simple braking, the patent uses a simple lever and cable system that inverts the traditional approach by transmitting force directly from the user's hand through the cable to the brake mechanism, eliminating the need for complex internal linkages.
2Weight of moving object
If heavier strollers are used, then the stroller can support more weight and features, but it becomes difficult to stop quickly without disturbing the child
Solution Approach 1:
The brake lever provides immediate tactile feedback to the user as the cable tensions and the brake mechanisms engage, allowing the parent to feel when the brakes are applied and adjust the force accordingly to stop smoothly without disturbing the child.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable system acts as an intermediary that transmits and distributes the braking force from the single lever actuation to both rear wheels simultaneously, providing even and controlled stopping power that manages the momentum of heavier strollers effectively.
3Ease of operation
If a single brake lever is used to control both rear wheels, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake mechanisms at both rear wheels are merged into a unified system through the cable and connector assembly, allowing a single lever operation to control both wheels simultaneously. This merging reduces the number of independent controls needed while distributing the mechanical complexity across standardized components.
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 solution provides effective and easy braking for both rear wheels with a single lever actuation and a reliable parking brake, ensuring safe and smooth stops without disturbing the child.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion spring positioned so that one end pushes against an inner wall of the rear wheel frame and the other end pushes against the bracket
Implementation Method 2
a brake band with a free end attached to the bracket, the brake band configured to apply a braking force to the wheel
Data Source
AI summary
A parking brake assembly includes a disc defining an aperture and a ramp located adjacent to the aperture; a pedal configured to rotate the disc in a locking direction or an unlocking direction; and an actuator including a body and a spring biased to push the body towards the aperture, the actuator further including a pin positioned and arranged to ride along the ramp when the disc is rotated relative to the actuator, wherein spring is allowed to push the body through the aperture and into a mating hole, of or associated with a wheel, when the disc is rotated in the locking direction such that the pin rides down the ramp, and wherein the spring is prevented from pushing the body through the aperture and into the mating hole when the disc is rotated in the unlocking direction such that the pin rides up the ramp.