Stroller Brake Mechanism for Self-Maintaining Release State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing strollers require constant grip force to maintain braking or continuous grip to stay in a moving state, leading to user fatigue and potential brake failure due to weak grip forces.
Innovation Solution
A stroller design featuring a brake member that automatically engages and disengages using a bias mechanism and stoppers, allowing easy braking and maintaining the brake release state without constant user input, utilizing an operating mechanism coupled with a bias member and stoppers to manage the brake member's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contact resistance braking is used, then braking force is generated, but the operator needs to keep pressing the brake lever with strong force to maintain the brake
Solution Approach 1:
The brake member is designed to automatically maintain the braking state through its own weight and bias member, eliminating the need for continuous manual force. Once activated, the system self-maintains the brake applied state without requiring the operator to continuously press the lever.
Solution Approach 2:
A bias member (spring) is introduced to counterbalance the weight of the brake member. This allows the brake lever to be operated with reduced force while maintaining reliable braking, as the spring assists in holding the brake member in the applied position.
2Reliability
If automatic braking upon grip release is implemented, then the pushcart stops automatically, but the operator needs to keep holding the grip constantly to maintain the moving state
Solution Approach 1:
The brake system automatically transitions to the released state when the operating lever is released, without requiring the operator to continuously maintain grip pressure. The bias member automatically returns the brake member to the released position, enabling hands-free operation during normal pushing.
3Reliability
If brake member is engaged with wheel, then wheel rotation is stopped, but brake release requires continuous manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The brake member automatically releases from the wheel when the operating lever is released, utilizing the bias member to return to the initial position. This self-returning mechanism eliminates the need for complex release controls or continuous manual intervention.
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 easy braking and maintains the brake release state with reduced user effort, preventing brake failure and noise, and allowing the stroller to remain in a ready-to-move state even with weakened grip force.
Implementation Method 1
a bias member biasing the brake member to move the brake member to the braking position
Implementation Method 2
the pulled-up brake member presses a brake pad against the inner circumferential surface of the wheel to generate contact resistance
Data Source
AI summary
A stroller capable of making braking easy and maintaining itself in a brake release state with a simple structure is provided. The stroller includes a body frame, wheels, a brake member located at a lower end of a leg section, and displaced between a braking position and a brake release position, an operating mechanism attached to the push rod, operatively associated with the brake member through a coupling member coupling the operating mechanism and the brake member, and being capable of being displaced between a first position corresponding to the braking position of the brake member and a second position corresponding to the brake release position of the brake member, a bias member biasing the brake member to move the brake member to the braking position, and a maintaining mechanism maintaining the operating mechanism in the second position corresponding to the brake release position.