Stroller Folding Mechanism with Ground-Contact Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional strollers are often unstable and inconvenient to fold, requiring users to bend over and balance them, with the canopy frame being a major factor in the folded size and vulnerability to damage, and storage areas being inflexible.
Innovation Solution
A stroller design that allows both front and rear wheels to remain on the ground during folding, using angled rear leg pivot extensions and automatic canopy lowering, along with a versatile accessory support bar for customizable storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the stroller is designed to stand on rear wheels during folding, then the folded footprint is reduced, but the stroller becomes unstable and requires two-handed control
Solution Approach 1:
The stroller frame is divided into separate front and rear leg assemblies, each with independent wheel contact points. This segmentation allows the front and rear wheels to independently maintain ground contact during folding, distributing the stability function across multiple points rather than relying on a single rear wheel contact point.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding mechanism transitions from a traditional single-point ground contact to a multi-point ground contact system where both front and rear wheels simultaneously contact the ground. This dimensional change in the support base provides inherent stability during the folding process without requiring user intervention.
2Ease of operation
If the canopy frame is kept high to provide storage space, then user accessibility is improved, but the overall folded height increases and the canopy becomes vulnerable to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy support frame is designed with dynamic folding linkages that automatically lower the canopy during the folding process. This dynamic adjustment allows the canopy to transition from a high position during use to a lowered position during folding, reducing the overall folded height and protecting the canopy from damage while maintaining storage accessibility when in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding mechanism is designed to automatically lower the canopy frame as a preliminary action before the stroller is fully folded. This preliminary lowering action protects the canopy from damage and reduces the folded height before the folding process is complete, eliminating the need for manual canopy adjustment.
3Device complexity
If rigid molded storage trays are used, then storage structure is simplified, but the storage areas become inflexible and cannot be customized for different user needs
Solution Approach 1:
The storage areas are designed with adjustable and reconfigurable components rather than fixed molded structures. This allows the storage configuration to dynamically adapt to different user needs and preferences, such as adjusting cup holder positions or reconfiguring storage compartments, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system is designed with universal mounting points and interchangeable components that can accommodate various storage configurations. This multi-functionality allows the same basic structure to serve different storage needs, whether for cups, bags, or other items, without requiring a completely different structure for each configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
The apparatus is a child's stroller that maintains all the wheels on the ground while it is being folded. The rear legs are interconnected with but separated from the armrests and move on circular paths, the centers of which are pivot points on the armrests. Therefore, the tops of the rear legs move around to a height different from the position of the front leg pivot point, and the location of the tops of the rear legs are determined by the position of the attached wheels rather by the pivot point of the front legs. Another linkage lowers the canopy support frame as the stroller is being folded in order to reduce the stroller's overall folded length.