Stroller Rear Wheel Positioning for Footboard Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Infant strollers with fixed rear footboards for older children suffer from instability and difficulty in control due to the constant footprint, leading to potential kicking of the footboard by the person pushing the stroller.
Innovation Solution
A stroller design featuring rear wheels that move between inward and outward positions, automatically adjusting the footboard from an inoperative vertical position to an operative horizontal position to increase the stroller's footprint when a child is standing, thereby enhancing stability and preventing interference with the person pushing the stroller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed rear footboard is provided for an older child to stand on, then the child can stand on the footboard, but the stroller footprint remains the same causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The rear wheels are made movable between an inward position and an outward position through a releasable securing assembly. When the footboard is deployed, the wheels can be secured in the outward position to increase the stroller footprint and improve stability. When the footboard is retracted, the wheels move inward to reduce footprint. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between providing footboard functionality and maintaining stroller stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed rear footboard is provided, then the child can stand on the footboard, but the person pushing the stroller may kick the footboard while walking
Solution Approach 1:
The footboard is designed to be movable between a deployed position and a retracted position. When not in use, the footboard automatically retracts to avoid interfering with the person pushing the stroller. When needed, it deploys to provide a standing surface for the older child. This dynamic positioning eliminates the harmful interference while preserving the footboard's functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The footboard is extracted from a fixed position and made separable/movable. By allowing the footboard to be retracted when not in use, it is effectively removed from the interference zone where it could be kicked by the person pushing the stroller, while still being available when needed.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the rear wheels are made movable to increase footprint, then stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The releasable securing assembly is designed to automatically secure the rear wheels in the outward position when the footboard is deployed, and automatically allow them to move inward when the footboard is retracted. The system serves itself through automatic engagement and disengagement mechanisms, reducing the need for complex manual control systems while maintaining the stability benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
A stroller includes a left side support frame; a right side support frame; and a connecting frame which connects the left and right side support frames together, and which defines a seat rest for a child; wheels rotatably connected to a front and rear of each support frame; at least one rear footboard connected to a rear end of the stroller; an adjustment assembly which rotatably connects the rear wheels to a rear of the support frames, between a first inward operative position and each rear footboard to a vertical position for use when a child is not standing on the at least one rear footboard and a second outward operative position and each rear footboard to a horizontal position which increases a footprint of the stroller for use when a child is standing on the at least one rear footboard.