Collapsible Stroller Frame With Transverse Locking Pin

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Solution Overview

Problem

Collapsible strollers with complex hinged and telescopic frame structures are costly and weigh against smooth folding, while polymer frames struggle to meet strength and structural requirements while being compact and affordable.

Innovation Solution

A collapsible stroller design featuring a predominantly polymer frame with a transverse locking element, such as a metallic locking pin, that acts as a significant structural load-bearing element, allowing for strong and compact folding without increasing frame size, combined with reinforced bearing surfaces and a braking mechanism for safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If complex hinged and telescopic frame structures are used to achieve compact folded configuration, then the folded size is reduced, but the production cost increases and the folding mechanism reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolded configuration sizeVSAvoidframe structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is divided into separate hinged components (handle frame, front wheel frame, rear wheel frame) that can be independently manufactured and assembled, simplifying the overall structure while enabling compact folding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex mechanisms to achieve compact folding, the patent uses a simple transverse locking pin that moves perpendicular to the hinge axis, inverting the traditional locking approach and achieving compactness through straightforward geometric arrangement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Strength

If traditional steel or aluminium alloy frames are used to meet strength requirements, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the material cost increases and the weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe strengthVSAvoidframe weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite construction by combining polymer frame materials with a metallic locking pin, creating a hybrid structure that leverages the lightweight properties of polymers while incorporating metal only where high strength is specifically needed for load transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the entire frame from high-strength metal, the patent applies strong metallic material locally only to the locking pin and bearing surfaces where strength is critical, while the rest of the frame uses lighter polymer material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If cheaper polymer materials are used to reduce material cost, then the production cost decreases, but the frame strength becomes insufficient to meet regulatory standards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial costVSAvoidframe strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines affordable polymer frame materials with a relatively inexpensive metallic locking pin, creating a composite structure that meets strength requirements at lower overall cost than traditional all-metal construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a simple, easily replaceable metallic locking pin that can be manufactured at low cost, allowing the use of cheaper polymer frame materials while maintaining overall structural integrity through the affordable hybrid construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Device complexity

If the locking element moves parallel to the hinge axis to lock two hinged frame members, then the locking mechanism is simple, but the load transfer capability between frame elements is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking mechanism simplicityVSAvoidload transfer capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional locking approach by having the locking pin move transverse (perpendicular) to the hinge axis rather than parallel to it, which unexpectedly enhances load transfer capability while maintaining mechanism simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking pin operates in a different dimensional orientation (transverse to the hinge axis) compared to conventional designs, allowing it to effectively transfer bending and axial loads between frame elements while maintaining a simple locking mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11370469B2Collapsible stroller

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 DYNAMIC MOTION LLC

AI summary

A collapsible child's stroller with a handle frame (30), a front wheel frame (10) and a rear wheel frame (20), mutually connected at a hinge joint (12, 22, 42) for mutual angular displacement between folded and unfolded configurations. The hinge joint has two spaced apart, parallel hinge axes, about which the frames (10, 20, 30) mutually rotate. The stroller is further provided with a locking element (43, 44) moveable between a locked position in which the frames (10, 20, 30) are locked in the unfolded configuration, and an unlocked position allowing the frames (10, 20, 30) to rotate to the folded configuration. The locking element (43, 44) moves in a direction traverse to the parallel hinge axes to better transfer loads between the frames.