Stroller Tray Mounting Assembly with Rotating Hub and Latching Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional baby strollers experience unsteady tray engagement due to tolerance connections between tray arms and the stroller frame, leading to undesired swaying during folding and unfolding operations.
Innovation Solution
A stroller frame design incorporating a handle assembly, front leg assembly, rear leg assembly, tray mounting assembly, and tray latching assembly, where the tray mounting assembly is rotatably connected to the rotating end hubs and secured by a tray latching assembly to maintain stability during unfolding, preventing swaying by using a rotating mechanism and biasing members to ensure the tray remains in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tolerance connection is used between the tray arms and the stroller frame to enable folding and unfolding operations, then the stroller frame can be folded and unfolded, but unsteady engagement occurs resulting in undesired swaying of the tray
Solution Approach 1:
A tray mounting assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the tray arms and the stroller frame. This assembly includes a mounting plate with a rotating axis that couples to the rotating end hub, providing a stable connection point. The tray arms are then mounted to this assembly rather than directly to the frame, mediating the connection and eliminating the swaying issue while preserving folding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray mounting assembly incorporates a rotating mechanism that dynamically adapts to the stroller's folded and unfolded states. The mounting plate rotates about an axis that is offset from the hub axis, allowing the tray to automatically transition between folded and unfolded positions while maintaining stable engagement throughout the motion range.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the tray is always retained in the unfolded position, then the tray remains stable, but the tray cannot be folded along with the stroller frame
Solution Approach 1:
The tray mounting assembly is designed with rotational freedom about an offset axis, enabling the tray to dynamically transition between folded and unfolded states. A spring mechanism provides biasing force to maintain the tray in the unfolded position during normal use, while allowing controlled folding when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is pre-loaded to automatically maintain the tray in the unfolded stable position. This preliminary action ensures the tray remains stable without requiring active intervention, while still allowing folding when the user intentionally moves the handle assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A stroller frame includes a handle assembly, a front leg assembly and a rear leg assembly having rotating end hubs which are pivotably connected to each other about a hub axis to be rotated so as to allow the stroller frame to transform between folded and unfolded states. A tray mounting assembly is coupled with a tray, is rotatably mounted on one of two rotating end hubs, and is rotated along with the relative rotation of the end hubs to convert the tray to folded and unfolded positions. A tray latching assembly is disposed to retain and support the tray mounting assembly to keep the tray stable in the unfolded position when the stroller frame is in the unfolded state.