Support Leg Buffer Structure for Quiet Child Seat Folding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing support leg structures in child safety seats generate noise when unfolded or folded due to rapid rotation, affecting consumer experience.

Innovation Solution

A buffer structure is introduced between the support leg and the base, featuring jointing teeth and a buffer member that slows down the rotation of the support leg by engaging and resisting its movement, utilizing a fixed rod, base-side pivoting device, and reset member to control the rotation speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the support leg is rotatably connected to the base for folding and packaging, then the portability and storage convenience are improved, but the rapid rotation during unfolding and folding generates noise and affects consumer experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveportability and storage convenienceVSAvoidnoise during rotation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A buffer structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the support leg and the base. This buffer structure includes a buffer member that interacts with the rotating support leg to slow down its motion during unfolding and folding operations, thereby reducing the noise generated by rapid rotation while maintaining the rotatable connection functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The buffer structure is pre-configured in the connection between the support leg and base to provide cushioning during the rotation process. The buffer member is positioned to engage with the rotating support leg before significant noise can be generated, slowing down the rotation speed in advance during both unfolding and folding operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

The buffer structure effectively reduces noise caused by rapid rotation, enhancing the consumer experience by slowing down the support leg's movement during unfolding and folding.

Implementation Method 1

a reset member, arranged on a side of the buffer member facing away from the base-side pivoting device for biasing the buffer member toward the base-side pivoting device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the jointing teeth on the base-side pivoting device and the jointing teeth on the support leg side jointing device are configured to be engaged to each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4368447A1Buffer structure for support leg, base assembly, and child safety seat
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
  • EP4368447A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4368447A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4368447A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a buffer structure (300) for a support leg of a child safety seat. The buffer structure (300) is located at a connecting portion between the support leg (200) and a base (100), and when the support leg (200) rotates from an unfolded state to a folded state or from the folded state to the unfolded state with respect to the base (100), the buffer structure (300) interferes with rotation of the support leg (200), thereby slowing down the rotation of the support leg (200). The disclosure also relates to a base assembly (1) and a child safety seat.