Toy organizing hammock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toy storage solutions lack an engaging and interactive design, failing to encourage children to organize their toys effectively, leading to cluttered rooms.

Innovation Solution

A suspended hammock device with a malleable canopy body and a frame that encircles it, featuring safety chains that can break if the hammock exceeds a certain weight threshold, providing a fun and interactive way to store toys.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional toy box is used for storage, then toys can be stored, but the design is not engaging or interactive for children

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengagement for childrenVSAvoiddesign complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hammock transitions from a static storage box to a dynamic suspended structure that can sway and move, creating an interactive and engaging experience for children while maintaining storage functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hammock uses a flexible canopy body instead of a rigid toy box structure, creating a softer, more inviting form that appeals to children and allows for gentle movement when toys are added or removed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Strength

If the hammock is made strong to support weight, then it can hold more toys, but it may become unsafe if it exceeds weight capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight capacityVSAvoidsafety hazard from overloading

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The safety chains are designed with predetermined break points that will fail before the main hammock structure or ceiling mounting fails, providing a safety mechanism that prevents catastrophic failure from overloading

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harmful effect of exceeding weight capacity is converted into a beneficial safety feature, where the controlled failure of safety chains prevents more serious damage or injury from uncontrolled collapse

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Area of stationary object

If the hammock is suspended from the ceiling, then it saves floor space, but it requires secure mounting that can support the weight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloor space utilizationVSAvoidceiling mounting strength requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The ceiling mounting system is designed to counterbalance the weight of the hammock and its contents, distributing the load through properly anchored chains that can support the intended weight capacity without requiring excessive ceiling strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentUS12268296B2Toy organizing hammock

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 EL-NAHAL SUSAN L

AI summary

A hammock device includes a malleable canopy body and a frame having a plurality of frame rods. Each of the frame rods are removably positioned within a hollow frame channel located along the outer edge of the canopy body. Each end of each frame rod is connected to an adjacent frame rod by an elbow joint to form a frame about the entire outside of the canopy body. Each elbow joint includes a hook which engages a safety chain that suspends the assembled hammock device from a ceiling or other structure. The safety chains include functionality to break or otherwise disengage the frame when a weight of the frame and canopy exceed a maximum threshold.