Collapsible Wagon Tailgate Orientation Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional collapsible hand-drawn wagons lack a tailgate orientation mechanism that allows for efficient storage and space-saving design, as they typically require more space when collapsed and do not offer versatile tailgate positioning.

Innovation Solution

A collapsible wagon design featuring a frame with scissor-bar and telescoping pole assemblies that allow the tailgate to pivot between vertical and horizontal orientations, enabling adjustable configurations for expanded and collapsed states, with the telescoping pole assemblies increasing in height and scissor-bar assemblies decreasing in width during collapse, and a pliable liner that secures to the frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the wagon is designed to be collapsible with a pliable liner that folds in on itself, then the wagon can be stored in a compact form, but the tailgate cannot maintain versatile orientations during collapse and requires more space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidtailgate orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The tailgate is segmented into a rigid structure that can be independently positioned relative to the collapsible frame. This segmentation allows the tailgate to maintain its structural integrity and orientation capability while the rest of the wagon collapses for compact storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tailgate is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to transition between vertical and horizontal orientations during the collapse process. This dynamic adjustment enables the tailgate to adapt to different storage configurations while maintaining its functional versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If the scissor-bar assemblies increase in height during collapse, then the telescoping pole assemblies provide structural support, but the overall wagon volume increases rather than decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidwagon volume

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The telescoping pole assemblies are designed to nest within each other during collapse, with inner poles retracting into outer poles. This nesting mechanism maintains structural support through the scissor-bar assemblies while minimizing the overall volume of the collapsed wagon.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The collapse mechanism transforms the wagon's volume reduction primarily in the vertical dimension through telescoping poles, while the scissor-bar assemblies manage horizontal dimension compression. This dimensional separation allows structural support to be maintained without proportionally increasing volume in all directions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9738298B1Collapsible wagon comprising a tailgate

Publication Date: 2017.08.22 ZHEJIANG HENGFENG TOP LEISURE CO LTD

AI summary

A collapsible wagon is adjustable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The wagon comprises a frame, four wheels, and a pliable liner. The frame has a front wall, two side walls, and a rear tailgate. The walls and tailgate of the wagon are collapsible for storing the wagon.