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CAD DRAWINGS: 1. Crib 3. Together CRIB PICTURES: 1. Crib Pic #1 2. Crib Pic #2 3. Crib Pic #3 |
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The main objective of this project was to design a system to raise the bottom of a crib so that childcare teachers do not have to bend over so far to get babies in and out. Having such a system would help to eliminate much of the frequent bending and lifting these teachers must do. In order to meet this primary objective, a number of secondary objectives had to be considered and include the following:
1. The lift system must be childproof.
2. The crib equipped with the lift mechanism must meet the same safety standards required for traditional cribs. These standards include: · Minimum height from the top of the mattress to the top of the crib rail must be 20 inches · No more than two adult fingers should fit between the side of the mattress and the crib rail · An upward force from under the crib should not dislodge the mattress support system 3. The lift height must be variable in order to accommodate teachers of different heights. 4. Operation of the lift must be both smooth and quiet to avoid waking sleeping babies. 5. The lift controls must be easy for an adult to operate with one hand. 6. When it is not in use, the crib equipped with the lift mechanism must be mobile. Our primary and secondary objectives for this project ultimately came together with the construction of a working prototype. This prototype was built by retrofitting a commercially available crib with our lift system.
Childcare teachers must frequently lean over the side of a crib in order to lift an infant in and out. This task is tiring and creates a chance for teachers to strain or injure their backs. Our job was to design a system to raise the bottom of a crib so that the childcare teachers at the Bennett Center do not have to bend over so far. In creating our lift design, we had to keep in mind that the heights of the teachers vary and that the lift system must be easy to control while holding a child. Operation of the lift must also be smooth and quiet to avoid disturbing sleeping infants. Safety of children both in and around the crib is also an important design concern. In response to the above design objectives, we decided to go with a hydraulic cylinder lift design. The cylinder was mounted in a vertical position under the center of the crib mattress. The telescoping end of the cylinder was attached to a frame supporting the mattress. The stationary part of the cylinder was attached to a fixed support under the crib. The height of the mattress is controlled by extension of the cylinder. |
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