Actuated Mobility Device Pivoting Segments for Position Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobility devices for disabled individuals often lack the ability to transition seamlessly between lying, sitting, and standing positions, limiting their independence and mobility.
Innovation Solution
A mobility device with a wheeled chassis, a platform, extended bars, support assemblies, leg, thigh, and torso attachment frames, and actuators that allow users to change positions by pivoting elongated segments, enabling movement between lying, sitting, and standing configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional wheelchairs are used to allow standing position, then mobility in standing position is improved, but the ability to transition from lying position is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can support sitting, standing, and lying positions, and enable transitions between all these positions. The device includes a base platform, support assemblies with elongated segments, and attachment frames that work together to provide versatile positioning capabilities, allowing a single device to replace multiple separate mobility solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assemblies are divided into multiple elongated segments that can pivot relative to each other. This segmentation allows the device to adapt its configuration for different positions (lying, sitting, standing) by adjusting the angles between segments, providing the versatility needed to transition between positions while maintaining structural integrity.
2Device complexity
If mobility devices are designed for sitting or standing only, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the ability to lie down is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates dynamic elements including pivot joints between elongated segments and actuators that enable active control of position transitions. The support assemblies can dynamically adjust their configuration from a horizontal lying position to vertical standing position, providing adaptability without requiring completely separate static structures for each position.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from two-dimensional sitting/standing support to three-dimensional positioning by adding the lying position capability through extendable support structures. The elongated segments can extend and pivot to provide support in multiple spatial dimensions, enabling the user to lie down while maintaining structural efficiency.
3Reliability
If external assistance is required for position changes, then safety is improved, but independence is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility device incorporates actuators that enable the user to independently control position transitions between lying, sitting, and standing. The system provides self-service capability by allowing the user to operate the device without external assistance, while safety is maintained through controlled actuation and stable structural design with proper support distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobility device that includes support assemblies that may be secured to feet, legs, thighs, and torso of a user. An exemplary mobility device may further include an actuator that may be coupled with the exemplary support assemblies and may actuate rotational movements of the exemplary support assemblies with respect to each other. Such movement of support assemblies may accordingly move respective limbs of a disabled user. An exemplary mobility device may allow for a user to change position from a lying position to a standing position or from a standing position to a sitting position, which may significantly increase mobility of a disabled user. An exemplary mobility device may further include an exemplary wheeled base that may allow a disabled user to further move around.