Adjustable Walker Frame for Narrow Aisles and Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional walkers are rigid in width, making them one-size-fits-all and difficult to navigate in spaces of varying dimensions, and are cumbersome to store, especially in limited environments such as airplane aisles or train compartments.
Innovation Solution
A walker design featuring collapsible and adjustable side support members, wheels, and a lateral member that allows for adjustable width and height, enabling compact storage and navigation in narrow spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional walkers are designed with fixed rigid frames, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to different spaces and user needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The walker incorporates collapsible side support members that can transition between extended and retracted positions, allowing the device to dynamically adapt its width and height. This enables the walker to maintain structural stability when extended for use while reducing to a compact form for storage and transport in confined spaces such as airplane aisles.
Solution Approach 2:
The side support members are divided into multiple collapsible segments that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows the walker to be disassembled into a compact configuration for storage while maintaining full structural integrity when assembled for use, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional walkers are designed with fixed dimensions, then ease of manufacture is improved, but ease of operation in varying environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The walker employs collapsible side support members with adjustable width and height capabilities. These dynamic features allow the device to be easily configured for different operating environments, including narrow airplane aisles and train compartments, while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes through the use of standardized collapsible mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional walkers are designed with fixed large footprint, then stability during use is improved, but ease of storage in limited spaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The walker features collapsible side support members that can be extended to provide a stable large footprint during use, then retracted to minimize storage volume. This dynamic transformation allows the device to occupy maximum space when needed for stability and minimum space when stored, eliminating the need for large dedicated storage areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible side support members are designed to nest within each other when retracted, significantly reducing the overall volume of the walker for storage. This nesting mechanism allows the device to transition from a large stable structure during use to a compact storable form, solving the contradiction between stability and storage efficiency.
4Device complexity
If traditional walkers are designed as one-size-fits-all, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different user sizes and spaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The walker incorporates adjustable width and height mechanisms that allow customization for different user sizes and environmental constraints. Despite these additional features, the device maintains relatively simple construction through the use of standardized collapsible components, balancing adaptability with manageable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible side support members serve multiple functions: they adjust the walker's width and height to accommodate different user sizes, enable navigation through narrow spaces, and facilitate compact storage. This multi-functionality provides adaptability across various use cases without significantly increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Walkers to assist movement of a person through spaces of varying dimensions are provided. Users may easily adjust the width of the devices to enable them to travel through narrow passageways such as aisles in airplanes. Users may also easily store these devices in small spaces through mechanisms that allow for collapsing of the walkers.