Adjustable Wheelchair Center of Gravity and Footprint
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wheelchair designs fail to provide stable transportation on varied surfaces and terrains, pose hazards on slopes and uneven surfaces, and do not adequately address medical issues such as poor circulation, while also being unaffordable and inaccessible to broader populations.
Innovation Solution
A mobile wheelchair with adjustable features, including seat height, base size, and leg rest length, which can be modified to accommodate different user sizes and terrains, featuring a base with extendable/retractable wheels and a seat that can pivot to lower or raise, enhancing stability and comfort by adjusting the center of gravity and footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat height is increased to improve user comfort and accessibility, then the user can better reach ground-level objects and have improved visibility, but the center of gravity rises and stability on sloped and uneven surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable seat height mechanisms that allow the seat to be dynamically repositioned between elevated and lowered positions. This enables the wheelchair to adapt its center of gravity based on operational conditions - elevated for comfort and accessibility in stable conditions, and lowered for enhanced stability on sloped or uneven terrain.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the base footprint is enlarged to improve stability on varied terrains, then the wheelchair becomes more stable on slopes and uneven surfaces, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base is divided into adjustable segments that can be independently positioned to modify the overall footprint. The adjustable base segments allow the wheelchair to expand its stability footprint when needed while maintaining a more compact configuration for ease of storage and transport, thereby managing complexity through modular design.
3Ease of manufacture
If the wheelchair is designed with fixed dimensions to simplify manufacturing and reduce cost, then affordability improves, but adaptability to different user sizes and terrain types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs adjustable parameters including seat height, base footprint dimensions, and wheel positioning that can be modified to accommodate different user sizes and terrain requirements. These parameter adjustments allow a single wheelchair design to serve multiple users and conditions without requiring entirely different models, balancing manufacturing efficiency with versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mobile vehicle or wheelchair having the ability to provide stabilized transport to at least one individual on a variety of surfaces, slopes and/or terrains. In one aspect, the invention provides adjustment features allowing the mobile vehicle or wheelchair to accommodate individuals of various sizes and shapes. For example, the invention comprises a seat and an adjustable footrest which can be lengthened or shortened to accommodate different size individuals, including children. In one embodiment the distance between the footrest and the seat can be increased or decreased to accommodate different leg lengths of different individuals. The mobile unit or wheelchair of the invention may travel across smooth and very rough surfaces, slopes of varying or different angles and various outdoor terrains (including grassy, rocky, sandy, muddy and/or hilly terrains). In one aspect of the invention, the height of any part of the unit or the overall height of the device may be adjusted preferably to raise or lower the center of gravity. For example, the height of the device may be lowered to provide more stable transportation. In another aspect, the device may be adjusted to increase or decrease the size of the footprint (or any part of the footprint) of the device. For example, the footprint of the device may be enlarged to provide more stable transportation. Preferably, both the height of the device (or any part of the device) and the size of the footprint (or any part of the footprint) may be adjusted preferably to provide more stability.