Backpack Harness Vehicle for Hands-Free Trail Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheelchair designs struggle to navigate nature paths, hiking trails, and off-road conditions due to limited mechanical advantage and stability, making outdoor access challenging for individuals with mobility disabilities.
Innovation Solution
A harness vehicle with a first frame and a backpack-styled second frame that allows a user to pull a passenger or load, featuring a releasable attachment and load portion, enabling hands-free operation and stability, suitable for various terrains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional wheelchair designs are used, then indoor mobility is achieved, but outdoor access on nature paths and hiking trails becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into separate functional modules: a pullable frame structure, a detachable backpack harness system, and a load platform. This segmentation allows the vehicle to be configured for different terrains and uses, enabling outdoor accessibility while maintaining ease of operation through modular assembly and detachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The backpack harness is designed to be dynamically adjustable and detachable, allowing the user to adapt the configuration based on terrain conditions. The harness can be attached to provide mechanical advantage on steep sections or detached for easier maneuverability on flatter areas, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a user pulls the vehicle manually, then outdoor mobility is achieved, but the burden and physical effort on the user increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backpack harness is designed to distribute the vehicle's weight across the user's back and shoulders, with the load platform positioned to create a balanced center of gravity. This counterbalancing reduces the pulling effort required, allowing outdoor mobility while minimizing the physical burden on the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable harness system allows the user to dynamically adjust the weight distribution and pulling mechanics based on terrain conditions, reducing the force required on difficult sections while maintaining ease of operation on easier terrain.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the vehicle is designed for stability on flat surfaces, then indoor mobility is achieved, but negotiation of nature paths and hiking trails becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle's segmented design with detachable components allows it to maintain stability on flat surfaces through its frame structure while adapting to uneven terrain through the removable backpack harness and adjustable load platform configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle allows parameter changes in its configuration through the detachable harness system, enabling it to adjust its center of gravity and structural configuration to match different terrain conditions, thereby achieving both stability on flat surfaces and adaptability to uneven terrain.
4Device complexity
If wheelchair designs have limited mechanical advantage, then simple structure is maintained, but stability and comfort on varied terrain are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The backpack harness provides dynamic mechanical advantage through its detachable and adjustable nature, allowing the user to optimize the vehicle's stability and comfort on varied terrain without requiring a complex fixed mechanical structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A harness vehicle configured to allow a first user to pull a load—in preferred embodiments a disabled person—over nature, hiking, and other trails, paths, and terrain. The harness vehicle includes: a first frame, load portion, and wheel; and a second frame configured as a back-pack-styled harness and that is releasably attachable to the first frame so as to allow a user to pull the first frame. Embodiments of the harness vehicle are configured to allow a user to convey a load generally hands-free.