Bath Transfer Chair With Deployable Bridge for Stable Seat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheelchairs with fixed seat and back positions lack adjustability, making transfers to bathtubs or shower enclosures difficult, especially for individuals with limited mobility, and existing bath transfer apparatuses are cumbersome with multiple components that need assembly each time for use.
Innovation Solution
A tilting mechanism for the chair that allows the seat and back to recline concurrently using a single actuator, with the back reclining at a greater rate than the seat, and a transfer apparatus with a deployable bridge portion for seamless transfer between the wheelchair and bathtub or shower, ensuring stability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the chair seat and chair back are adjusted completely independently or as a fixed unit, then the adjustment flexibility is improved, but the center of gravity shifts excessively causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements concurrent tracking mechanism where the chair back and seat are dynamically coupled to move together during adjustment. The chair back is pivotally connected to the seat, and both are trackable along coordinated paths so they adjust simultaneously rather than independently or as a rigid unit, maintaining dynamic balance and minimizing center of gravity shift.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are assembled to provide the transfer apparatus, then the transfer functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the bridge portion and chair support member into a single integrated transfer apparatus. The bridge portion is deployably connected to the chair support member, forming one unified device that provides both support and transfer functionality, eliminating the need for separate components that would need to be assembled each time.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge portion is stored in a stored position attached to the chair support member when not in use, so it is readily available and properly positioned for deployment when needed, eliminating the need to assemble or locate separate transfer components at the time of transfer.
3Device complexity
If the chair seat and chair back are fixed in position, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the adaptability for different positions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the chair seat and chair back dynamically adjustable through concurrent tracking mechanisms. The seat is trackable along a first path and the chair back along a second path, with both positions可调 (adjustable) while maintaining their coordinated relationship, transforming the fixed structure into a dynamic one that adapts to different positioning needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer apparatus for receiving the chair seat of a wheelchair and supporting the chair seat in the base of a washing enclosure. The transfer apparatus has a chair support member including a chair support track section that can be positioned in the washing enclosure base. The transfer apparatus also has a bridge portion including a bridge track section that is movably mounted to the chair support member. The bridge portion transitions between a storage position and an in-use position. In the in-use position the bridge portion is engaged with the wheelchair and the bridge track section is aligned with the chair support track section. The chair seat can be translated from the wheelchair along the bridge track section to the chair support track section when the bridge portion is in the in-use position and engaged with the wheelchair.