C-Shaped Wheelchair Footrest Cushion for Injury Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wheelchair footrest brackets cause injuries such as bruises and lacerations due to their design, and existing protective solutions are expensive and impractical for common use.
Innovation Solution
A reusable, waterproof, and easily washable protective cushion with a monolithic C-shaped design that fits around the footrest bracket, providing a soft barrier and easy installation/removal, made from elastomeric material that contours to the wheelchair's leg shaft and bracket blade.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If existing protective solutions are used for foot rest brackets, then protection against injuries is improved, but cost and practicality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable protective cover that is inexpensive to manufacture and replace. The cover is designed as a single-use or limited-use component that can be easily discarded after wear or contamination, eliminating the need for complex cleaning or maintenance procedures. This approach resolves the contradiction by providing effective protection through low-cost, simple-to-manufacture disposable components rather than expensive, durable solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover is constructed from flexible material that can conform to the contours of the foot rest bracket while providing adequate cushioning and protection. The thin film structure allows the cover to be lightweight, easy to manufacture, and simple to install or remove, thereby achieving injury protection without the cost and complexity of rigid or multi-component protective systems.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective cover is added to the foot rest bracket, then injury protection is improved, but installation and removal time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is extracted as a separate, independent cover component rather than being integrated into the foot rest bracket structure. This allows the cover to be independently installed or removed without affecting the bracket itself, enabling quick application and removal while maintaining continuous protection when in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is pre-formed with the appropriate shape and size to match the foot rest bracket contours, eliminating the need for on-site adjustment or complex installation procedures. The preliminary preparation of the cover ensures it can be quickly snapped or slipped onto the bracket, minimizing installation time while providing immediate protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the protective cushion is made thick and soft for better protection, then injury prevention is improved, but bulk and potential interference with wheelchair transfer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover provides varying thicknesses and softness levels at different locations based on the specific injury risks at each area of the foot rest bracket. Thicker, softer material is applied only where contact injuries are most likely to occur, while thinner material is used in areas where bulk would interfere with wheelchair transfer or foot rest functionality. This localized approach achieves comprehensive protection without excessive overall volume.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cushion effectively prevents injuries by providing a thick, compact protection without impeding wheelchair transfer, is lightweight, easy to maintain, and affordable, making it practical for widespread use.
Implementation Method 1
The substantially monolithic C shaped body is biased to a closed C shape cushion and can be manually operated to open the C shaped body
Data Source
AI summary
A new and useful protective cushion for a foot rest bracket of a wheelchair and to a new and useful method of providing the protective cushion to a foot rest bracket of a wheelchair. A substantially monolithic, nonmalleable, resilient body is provided that has a substantially closed C shape, a relatively soft, cushion like texture and a thickness that is slightly greater than a foot rest bracket of a wheelchair. The C shaped body is biased to a closed shape and can be easily manually operated to open the C shaped body and enable it to surround a foot rest bracket of a wheelchair. The contour of the protective cushion is designed to fit easily and comfortably about a wheelchair leg shaft, and the bracket blade and wheelchair post that typically form the foot rest bracket for supporting a wheelchair foot rest.