Chair-convertible walking stick
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chair-convertible walking sticks and crutch assemblies pose a risk of injury when the seat mechanism is folded, as supporting components are not compactly folded, exposing users to potential harm.
Innovation Solution
A chair-convertible walking stick featuring a novel conversion mechanism with a collar sleeve, carrier, and bracing bars that allow the seat unit to transform from a use state to a collapsed state, with prop legs that move from a straddling to an upheld position, and retaining members to secure the components, preventing accidental exposure and injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the seat mechanism is folded to a compact position, then the walking stick becomes more portable and compact, but the supporting components are exposed to the user creating a safety hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting components (supporting legs and bracing bars) are nested within the seat unit structure when folded. The supporting legs are received within the seat pan assembly, and the bracing bars are positioned within the seat unit framework, preventing exposure to the user while maintaining compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The potentially harmful supporting components are extracted from the user's vicinity by positioning them within the enclosed seat unit structure during folding. The supporting legs are removed from external exposure and placed inside the seat pan assembly, eliminating the safety hazard.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seat unit is converted from use state to collapsed state, then the walking stick functionality is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conversion mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: collar sleeves for positioning, carriers for movement guidance, bracing bars for structural support, and retaining members for locking. Each segment performs a specific function, making the complex conversion process manageable and reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism employs dynamic elements including pivotally connected components that rotate, slidably engaged elements that move linearly, and convertible prop legs that transition between positions. This dynamic design enables smooth transformation between chair and walking stick states.
3Ease of operation
If the prop legs are positioned in a straddling position for use, then the chair functionality is achieved, but the prop legs expose the user to potential injury when folded
Solution Approach 1:
The prop legs are extracted from the user's vicinity by moving them from an external straddling position to an internal upheld position within the walking stick structure when folded. This removes the potential injury source from the user's contact area.
Solution Approach 2:
The prop legs are nested within the walking stick assembly when folded. The prop legs are positioned inside the structural framework, concealed within the overall device structure, preventing user contact and potential injury.
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 mechanism ensures the seat unit can be safely converted between use and collapsed states, reducing the likelihood of user injury by accommodating the prop legs and bracing bars in a way that prevents accidental exposure during use as a walking stick.
Implementation Method 1
a rearward edge of the middle portion being pivotally connected to the collar sleeve
Implementation Method 2
each being hinged to the middle portion at the respective hinge line
Implementation Method 3
a key end configured to be slidably engaged with a corresponding one of the keyways such that when the key end slides from the front keyway end of a respective one of the keyways to the rear keyway end of the respective one of the keyways
Implementation Method 4
a pivoted end pivotally connected to the carrier, the two prop legs being convertible between a straddling position and an upheld position
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A chair-convertible walking stick includes a stick shank (11), a collar sleeve (22) movable between distal and proximate positions on the stick shank (11), a carrier slidable (21) between upper and lower positions on the stick shank (11), and a seat unit (3). The seat unit (3) includes a middle portion (31) pivotally connected to the collar sleeve (22), and left and right wing portions (33) hinged to the middle portion (31). When the collar sleeve (22) is displaced from the distal position to the proximate position, the seat unit (33) is convertible from a use state, where middle portion (31) is coplanar with the left and right wing portions (32), to a collapsed state, where the middle portion (31) is at an included angle with each of the left and right wing portions (32).