Collapsible Parallel Bars With Dual-Transverse Frame Rigidity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing physical therapy devices are not portable and require users to travel to therapy sessions, sacrificing essential rigidity and security for convenience.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible dual-transverse bar system that folds into a single portable device, featuring adjustable stanchions, handrails, and a platform, allowing for easy transport and compact storage while maintaining stability and rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical therapy devices are made stationary to ensure rigidity and security, then stability and reliability are improved, but portability and ease of transport deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The parallel bar device incorporates a collapsible frame structure with hinge joints that allows the device to transition between a stable, rigid configuration during therapy use and a compact, portable configuration for transport. The frame includes first and second transverse bars that can be positioned at different angles relative to longitudinal bars, enabling both structural stability during use and compact folding for mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into multiple separable components including a frame with longitudinal bars, transverse bars, handrails, and a platform. These segments can be assembled into a stable structure for therapy and disassembled or folded into a compact form for transport, resolving the contradiction between stability during use and portability for storage.
2Ease of operation
If physical therapy devices are made portable to enable user mobility, then ease of transport is improved, but structural rigidity and security deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure utilizes hinge joints and adjustable connections that provide rigidity when assembled in the operational configuration, ensuring structural strength during therapy. The same dynamic joints enable the frame to be collapsed or disassembled into a compact form for easy transport, thus achieving both structural rigidity and ease of transport.
3Adaptability or versatility
If physical therapy devices are made adjustable to accommodate various user sizes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables height adjustment of handrails, allows width adjustment for different user sizes, and facilitates folding for portability. The hinge joints and adjustable connections are designed to perform both structural and adjustment functions, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a physical therapy device capable of folding into a single portable device comprising a frame comprising a first lengthwise bar and a second lengthwise bar; and a first transverse bar and a second transverse bar. The frame is configured to be adjusted between an unfolded configuration for use and a folded configuration for storage; a first set of stanchions, each coupled to at least a portion of the first lengthwise bar; and a first handrail coupled to a top portion of each of the first set of stanchions. In the folded configuration, the first lengthwise bar is parallel to the second lengthwise bar, and the first and second transverse bars are configured to hinge such that each bar folds towards a center region of the frame to be substantially parallel to the first and second lengthwise bars.