Collapsible travel support device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional footrests for travel are bulky, non-portable, and fail to adequately support legs and feet, leading to discomfort, fatigue, and increased risk of deep vein thrombosis during long periods of sitting in confined spaces like airplanes and trains.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible travel support device comprising a flexible main body with a self-deploying support structure and attachment mechanism, allowing for adjustable height and positioning without attachment to the seat, using a dynamic rope to maintain structure integrity and providing padding for comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional footrests are used to support legs and feet, then comfort and blood flow improvement are enhanced, but the device becomes bulky and non-portable
Solution Approach 1:
The support device is divided into multiple telescopic sections that can be independently adjusted and collapsed. Each section contains support members that can be positioned at different heights and angles, allowing the device to be segmented into compact units for portability while maintaining full support functionality when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates telescopic mechanisms with adjustable support members that can dynamically change length and position. The support members can be extended or retracted along the telescopic sections, and the entire structure can be collapsed into a compact form for transport, providing both comfort during use and portability when needed
2Ease of operation
If conventional footrests are used to raise legs, then some support is provided, but adequate elevation height cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic sections and support members are designed to extend to significant lengths, allowing the device to elevate legs to adequate heights. The adjustable nature of the support members enables them to reach optimal elevation positions for blood flow improvement and comfort, far exceeding conventional footrest capabilities
3Stability of the object's composition
If fixed footrests are used, then structure is stable, but adjustment for different leg lengths is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic sections incorporate adjustable support members that can be positioned at multiple heights and angles along the length of each section. This dynamic adjustability allows the device to be customized for different leg lengths and user requirements while maintaining structural stability through the rigid telescopic framework and locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the support device can be adjusted independently to suit specific user needs. The support members can be positioned at optimal locations for each user's leg length, and the telescopic sections can be extended or retracted to provide localized support where needed, creating a stable yet highly adaptable structure
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention relates in general to supports and in particular to collapsible portable travel supports for use in conjunction with a seat during travel. The support device has a main body of flexible material and a self-deploying support structure has a plurality of hollow sections having a slip joint connection and a chord secured to opposing ends of the structure and passing longitudinally through all sections. The self-deploying support structure is transformable between storage and deployed configurations where the slip joint connections of each section are mated to form a unitary structure. An attachment mechanism associated with the body attaches the body to the self-deploying support structure. The main body and self-deploying support structure are configured to form a self-supporting structure spaced apart from the seat in use and from a structure in front of the seat supporting the user.