Elevatable Wheelchair Lift Mechanism for Safe User Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wheelchairs pose difficulties in transferring users with limited strength or mobility to vehicles or other locations, often resulting in strain or injury for both the user and caregivers, and existing solutions like motorized wheelchairs are expensive and impractical for widespread use.
Innovation Solution
A wheelchair design featuring a lift mechanism, such as a scissors jack or electric motor, that allows the upper assembly to be raised relative to the lower assembly, enabling users to move sideways with a movable armrest and a transfer board for safe transfer, along with telescoping frames and foldable design for storage and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional wheelchairs are used, then the wheelchair can be pushed by a caregiver or operated by a user, but the caregiver must lift the user to transfer to vehicles or beds, causing stress and injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transfer board as an intermediary device between the wheelchair and the destination surface. The transfer board includes a first end that contacts the destination surface and a second end that contacts the seat, providing a stable intermediate platform for the user to slide onto during transfer, thereby eliminating the need for caregivers to lift the user
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer board is designed to create an equipotential surface between the wheelchair seat and the destination surface (vehicle seat or bed). By providing a continuous, level transfer surface that bridges the height difference, the system eliminates the need for vertical lifting and lowering actions that cause injury
2Ease of operation
If motorized wheelchairs are used, then the user can move about on their own, but the wheelchair is expensive and requires a large or specialized vehicle for transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the mobility function from the wheelchair itself and separates it from the transfer function. The user retains independent mobility through the wheelchair's existing propulsion mechanisms, while the transfer capability is provided by the separate, portable transfer board that can be easily transported in regular vehicles without requiring specialized modifications
3Ease of operation
If special wheelchair vehicles with lifts are used, then the user can remain in the wheelchair during travel, but the vehicles are expensive and practical primarily for hospitals and nursing homes
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer board is designed as an inexpensive, portable, single-use-per-transfer device that can be easily stored and transported in regular vehicles. Rather than requiring expensive permanently modified vehicles with built-in lifts, the system uses affordable transfer boards that can be used repeatedly across different locations and vehicles
Data Source
AI summary
A wheelchair includes a lower assembly including a lower frame having wheels rotatably mounted thereto, an upper assembly including an upper frame supporting a seat, a backrest and at least one movable armrest, and a lift mechanism configured to move the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein a user can move sideways out of the seat in the raised position with the movable armrest lowered.