Elevating Walker Chair Manual Lifting Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional assistive devices for individuals with mobility difficulties, such as walkers and wheelchairs, often restrict user interaction with the environment, require significant user effort to rise from a seated to a standing position, and fail to promote natural gait and independence in daily activities.
Innovation Solution
A foldable, elevating walker chair with a height adjustment mechanism, innovative bracing struts, telescoping wheel mounts, and a folding mechanism that allows for compact configuration and use as a walking support, incorporating features like a swivel seat, hinges, seatbelt, and safety mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional walkers are used to add support and stability, then user stability is improved, but user freedom of movement and ability to carry objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two functional segments: a walker portion for stability and a wheelchair portion for mobility and capacity. This segmentation allows users to benefit from both support and freedom of movement by switching between or combining the functions of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid device serves multiple functions: it provides walker-level stability when needed, wheelchair-level mobility and carrying capacity when needed, and can transition between these states. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by allowing users to access both stability and freedom of movement depending on situational requirements.
2Speed
If conventional wheelchairs are used to provide mobility, then user mobility is improved, but user physical health and muscular well-being deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically transitions between passive wheelchair mode and active walking mode. During walking portions, users actively engage their muscles to propel themselves, thereby maintaining muscular well-being while still achieving mobility goals. The system adapts between powered and unpowered states based on user needs.
3Ease of operation
If elevating wheelchairs are used to raise occupants to standing position, then user standing capability is improved, but device complexity and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism is designed to be manually operated by the user themselves rather than requiring complex external motors or assistance systems. This self-service approach enables users to elevate themselves to standing position using simple mechanical advantage, reducing device complexity while maintaining the standing capability.
4Ease of operation
If stand-up walkers are used to lift occupants, then user standing ability is improved, but user comfort and ease of interaction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the lifting function from the seating function, with the wheelchair portion providing a comfortable, well-cushioned seat and the walker portion providing the lifting mechanism. This segmentation allows users to enjoy both standing ability and comfort without the compromises of integrated stand-up walkers.
5Volume of moving object
If foldable mechanism is used to achieve compact configuration, then device portability is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The folding mechanism is applied separately to different segments of the hybrid device (walker frame and wheelchair frame), allowing each segment to be compacted independently. This segmented approach achieves overall compactness while distributing the mechanical complexity across manageable sections rather than requiring a single complex folding system.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable, elevating walker chair is disclosed having a height adjustment mechanism and a height limiter. The elevating walker chair has a unique lifting mechanism that allows the chair to be readily raised and lowered without motors. The weight of the elevating walker chair may be optimized by use of innovative bracing struts. The folding mechanism allows the elevating walker chair to achieve a compact configuration. Innovative components such as a swivel seat, hinges, seatbelt, telescoping wheel mounts, height adjustment devices and safety mechanisms may be included in the elevating walker chair.