Elevating Walker Chair Parallelogram Lifting Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional assistive devices for individuals with mobility issues, such as walkers and wheelchairs, either restrict user interaction with the environment or fail to promote natural gait and muscular engagement, while stand-up walkers often require significant user effort and are cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
An elevating walker chair that combines elements of a wheelchair and walker, featuring a hybrid design with a lifting mechanism using parallelogram struts and resilient power units to allow users to sit, stand, and walk naturally, with hands-free operation and adjustable height for easy interaction with surroundings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If stand-up walkers are used to lift occupants, then users can rise to standing position, but users must still lift significant body weight with legs and arms and the devices are cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a counterbalance mechanism with springs and struts that provide upward force to offset the user's body weight. The springs are positioned to engage with the user's thighs when seated, automatically providing lift assistance without requiring manual operation or significant muscular effort from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The device automatically detects when the user is seated and provides lift assistance through the engaged springs and struts. The system self-activates based on user position without requiring buttons, switches, or manual triggering, and the user can disengage it simply by standing up.
2Productivity
If wheelchairs are used for mobility, then users can transport themselves, but users remain interminably seated which harms muscular, circulatory, and cardiac well-being
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically adapts between two functional states: wheelchair mode for transport and walker mode for ambulation. The seat can be easily folded or adjusted, allowing users to transition from seated to standing position on demand, enabling them to alternate between passive transport and active walking to maintain health.
3Ease of operation
If walkers are used for ambulation, then users can walk with support, but users cannot carry or manipulate anything while moving
Solution Approach 1:
The device serves multiple functions: it provides walking support like a walker, offers seating like a wheelchair, and includes integrated storage compartments in the frame structure. This allows users to carry personal items, groceries, or other objects in the built-in storage areas while maintaining hands-free operation during ambulation.
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
Enables users to stroll, stride, and coast while maintaining a natural gait, with the ability to sit and rise without exiting the device, promoting user interaction and energy contribution, thus addressing the limitations of existing assistive technologies.
Implementation Method 1
resilient power units
Data Source
AI summary
An elevating walker chair that allows both riding and walking. The chair elevates by a parallelogram power unit. The seat transforms between a saddle and seat upon changes in saddle/seat elevation. Also a lifting parallelogram power unit structure. Disclosed is an elevating walker chair for people with limited mobility resulting from compromised musculature, coordination or balance, or for able bodied individuals that must perform tasks for which assistance is desired.