Foldable Mobility Aid Frame With Spring-Plunger Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobility aids are bulky and difficult to store or carry due to their inability to fold effectively, making them inconvenient for users.
Innovation Solution
A foldable mobility aid design featuring a base, foldable frame with pivoting frame-bodies, guiding assemblies, and spring-plunger mechanisms that allow the frame, chair, and stem to expand and collapse, minimizing space occupation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the mobility aid uses a conventional fixed frame structure, then it provides stable support and structural strength, but it occupies large storage space and is difficult to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into multiple frame-bodies (first frame-body, second frame-body, third frame-body) that can pivot relative to each other. This segmentation allows the frame to be folded into a compact configuration for storage while maintaining structural integrity when deployed, directly resolving the contradiction between compact storage volume and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic foldable structure with pivoting joints. The frame-bodies can rotate relative to each other around pivot axes, enabling the mobility aid to change between an expanded operational state and a folded storage state, thus reducing storage space occupation while maintaining strength during use.
2Volume of moving object
If the mobility aid uses a foldable frame structure, then it reduces storage space occupation and improves portability, but it increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The foldable frame is segmented into multiple frame-bodies connected by pivoting joints, allowing compact folding while maintaining relatively simple individual components. Each frame-body can be independently manufactured and assembled, which manages complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
When folded, the frame-bodies nest together in a compact configuration where the second frame-body pivots relative to the first, and the third frame-body pivots relative to the second, creating a nested arrangement that minimizes storage volume while keeping the mechanical structure relatively simple.
3Ease of operation
If the mobility aid uses a conventional non-foldable design, then it ensures operational stability and ease of operation, but it is difficult to store indoors and carry about
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is designed as a dynamic structure with pivoting joints that allow controlled movement between folded and expanded states. When expanded for use, the frame-bodies form a stable configuration that provides operational stability, while when folded, it achieves compactness for easy storage and portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is segmented into multiple pivoting frame-bodies that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the frame to achieve both compact folded configurations for portability and stable expanded configurations for operation, resolving the contradiction between ease of storage and structural stability.
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 easy storage and portability by allowing the mobility aid to be compactly folded, addressing the space constraints of conventional models.
Implementation Method 1
The first spring plunger has a mount fixed to the first frame-body and a spring plunger fixed to the second frame-body. Wherein, a plunger body of the spring plunger is able to engage with an engaging hole of the mount to keep the foldable frame expanded.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable mobility aid has a base, a foldable frame, a first spring-plunger assembly, and a chair. The foldable frame has a first frame-body, a second frame-body, and a guiding assembly. Each of the first and the second frame-body-bodies has a pivoting end pivotally connected to the base and a free end being swingable. The guiding assembly has a rail disposed at the first frame-body and a guiding unit disposed at the second frame-body and movable along the rail. The first spring plunger has a mount fixed to the first frame-body and a spring plunger fixed to the second frame-body. The chair has a seat pivotally connected to one of the first and the second frame-body-bodies. Wherein, a plunger body of the spring plunger is able to engage with an engaging hole of the mount to keep the foldable frame expanded.