Foldable Deck and Telescoping Pole for Personal Mobility Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Personal mobility devices, such as scooters, require compact and portable designs for easy storage and transportation, but existing solutions often compromise on ease of use and stability during folding.
Innovation Solution
A personal mobility device with a deck that can be folded about a deck hinge, using a deck latch to retain the deck in an extended position and allow for folding, along with a telescoping pole that can be shortened and folded towards the deck, enhancing compactness and ease of carrying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the personal mobility device is designed to be compact and portable for easy storage and transportation, then the device size and portability are improved, but the stability and ease of use during operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separable components: the deck can be folded about a deck hinge, the pole can be telescoped and folded, and the wheels can be detached from the deck. This segmentation allows the device to be compact for storage while maintaining full functionality when assembled and operated.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic elements including a foldable deck that transitions between extended and folded positions, a telescoping pole that adjusts length, and detachable wheel brackets that allow wheels to be removed. These dynamic features enable the device to adapt between compact storage mode and stable operational mode.
2Volume of moving object
If the deck is made foldable to reduce storage space, then the storage compactness is improved, but the stability during operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The deck latch is pre-configured to automatically engage with the deck hinge when the deck is in the extended position, ensuring stability is established before operation begins. The latch mechanism is designed to maintain deck stability throughout operation while allowing easy folding when needed.
3Length of moving object
If the pole is made telescoping to shorten length for compactness, then the portability is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping pole consists of an upper pole portion that nests within a lower pole portion when collapsed. This nesting arrangement allows the pole to be shortened for compact storage while maintaining a simple cylindrical structure that does not significantly increase overall device complexity.
4Volume of moving object
If the wheel brackets are made detachable to enable compact folding, then the compactness is improved, but the reliability of connection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel bracket detachment mechanism is merged with the deck latch system. When the deck latch is engaged, it simultaneously secures the wheel brackets to the deck. This integration ensures that the wheel brackets maintain reliable connection during operation while enabling compact folding when the latch is released.
Data Source
AI summary
A personal mobility device includes a deck, wheels positioned at opposing ends of the deck, a pole extending at a proximal end from a first wheel of the wheels, and a handle located at a distal end of the pole. The deck includes a deck hinge located between a first deck end and a second deck end, and a deck latch operably connected to the deck hinge to retain the deck in an extended position, and configured such that releasing of the deck latch allows for folding of the deck about the deck hinge toward a folded position.