Foldable frame construction for mobility aids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobility aids, such as walkers and wheelchairs, have fixed and unfoldable designs that limit their adjustability, occupy space, and are inconvenient for use in narrow spaces due to their inability to fold, restricting their practicality and storage requirements.
Innovation Solution
A foldable frame construction for mobility aids featuring a mounting frame, pivotal arm, and operating element with a fixing ring base, engaging bolt, and pull button, allowing the frame to be easily folded and unfolded, enabling compact storage and use in confined spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a fixed and unfoldable structural design is used to provide sufficient structural strength, then the structural strength is improved, but the device cannot be folded and occupies more storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure is divided into multiple segments (first frame, second frame, third frame) that can be relative moved with respect to each other. The pivotal arm acts as a connector that enables these segments to be folded together, reducing storage space while maintaining structural integrity when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobility aid transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic foldable structure. The pivotal arm with positioning holes and engaging bolts allows the frame segments to be locked in extended positions for strength or folded into compact positions for storage, providing adaptability between structural strength and space efficiency.
2Strength
If a fixed configuration is used to provide sufficient structural strength, then the structural strength is improved, but the device cannot be adjusted in size and is inconvenient for use in narrow spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure transitions from static to dynamic, allowing the mobility aid to adapt between extended and folded configurations. This enables the device to maintain structural strength when needed while also being compact enough for narrow spaces and easy to transport.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the frame into separable segments connected by pivotal arms, the structure gains the ability to be folded and adjusted. Each segment can be independently positioned and locked, providing both structural integrity and adaptability to different storage and usage conditions.
3Volume of moving object
If a foldable structure is implemented to save space, then the storage space is reduced, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotal arm mechanism with multiple positioning holes and engaging bolts creates a dynamic locking system that maintains structural strength in the extended position while enabling compact folding for storage. The locking mechanism ensures that when deployed, the frame segments are securely fixed, providing strength comparable to fixed structures.
4Volume of moving object
If a foldable mechanism with multiple components is added to enable folding, then the space efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The folding mechanism is divided into modular components: pivotal arms, positioning holes, and engaging bolts. Each component has a specific function, and together they create a systematic folding mechanism that is more complex than a fixed structure but manageable through clear functional segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging bolt automatically engages with the positioning holes when the frame segments are in the correct position, providing self-locking functionality. This reduces the need for complex control mechanisms and simplifies the operation of the folding system.
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
The foldable frame construction allows for convenient operation, reduces storage space requirements, and enhances the practicality of mobility aids by enabling them to be easily folded and transported in narrow spaces.
Implementation Method 1
The pivotal arm is rotatably connected to the mounting frame and has a pivotal end, a pressing end, and a positioning hole formed through the pivotal arm and selectively aligning with the through hole
Implementation Method 2
The operating element is connected to the pivotal arm and the mounting frame to limit a position of the pivotal arm relative to the mounting frame, and has a fixing ring base securely connected to the pivotal arm around the positioning hole, an engaging bolt movably mounted in the fixing ring base
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable frame construction for mobility aids has a mounting frame, a pivotal arm, and an operating element. The mounting frame has a fixed end, a limiting end, a limiting hole formed through the mounting frame adjacent to the limiting end, and a through hole formed through the mounting frame between the fixed end and the limiting hole. The pivotal arm is rotatably connected to the mounting frame and has a positioning hole formed through the pivotal arm and selectively aligning with the through hole. The operating element is connected to the pivotal arm and the mounting frame to limit a position of the pivotal arm relative to the mounting frame, and has a fixing ring base securely connected to the pivotal arm around the positioning hole, an engaging bolt movably mounted in the fixing ring base, and a pull button connected to the engaging bolt.