Foldable Mobile Object With Linkage-Actuated Seat for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable mobile objects, such as electric wheelchairs, face challenges in compact storage and user-friendliness due to obstructive seating parts when in a folded state, limiting their efficiency and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A mobile object design where the seating part is movable relative to the moving base, allowing the wheelbase to expand and contract, enabling the seating part to shift forward in the folded state to reduce obstruction and enhance user-friendliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seating part is fixed in position to provide stable seating for users, then user comfort is improved, but the mobile object cannot be efficiently used in folded state and occupies wide area
Solution Approach 1:
The seating part is made movable relative to the moving base through a linkage mechanism connected to the leg part. As the front base and rear base move relative to each other to contract or expand the wheel base, the leg part moves forward or backward, which through the linkage mechanism causes the seating part to move forward or backward accordingly. This dynamic configuration allows the seating part to adapt its position based on the folded or unfolded state, resolving the contradiction between providing stable seating and enabling efficient use in folded state.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the wheel base is expanded to provide stability for self-traveling, then stability is improved, but the mobile object cannot be housed in small space
Solution Approach 1:
The moving base is divided into a front base and a rear base that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the wheel base to be expanded or contracted by moving the front base and rear base forward or backward relative to each other. When expanded, the mobile object gains stability for self-traveling; when contracted, it can be housed in small spaces such as automobile trunks or vestibule entrances.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel base is made dynamically adjustable through the relative movement mechanism between the front base and rear base. The linkage mechanism connects this relative movement to the seating part, creating a coordinated dynamic system that can transition between expanded (stable) and contracted (compact) states as needed.
3Ease of operation
If the seating part occupies wide area to allow stable seating, then user comfort is improved, but the mobile object becomes obstructive in folded state
Solution Approach 1:
The seating part is connected to the leg part through a linkage mechanism that translates the forward-backward movement of the leg part into corresponding movement of the seating part. When the mobile object is in folded state, the leg part moves forward, which causes the seating part to move forward as well, reducing its obstructive area. When in unfolded state, the seating part moves backward to its original position, providing adequate space for stable seating.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile object according to the present invention includes: a moving base 1, 201, 301 which includes a front base 13, 213, 313 having front wheel 11 and a rear base 14, 214, 314 having rear wheel 12; and a seat 2, 302 which includes a seating part 21 having a seating surface 21a and leg part 22, 322 supporting the seating part 21. The front base 13, 213, 313 and the rear base 14, 214, 314 are movable relative to each other to expand and contract a wheel base H. The seating part 21 is movable backward and forward respectively by movement of the leg part 22, 322 in association with relative movement of the front base 13, 213, 313 and the rear base 14, 214, 314 for expansion and contraction of the wheel base H. Thus, the mobile object can be efficiently used in a folded state, and user-friendliness of the mobile object can be enhanced.