Foldable Walker Arm With Nested Tubes And Slotted Guides
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional walkers lack an efficient mechanism for height adjustment and folding, which limits their versatility and user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A foldable arm mechanism featuring a lower vertical tube with a slot, an inner guide slideably inserted into the tube, and an upper vertical tube with locking holes, allowing for adjustable height and rotational movement, facilitated by threaded rods and bushings for secure vertical and rotational adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional walker structure is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the height adjustment and folding functionality are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the inner guide within the lower vertical tube, and the upper vertical tube within the outer tube. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional components to be integrated within each other, enabling height adjustment and folding capabilities while maintaining a compact overall structure that does not excessively increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The walker arm is divided into multiple segments: lower vertical tube, inner guide, upper vertical tube, and outer tube. Each segment has specific functions (guiding, locking, rotating) that can be independently designed and adjusted. This segmentation enables the complex functionality of height adjustment and folding to be achieved through coordinated movement of discrete components rather than a monolithic structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a foldable arm mechanism with multiple tubes and guides is implemented, then height adjustment and folding capability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer tube serves multiple functions: it provides the outer structural housing, contains the vertical slot for height adjustment guidance, and enables rotational movement for folding through its horizontal slots. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, allowing the patent to achieve adjustable height and rotational movement capabilities while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of guidance, support, and rotation into integrated structures. The vertical slots in the tubes serve both as structural elements and as guidance mechanisms for the movable components. The horizontal slots in the outer tube combine rotational capability with structural support, reducing the need for separate rotational joints and support elements.
3Ease of operation
If vertical slots and horizontal slots are added to enable movement, then ease of operation for height adjustment and folding is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inner guide acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the lower vertical tube and the upper vertical tube. It features an elongated flat bar with a vertical slot that receives the second rod, providing a controlled interface for vertical movement. This intermediary structure ensures smooth movement while distributing the manufacturing precision requirements across multiple mating surfaces rather than requiring extreme precision in a single interface.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable height foldable arm comprises a lower vertical tube, an inner guide slideably inserted into the lower vertical tube fitting into the lower vertical slot, an inner guide slot, an inner guide hole, a lower vertical tube hole through the lower vertical tube, a first rod inserted through the lower vertical tube hole and the inner guide hole to secure the inner guide in the lower vertical slot, an upper vertical tube with an upper vertical slot in which the inner guide is slideably inserted, an outer tube providing vertical height adjustment and rotational movement, an outer vertical slot on both sides of the outer tube allowing vertical movement with respect to the rod, and two outer horizontal slots on the outer tube allowing for positioned rotational movement of the outer tube when the upper vertical tube is at its lowest vertical displacement.