Foldable Walker With Integrated Lateral Folding Basket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable walkers are often cumbersome, prone to entanglement, and have safety concerns due to exposed brake mechanisms, require many parts leading to higher manufacturing costs, and lack robustness and lateral support, with baskets that need to be removed for folding compromising the frame's strength.
Innovation Solution
A foldable walker design with a self-adjusting brake rod, fully enclosed brake housing, and a collapsible basket that integrates with the frame, allowing lateral folding with fewer parts, enhanced strength-to-weight ratio, and improved safety features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If walkers have many parts to accommodate variety of body shapes and provide strong frame, then frame strength and adaptability are improved, but manufacturing costs increase and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The walker frame is designed with adjustable components that serve multiple functions. The handlebar assembly can be adjusted in height and angle to accommodate different user preferences and body shapes, while the same structural elements provide strength and support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The walker incorporates telescoping tubes with thumb screw adjustments that allow dynamic modification of the frame dimensions. Users can adjust the handlebar height and angle based on their needs, providing adaptability without requiring multiple fixed-frame variants. This dynamic adjustment capability reduces part complexity while maintaining strength.
2Ease of operation
If walkers have exposed brake pad mechanisms with connecting and adjusting means, then ease of adjustment is improved, but safety decreases and entanglement with clothing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake pad is designed as a replaceable component that can be easily replaced when worn. The connecting means uses simple, replaceable fasteners rather than permanent connections. This approach prioritizes safety by ensuring brake functionality while accepting that adjustment components may need periodic replacement rather than providing permanent adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake pad and its connecting/adjusting mechanisms are extracted as separate, removable components from the main walker structure. This allows the brake system to be serviced independently and reduces the risk that brake adjustment components will entangle with clothing, while still maintaining ease of adjustment through simple, accessible fasteners.
3Device complexity
If walkers require two separate steps for adjusting telescoping tubes and fixing brake rod, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but ease of operation decreases and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake rod adjustment is merged with the telescoping tube adjustment system. The same thumb screw mechanism that secures the telescoping tube sections together also secures the brake rod in position. This integration allows users to adjust both the handlebar height and brake rod position using a single adjustment action, greatly improving ease of operation without significantly increasing device complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If brake housing only partially extends over brake pad, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but reliability decreases due to exposure to elements and entanglement
Solution Approach 1:
The brake housing is designed to partially enclose the brake pad mechanism rather than providing complete coverage. This partial enclosure protects the most critical components from elements and entanglement while avoiding the complexity of a fully enclosed housing. The housing extends far enough to protect the brake pad from direct exposure to weather and prevent clothing entanglement, while leaving adjustment components accessible.
5Adaptability or versatility
If walkers are folded from front to back, then basket accommodation is improved, but frame strength and rigidity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The walker folding mechanism uses dynamic hinge joints at the handlebar assembly that allow the frame to collapse in multiple directions. The hinges are positioned and designed to maintain structural integrity during folding while accommodating both front-to-back and lateral folding modes. This dynamic hinge design preserves frame rigidity when needed while enabling versatile folding options for basket accommodation.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided, in combination, a collapsible walker and a collapsible basket. The walker includes a pair of spaced-apart, operatively interconnected frame members. The frame members each have an upper end for placing one's hand and a lower end spaced-apart from the upper end. Ground-engaging wheels are rotatably mounted to the lower ends of the frame members. A folding mechanism allows the frame members to be brought together for folding the walker. The collapsible basket includes a pair of spaced-apart, rigid end members, each being connectable with a respective one of said frame members. A flexible basket member extends substantially about, extends between and is supported by the rigid end members. The end members are moveable towards each other and the basket member thereby folds to collapse the basket when folding the walker.