Foldable Walker Hinge Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional walkers are prone to inadvertent folding due to unlocked pivot members, which can lead to serious injuries and do not achieve a compact enough configuration for shipping and storage.
Innovation Solution
A walker with a cross member that includes a hinge with a locking mechanism, allowing for controlled movement between expanded and folded configurations, featuring a three-stage unlocking process and a locking pin that prevents unintentional folding, along with telescoping leg assemblies for compact storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the walker uses conventional foldable support members without locking mechanisms, then the structure allows for easier folding and movement between configurations, but the walker becomes prone to inadvertent folding which can lead to serious injury
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism applies a preliminary counteracting force to prevent the harmful action of inadvertent folding. The spring-loaded pin is positioned to automatically engage and lock the cross member in place, creating a pre-established barrier against unintended collapse before it can occur during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded pin acts as an intermediary element between the cross member and the frame, mediating the connection by providing both locking engagement and controlled release. This intermediary component enables the system to transition safely between locked and unlocked states while preventing accidental folding.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the walker uses a rigid cross member structure, then the walker maintains structural stability, but the walker cannot achieve a compact aligned configuration for shipping and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The cross member is segmented into multiple components connected by hinges, allowing the structure to be divided into foldable sections. This segmentation enables the cross member to maintain structural integrity when extended while collapsing into a compact configuration for storage, resolving the contradiction between stability and compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross member transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic hinged structure that can adapt its configuration. The hinges allow the cross member to dynamically change between an extended stable configuration during use and a collapsed compact configuration for storage, enabling both structural stability and space efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If the walker uses unlocked pivot members to allow free movement between configurations, then the walker is easier to collapse and store, but the unlocked pivot members can lead to inadvertent folding and serious injury
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism applies a preliminary counteracting force to prevent the harmful action of inadvertent folding. The spring-loaded pin is positioned to automatically engage and lock the cross member in place, creating a pre-established barrier against unintended collapse before it can occur during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded locking mechanism is self-activating, automatically engaging when the walker is collapsed and disengaging when expanded, without requiring external control. This self-service mechanism ensures the walker is inherently protected against inadvertent folding while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A walker is provided that is movable between a compact, folded configuration and an expanded configuration. The walker includes a pair of side frames, each with a forward leg and a rearward leg. The legs are joined at their top portions by an upper support member. A cross member extends between the forward legs of each of the pair of side frames. The cross member has a hinge disposed between the forward legs. The components of the cross member can be folded relative to one another about the hinge to move the walker between the expanded and folded configurations, which allows for the frames to be positioned in an adjacent and generally aligned orientation when folded. The hinge has a locking mechanism for locking the hinge in the expanded configuration.