Forearm Support Mobility Device with Segmented Tubular Body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobility devices, such as canes and crutches, often fail to provide adequate support and stability for individuals with long-term disabilities, leading to discomfort and increased physical risk, especially when navigating uneven terrain or performing activities like walking and climbing stairs.
Innovation Solution
A mobility device with a tubular body featuring multiple bends that securely engage the forearm, a manually graspable handle, and a floor-engaging end, providing lateral and rearward support, and allowing the user's weight to be distributed evenly, with adjustable length and a cushioned handle to prevent slipping, enhancing user comfort and confidence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional canes and crutches are used to support user weight, then basic mobility support is provided, but adequate stability and comfort are not achieved, especially for long-term disability users
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular body is divided into multiple segments with bends at specific locations (upper arm retainer, handle portion, intermediate portion) to distribute support forces across different body parts, improving both stability and comfort simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the device have specialized characteristics: the upper arm retainer provides lateral support, the handle portion provides graspability, and the bends provide rearward support, with each portion optimized for its specific function to enhance overall comfort and stability
2Device complexity
If mobility devices are designed for basic support, then structural simplicity is maintained, but user-perceived support and control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a segmented tubular body with distinct bends and portions that provide different support functions, achieving enhanced user-perceived support through a relatively simple continuous structure without complex mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular body incorporates multiple bends and curves rather than straight lines, allowing the device to conform to the natural anatomy of the arm and provide multi-directional support, enhancing user-perceived support while maintaining structural simplicity
3Ease of operation
If the device engages the forearm with multiple bends, then lateral and rearward support are provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple support functions (lateral support, rearward support, graspability) are merged into a single continuous tubular body with integrated bends, providing comprehensive support while avoiding the complexity of separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular body with multiple bends serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides lateral support through the upper arm retainer, rearward support through the bends, and graspability through the handle portion, making a single structure perform multiple support roles
Data Source
AI summary
A mobility device to provide ambulatory support includes a tubular body having upper and lower parts. The upper part has at least four, and preferably five, bends and includes a manually graspable handle portion between two of the bends, and a hook-shaped bend for engaging the user's forearm on three sides adjacent the elbow. An intermediate portion including another bend is positioned between two other bends, and is positioned between the handle portion and the bend located adjacent the user's elbow. The lower part includes a floor-engaging free end and defines an axis, preferably a generally vertical axis. The bends and other features of the upper part cooperate to provide improved support for a user's forearm. Also disclosed is a rocker-type end member either fixedly or slidably fitted to the lower part.