Inflatable Support Body for Compact Transport and Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support bodies for individuals with limited mobility are bulky and difficult to transport, limiting their mobility and storage options, especially in mobile care settings where space is limited.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable support body with a back element and side elements that can be deflated for compact transport, featuring stabilizing elements and fixing sections for secure attachment to a base, allowing for easy handling and storage while maintaining stability during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the support body is made from padded metal frame or foam material to ensure stability and safety, then the structural strength and reliability are improved, but the volume and weight increase making it bulky and difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The support body uses inflatable elements filled with gas to create a rigid-like structure when inflated. The gas pressure maintains the shape and provides structural support, allowing the device to be compact when deflated and stable when inflated, thus resolving the contradiction between volume and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The support body changes its physical state from deflated (compact) to inflated (expanded) to alter its volume and structural properties. This parameter change allows the same structure to provide stability when needed while minimizing volume for transport, resolving the contradiction between reliability and volume
2Reliability
If the support body is made from padded metal frame or foam material to ensure stability and safety, then the structural strength and reliability are improved, but the weight increases making it difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The support body replaces heavy solid materials (metal frame, foam) with lightweight inflatable elements. The gas-filled structure provides the necessary rigidity and support with minimal weight, resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight
Solution Approach 2:
The support body uses thin flexible membranes that form inflatable elements. These thin films provide the necessary containment and structural definition when inflated, creating a lightweight yet stable structure that resolves the contradiction between weight and reliability
3Reliability
If the side elements project elongated from the back element to prevent lateral slippage, then the reliability of positioning is improved, but the volume increases making it bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The side elements are inflatable structures that expand to provide lateral support and prevent slippage when inflated, while collapsing to minimal volume when deflated. This resolves the contradiction between positioning accuracy and volume by using gas pressure to create the necessary structural extension only when needed
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The inflatable design significantly reduces the support body's volume by more than 50% during transport, enabling space-saving storage and easy handling, while ensuring the person's safety and stability in a sitting position, even in confined spaces.
Implementation Method 1
the back element and the side elements are designed to be inflatable in order to be able to bring the support body from an uninflated transport state to the inflated application state
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a support body (1) for supporting a person in a seated position, the support body (1) comprising a back element (2) and two side elements (3) connected to the back element (2), wherein the back element (2) and side elements (3a,3b) are designed such that the supported person is supported by the back element (2) in a first direction (19) and by the side elements (3a,3b) transversely to the first direction (19).In order to make the support body easy to transport and handle without compromising its stability, thus guaranteeing the safety of the person stored in the support body, the invention proposes that the back element (2) and the side elements (3a, 3b) be inflatable in order to inflate the support body (1) from an uninflated transport state to the inflated application state, wherein each side element (3a, 3b) is additionally connected to the back element (2) via a stabilizing element (4a, 4b), and wherein the support body (1) has at least two fixing sections (5, 6) in order to attach the support body (1) to the base (18) in the application state via the fixing sections (5, 6, 7).