Knee Walker Front Wheel Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current knee walker designs face limitations in maneuverability due to rigid wheels, and swivel wheels provide limited control, especially when the ambulatory leg is not in contact with the ground, making them unsafe and impractical for navigating tight spaces.
Innovation Solution
A knee walker assembly with swivel-mounted front wheels and a rigidly-mounted rear wheel, featuring a locking mechanism that allows the front wheels to transition between swivel and rigid configurations, enabling improved maneuverability and control through a steering mechanism that can be locked for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If swivel-mounted wheels are used, then maneuverability is improved, but control and stability deteriorate when the ambulatory leg is not in contact with the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel mounting configuration is made dynamically changeable, allowing transition between swivel-mounted and rigidly-mounted states. This enables the knee walker to adapt its wheel configuration based on operational needs, providing swivel capability when maneuverability is required and rigid mounting when stability and control are priorities
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel mounting parameters are made variable through the locking mechanism, which can change the wheel's degree of freedom from free-swiveling to locked-in-position. This parameter change allows the system to optimize between maneuverability and control stability depending on the user's situation
2Reliability
If rigidly-mounted wheels are used, then control and stability are improved, but maneuverability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel mounting configuration is made dynamically changeable, allowing transition between rigidly-mounted and swivel-mounted states. This enables the knee walker to adapt its wheel configuration based on operational needs, providing rigid mounting when stability and control are required and swivel capability when maneuverability is required
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel mounting parameters are made variable through the locking mechanism, which can change the wheel's degree of freedom from locked-in-position to free-swiveling. This parameter change allows the system to optimize between control stability and maneuverability depending on the user's situation
3Adaptability or versatility
If the entire knee walker assembly is lifted and repositioned to turn, then steering capability is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The steering function is segmented from the entire assembly and localized to the wheel level. The locking mechanism allows individual wheels to be selectively locked or unlocked, enabling localized steering adjustments without requiring movement of the entire knee walker assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel mounting configuration is made dynamically changeable, allowing transition between swivel-mounted and rigidly-mounted states. This enables the knee walker to adapt its wheel configuration based on operational needs, providing swivel capability when maneuverability is required and rigid mounting when stability and control are priorities
Data Source
AI summary
Knee walker assemblies and methods of manufacturing a knee walker assembly are provided herein. A knee walker assembly is disclosed that includes a frame with a handle mounted to the frame. At least one rear wheel is mounted to the frame proximate the rear end thereof. At least one front wheel is mounted to the frame proximate the front end thereof. The knee walker assembly also includes a support platform configured to support a portion of an appendage. A collapsible stanchion arrangement movably mounts the support platform to the frame. The collapsible stanchion arrangement includes a trolley and a first stanchion attached at a first end thereof to the support platform and attached at a second end thereof to the trolley. The trolley is slidably mounted to the frame such that movement of the trolley relative to the frame operates to adjust the vertical height of the support platform.