Assistance device for putting on jacket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with restricted mobility face difficulties in putting on jackets due to the challenge of reaching behind their back to grab the draped shoulder, which is exacerbated by limited flexibility or grasping ability.
Innovation Solution
An assistance device featuring an elongated bar with magnetic connection elements at each end, which attaches to corresponding magnetic elements on the jacket, biases the jacket to reduce the distance the user needs to reach, and uses a collapsible design for portability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the jacket is put on one shoulder, then the other shoulder drapes down below the shoulder, but this increases the distance the user must reach behind their back to grab the jacket
Solution Approach 1:
The assistance device acts as an intermediary tool between the user and the jacket. It magnetically attaches to the jacket shoulders and provides a mechanical lever that extends the jacket's reach toward the user's hand, eliminating the need to reach behind the back. The device mediates the interaction by converting the jacket's draped position into an accessible position through its rigid bar structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The assistance device changes the spatial dimension of jacket accessibility. Instead of requiring the user to reach in the horizontal plane behind their back, the device extends the jacket vertically downward and then horizontally forward along the user's side, creating a new accessible path in a different spatial dimension that bypasses the restricted motion area.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the assistance device is made rigid to maintain jacket position, then it provides stable support, but it becomes less portable and harder to store
Solution Approach 1:
The assistance device transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic collapsible structure. The bar can be extended to provide stable support during jacket application, then collapsed to a compact size for storage and portability. This dynamic capability allows the device to adapt its structural properties based on the operational phase, resolving the contradiction between stability during use and compactness for storage.
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 assistance device simplifies the process of putting on a jacket by reducing the reach required to grab the other shoulder, making it easier for users with restricted mobility and allowing for easy disengagement and removal, while being collapsible for convenience.
Implementation Method 1
magnetic connection elements (such as magnets or metallic elements) positioned at each end of the elongated bar. The assistance device can be magnetically attached to corresponding magnetic connection elements at the shoulders of a jacket.
Implementation Method 2
When the jacket is put on both shoulders, the fabric of the jacket will become taut and a shear force will be created which will cause one of the magnetic connection elements of the bar to magnetically disengage from a corresponding magnetic connection element of the jacket.
Data Source
AI summary
An assistance device for putting on a jacket includes an elongated bar and magnetic connection elements (such as magnets or metallic elements) positioned at each end of the elongated bar. The assistance device can be magnetically attached to corresponding magnetic connection elements at the shoulders of a jacket. As the jacket is placed over one shoulder, the other end of the assistance device (and attached portions of the jacket) will tend to be biased toward the other side of the user. This makes it easier for users to grab the other side of the jacket since it extends toward the arm not in the jacket sleeve reducing the distance that the user needs to move this arm behind their back to grab the jacket. This is especially valuable for users with restricted mobility who find it hard to put on jackets without the assistance device.