Mobile Support Device with Pivot Platform and Hinged Legs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile devices for individuals with mobility impairments, such as paraplegics, are limited by their inability to support standing or kneeling positions, are cumbersome for off-road use, and restrict maneuverability, leading to user discomfort and mobility issues.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device with a drivable base, pivotally connected platform, adjustable leg supporting assemblies, and a wireless controller, allowing users to transition between standing, sitting, and kneeling positions while providing enhanced mobility on various terrains through wheels or track members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile device supports standing and kneeling positions, then user mobility and comfort are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional modules: a base unit with drive mechanisms, a platform for user support, and adjustable leg supporting assemblies. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling position changes without requiring the entire device to be redesigned, thus managing complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform is pivotally connected to the base, allowing it to rotate between horizontal (sitting) and forwardly-angled (standing/kneeling) positions. The leg supporting assemblies are hinged along a lengthwise axis and can be pivoted by actuators to adjust leg positioning. This dynamic configuration enables the device to adapt to multiple user positions without requiring separate devices for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device is designed for off-road use, then terrain adaptability is improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base is equipped with both wheels and track members, allowing the device to operate on various terrains including paved surfaces and off-road conditions. This multi-functional drive system provides terrain adaptability without requiring separate specialized devices, and the integrated design helps manage weight by combining functions in a single unit rather than adding separate systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If the device structure is simplified, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but maneuverability is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The leg supporting assemblies are hinged specifically along the lengthwise axis of the device, allowing pivoting motion in the critical direction for maneuverability while maintaining structural simplicity. This localized application of complexity only where needed (at the hinge points for leg adjustment) enables effective maneuverability without requiring complex mechanisms throughout the entire device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device for supporting a user in a standing, sitting, or kneeling position such as to increase the mobility of paraplegic persons or other users incapable of moving as desired. The mobile device includes a drivable base having wheels and/or track members, a platform pivotally connected to the base and movable from a horizontal position to a forwardly-angled position, an actuator connected to the platform for angular adjustment of the platform, a pair of leg supporting assemblies connected to the platform and being hinged along a lengthwise axis, a pair of actuators connected to the leg supporting assemblies for pivoting the leg supporting assemblies, and a securing assembly connected to the leg supporting assemblies for securing a user to the device. The device also includes a wireless handheld controller for operating the drive unit and actuators.