Convertible Mobility Frame With Rotating Knee Rest for Standing Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wheelchairs do not facilitate the transition between sitting and standing positions, leading to atrophy of lower limbs and associated health issues such as muscular spasticity, contractures, and reduced social interaction for individuals with disabilities.
Innovation Solution
A personal mobility device with a frame that includes adjustable knee rests and floor panels, allowing the device to be converted between a wheelchair, kneeling vehicle, walker, and standing mobility device, enabling users to maximize the use of their lower extremities and transition between positions effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wheelchairs are used for sitting position, then mobility is provided, but lower limb atrophy occurs and health deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates dynamic components including an adjustable knee rest that can rotate between vertical and angled positions, and a floor panel that rotates between vertical and horizontal positions. These dynamic elements enable the device to transition between sitting, standing, and kneeling configurations, allowing users to change positions regularly to prevent atrophy while maintaining mobility support.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobility device is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple purposes: it can function as a wheelchair for sitting mobility, as a standing device for upright positioning, and as a kneeling device for alternative mobility. This universal design allows a single device to address multiple health needs and position requirements, eliminating the need for separate devices for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wheelchairs are designed for sitting only, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different positions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional modules: a frame structure, a rotatable knee rest assembly, and a rotatable floor panel assembly. Each component can be independently adjusted or positioned, allowing the device to achieve different configurations (sitting, standing, kneeling) through the coordinated arrangement of these modular segments rather than requiring complete structural redesign.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a personal mobility device comprising a frame including two side structures. In one embodiment, main mobility wheels are coupled to ones of the side structures, the main mobility wheels configured to contact a surface upon which the mobility device is designed to move. In this embodiment, the mobility device further includes a knee rest rotatably coupleable to the frame, the knee rest being adjustable from a first substantially-vertical position to a second angled position, and further wherein the main mobility wheels are configured such that a kneeling occupant may propel the personal mobility device using the main mobility wheels.