Personal Mobility Vehicle Thigh Support Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a growing need for safe, reliable, and versatile personal mobility vehicles for the elderly and disabled, with existing solutions often lacking in stability and confidence-enhancing features, leading to user insecurity and stigma.
Innovation Solution
A personal mobility vehicle design featuring a platform with ground-engaging wheels, a column with a body-stabilizing thigh support rest, adjustable handles, and a foldable column with a basket or carrying device, incorporating joystick control and electric motors for enhanced stability and maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a traditional mobility vehicle design is used, then the vehicle structure is simple, but the user lacks stability and confidence
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into distinct functional segments: a platform for standing, a column structure for support, a body-stabilizing support rest for stability, and handles for control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while contributing to overall stability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The body-stabilizing support rest is positioned and configured in advance to provide proactive stability support. The rest is pre-positioned to support the user's body weight and prevent instability before it occurs, rather than reacting to instability after it manifests
2Stability of the object's composition
If the user leans forward against the thigh support rest, then the user gains improved stability, but the center of gravity shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The handles are positioned and configured to allow the user to apply counterbalancing forces. When the user leans forward against the thigh support rest, they can simultaneously pull back on the handles, creating counterbalancing forces that neutralize the forward shift in center of gravity and maintain overall vehicle stability
3Stability of the object's composition
If the column is extended upward for support, then the user gains stability, but the vehicle size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The column is designed with adjustable height and inclination capabilities, allowing it to adapt to different user requirements. The column can be adjusted to provide optimal support while maintaining a compact overall vehicle size, and can potentially be folded or reconfigured when not in use
Solution Approach 2:
The column structure incorporates localized support features including the body-stabilizing support rest positioned at a specific height and angle, and handles at optimal reach positions. This localized optimization provides maximum stability support without requiring the entire column to be excessively tall or complex
4Ease of operation
If handles are positioned for easy grasping, then the user can easily steer, but the handles may interfere with the basket or carrying device
Solution Approach 1:
The basket or carrying device is positioned asymmetrically on the column, away from the handle locations. This asymmetric arrangement allows the handles to be positioned at optimal heights and angles for easy grasping and steering control, while the basket is placed in a non-interfering position to carry user belongings
Data Source
AI summary
A personal mobility vehicle comprising a platform (10) on which a user of the vehicle can stand, ground-engaging wheels (14, 15, 16) on which the platform (10) is supported, motor drive means, motor control means (20), a column (11) extending upwards from the platform (10) and a leg or thigh support rest (18) mounted on the column.