Adjustable Elbow Crutch with Oval Composite Leg-Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current crutches are heavy, prone to corrosion, difficult to manage, and lack continuous adjustment, leading to discomfort and instability, especially for older users or those with back problems, and are not adaptable to various physical characteristics.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable elbow crutch with a single-piece leg-arm featuring an oval cross-section and a curved design, allowing continuous adjustment of the handle and cuff without additional attachment means, made from lightweight composite materials to enhance durability and user comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metallic materials are used for crutch construction, then strength and durability are improved, but weight increases and corrosion susceptibility worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials (specifically carbon fiber reinforced polymers) to construct the crutch components. This allows achieving high strength-to-weight ratio, providing structural integrity while significantly reducing the overall weight compared to traditional metallic constructions. The composite material approach directly addresses the contradiction by decoupling the strength and weight parameters.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adjustment mechanisms with springs and holes are used, then length adjustment capability is improved, but device complexity and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional spring-and-hole adjustment mechanism entirely, extracting the problematic components (springs, holes, bolts) from the design. Instead, it implements a continuous adjustment system where the cuff and handle can be positioned at any point along the arm and leg tubes through simple friction-based locking, dramatically reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining full adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical spring-based adjustment system with a simpler friction-based positioning mechanism. The adjustment is achieved through direct manual positioning without springs, holes, or bolts, substituting the old mechanical system with a cleaner, quieter, and more reliable friction-lock approach.
3Adaptability or versatility
If telescopic mechanism with bolts and springs is used for leg adjustment, then length adjustability is improved, but weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the telescopic mechanism with bolts and springs from the leg adjustment system. Instead, it uses a single-piece leg tube with integrated adjustment capability through the friction-based cuff positioning system, eliminating multiple components and reducing overall weight while maintaining adjustability.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional straight circular section tubes are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but ergonomic comfort and handling worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different cross-sectional geometries to different parts of the crutch. The arm and leg tubes feature oval cross-sections in specific regions to improve grip comfort and distribute pressure more evenly, while maintaining circular sections in other areas for manufacturing efficiency. This local differentiation optimizes both ergonomics and manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces curved and oval geometries to the crutch components, replacing traditional straight circular tubes. The oval cross-sections and curved surfaces provide better ergonomic contact with the user's body, improving comfort and handling while remaining compatible with modern composite manufacturing processes.
5Ease of manufacture
If step-based adjustment system is used for cuff position, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but user comfort and precision worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous adjustment capability for the cuff position, allowing it to be positioned at any point along the arm tube rather than at discrete steps. This continuous adjustment mechanism maintains manufacturing simplicity while dramatically improving positioning precision and user comfort, enabling exact fit customization.
Data Source
AI summary
Adjustable elbow crutch with a main single piece that acts as leg-arm on which a handle and cuff are fixed, for which the handle includes an opening through which the leg-arm passes, said opening constituting an anchor for the handle on the leg-arm, where furthermore the leg-arm is made out of composite material, with an oval cross-section, and the leg-arm disposes of an initial lower segment that is vertical and which is followed in its upper part by a curved segment which defines a support angle. In this way a crutch is obtained that is light, easy to handle, easy and safe to adjust, which covers a continuous range of adjustments and which covers the largest number of possible user categories.