Progressive mobility aid device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional walkers are ineffective and dangerous on irregular, loose, and variable gradient surfaces, such as stairs, due to their inability to dynamically adjust leg height and engage/disengage wheels appropriately, leading to instability and increased risk of falls for mobility-challenged users.
Innovation Solution
A progressive mobility aid device with pivotably connected leg assemblies and retractable wheels, allowing users to manually adjust the elevation of front legs relative to rear legs and engage/disengage wheels based on the terrain, maintaining a stable and level top section for safe traversal of diverse surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional walkers have fixed leg lengths, then the structure is simple and stable on level surfaces, but the walker cannot adapt to variable gradient surfaces such as stairs and inclines
Solution Approach 1:
The walker incorporates dynamically adjustable leg assemblies where the front legs can be elevated relative to the rear legs through a lifting mechanism. This allows the walker to transition from a static configuration on level surfaces to a dynamic configuration with adjusted leg heights for stairs and inclines, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The walker is divided into separate leg assemblies (front left, front right, rear left, rear right) that can be independently adjusted. Each leg assembly includes a telescoping mechanism with multiple segments that can be extended or retracted, allowing selective height adjustment for navigating variable gradient surfaces while maintaining overall structural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If traditional walkers have adjustable leg lengths, then the walker can adapt to different user heights, but it requires time and effort to adjust each leg independently
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanisms for multiple legs are merged into a coordinated system. The front leg assemblies are linked through the frame structure, allowing simultaneous or synchronized adjustment of both front legs. This reduces the time and effort required compared to adjusting each leg independently, as the user can make adjustments more efficiently through the integrated mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional walkers use wheels for mobility, then the user can move easily on smooth surfaces, but the wheels become ineffective on loose surfaces such as gravel, sand, and wet ground
Solution Approach 1:
The walker incorporates dynamically engageable and disengageable wheels at the distal ends of the leg assemblies. On smooth surfaces, the wheels are engaged to facilitate easy rolling mobility. On loose surfaces such as gravel, sand, or wet ground, the wheels can be disengaged and the leg assemblies can be used in a wheeled-less mode, allowing the feet to directly contact the surface for better traction and stability.
4Reliability
If traditional walkers have statically set legs of equal length, then the walker is stable on level surfaces, but it is dangerous on irregular surfaces and stairs
Solution Approach 1:
The walker employs dynamically adjustable leg assemblies that allow the front legs to be elevated relative to the rear legs. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the walker to maintain stability on irregular surfaces and stairs by adapting the leg positions to match the terrain profile, significantly improving safety compared to static leg configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The walker allows preliminary adjustment of leg heights before encountering challenging terrain. Users can proactively adjust the front leg assemblies to appropriate elevations in advance when approaching stairs or inclines, ensuring stability and safety before the actual navigation challenge arises, rather than attempting to adjust during the motion.
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 device provides enhanced stability and safety for users on uneven and variable gradient surfaces by allowing precise adjustment of leg positions and wheel engagement, reducing the risk of falls and enabling independent mobility across various terrains.
Implementation Method 1
a lower left sidebar (195) pivotably coupled to the front-left leg assembly (105) and pivotably coupled to the rear-left leg assembly (115)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are novel embodiments of progressive mobility aid devices. Such progressive mobility aid devices are designed to progress through a variety of configurations to accommodate the use of the progressive mobility aid device in a safe and secure manner as the user of the progressive mobility aid device traverses a variety of surfaces and terrain such as traversing irregular surfaces including sidewalks and stone-based surfaces; loose surfaces and terrain including gravel and sand; soft surfaces including wet ground and carpeted surfaces; and variable gradient surfaces including stairs and inclining or declining surfaces and terrain. The progressive mobility aid devices accommodate such uses with an articulating design that provides for front legs of the progressive mobility aid device to be pivotably adjusted with respect to the rear legs of the progressive mobility aid device, and with wheel assemblies that are selectively deployable and retractable.