Push-Pull Walking Stick Wheel Mechanism for Wrist Strain Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional walking sticks require frequent lifting and exert unnecessary strain on the wrist and stamina due to their weight, leading to potential injuries, especially for elderly users who engage in long-term walking exercises.
Innovation Solution
A push-pull walking stick design featuring a detachable wheel holder with a rotating wheel that generates support and frictional force, allowing the stick to be pushed forward without lifting, and rolls along the ground when pulled, reducing effort and strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the walking stick is lifted from the ground for each step, then forward motion is achieved, but unnecessary stamina consumption and wrist burden occur due to the weight of the stick
Solution Approach 1:
The walking stick incorporates a dynamic wheel mechanism that can transition between rotating and non-rotating states. During the pull phase, the wheel rotates to reduce friction and enable smooth movement. During the push phase, the wheel is locked to provide stable ground contact. This dynamic adaptation eliminates the need to lift the stick, reducing stamina consumption while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the friction parameter by introducing a wheel with controllable rotation. When the wheel rotates, the friction between the stick and ground changes from static to rolling friction, significantly reducing the force required for movement. The resist structure dynamically adjusts the wheel's rotation state, optimizing the friction parameter for different phases of walking.
2Ease of operation
If the walking stick is lifted from the ground for each step, then forward motion is achieved, but wrist burden and potential injuries occur due to long-term use
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic wheel mechanism reduces wrist burden by eliminating the repetitive lifting motion. The wheel's rotation during the pull phase allows the stick to glide along the ground, significantly reducing the force and stress on the wrist. This dynamic design maintains ease of walking while improving reliability by preventing wrist injuries.
3Ease of operation
If the wheel rotates freely during pushing, then movement is smooth, but the stick cannot generate sufficient forward force
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel undergoes periodic action, alternating between rotating and non-rotating states. During the pull phase, the wheel rotates freely to ensure smooth movement. During the push phase, the resist structure locks the wheel to provide stable ground contact and generate sufficient forward force. This periodic alternation resolves the contradiction between smoothness and force generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel's rotation state is dynamically controlled based on the walking phase. The resist structure detects the pushing motion and automatically locks the wheel, while during pulling motion, the wheel is released to rotate freely. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize both smoothness of movement and forward force generation at different times.
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 push-pull walking stick reduces the burden on the wrist and stamina by utilizing the wheel to generate forward motion, enhancing stability and reducing the risk of injuries while promoting efficient and comfortable walking exercises.
Implementation Method 1
The wheel is configured on the shaft to rotate around the shaft, and is configured to contact the ground. When the tip is located behind the user and the stick body moves forward with the user's pace, the shaft moves away from the stick body and the wheel rolls along the ground.
Implementation Method 2
When the stick body applies force by the tip to the ground, the shaft moves toward the stick body and the resist structure resists against the wheel to stop the wheel from rotating.
Data Source
AI summary
A push-pull walking stick includes a stick body, a wheel holder and a wheel. The stick body includes a tip and the wheel holder detachably connected to the tip. The wheel holder includes a connecting part, a shaft and a resist structure. The connecting part includes a fixed hole for containing the tip. The shaft is capable of moving along the direction of the stick body. The resist structure is located between the connecting part and the shaft. When the stick body applies force by the tip to the ground, the shaft moves toward the stick body and the resist structure resists against the wheel to stop the wheel from rotating. When the tip is located behind the user and the stick body moves forward with the user's pace, the shaft moves away from the stick body and the wheel rolls along the ground.