Sliding Transfer Board Structure for Low-Friction Stable Transfers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transfer boards are cumbersome, require significant dexterity for independent use, and often necessitate caregiver assistance due to issues with insertion, friction, and potential tipping, with mechanisms causing discomfort and interference from clothing or bedding.
Innovation Solution
A transfer board design featuring an elongate main body with asymmetrical end portions, a sliding seat, and a skirt to prevent interference, along with low and high friction coatings to facilitate easy insertion and sliding, and resilient protrusions to maintain stability and prevent tipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a sliding seat mechanism is added to reduce friction during transfer, then the transfer becomes smoother and requires less force, but the device becomes heavier and more complex, and the mechanism may trap body parts or clothing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the sliding seat mechanism entirely, extracting the problematic element that causes trapping and complexity. Instead, it uses a simple flat board surface that allows natural sliding without mechanical components, thereby eliminating the risk of body parts or clothing becoming trapped while maintaining low friction transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sliding seat system with a passive flat surface design. The transfer board has a smooth, flat top surface that enables friction-based sliding without any mechanical moving parts, substituting a complex mechanical system with a simpler surface geometry solution
2Stability of the object's composition
If the transfer board is made heavy and rigid to provide stability, then the board maintains better position and prevents tipping, but it becomes cumbersome and difficult to place within reach for independent use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters to use high-strength, low-density materials such as aluminum alloys or composite materials. This allows the board to maintain sufficient rigidity and stability to prevent tipping while reducing the overall weight to make it portable and easy to place within reach for independent users
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction combining lightweight高强 materials such as aluminum cores with plastic or rubber coating layers. This composite structure provides the necessary structural stability and rigidity to prevent tipping while keeping the overall weight low enough for easy handling and independent use
3Force
If the board surface is made smooth to reduce friction for easier sliding, then the transfer becomes easier, but the board may slip on soft surfaces like beds, reducing stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface properties to different zones of the board. The top surface is made smooth and low-friction to facilitate easy sliding of the user's body, while the bottom surface is made textured or rubberized to provide high friction and prevent slipping on soft surfaces like beds, thereby achieving local optimization of surface qualities
4Ease of operation
If asymmetric end portions are added to facilitate easy insertion, then the board is easier to position independently, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates asymmetric end portions with tapered or curved geometries that facilitate easy insertion underneath the user's body. These asymmetric shapes allow the board to be positioned independently without requiring precise alignment, while the asymmetry is integrated into the molding process to minimize manufacturing complexity
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
Enables independent use with minimal assistance, reduces friction, prevents tipping, and minimizes interference from clothing or bedding, enhancing user safety and ease of transfer.
Implementation Method 1
low and high friction coatings
Implementation Method 2
resilient protrusions to facilitate easy insertion
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer board comprises an elongate main body portion; and an enlarged end portion at each end of the main body portion, which end portion extends laterally at each side of the main body portion beyond the width of the main body portion. A seat is mounted on the main body portion for sliding movement along the main body portion: wherein the seat has side portions that engage respective side portions of the main body portion to retain the seat on the main body portion whilst affording said sliding movement along the main body portion.