Transfer Board Sliding Seat Design for Stable, Low-Friction 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 friction, tipping, and interference from clothing or bedding, making transfers difficult and potentially hazardous.
Innovation Solution
A transfer board design featuring an elongate main body with asymmetrical end portions and a sliding seat that engages with the main body via interlocking ribs and grooves, providing stability, ease of insertion, and minimizing friction, while preventing interference from loose materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sliding seat mechanism is incorporated to reduce friction, then transfer ease is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer board is divided into a main body portion and a separate sliding seat that can move independently along the board. This segmentation allows the seat to provide friction-free sliding while the main body remains simple and lightweight.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding seat acts as an intermediary between the user and the board surface, eliminating direct friction contact. The seat slides along the board while the user slides along the seat, creating a friction-free transfer path without requiring complex mechanisms.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the board is made rigid and flat for stability, then transfer stability is improved, but ease of insertion under the user's backside deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ends of the transfer board are rounded instead of flat, creating a curved profile that facilitates easy insertion under the user's backside. The rounded ends can be more easily positioned and inserted while the central portion of the board remains rigid and flat to provide stability during transfer.
3Weight of moving object
If the board is made lightweight for portability, then ease of movement is improved, but tipping resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer board features asymmetrical end portions with different sizes and shapes. This asymmetry allows optimization of weight distribution and center of gravity positioning to prevent tipping, while the overall board remains lightweight. The larger end portion provides greater stability support.
Solution Approach 2:
The board incorporates asymmetrical end portions that extend beyond the main body width, creating a three-dimensional configuration. This dimensional change allows the ends to provide stability and anti-tipping support while keeping the main body lightweight and portable.
4Ease of operation
If a sliding seat is added to reduce friction, then transfer smoothness is improved, but interference from clothing and bedding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding seat is designed as a separate, removable component that can be taken out or adjusted. This extraction allows the seat to be optimized for friction-free sliding while being separable from the main board, reducing the overall complexity and potential for interference from clothing and bedding.
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.