Transfer Device With Dynamic Support Strut For Care Receiver Posture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transfer devices impose significant physical and mental burdens on both caregivers and care receivers due to unstable posture and the need for caregivers to carry care receivers, particularly those with weak leg strength, during movement.
Innovation Solution
A transfer device with a front wheel and rear wheel, a support body that inclines forward to support the care receiver's upper body, a leg guide portion that contacts the care receiver's lower legs, and a support body advancing and retracting mechanism allowing translational movement in interlocking and non-interlocking modes to maintain a stable and comfortable posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the support strut is inclined frontward to transfer the care receiver, then the care receiver can be moved to a desired place, but the head of the care receiver faces downward causing large burden on the care receiver
Solution Approach 1:
The support strut is made dynamically adjustable in inclination angle, allowing it to transition between a substantially vertical state during transfer and a frontward-inclined state during movement. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to optimize posture at different operational stages, preventing the head-facing-downward problem while maintaining transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclination angle parameter of the support strut is changed based on operational requirements. During transfer, the strut maintains a substantially vertical orientation to keep the care receiver's head level. During movement, the strut is inclined frontward at a controlled angle. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between transfer ease and care receiver comfort.
2Ease of operation
If the support strut is inclined frontward against damper biasing force during transferring, then the care receiver can be positioned on the device, but large burden is imposed on care receiver with weak leg strength
Solution Approach 1:
The care receiver's lower legs are guided into the leg guide portion before the transfer process begins. This preliminary positioning allows the care receiver's body weight to naturally incline the support strut frontward during the transfer, eliminating the need to manually overcome damper biasing force. The transfer is accomplished using the care receiver's own weight rather than requiring additional leg strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg guide portion acts as an intermediary mechanism that converts the care receiver's body weight into the necessary force to incline the support strut. Instead of requiring the care receiver to directly overcome damper resistance, the leg guide portion mediates the force application, allowing smooth transfer even for those with weak leg strength.
3Device complexity
If the support body is fixed during transferring, then the structure is simple, but the care receiver cannot maintain comfortable posture during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The support body is made dynamically adjustable in position along the support strut. During transfer, the support body remains fixed relative to the strut for structural simplicity. During movement, the support body can be positioned at different locations to optimize the care receiver's posture and comfort. This dynamic positioning capability resolves the contradiction between structural simplicity and posture comfort.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the leg guide portion is kept vertical, then the structure is stable, but the care receiver's lower legs cannot be properly guided during transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The leg guide portion is designed to be dynamically adjustable in inclination angle. During the transfer process, it is inclined frontward to guide the care receiver's lower legs smoothly into the correct position. During movement, it returns to a substantially vertical state to maintain structural stability. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between stability and transfer smoothness.
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer device can transfer a care-receiving person who has difficulty in independent walking to a desired location in a comfortable posture. This transfer device is provided with front wheels and rear wheels and allows a caregiver to move a care-receiving person. The transfer device is characterized by being provided with: a support body for supporting the upper half body of the care-receiving person; a leg guidance part that comes into contact with the anterior surface of the lower legs of the care-receiving person and can be tilted forward from a substantially vertical state; and a foot placement part on which the feet of the care-receiving person are placed. The transfer device has a support body advancing and retreating mechanism that is configured such that the support body moves forward in parallel in link with a forward tilt of the leg guidance part.