Waist-Mounted Stroller Attachment for Hands-Free Jogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional jogging strollers disrupt the natural running or walking rhythm of users due to the need for continuous hand contact, leading to discomfort, potential injury, and safety concerns, especially when navigating uneven surfaces or hills.
Innovation Solution
A hands-free attachment system that connects to the user's waist, allowing for natural arm movement and stride while maintaining control over the stroller, featuring a push arm assembly and user assembly connector with adjustable components to ensure a stable and smooth ride.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users maintain direct contact with the stroller handle, then the stroller can be controlled and steered, but the user's natural arm swing and running rhythm are interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system divides the control function into two independent parts: the push arm assembly that contacts the stroller and the user assembly connector that contacts the user's waist. This segmentation allows the user's hands to be free while the stroller is still controlled through the waist-connected push arm mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The push arm assembly acts as an intermediary between the user's waist and the stroller handle. It transfers the user's body movement and steering inputs to the stroller without requiring direct hand contact, thus enabling natural arm swing while maintaining control.
2Ease of operation
If users let go of the stroller to achieve natural motion, then arm swing is restored, but the stroller may accelerate uncontrollably or tip over
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is pre-configured to maintain continuous connection between the user and stroller through the push arm assembly and tube connection. This preliminary established connection ensures the stroller remains controlled and stable even when the user's hands are completely free, preventing runaway acceleration or tipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the traditional hand-grip mechanical control with a waist-mounted push arm mechanism. This substitution allows natural arm swing while the push arm assembly maintains continuous mechanical connection and control over the stroller through the tube connection.
3Measurement precision
If the push arm assembly is rigidly connected to the user, then control precision is improved, but the jarring effects from rolling motion are transmitted to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The tube connection between the push arm assembly and user assembly connector provides dynamic, flexible coupling rather than rigid connection. This allows the connection to adapt to the natural rolling and bouncing motions during jogging, maintaining control precision while absorbing and reducing jarring effects through the flexible tube mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
An attachment for pushable devices, such as strollers, carts, wagons, wheelchairs, and the like, fits between a jogger or walker and a pushable device and allows for more natural running or walking motion while pushing the device. In some embodiments, the attachment includes dampening functions to smooth the connection between the pusher and device, which, in conjunction with an overall geometry that limits interference with the pusher's walking or running motion, provides a smoother ride for an occupant and/or contents of the device. In other embodiments, the attachment provides a substantially rigid connection between the device and the user. The attachments allow the pusher's movement to help steer the device, and, while allowing for mostly hands-free use, reduce unwanted movements translated into the device from the pusher's motions. The attachments described herein allow pushers to comfortably run/jog/walk hands-free while pushing the device in front of them.