Walker with Angled Legs and 360-Degree Casters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional walkers often lack mobility and stability, particularly for pediatric users, as they are either too heavy or designed to prevent lateral movement, which can lead to tipping and hinder independent movement.
Innovation Solution
A walker design featuring a larger rolling base with 360-degree caster wheels positioned at an angle relative to the handle base, providing increased stability and mobility by allowing the walker to rotate and move in all directions while minimizing the handle distance to the user, thus enabling better load-bearing capabilities and lateral movement without tipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional walkers are designed to prevent lateral movement, then stability is improved, but mobility deteriorates as users cannot move in multiple directions
Solution Approach 1:
The walker employs 360-degree caster wheels that allow dynamic movement in any direction while maintaining stability through the wide rolling base. The wheels can rotate freely and adapt to different movement directions, transforming the walker from a static stable structure to a dynamic one that maintains stability through motion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rolling base extends wider than the handle base, creating a larger support polygon that increases stability. The angled legs (40-50 degrees) project the wheels outward, effectively increasing the base width without increasing the handle base footprint, thus adding dimensional stability without compromising maneuverability.
2Device complexity
If conventional walkers use a fixed base design, then structural simplicity is improved, but mobility deteriorates as lateral movement is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The walker uses 360-degree caster wheels that enable smooth lateral and rotational movement without requiring the user to lift or drag the device. This dynamic wheel system provides ease of operation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The legs are positioned at asymmetric angles (40-50 degrees) relative to the handle base, with the rolling base extending wider than the handle base. This asymmetric configuration optimizes both stability and lateral movement capability without requiring complex mechanical structures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the rolling base is made larger to improve stability, then stability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling base extends wider than the handle base, creating an asymmetric footprint that maximizes stability in the lateral direction while minimizing the overall footprint. The angled legs (40-50 degrees) efficiently project the wheels outward to increase base width without proportionally increasing the handle base size.
Solution Approach 2:
The stability is achieved by extending the rolling base width rather than increasing height or overall volume. This dimensional approach provides enhanced stability through a wider support polygon while keeping the device compact in other dimensions.
4Area of stationary object
If the handle base is made smaller to reduce device size, then device size is reduced, but stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric design allows the handle base to remain compact for ease of use while the rolling base extends wider to provide stability. The angled legs create a separation between the handle base footprint and the actual support base, decoupling size from stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Stability is achieved in the lateral dimension through the extended rolling base while the handle base remains compact. This dimensional separation allows the user interface to be small and maneuverable while the support structure provides adequate stability.
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 design enhances user mobility and stability by allowing weight-bearing on either side of the walker without tipping, enabling free movement in multiple directions while maintaining a lightweight structure.
Implementation Method 1
Each wheel is a caster that extends downwardly away from the corresponding leg. The caster may be configured to rotate 360 degrees relative to the corresponding leg about a vertical axis that intersects the corresponding leg.
Data Source
AI summary
A walker comprising a handle base and a frame. The handle base is configured to be gripped by a user of the walker. The frame is coupled with the handle base and configured to support the handle base above ground underlying the walker. The handle base and the frame cooperate to define a user space sized to allow the user of the walker to stand in the user space.