Walker Glide Snap-Fit Attachment and Wear-Resistant Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional walker glides face issues with difficulty in maneuvering over obstacles, quick wear of nylon material, insecure fastening, and complex connection/ replacement processes, leading to potential balance loss and reduced usability.
Innovation Solution
A walker glide with a base and upwardly extending shaft, featuring flexible fingers with protrusions that snap-fit into the walker leg apertures for secure attachment and easy removal, made from durable materials like hard plastics or metals, allowing smooth sliding and stable support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional nylon glides are used, then the walker can slide smoothly, but the material wears out quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The glide is constructed with a base made of wear-resistant material (such as polyethylene or polypropylene) and a top layer of softer material (such as rubber or thermoplastic elastomer). This composite structure provides both durability and smooth sliding performance, resolving the contradiction between longevity and wear resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters by selecting materials with specific hardness ranges and friction coefficients. The base material has higher hardness for durability, while the top layer has lower friction for smooth sliding. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between wear resistance and sliding performance.
2Reliability
If screws or structures fit through the bottom of the glide, then the glide can be attached to the walker, but openings trap debris and catch on surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the screw openings from the bottom surface of the glide. Instead, attachment is achieved through a shaft that fits into a recess in the walker leg, eliminating the harmful openings that trap debris while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft acts as an intermediary element that connects the glide to the walker leg without requiring openings in the glide itself. The shaft fits into a recess in the walker leg, providing secure attachment while keeping the glide surface smooth and debris-free.
3Ease of operation
If conventional walker glides are used, then the walker provides basic support, but the glides are not securely fastened and are difficult to replace
Solution Approach 1:
The glide is divided into separate components: a base, a shaft, and a top layer. The shaft is designed as a separate insert that can be easily removed and replaced. This segmentation allows the glide to be securely fastened during use while enabling easy replacement by simply removing the shaft from the recess.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism is designed to be dynamically adjustable. The shaft can be easily inserted into and removed from the recess in the walker leg, providing secure fastening during use while allowing easy replacement when needed. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction between security and ease of replacement.
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 solution provides a secure, long-lasting, and easy-to-install walker glide that enhances user mobility by minimizing wear and improving obstacle clearance, ensuring stable and convenient movement.
Implementation Method 1
These fingers are separated by a spacing and are inwardly flexible into the spacing, towards each other
Implementation Method 2
A protrusion extends from each finger at the outer surface of the finger. Each protrusion can interface with an aperture of the walker leg to hold the glide in place
Data Source
AI summary
A walker glide is provided. The walker glide has a base configured to support the walker and glide along a floor or other surface that the walker is being used on. A shaft extends from the base and comprises the attaching structure to connect the glide to a leg of the walker. The shaft includes two fingers which extend into the leg of the walker and are flexible towards each other. A protrusion extends from outer faces of each finger. The protrusion is configured to mate with an aperture in each side of the leg, thereby removably securing the glide in place.