Medical Walker Protective Glide with Segmented Wear Disk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical walkers with standard rubber tips on the back legs have difficulty gliding over surfaces and wear out quickly, hindering mobility and allowing dirt and debris to accumulate.
Innovation Solution
A protective glide for medical walker legs featuring a wear disk with gripping flanges and an O-ring that snugly fits into the tubing, combined with a shield to prevent stepping and debris accumulation, allowing smooth movement over uneven surfaces without the need for tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rubber tips are used on walker legs, then the walker can grip surfaces, but it cannot glide easily and wears out quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The protective glide is divided into two distinct segments: a wear disk for contact with surfaces and a shield for protection. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally - the wear disk provides gliding and wear resistance while the shield protects it and prevents debris accumulation
Solution Approach 2:
The wear disk features a rounded bottom surface that allows the walker to glide smoothly over uneven surfaces in any direction. The curved geometry distributes contact forces and enables easier maneuverability compared to flat or angular designs
2Ease of operation
If open wear disks are used, then they allow smooth movement, but they collect dirt and debris and are vulnerable to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is positioned in advance to prevent harmful actions before they occur - it blocks dirt and debris from reaching the wear disk and prevents user feet from accidentally stepping on and damaging the wear disk before such damage can happen
Solution Approach 2:
The shield acts as a protective enclosure that covers the wear disk while allowing the underlying wear surface to remain flexible and functional. The shield structure protects the vulnerable components without restricting the gliding function
3Ease of manufacture
If tool-free attachment is implemented, then installation is easy, but secure fitting may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The core features a rounded configuration that matches the cylindrical interior of standard walker tubing. This curved geometry allows the core to be inserted and rotated into place without tools, while the shape itself provides secure retention through friction and geometric interlocking
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping flanges and rounded core design enable the protective glide to attach itself to the walker leg without external tools or assistance. The user simply inserts and rotates the device, and the self-gripping mechanism secures it in place
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
Enables easy maneuverability over rough and uneven surfaces, prevents dirt and debris collection, and securely attaches to standard medical walker tubing, enhancing user mobility and durability.
Implementation Method 1
The core comprises attached gripping flanges and an o-ring to snugly fit into the medical walker tubing
Implementation Method 2
The rounded shape of the wear disk allows it to easily maneuver over rough and uneven surface and in any direction
Data Source
AI summary
A protective glide for medical walker legs is disclosed in the present invention. Said protective glide comprises a wear disk for smooth walker moment on surfaces and a shield to cover said wear disk to prevent users from stepping on said wear disk and to prevent dirt and debris from collecting on the unit. The wear disk comprises an attached core containing gripping flanges and o-ring to snugly fit into the medical walker tubing. The present invention attaches easily to standard-size tubing of medical walker legs, without the use of tools. The rounded shape of the wear disk allows it to easily maneuver over rough and uneven surface and in any direction.