Rolling Walker Handle Grip Composite Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ambulatory aid devices, such as rolling walkers and wheelchairs, lack comfortable and secure handle grips, which are crucial for users requiring mobility assistance.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece handle grip configuration is introduced, comprising a soft and resilient top portion and a rigid body portion, designed to provide comfort and security by absorbing impact and offering increased frictional resistance, with an adjustable angular attachment to fit naturally in the user's hand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple handle grip is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the user comfort and grip reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The handle grip comprises a rigid body portion made of rigid material and a soft resilient top portion made of soft resilient material. This composite structure combines the strength and stability of rigid materials with the comfort and shock absorption of soft resilient materials, achieving both grip reliability and user comfort without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle grip is divided into two distinct segments: a rigid body portion and a soft resilient top portion. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally - the rigid portion provides structural stability while the soft portion provides comfort and grip reliability, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and performance.
2Strength
If a rigid handle grip is used, then the structural strength is improved, but the user comfort deteriorates due to lack of shock absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The handle grip uses a composite material structure where the rigid body portion provides structural strength and stability, while the soft resilient top portion provides shock absorption and user comfort. This composite approach allows both strength and comfort requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the handle grip have different material properties - the body portion is rigid for strength, while the top portion is soft and resilient for comfort. This local differentiation of material quality allows each region to optimize its function, resolving the contradiction between strength and comfort.
3Ease of operation
If a soft resilient handle grip is used, then the user comfort is improved, but the structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The handle grip combines rigid and soft resilient materials in a composite structure. The rigid body portion ensures structural stability and support, while the soft resilient top portion provides user comfort. This composite design resolves the contradiction by having each material type fulfill its appropriate function.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle grip is segmented into a rigid body portion for stability and a soft resilient top portion for comfort. This segmentation allows the rigid portion to maintain structural integrity while the soft portion provides comfort, resolving the contradiction between stability and comfort without requiring the entire structure to be one material type.
4Reliability
If a simple single-material handle grip is used, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the functional performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The handle grip uses a two-material composite structure with a rigid body portion and a soft resilient top portion. This composite construction enhances grip reliability by combining the advantages of both material types, while the manufacturing complexity is managed through standardized composite material fabrication processes.
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 handle grip configuration enhances user comfort and security by distributing load effectively and providing a reliable grip, suitable for various ambulatory aids like rolling walkers, wheelchairs, and strollers.
Implementation Method 1
a soft and resilient top portion (64) attached to the rigid body portion (62). The top portion (64) is soft and resilient with respect to the rigid body portion (62)
Implementation Method 2
designed to provide comfort and security by absorbing impact and offering increased frictional resistance
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A handle grip (54) for ambulatory aid appliances (10) has a soft top portion (64) and a rigid body portion (62). The handle grips (54) may be attached to a wheeled ambulatory aid appliance (10) such as a rolling walker, wheelchair, stroller and the like in a selected position to provide a comfortable and secure hand grip to a user of the ambulatory aid.