Movable Walker Support Inclination Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile walking aids face challenges in securely and stably adjusting the inclination of the support for a user's leg, often requiring high-strength materials and complex, force-intensive mechanisms that can be cumbersome and prone to loosening under load.
Innovation Solution
A mobile walking aid design featuring a support system with a first joint and a manually adjustable mechanical actuator, allowing for precise adjustment of the support's inclination through a self-locking mechanism, utilizing a threaded rod to convert rotary motion into linear movement and pivoting, ensuring stable fixation without additional securing elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a robust swivel joint with high-strength materials is used to secure the support inclination, then the support stability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support adjustment mechanism is divided into discrete segments: the support tube with cam slots, the disc with corresponding cam slots, and the separate clamping mechanism with wing nut. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, reducing the complexity of any single joint while maintaining overall stability through the distributed cam slot engagement points.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam slots act as an intermediary mechanism between the support tube and the disc. Instead of requiring a robust direct connection, the cam slots translate rotational movement into linear clamping force, mediating the connection between components and enabling stable inclination adjustment without high-strength materials.
2Reliability
If a force-fit connection with high clamping force is used to fix the support tilt, then the connection reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to high tightening force required
Solution Approach 1:
The cam slot geometry is designed to automatically generate increasing clamping force as the wing nut is tightened. The cam mechanism converts the user's tightening action into a self-amplifying clamping force that secures the support at the desired inclination, with the geometry itself providing the mechanical advantage rather than requiring excessive user force.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam slot profile is specifically designed with varying geometry that changes the mechanical advantage during tightening. As the wing nut rotates and moves along the cam slot, the angle of the cam surface changes, transforming a simple rotational input into a progressively increasing linear clamping force that secures the connection reliably.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a telescopic tube connection with multiple bores and locking pins is used to adjust support height and tilt, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome adjustment procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The support tube and disc are designed with continuous cam slots instead of discrete bores, transforming the static, stepped adjustment of prior art into a dynamic, continuous adjustment mechanism. The user can stop at any position along the cam slot path, enabling both height and inclination to be adjusted continuously rather than in fixed increments, while maintaining simplicity through the single-wing-nut operation.
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 secure, stable, and easily adjustable support inclination with high mechanical stability and precision, reducing the need for high-strength materials and minimizing unintentional adjustments, while allowing for ergonomic handling and compact design.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a threaded rod to convert rotary motion into linear movement and pivoting
Implementation Method 2
The support member is connected to the support part via a manually adjustable mechanical actuator... The support member is a second axis which is rotatably mounted on the support as part of a further second joint parallel to the first axis
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
In a mobile walking aid comprising a chassis (22), a frame (24), and a support (1) for a person's leg, the inclination of which relative to a horizontal plane is adjustable in the direction of the longitudinal axis (4) of the support (1), the support (1) is mounted on a support element (8) rigidly connected to the frame via a joint with a first axis (9) lying horizontally and transversely to the longitudinal axis (4) of the support (1) and via a support member spaced from the first axis (9) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (4) of the support (1), wherein the support member is connected to the support element (8) via a manually adjustable mechanical actuator, by which the vertical position of the support member relative to the support element (8) can be changed. This allows the inclination of the support to be adjusted without loss of stability, and the support is held securely in any set inclination position.