Foldable Walker Wheel Mounting Assembly Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable walkers face issues with robustness, manufacturing costs, bulky designs, entanglement risks, and complex mounting assemblies that compromise safety and usability, particularly for elderly users with limited dexterity.
Innovation Solution
A wheel mounting assembly with a pivotable wheel fork and a rotatable member connected via a retaining member to inhibit dislodgement, combined with a self-adjusting brake rod and a compact, protective brake housing to enhance safety and reduce manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the walker uses a traditional mounting assembly with rotating shafts, then the wheel fork can pivot, but the shafts may dislodge or slip when used on carpets or through wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical rotating shaft system with a ball bearing-based mounting assembly. The ball bearing (346) enables the wheel fork (311) to pivot relative to the shaft housing (314) while being contained within a structured housing that prevents dislodgement. This substitution provides reliable rotation without the slippage and disengagement issues of traditional shafts, especially when subjected to lateral forces on carpets.
2Strength
If the walker frame is made thicker and heavier to accommodate variety of body shapes, then the frame strength is improved, but the walker becomes less manageable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite construction for the frame members (22, 24), combining aluminum extrusions with strategic reinforcement elements. The frame members are formed as hollow extrusions with optimized wall thicknesses, providing high strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the frame to accommodate various body shapes and provide necessary strength without requiring excessive thickness or weight, maintaining manageability while ensuring structural integrity.
3Ease of operation
If the brake pad mechanism is exposed for user adjustment, then the adjusting means is accessible, but the mechanism is prone to entanglement with user clothing and breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a brake housing (277) that encloses the brake pad mechanism (200) and its adjusting means (214) within a protective housing. The adjusting means remains accessible through a removable covering portion (261) of the brake housing, allowing user adjustment while the majority of the mechanism is protected from entanglement with clothing and exposure to elements. This nested structure maintains ease of operation while significantly improving reliability.
4Manufacturing precision
If the walker requires two separate steps for height adjustment and brake rod fixing, then the adjustment precision is improved, but the operation becomes time-consuming and challenging for users with limited dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the height adjustment function and brake rod fixing function into a single integrated operation. The brake rod (98) is fixed to the telescoping tube (50) through a unified mechanism located at the lower end of the telescoping tube, eliminating the need for separate adjustment steps. Users can adjust the height and secure the brake rod simultaneously by operating a single mechanism, greatly improving ease of operation for users with limited dexterity while maintaining adjustment precision.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a wheel mounting assembly having a wheel fork. The fork includes an interior and an inwardly extending protrusion disposed within the interior. The assembly includes a rotatable member operatively connected to the fork and disposed within the interior of the fork. The protrusion abuts and positions in place the rotatable member. The assembly includes a shaft. The rotatable member rotatably connects the shaft to the wheel fork. The assembly includes a retaining member connected to the shaft. The retaining member is configured to abut the protrusion of the fork and thus inhibit dislodgement of the rotatable member from the fork when the shaft is tilted relative to the fork.