Walking Aid Omni-Directional Wheel Buffering Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional walking aids with wheels are difficult to control, leading to falls and secondary injuries, especially for older individuals or patients with physical discomfort or weakness, due to the need to lift and maneuver the device, and lack effective buffering for complex terrains.
Innovation Solution
A walking aid with a support frame and omni-directional wheels, featuring a buffering structure that includes a casing with an elastic component and a movable shaft, providing shock absorption and secure grounding through a compression spring mechanism, allowing for stable movement and effective stopping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If omni-directional wheels are added to enable easier movement, then ease of operation is improved, but control reliability deteriorates due to difficulty in stopping and frequent misoperation
Solution Approach 1:
The braking structure utilizes the user's body weight and gravity to automatically brake when the walking aid contacts the ground, eliminating the need for active user control. The weight of the walking aid frame automatically presses the braking block against the braking groove, providing passive safety without requiring user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffering structure with elastic component acts as an intermediary between the support leg and omni-directional wheel, providing shock absorption and controlled movement. This intermediary mechanism smooths out terrain irregularities while maintaining stable wheel contact with the ground, improving both ease of operation and control reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional four-fulcrum structure is used for firm support, then stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in lifting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static four-fulcrum structure to a dynamic structure with omni-directional wheels that can roll in any direction. The buffering structure with elastic components provides dynamic adaptation to terrain variations, allowing the walking aid to automatically adjust to ground irregularities without requiring user lifting or repositioning efforts.
3Use of energy by moving object
If buffering structure is added to reduce physical energy consumption, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffering structure is segmented into distinct functional components: the casing, elastic component, movable shaft, limiting movable block, and braking structures. Each component performs a specific function (shock absorption, motion limitation, braking), allowing for modular assembly and maintenance while providing comprehensive buffering and control functions.
4Reliability
If braking is implemented to prevent falls, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to hand control difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The braking system operates automatically through passive mechanical engagement. When the walking aid contacts the ground, the user's body weight and gravity automatically press the braking block against the braking groove, providing fail-safe braking without requiring hand control or active user intervention. This eliminates the hand control difficulty while maintaining safety.
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 buffering structure reduces physical energy consumption and discomfort by absorbing shocks on uneven terrain and ensures secure stopping, preventing falls and injuries by maintaining effective contact with the ground, enhancing user control and experience.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic component that is disposed in the casing and fixedly connected to the omni-directional wheel
Implementation Method 2
The buffering structure includes a casing with an elastic component and a movable shaft, providing shock absorption and secure grounding through a compression spring mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the walking aid field. The present invention provides a walking aid, including a support frame, with a plurality of support legs disposed at a bottom of the support frame, and omni-directional wheels disposed on the support legs, wherein a buffering structure is further disposed between each support leg and each omni-directional wheel. In the walking aid provided by the present invention, a buffering structure is disposed between a support frame structure and an omni-directional wheel of the walking aid. On the one hand, the buffering structure may have a buffering effect in use of the entire walking aid, and when the walking aid contacts the ground, can act as a buffer to reduce physical energy consumption of a user in use of the walking aid, and lessen discomfort of the user as much as possible; on the other hand, when the walking aid stops moving, the buffering structure can better support the walking aid securely on the ground, and when the walking aid stops, apply force downward to the walking aid, so that four effective contacts are formed by the casing of the buffering structure.