Walking Stick Length Locking With Internal Slider Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing walking aids suffer from disadvantages such as complexity, weight, reliability issues, safety concerns, and difficulty in use due to mechanical solutions that require numerous components, space, and are not ergonomically designed.
Innovation Solution
A walking aid with a compact, purely mechanical length-adjustment mechanism using a slider and engagement element, such as a cylindrical roller, that allows for easy locking and unlocking of the handle-to-ground length without electrical or hydraulic components, ensuring reliability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mechanical locking mechanisms with bolts, teeth, or similar components are used, then secure locking is achieved, but the device becomes complex, heavy, and requires large space within the tube
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential locking function from complex traditional mechanisms and implements it through a simplified system consisting of a slider with two planes and an engagement element. The slider selectively engages with recesses in the adjusting tube to provide secure locking without requiring bolts, teeth, or other complex components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the locking mechanism by using a slider with two distinct planes at different positions along the tube axis. The first plane engages with recesses for locked positions, while the second plane provides a different engagement configuration, allowing secure locking through geometric variation rather than complex mechanical components.
2Reliability
If traditional mechanical mechanisms are used to fill the tube cross-section, then secure locking is achieved, but the weight and size of the walking aid increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes unnecessary heavy components from traditional locking mechanisms and retains only the essential elements: a lightweight slider and engagement element. This extraction principle reduces the weight of the locking mechanism while maintaining secure locking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses simple, lightweight materials for the slider and engagement element that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. The design favors simple geometric forms over durable but heavy traditional mechanical components, achieving a balance between weight and durability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If external rack and pinion mechanisms are mounted on crutches, then height adjustment is achieved, but the device becomes impractical to handle and poses safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention nests the locking mechanism entirely within the tube structure. The slider moves along the inner tube and engages with recesses in the adjusting tube, creating a compact internal mechanism that eliminates external protruding components while maintaining full height adjustment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the height adjustment function from complex external mechanisms and implements it through a simple internal slider system. This extraction eliminates the need for external rack and pinion mechanisms, improving handling ease and safety while preserving adaptability.
4Volume of stationary object
If the upper tube is smaller than the lower tube to accommodate locking mechanisms, then space is saved, but mechanical strength requirements are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by concentrating the locking function at specific locations along the tube rather than requiring the entire tube structure to be optimized for mechanism accommodation. The slider and engagement element are positioned at specific points where locking is needed, allowing the tube to maintain uniform strength characteristics.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The invention relates to a walking aid (30) with a device (32) for changing the length (40) by means of a control element (1) on a handle (35) of the walking aid (30). This device is designed with a main tube (11) and an adjustable tube (15) that is longitudinally displaceable relative to the main tube. These tubes are displaceable relative to each other for changing the length (40) and can be locked or released relative to each other by the device (32) for length adjustment. According to the invention, this device (32) has a slider (18) which is movable via a mechanism from the remotely arranged control element (1) and which has a transition (18c) from a first plane (18a) to a second plane (18b) orthogonal to the direction of movement of the control element (1), as well as an engagement element (17).The engagement element (17) can be moved by actuating the slide (18) - into a locked position (32a) in the area of the first level (18a), in which the engagement element (17) engages in a recess or indentation (33) of the adjusting tube (15), or - into an unlocked position (32b) in the area of the second level (18b), in which the recess or indentation (33) of the adjusting tube (15) can be released by the engagement element (17).