Wheelchair Backrest Width Adjustment With Sliding Side Wings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wheelchair backrests lack effective width adjustment mechanisms, relying on limited slot lengths and excessive fastening means, which compromises reliability and requires multiple tools for adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A width-adjustable backrest design featuring side wings with vertically spaced transverse profiles that slidably embrace each other, connected to the wheelchair frame with minimal fasteners, allowing for secure and tool-unified width adjustment, and reinforced with plates for enhanced stiffness and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional adjustable backrest designs are used with transverse bars and fasteners, then width adjustment is possible, but the reliability of the assembly deteriorates due to dependence on connection means between side bars and transverse bars
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse profiles are merged into a single continuous piece that spans between the side wings, eliminating the need for separate connection means. This integration ensures that the transverse profiles cannot detach from the side wings, thereby improving assembly reliability while maintaining width adjustability through the slidable embracement mechanism.
2Reliability
If additional fasteners are used to fasten side wings together, then the reliability of connection improves, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable embracement mechanism between the transverse profiles and side wings creates a self-locking system that prevents disengagement without requiring additional fasteners. The geometry of the embracement itself provides the connection reliability, eliminating the need for extra fastening components and simplifying the overall device structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the entire widths of side wings are used for width adjustment, then the adaptability to different users improves, but the structural stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable embracement mechanism allows the transverse profiles to move dynamically along the side wings, enabling continuous width adjustment across the entire width of the side wings. The sliding connection maintains structural integrity during adjustment while allowing full adaptability to different user requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A backrest includes first and second side wings and connectors configured to connect the first and second side wings to the wheelchair frame. The first side wing comprises a plurality of transverse profiles extending towards the second side wing and the second side wing comprises a plurality of second transverse profiles extending towards the first side wing. At least one first transverse profile of the first side wing and at least one associated second transverse profile of the second side wing are at least partially mutually embraced in a slidable manner. The at least one first transverse profile and the at least one second transverse profile are dimensioned and configured so that the mutual slidably embracement of the at least one first transverse profile and the at least one second transverse profile is made on a range of distances enabling the width adjustment of the backrest.