This prototype idea looks at making a more easily collapsible walker. The solution aims to make it so that older adults can use their walker to enter a vehicle and easily store it near where they are sitting for easy use when they exit. It will mitigate the need to store a walker in a back seat or trunk which requires retrieval after exiting. In this prototype design the inspiration was a foldable baby stroller which has many joints that bend and allow them to fold up. To prototype this hinged joints on the legs were modeled so that the walker could fold up relatively small. The team is still exploring other ways to make a walker foldable such as with telescoping legs maybe.

Questions:

1. How to make the design fold small (hinges, telescoping, folding, etc.)?
2. Does the design fold up relatively small? How small?
3. What ways can the prototype work with the limited dexterity of older adults?
4. How can the walker be kept sturdy when in use but also collapsible when not in use?
5. Can walker be collapsed while in a seated position of a car?

This prototype was an example of an extendable seat platform to allow the user to have more room to sit down. This product would be stored by attaching it on the side of the seat in a vertical orientation. When in use, the user would fold the product down to a horizontal position, which would extend the two bars or supports to their full length. Then user would pull out the platform, which is made smaller plank pieces that can be used to sit on. When the user is done using the product, they can pull the platform back in, then flip the product back into the vertical orientation to collapse the supports.

Questions:

1. How much space would be needed in order to have a similar product attached to a seat?
2. How could the design be condensed into a smaller state?
3. How much of a platform would be need in order to be beneficial?
4. Is there an alternative way to create the same function of storing and putting out a platform?
5. Would handles or a seatback be necessary for such a product to make the product safer/more ergonomic for use?

This prototype is a design for a rotating seat. There is a piece of cardboard that represents the stationary piece that will stay put on the seat. On top is a rotating piece of Styrofoam that represents a cushion that the person will sit on. This will help them sit in the car and rotate to face forward so they don’t have to twist by themselves. There is a handle on each side that allows the person to hold for balance and push on for leverage as they exit the car.

Questions

1. How can we lock the cushion so the device stays in place while person is driving?
2. Will the handles get in the way when the person is driving?
3. How do we make the handle heights adjustable to account for people’s heights?
4. What is the best way to connect the cushion to the stationary part?
5. How high should the cushion be?

Seat Belt Prototype:

The seat belt prototype is a product designed to help older adults put on their seatbelts. The problem experienced by older adults is that they cannot rotate their body to grab the seat belt. This product solves that problem by utilizing an arm that extends from the left side (if in the driver seat) and grabs the seat belt, pushing the seat belt strap forward so that it is more parallel with the older person’s body. This allows the older person to reach the seat belt strap without having to rotate.

Questions answered from the prototype:

• Can the seat belt strap be reached without having to rotate your body?
  • Yes, the seat belt strap is able to be reached without rotating the body. The arm must be able to extend enough to put the strap about parallel to ones body while sitting down. The actual mechanism/mechanical design of the arm extending was not discussed during this rough sketch prototype.
• Is this idea compatible with a vehicle (does the prototype fit/can it be attached somewhere in the car)?
  • Although this prototype was not brought into a car, and the mechanical design was not discussed, the prototype seemed compact enough to fit in a car. Pictures of vehicle interiors were examined and interior dimensions were studied. The prototype and prototype arm was able to fit in all interiors.
• Is there an obvious way that this product can fail?
  • After the prototype way made, the group immediately realized that an obvious failure point of this product would be that the arm that pushes the seat belt forward, might “miss” the belt strap and fail to bring the strap forward. This was a failure that the group was able to realize only after making the prototype. This issue was solved by making a hook on the end of the pushing arm so that the belt strap has no way of slipping out.
• Is there a better way/design to achieve the function of this product?
  • The idea of a rail system was discussed to the class, but it was brought up that this idea was implemented in vehicles before and failed. The rail system also adds more complexity and makes the process of getting in harder, which is not ideal for our users.
• What methods of manufacturing might be used for this product?
  • From the prototype, it was found that only a relatively small force is needed to push the seat belt strap forward. This means that the hook, and maybe the arm could be made of plastic from additive manufacturing. If a smaller size is needed, aluminum could be used for the arm, which could be turned on a lathe.