Patented Walking Aid: WedgeWalk

Summary

After a trip to India in 2010, I noticed my grandmother’s quad-tipped cane was more often a hindrance to her than help on her daily walk. It was difficult for her to walk on uneven terrain, maneuver in densely populated areas, walk up stairs, and carry her cane into compact cars. When I returned, I set out to design and build a cane that would provide her with support in all these circumstances.

Awarded US Design Patent 11/14/2013. Patent No.: US20130298953 A1

Main features (top to bottom):

1. Hinge on shaft of cane for collapsibility in public transport or in crowded areas
2. Small, compact base to fit irregularly sized stairs and crowded areas.
3. Base made of inexpensive, widely available materials: aluminum for frame, and used bicycle tire tread for base friction material
4. Layer of foam between frame and tire tread to mold over uneven surfaces
5. The foam-and-tire-tread layer are attached to the aluminum frame by velcro; for easy and cheap replacement.

The Problem: In many developing parts of the world, public spaces have badly maintained or poorly designed walking paths, and lack handicap ramps and elevators in buildings. As a result, senior citizens find it difficult to walk safely and comfortably. Most walking canes on the market such as the standard single-prong cane, and the quad cane are inherently unstable. They don’t offer smooth walking assistance, and are bulky and inconvenient to maneuver in crowded areas.

After studying the current walking aid market, I set the following criteria for my design: 

• Design must offer firstly, greater stability while walking over uneven paths, going up and down staircases, and when getting in and out of cars, and secondly, a more smooth and fluid walking motion.
• Material used must be easily available, lightweight, sturdy, durable, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and purchase.

Design Progression:

For each sketch I considered ease of fabrication, cost, and how well the design addressed the design criteria I’d listed. Starting from the “Ski” design onwards I focused on the idea of a curving base, and iterated towards the Pie Slice Design.

I chose to prototype the Pie Slice design as it met all my design criteria:

• The triangular shape of the Pie Slice is easier to manufacture than the Raindrop design.
• Curved base ensures fluid walking motion, in which user is supported at all points of their stride.
• Small base allows for easy use up irregularly sized stairs and around obstacles or other people — an issue in densely populated areas.
• Hinge allows for easy stowage in compact transportation.

Prototype 1:

Materials used:

• PVC
• Cardboard
• Magic Eraser Foam
• Packing tape + Hot glue
• Black friction material at base 

Prototype 2:

Materials used:

• Aluminum sheet (found in TechShop’s scrap bin)
• Bicycle tire tread (scrap bin find number 2)
• Reynolds Flex Foam
• Nuts, bolts, velcro
• TIG welder, drill press, bandsaw, sandblaster

Final features:

1. Hinge on shaft of cane for collapsibility in public transport or in crowded areas
2. Small, compact base that will fit on irregularly sized stairs, and will not impede anyone in crowded areas
3. Base made of inexpensive, widely available materials: aluminum for frame, and used bicycle tire tread for the friction material
4. Layer of foam between frame and tire tread to mold over uneven surfaces
5. The foam-and-tire-tread layer are attached to the aluminum frame by velcro; if the tire tread were to wear out, the bottom two layers could be pulled off and easily replaced, without needing to replace the entire cane

What’s next:

• Since receiving my patent, I hope to do more user testing and revise my design using feedback I’ve received.
• I’m considering ways to get it into the hands of users. One option is to start a KickStarter or other campaign to raise funds for the manufacture and distribution of the cane.

If you have any ideas about where I can take this, let me know at leelaamladi@gmail.com.