Final Concept and
Realisation of the prototype
With the comments received during the co-design sessions, the concept was finalized. This process is discussed under final concept design. In order to see the working of the concept and make further improvements, a prototype was made. The design of different components will be shown including images of the full prototype. With this prototype the mechanism and chair could be tested. This will be discussed under testing and evaluation.
Final Concept Design
The final design will be made from aluminium hollow poles. This will allow the product to stay light weight and strong. Using aluminium will also make the integration of a height adjustment mechanism easier. Reasons for this will later be discussed. To incorporate the nature aspect a wood sticker will be added to the poles, this will also serve as a protective layer.
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The prototype will be made from hollow metal poles of 20 mm in diameter available in the workshop. The option of using wood was also discussed; however, the diameter needed to support an average person would be about 35 mm. This would not represent the final design as much as desired. The co-designer desired a specific height for the cane, similar to her current cane. This is between 100 and 105 cm tall. The seat is preferably located at a height of 60 cm.
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For the handle design several options were formulated. Preferrably the handle would be held vertically and horizontally. This can be achieved by making a hinge and click system in the handle. It was also thought of to create an ergonomic vertical handle design, often found on hiking canes. Or to create a part without hinges that would provide places to hold vertically and horizontally. Lastly using an umbrella like handle was discussed, since this will help disguising the product as an umbrella.
For the prototype the ergonomic handles would be made from foam. However, since the poles will be quite heavy it would be really hard to lift the product by a foam handle. Because this is something desired to incorporate in testing this option was not chosen. Instead, it was chosen to cut the handle of an existing wooden umbrella and attach this to the pole.
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The feet were designed to be wider than normal cane feet, however Joanne did express she never experienced problems with her the feet on her current cane. In the final prototype the feet will be created out of rubber. For the prototype plastic was used because this is easily customisable by 3D printing.
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The mechanism earlier discussed was too complicated to produce out of metal in the limited time. The mechanism was still produced by 3D printing but therefore not strong enough to be in the prototype. It was chosen to instead use a three-way-bolt-system, which consists of three bolts attached to a hexagon shaped nut. This mechanism does not include a lock to prevent the legs from unfolding.
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The seat fabric colour was changed to green, because this was Joannes preference. For the final prototype a strong weatherproof fabric would be used, like polyester or nylon. Because this could not be found, the colour was more focussed on and finding a strong enough material to sit on.
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The prototype is produced in full scale, to allow testing of the height and walking with the cane.
Final Design Components
First, the components of the final product were modelled to scale in SolidWorks. This was to prepare for the construction of the prototype. Finishing the last details in SolidWorks, the prototype could be made.
Images of the Final Prototype
Animation of the Poles
The animation shows a Solid Works animation of the movement of the poles opening and closing.
