Introduction to Need Knower
I have polio-like paralysis and use a cane, brace, and wheelchair for mobility.
I am interested in art and creation, and I make something when I have time.About her needs
Characteristics of the Need Knower
At the age of 4, she was diagnosed with polio-like paralysis. When moving, she used a brace on her left lower leg and a Lofstrand cane with both hands. On stairs, hold a cane in one hand and support the railing in the other.
She studied art at a high art school in Nantes, France.
Ms Fujita's difficulties (inconvenience）
-slipping on wet floors
・Leave it with a caregiver on the stairs
・Having trouble finding a place to put it
・Rod slips on wet pool floor
・Rods sink into the sand at the beach
・Canes slip on icy roads
・I have to leave a cane for a caregiver to climb the stairs
・I have to put down the canes to use the hands
People who are with during activities and want tobe involved
One person.
In order to expand the number of activities that can be done alone without the support of others, there is basically no one with me during activities.
In order to increase my autonomy, there is hardly anyone with me to help me during my activities.
Why is that activity currently difficult?
Current crutches are heavy and have only one rubber tip not suitable for different types of soil.
She only needs one crutch to climb the stairs, she has to carry the second one.
What teams need to know in order to share the direction
Importance for her
Having both canes fixed to the body frees the arms/both hands, making it easier to perform activities using the hands while standing.
For example, she can go up and down stairs without the help of others, or she can fix both canes to your body while working while standing.
Satisfaction with the activity
somehow "6".
She is 60% satisfied with the many things she can do now.
She want to be able to carry out her activities more independently. She want to be able to go out when it rains. This will allow her to maintain her muscle strength by walking more.
Points to focus on in production
・Select the appropriate material for each ground condition
・Design: A design that takes into consideration that it is always attached to a cane. I want to make it feel like a user.
Points to focus on in production
A device that holds both canes together and fixes them to the body or the ground
・Weight, size, something that doesn't get too big, but is stable and fixed.
・Stability, something that does not slip down when fixed to the body.
・Make something that takes advantage of the shape of the current cane.
Ideas
Cane tip type ：for wet floors, sand, frozen roads
Cane tip types：for wet ground, sand
How to connect to the tip of the cane and how to replace it
Attachment structure ：magnet, plug-in type
To put two sticks together
How to move by sticking to the body
Cane tip types：for wet ground, sand
Fixing :magnet, plug-in type
How to wear them
Sketches of the cane tip
Various ideas gathered from ten different people
・Interesting mechanism
・Additional functions in the structure
・Beauty and function coexist
Shoulder strap structure
Diagonal cliff and shawl method
Other ideas
New futuristic type!
Trial and error process
Testing using cane tip features (commercially available).
cane tip
Wet the floor with different types of cane tips.
→The larger the area, the harder it is to slip.
→ Use a small area for normal use, and a large area for special situations (rain, snow, sandy beach, etc.).
Angle-erased version of the cane tip
Pursuit of good drainage and slip resistance
Improved diagonally to normally ground the cane diagonally
Looking for good drainage and good slip resistance
Improved orientation for anchoring kickstand diagonally
Cherry blossom version
Cane tip with beautiful cherry blossom design
Put a cane between the petals and fix it
Also supports frozen road surfaces with attachments
Cane tip with a beautiful cherry blossom pattern
Used to secure the crutches between the petals
Also supports frozen road surfaces with attachments
Sandy beach compatible version
The bottom is round and wide so that the cane does not get buried on the sandy beach
How sand falls down through holes
The holes are shaped like cherry blossom petals!
両杖をまとめたり、身体や地面に固定する為の器具 - Solidariser les bequilles
→スキーのストックの様に２本を固定してみる
→階段昇降時にベルトループ等に引っ掛けるが階段の段差に引っかかりやすい
→カバンのループに着けると高さは良いが、身体の前に来てしまう
※肩ぐらいの高さで身体の後ろで固定出来ると一番いいかも！
Self-support on the floor
It can be put away when not in use with the tripod folding method
The tripod can fold up.
Improvements to the cane's shoulder strap structure.
Add a structure to attach a shoulder strap to the existing cane
Add a restraining hook to keep the Lofstrand staff from falling apart
Stairs
Previously, one clutch was carried by a caregiver, or two were held together in one hand.
She could hold it all together, but she had a lot of anxiety
Results- Résultat
Changes in Targeting activities
It is customized with the angle to be used, and the contact area has increased, making it less slippery even on wet floors.
The tip is customized with the angle to use and the increased contact area, which makes it less slippery even on wet floors.
Walking on a flat floor
Future plans
The filament (TPU) used this time could not completely eliminate the slipperiness, but I would like to improve the quality by modeling with EPU by stereolithography.
Aiming for Multifunctionality by Combining Multiple Ideas
Post-production satisfaction
Satisfaction is 9! ! !
The design was excellent, and I was happy that I was able to create something that met my needs.