Redesign of a Quad-Cane Base: Terrain Adaptive and Shock Absorbing Walking Cane
By Ofori-Atta, William; Mollendorf, Joseph C.; NSF 2007 Engineering Senior Design Projects to Aid Persons With Disabilities, pp. 184-185Publication Date: 2010
Description of the redesign of a rigid quad cane to make it adapt to the surface of contact and absorb shock. A new base for the cane was made consisting of four square aluminum plates, four hollow aluminum studs, and a square steel plate with holes drilled at the four corners. The feet utilize four 12 to 14 pound compression springs. Each spring was inserted into non slip rubber cane tips. For the steel base spring, a 50 to 70 pound compression spring was used. The aluminum plates had a stud welded to their centers and were then bolted to the steel plate with three inches of space between two sets of plates. The steel spring was then welded to the center steel piece. Finally, a regular cane shaft with a height adjustable button was welded to the top of the encased spring. This base spring serves as a shock absorber for the device. The four compression springs are tight-fitted on the studs at the bottom of the aluminum plates. As the user’s weight is shifted on uneven surfaces while using the cane, the springs will deflect and adapt to the contact surface. The cane was designed by a student at the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Published by: Creative Learning Press, Inc. (Website:http://www.creativelearningpress.com)
Link to text: http://nsf-pad.bme.uconn.edu/2007/Chapter11,SUNY%20Buffalo.pdf
ISBN: 1-931280-12-6
