Jonathan Smith

Research - Brief: Develop a new mobility device that takes into account the users need to travel in small spaces. i.e: cars, planes, buses, taxis, and other small vehicles. On more than one occasion I have used them, more in a playful manner than a needful one. I have noticed how cumbersome they are to adjust for each individual height, how dangerous they can be in colder climates, and how cumbersome it can be to use them if you are traveling in a vehicle.

Sketches - These are my thumbnail sketches. Some were done on napkins when I first discovered the problem. I was watching a fellow class mate get into his girlfriends car. He opened the back door to her car, placed his crutches in the back seat. Then he closed the back door and hopped around to the front door, open it and slid into the car. I imagined the same scenario when he got out of the car, or if he were traveling by himself.

Cad Models - Then after some deliberation and research, I decided to develop a solution that would allow the user to easily adjust the height of the crutch so that they could be more easily stored on the seat next to them. While I was exploring this option I also discovered that a concept that could change in size in this way could also accommodate users of varying sizes, eliminating the need for one family to have more than one pair of crutches.

Approach - The next few pages are visual examples of how a person with a need for crutches can easily approach and open the door to a vehicle. Sit down and then collapse the crutches for easy storage on the seat next to them.

Collapse the crutches - The next few pages are visual examples of how a person with a need for crutches can easily approach and open the door to a vehicle. Sit down and then collapse the crutches for easy storage on the seat next to them.

And off we go! - Thanks to my wife for her assistance.