Tubular Stabilising Walker

Our US client is in the mobility sector, they contacted FLYNN as they needed a different, disruptive innovation. it still remains the case that in the mobility sector a lot of the design standard is low. Most products you see in this sector look like they came from an 80s hospital ward.

About the Project

Client

Podna

Services

Product Design | Design Research | Design for Manufacture

Tubular Frame

Challenge

User centered product design is our speciality. The target market in this project was those with physical challenges which meant using a Rollator or Walker was beneficial. We researched markets such as scandinavia, the US and Canada where the great outdoors was very much part of the walkers environment. ‘Podna’ as this product was called uniquely looked at the user case ergonomically for uneven terrain.

The target market was broad in age, aiming to be appealing for younger people with walking difficulties and the person more senior, that enjoy well designed products. Our key USP was the ability to remain upright, just as the user does when walking on an incline. All other walkers, react to the uneven surface, further exadurating the instability experienced to an already unsteady user.

Outcome

The aim: remove the stigma associated with the ‘walker’. FPD sprang into action in developing a tubular aluminium frame construction, that was built in the USA, from our drawings. The patent pending design concept utilised one patent granted of the clients and one patent pending from our invention of the concept; having the user always walking upright, despite the terrain.

We had the prototypes built from our drawings over in the USA for testing. As seen from the image on the left here, notice how the user stands upright even as they encounter terrain which is sloping. Our ergonomic research indicated that other competitors, having the hand rails high and around the user, is beneficial on the flat, but not if there is undulating terrain. We wanted to envisage and reach out to users of all ages, who don’t accept the restriction to walk on the flat.

We wanted to support those who do as we do and search any path fearlessly.