Our team was tasked with creating a device in order to prevent our user, Marc Tinsley, from falling out of bed. While this was initially imagined as a restraint, we realized that the best way to do this was by creating a device to lift his legs into bed, thus eliminating the need for Marc to be in a position where falling is possible.
Our design utilizes high-strength nylon material combined with high friction rubber to safely secure Marc’s leg as he raises it from the floor to his bed. This allows Marc to safely get in bed to a position where he is not in danger of falling. With the help of our device, Marc is able to fully get in bed without needing to lay on his stomach (See User Observation Appendix). Additionally, the use of our device allows Marc to get into bed in less time than he was previously able to and reduces the self-reported difficulty faced by the user by over 20% (See User Testing Appendix). These things, combined with our device’s lightweight and easy-to-store design make it the ideal reasonable solution for Marc.
Our design can be used by individuals with other levels of ability who struggle to lift their legs onto surfaces such as their bed or couch. One large group that may benefit from this is elderly individuals who may lack the strength or range of motion to independently lift their legs. While this device remedies Marc’s specific situation, the custom nature of the device's sizing requires that different sizes and specifications be used for different individuals. This could possibly be improved by adding a way to adjust the device’s length.