Cross Pod Bastón autoportante by Koji Sato

Cross Pod Bastón autoportante by Koji Sato is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award de Bronce in Diseño de Accesorios Competition Category.

BronceAccesorio· 2026

Cross Pod Bastón autoportante

by Koji Sato

A' Design Award de Bronce Winner in Accesorio Category

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Verified Award Winner
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The Design

About Cross Pod Bastón autoportante

Este producto está diseñado para hacer más cómodo el uso de un bastón de un solo punto de apoyo. Al caminar, la sección de patas situada en la punta del bastón se cierra, lo que permite un manejo ágil, comparable al de un bastón convencional de un punto. Al detenerse, basta con abrir las patas para que se mantenga en pie de forma estable e inmediata. Las patas plegables, concebidas para no entorpecer la marcha, ofrecen un soporte estable solo cuando es necesario. La comodidad y un diseño sofisticado aportan el disfrute. Este diseño hace que se perciba como algo más que una simple ayuda para caminar: se siente como un producto que acompaña y respalda un estilo de vida.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronce

Cross Pod Bastón autoportante ha ganado el A' Design Award de Bronce, un reconocimiento sumamente prestigioso concedido a diseños sobresalientes que se distinguen por su creatividad, ingenio y astucia. Los ganadores de Bronce son artefactos ampliamente hábiles y sorprendentemente creativos que acreditan la vasta experiencia, imaginación e ingeniosidad de sus diseñadores. Se espera que Cross Pod Bastón autoportante sea un objeto muy apreciado, admirado y querido, notablemente profesional e innovador. Este diseño ganador del A' Design Award de Bronce incorpora las mejores prácticas del arte, la ciencia, el diseño y la tecnología, y es excelente por su atención al detalle. Cross Pod Bastón autoportante satisface espléndidamente las necesidades, toca los deseos, encanta los sentimientos y atrae la curiosidad.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: CrossPOD is a one point cane stably standable anywhere. Just open its four legs attached to the tip of the cane to allow it stand anywhere in situations you need to have your hands free.
When walking, you can close your legs to use it as a one point cane, allowing you to walk smoothly.
It was small and lightweight, and it was designed so that switching of the legs can be done with simple operation.
The pure one-point cane that can be stand is an unprecedent.
Dimensions & Packaging: Wide: 130mm
Depth: 50mm
Height: min750mm max 970mm /10 level adjustment
Weight: 360g
Material: aluminum,Wood,Resin
Tags: Cane, Health, Care, Wellness, Rehabilitation, Independence, Standing, Walking, #Senior, SDGs, CrossPOD, Onepoint
Production Technology: A one point cane is a portable item, it must be lightweight.
Therefore, complex mechanisms cannot be added.
It also requires simple and easy operation.
Considering this balance, we designed it using a spring and link mechanism.

The result is:
* Simple manual operation/ two actions: twist and slide
* An easy-to-grip handle
* A slim form that doesn't get in the way when closed like a bud before it blooms
* A wide leg span when opened
Furthermore, while maintaining a minimalist overall appearance, we incorporated vivid accent colors to create a fun and enjoyable product.
Design Challenge: The following are important for this product to be enjoyable.

*Comfort
*Stability
*Ease of Use
*Lightweight
*Form
*Cost

However, there are conflicting aspects, so we focused on balancing them when designing.
Research: *Type of Research
Design Proposals for the Ageing Society Ahead.

*Research Objectives
Enriching the lives of those with walking difficulties.

*Methodology
Fun to use!
Make the 1 point cane easier to use.

*Data Collection
Interviews with practitioners, workshops, etc.

*Participants or Experiments
Conducted load testing and other safety verification experiments.

*Results
Perfectly fine.

*Insights and Impacts,
Positive feedback from purchasers.
Design awards and patent contest accolades.
Export track record to Canada, Germany, Thailand,etc.
It is also commonly used as a gift.
Inspiration: A one point cane is the most common tool used to assist with walking.
However, when you want to let go of the cane, the tip is the point, so it is inconvenient because you cannot stand it up.
There are also canes with four rubber tips, but they make it difficult to walk smoothly, are unstable when standing up, and are a little heavy.
So we came up with the idea of solving this problem by adding opening and closing legs to the tip of the cane.
Project Duration: The project started in April 2018 in Oita Japan and was released for sale in Jan 2020.
Following several internal refinements, it evolved into the current model in October 2023.
Operation Flow: Closing the legs allows you to walk smoothly, and opening them when standing.
Opening the legs is a two step operation.
Slightly twist the grip to unlock, and slide the cane towards the tip to open and stand up.
Closing is the reverse operation.
Patents: Patented in Japan.
Patent No.6590177
Patent Holder. KOJI SATO
Year. 2019
Jurisdiction. Japan Patent Office
Image Credits: N/A