Powered walker
First Claim
1. A powered walker apparatus arranged to permit an operator to readily move between a fully seated position and a fully upright position therewithin, said walker apparatus comprising:
- frame assembly means having a base portion and spaced, vertical side portions projecting upwardly from said base portion to define a space therebetween for receiving an operator'"'"'s body and to further define a front entryway to permit ingress to and egress from said space by said operator;
means affixed to said base portion to provide foot support for said operator when in an upright, standing position within said apparatus;
wheel means connected to said base portion for supporting said frame assembly means above a ground surface for movement therealong, said wheel means including at least one powered wheel member for moving said apparatus over said ground surface;
means for providing power to said wheel means;
means interconnecting said power means and said wheel means to permit said operator to control the movement of said wheel means and to thereby control the movement of said apparatus along said ground surface;
gate means adapted to selectively extend across said entryway to provide a closure mechanism when said operator is in said apparatus;
seat assembly means for supporting an operator when in a seated position within said apparatus as well as supporting said operator when in said upright position, said seat assembly means including a seat member and seat control means for selectively moving said seat member between a substantially horizontal position for carrying said operator in said seated position within said apparatus and a substantially vertical position for supporting said operator when said operator is in said upright position within said apparatus; and
said seat control means including a seat control arm assembly for moving said seat member between a first rearward horizontal position disposed substantially entirely within the space defined by said vertical side portions and a second forward horizontal position wherein said seat member projects substantially outwardly through said front entryway to permit an operator easy access to said seat member exterior to said apparatus for transfer thereto or therefrom, the movement of said seat member from said second to said first horizontal position placing the operator fully within said apparatus.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A powered walker apparatus includes a frame assembly defining a central space for containing an operator in a standing position. A mechanism is included for selectively moving the apparatus over a ground surface. A gate is provided for closing an entryway into the central space and is adapted to define the front surface of the apparatus when in a closed position. Finally, a seat assembly arrangement is provided having a seat member movable between a substantially horizontal position within the central space wherein the operator is maintained in a sitting position and a substantially vertical position wherein the operator is maintained in a standing position within such central space.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A powered walker apparatus arranged to permit an operator to readily move between a fully seated position and a fully upright position therewithin, said walker apparatus comprising:
-
frame assembly means having a base portion and spaced, vertical side portions projecting upwardly from said base portion to define a space therebetween for receiving an operator'"'"'s body and to further define a front entryway to permit ingress to and egress from said space by said operator; means affixed to said base portion to provide foot support for said operator when in an upright, standing position within said apparatus; wheel means connected to said base portion for supporting said frame assembly means above a ground surface for movement therealong, said wheel means including at least one powered wheel member for moving said apparatus over said ground surface; means for providing power to said wheel means; means interconnecting said power means and said wheel means to permit said operator to control the movement of said wheel means and to thereby control the movement of said apparatus along said ground surface; gate means adapted to selectively extend across said entryway to provide a closure mechanism when said operator is in said apparatus; seat assembly means for supporting an operator when in a seated position within said apparatus as well as supporting said operator when in said upright position, said seat assembly means including a seat member and seat control means for selectively moving said seat member between a substantially horizontal position for carrying said operator in said seated position within said apparatus and a substantially vertical position for supporting said operator when said operator is in said upright position within said apparatus; and said seat control means including a seat control arm assembly for moving said seat member between a first rearward horizontal position disposed substantially entirely within the space defined by said vertical side portions and a second forward horizontal position wherein said seat member projects substantially outwardly through said front entryway to permit an operator easy access to said seat member exterior to said apparatus for transfer thereto or therefrom, the movement of said seat member from said second to said first horizontal position placing the operator fully within said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A powered walker apparatus arranged to permit an operator to readily move between a fully seated position and a fully upright position therewithin, said walker apparatus comprising:
-
frame assembly means having a base portion and spaced, vertical side portions projecting upwardly from said base portion to define a space therebetween for receiving an operator'"'"'s body and to further define a front entryway to permit ingress to and egress from said space by said operator; means affixed to said base portion to provide foot support for said operator when in an upright, standing position within said apparatus; wheel means connected to said base portion for supporting said frame assembly means above a ground surface for movement therealong, said wheel means including at least one powered wheel member for moving said apparatus over said ground surface; means for providing power to said wheel means; means interconnecting said power means and said wheel means to permit said operator to control the movement of said wheel means and to thereby control the movement of said apparatus along said ground surface; gate means adapted to selectively extend across said entryway to provide a closure mechanism when said operator is in said apparatus; and seat assembly means for supporting an operator when in a seated position within said apparatus as well as supporting said operator when in said upright position, said seat assembly means including a seat member and seat control means for selectively moving said seat member between a substantially horizontal position for carrying said operator in said seated position within said apparatus and a substantially vertical position for supporting said operator when said operator is in said upright position within said apparatus;
wherein said gate means provides a front contact and support portion for the legs of said operator when in said upright position, and wherein said seat control means is adapted to move said seat member between first and second positions disposed in said horizontal plane and a third substantially vertical position, said second horizontal position projecting forwardly outwardly of said frame assembly means and said first position being disposed within said space defined by said vertical side portions and said gate means. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A powered walker apparatus arranged to permit an operator to readily move between a fully seated position and a fully upright position therewithin, said walker apparatus comprising:
-
frame assembly means having a base portion and spaced, vertical side portions projecting upwardly from said base portion to define a space therebetween for receiving an operator'"'"'s body and to further define a front entryway to permit ingress to and egress from said space by said operator; means affixed to said base portion to provide foot support for said operator when in an upright, standing position within said apparatus; wheel means connected to said base portion for supporting said frame assembly means above a ground surface for movement therealong, said wheel means including at least one powered wheel member for moving said apparatus over said ground surface; means for providing power to said wheel means, wherein each said powered wheel member is independently powered for rotational movement and further includes spring means loaded in a vertical plane to provide vertical travel to said wheel member to maintain said wheel member in contact with said ground surface when said walker apparatus is moved over uneven terrain; means interconnecting said power means and said wheel means to permit said operator to control the movement of said wheel means and to thereby control the movement of said apparatus along said ground surface; gate means adapted to selectively extend across said entryway to provide a closure mechanism when said operator is in said apparatus; and seat assembly means for supporting an operator when in a seated position within said apparatus as well as supporting said operator when in said upright position, said seat assembly means including a seat member and seat control means for selectively moving said seat member between a substantially horizontal position for carrying said operator in said seated position within said apparatus and a substantially vertical position for supporting said operator when said operator is in said upright position within said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A powered walker apparatus arranged to permit an operator to readily move between a fully seated position and a fully upright position therewithin, said walker apparatus comprising:
-
frame assembly means having a base portion and spaced, vertical side portions projecting upwardly from said base portion to define a space therebetween for receiving an operator'"'"'s body and to further define a front entryway to permit ingress to and egress from said space by said operator; means affixed to said base portion to provide foot support for said operator when in an upright, standing position within said apparatus; wheel means connected to said base portion for supporting said frame assembly means above a ground surface for movement therealong, said wheel means including at least one powered wheel member for moving said apparatus over said ground surface; means for providing power to said wheel means; means interconnecting said power means and said wheel means to permit said operator to control the movement of said wheel means and to thereby control the movement of said apparatus along said ground surface; gate means adapted to selectively extend across said entryway to provide a closure mechanism when said operator is in said apparatus; seat assembly means for supporting an operator when in a seated position within said apparatus as well as supporting said operator when in said upright position, said seat assembly means including a seat member and seat control means for selectively moving said seat member between a substantially horizontal position for carrying said operator in said seated position wihtin said apparatus and a substantially vertical position for supporting said operator when said operator is in said upright position within said apparatus; and said foot support means having a front portion oriented toward the front of said apparatus and wherein said foot support means is adapted for pivotal movement within a vertical plane to contact said front portion thereof with said ground surface when said seat member is in a horizontal position for carrying the operator in a seated position. - View Dependent Claims (14)
-
- 15. In a powered walker apparatus having a frame assembly defining a central space for containing an operator in a standing position, means for selectively moving said apparatus over a ground surface and gate means for closing an entryway into said central space and adapted to define the front surface of said apparatus when in a closed position, the improvement comprising seat assembly means having a seat member movable between a substantially horizontal position within said central space wherein said operator is maintained in a sitting position and a substantially vertical position wherein said operator is maintained in said standing position within such central space, and wherein said seat member is further movable between a first and a second horizontal position, said first horizontal position being defined within said central space, and said second horizontal position projecting substantially forwardly outwardly of said frame assembly to permit said operator ready access to said seat member from the exterior of said powered walker apparatus.
-
18. A powered walker apparatus arranged to permit an operator to move between a fully seated position and a fully upright position therewithin, said walker apparatus comprising:
-
frame assembly means having a base portion and spaced, vertical side portions to define a space therebetween for receiving an operator'"'"'s body and to further define an entryway to permit ingress and egress from said space by said operator; means connected to said base portion for supporting said frame assembly means above a ground surface for movement therealong, said moving means including at least one powered wheel member for moving said apparatus over said ground surface; means for providing power to said moving means; means interconnecting said power means and said moving means to permit said operator to control the movement of said moving means and to thereby control the movement of said apparatus along said ground surface; gate means adapted to selectively extend across said entryway to provide a closure mechanism when said operator is in said apparatus; seat assembly means for supporting an operator when in a seated position within said apparatus as well as supporting said operator when in said upright position, said seat assembly means including a seat member and seat control means for selectively moving said seat member between a substantially horizontal position for carrying said operator in said seated position within said apparatus and a substantially vertical position for supporting said operator when said operator is in said upright position within said apparatus; and said seat control means including a seat control arm assembly for moving said seat member between a first rearward horizontal position disposed substantially within the space defined by said vertical side portions and a second forward horizontal position wherein said seat member projects outwardly through said entryway to permit an operator easy access to said seat member exterior to said apparatus for transfer thereto or therefrom, the movement of said seat member from said second to said first horizontal position placing the operator fully within said apparatus.
-
-
19. In a powered walker apparatus having a frame assembly defining a central space for containing an operator in a standing position, means for selectively moving said apparatus over a ground surface and gate means for closing an entryway into said central space and adapted to define the front surface of said apparatus when in a closed position, the improvement comprising seat assembly means having a seat member movable between a substantially horizontal position within said central space wherein said operator is maintained in a sitting position and a substantially vertical position wherein said operator is maintained in said standing position within such central space, said seat member being further movable between a first and a second horizontal position, said first horizontal position being defined within said central space, and said second horizontal position projecting forwardly outwardly of said frame assembly to permit said operator ready access to said seat member from the exterior of said powered walker apparatus.
Specification