Walker

• US 4,869,279 A
• Filed: 12/22/1986
• Issued: 09/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harry S. Hedges
• Original Assignee: Harry S. Hedges
• Inventors: Hedges, Harry S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sam, Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US06/944,983
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 135/67, 272/70.3, 297/5, 297/6
• US Class Current: 135/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/00 Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04 ; applying electrical currents by contact electrodes for stimulating motor muscles, e.g. walking assistance A61N1/36003

Abstract

An invalid walker comprising right and left side frame members in the form of an inverted Y-shape, each frame member containing a vertical leg, a side leg attached downwardly and rearwardly from the vertical leg and a horizontal brace connecting the vertical leg and side leg, a front horizontal member connecting the right and left side frame members, and handgrip support attached to the upper end of each vertical leg. Stair climbing convenience is provided by a forward extension of the horizontal brace and a restraint strap between the handgrip supports provides an optional safety feature.

Claims

1. An invalid walker comprising:

right and left side frame members, each frame member containing a vertical leg positioned rearwardly from surface contact no less than three degrees from the vertical position for optimum user stability, a side leg attached downwardly and rearwardly to vertical leg so that the vertical and side leg are in ground or surface contact, and a horizontal brace connecting the vertical and side leg;

wherein the horizontal braces are tubular in cross section and wherein stair legs are provided to assist the invalid user when ascending and descending a stairway while the stair legs are in contact with a stair tread wherein each stair leg is tubular in cross section and telescopically fits into the tubular horizontal brace and projects forward of the vertical leg a distance of about three inches and is fixedly secured to the vertical leg at a height of no more than about seven inches from ground or surface contact;

a front horizontal member connecting the right and left side frame members at a height of no less than about sixteen inches from ground or surface contact;

a vertically adjustable handgrip support means attached to the upper end of the vertical leg of each side frame member to permit the invalid user to lift the invalid walker and move forward with the invalid walker;

a restraint strap detachably connected between the upper end of the handgrip supports of each frame member;

and wherein said horizontal brace is attached to the vertical leg and the side leg at an adequate height from ground or surface contact to provide rigidity to the right and left side frame members when downward thrust is exerted on the handgrip supports by the invalid user.