Walking aid device

• US 5,224,717 A
• Filed: 07/18/1991
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amy E. Lowen
• Original Assignee: Amy E. Lowen
• Inventors: Lowen, Amy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, LANNA
• Application Number:
  US07/732,177
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 135/65-67, 135/71, 135/73, 482/66, 482/68, 297/5, 297/7, 280/1.5, 280/47.34
• US Class Current: 280/1.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/004 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/046 with braking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1633 Seat A61H2201/0149 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/04 Wheeled walking aids for disabled persons A61H3/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A walking aid device which allows the user to retain a full upright position while providing continuous support of a portion of the user'"'"'s body weight and allow the user to easily maneuver the device. The device has wheels which support two side sections providing upper portions at approximately elbow height. A brace member joins the side sections and spaces the upper portions thereof at a transverse distance slightly greater than the person'"'"'s body width. Armrests are attached to the upper portions and extend in the fore and aft direction so as to provide a rear elbow engaging portion with a forearm engaging portion extending forwardly from the elbow engaging portion and having an upright hand grip at the forward end thereof. A transverse rib-rest is provided between the arm-rest means adjacent the rear of the armrest. The brace member between the side sections may be located between rear legs of the side section and is located near the upper portion to allow free leg room when the user is positioned against the rib-rest behind the device. The area defined between the side sections and in front of the rib-rest may be entirely open to allow the user to enter the space between the side sections from what would normally be the front of the device.

Claims

1. A wheeled walking aid device for use by a person in a full upright position for continuously supporting a portion of the person'"'"'s weight, said device comprising:

a frame structure including two side sections each having spaced front and rear, substantially vertical leg members rigidly joined by connecting means, said side sections having upper portions at approximately elbow height, and brace means joining said side sections and transversely spacing said upper portions thereof at a distance slightly greater than the person'"'"'s body width,

ground engaging caster means connected to each of said leg members for permitting rolling movement of said device,

an armrest means attached to each of said upper portions of said side sections and extending in the fore and aft directions, said armrest means defining an upper surface having a rear elbow engaging portion and a forearm engaging portion extending forwardly from said elbow engaging portion,

hand-grip means located adjacent a forward end of said forearm engaging portion of said surface of each armrest means, and

a transverse rib-rest means extending between said armrest means and positioned rearwardly of said hand-grip means and disposed generally in the same plane as said armrest means.

2. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 1, wherein said brace means includes a transversely extending rigid member connected between the side sections adjacent the upper portions thereof.

3. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 2, wherein said connecting means of each side section includes horizontally disposed rigid members extending between said front and rear leg members adjacent said upper portion.

4. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 3, wherein said rigid member forming said brace means and the rigid member forming the connecting means of each side section are integrally connected to form a U-shaped member having a pair of leg portions joined by a base portion, said base portion formed by said transversely extending member being connected between said rear leg members.

5. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 3, wherein said connecting means further include lower horizontal rigid members joined at opposite ends to said front and rear leg members approximately mid-way between the length of the leg members, and further comprising a flat wide member connected to said lower horizontal rigid members for forming a seat between the side sections.

6. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 5, wherein said flat wide member has connection means for disconnectable attachment to said lower horizontal members.

7. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 3, wherein said armrest means are disposed substantially above said horizontally disposed members of each side section.

8. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 7, said hand-grip means includes an upwardly projecting, substantially vertical portion at the opposite end of said armrest as said elbow engaging portion of said armrest means.

9. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 8, wherein said upper surface of said armrest defines an elbow receiving central groove commencing at a rear end of said armrest and extending forwardly in the longitudinal direction of the armrest means.

10. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 9, wherein a bottom surface within said groove rises in a forward direction whereby said groove becomes more shallow toward a groove termination point intermediate the ends of said armrest.

11. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 10, wherein said surface of said armrest slopes downwardly from a high point at the groove termination point to said hand-grip means.

12. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 2, wherein said brace means further includes a rigid arch shaped member having an upper portion thereof positioned between said rear leg members and leg portions thereof connected to said rear leg members intermediate the length of said rear leg members, whereby a major area between said rear leg members is open to provide a free leg area.

13. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 12, wherein said transversely extending member is connected between said rear leg members and is connected intermediate the ends thereof to said upper portion of said arch shaped member.

14. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 1, wherein said brace means joining said side sections is disposed only between said rear leg members whereby an area defined between said side sections and in front of the rib-rest means is entirely open from the front of the device.

15. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 1, wherein said rib-rest means extends transversely between said side sections above said transverse member.

16. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 1, wherein each hand-grip means is an upwardly projecting member.

17. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 16, wherein each front leg member is formed of tubular material and has an open upper end, said hand-grip means having a downwardly projecting portion for securement within said open upper end.

18. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 16, wherein said armrest means includes detachable connecting means for reversible connection of said armrest to said upper portion of said side section, whereby said armrest can be selectively mounted with said elbow engaging portion at the front of the device.

19. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 18, wherein said hand-grip means is formed integrally with said armrest, wherein said leg members are of tubular form and have open upper ends, and wherein each armrest includes a pair of downward extending projections for reception in said open upper ends.

20. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 1, wherein said rib-rest extends transversely between said armrests rearwardly of a midpoint of said armrests.

21. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 20, wherein said rib-rest is disposed at a level slightly below said armrests.

22. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 1, wherein said caster means include full swivel wheels.

23. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 22, wherein said caster means include detachable connection means attaching said caster means to lower end portions of said leg members.

24. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 23, wherein said caster means includes interchangeable wheel sets, the wheel diameter of one wheel set being different than wheels of a different set.

25. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 23, wherein said leg members have adjust means for varying the height of said upper portion of said side sections.

26. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 25, wherein said caster means includes upright projections, at least one of said lower end portion of said leg member or said projection being of hollow tubular form, said projection and lower end portion being telescoping received one within the other, and including locking means for selectively locking said lower end portion and projection against axial relative axial movement.

27. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 26, wherein said locking means is provided with a plurality of locking positions thereby providing said means for varying the height of said upper portion of said side section.

28. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 27, wherein one of said lower end portion or said projection having a series of axially spaced openings, said series extending in the longitudinal direction of the leg member, and the other including spring biased detent means for selected reception in any one of openings in said series for locking against relative axial movement between the lower end portion and the projection.

29. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 22, wherein at least one of said wheels is provided with brake means for preventing rotation of said wheel.

30. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 29, wherein said connecting means at each opposite end of said transverse bar means includes pivot means allowing a swinging movement of said side section about a vertical axis relative to said transverse bar means, lock means normally fixing said pivot means against said swinging movement and selectively movable to an unlocked condition for permitting movement of said side sections to a collapsed position.

31. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 1, wherein said brace means includes a transverse bar means extending transversely between said front leg members and including connecting means between opposite ends thereof and each front leg member, said connecting means being positioned above a midpoint of the length of said leg members, said rib-rest being positioned rearwardly of a midpoint of said armrests.

32. A wheeled walking aid device as defined in claim 31, wherein said rib-rest means is provided with detachable connections for fixing opposite end thereof to said upper sections whereby said rib-rest may be removed when said side sections are swung to a collapsed condition.