Method and system for concentrated primary support for a user in support assistive devices

• US 6,343,802 B1
• Filed: 06/12/1998
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ultimate Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ultimate Support Systems Incorporated (Act Entertainment Inc.)
• Inventors: House, Kenneth W., Workman, Jonathan P., Eason, Donald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J.
• Application Number:
  US09/091,388
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 280/87.05, 280/87.051, 280/87.041, 280/651, 280/655.1, 280/87.021, 280/648, 280/42, 482/66, 482/68, 482/69, 482/24, 135/67, 297/5, 297/6
• US Class Current: 280/87.041
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/007 secured to the patient, e.g. with belts
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/046 with braking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0161 Size reducing arrangements when not in use, for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0173 Means for preventing injuries
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0192 Specific means for adjusting dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/163 holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1633 Seat A61H2201/0149 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/008 Using suspension devices for supporting the body in an upright walking or standing position, e.g. harnesses drawing-out devices A61H1/0218
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/04 Wheeled walking aids for disabled persons A61H3/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A support assistive device for a user having a frame assembly, a vertical pelvis support element connected to the frame assembly which may primarily support the user in the ischial tuberosity region, and a horizontal pelvis support element which may primarily support the anterior superior iliac spine region of a pelvis. It may provide such support with minimal or no hand or arm support. By supporting on the anterior superior iliac spine on either side, a moment can be created to assist in turning even without the use of hands by simply turning the direction of the pelvis. The created moment of the present invention is more natural to the user in turning the pelvis and as a result the device. Additionally, a fluidic braking assembly for any rotatable elements is provided, which can be advantaged to assist a user in supplying an increase of force to actuate the braking action. The braking system may be actuated from a single station or multiple stations and may provide braking in any direction the wheels are turned, that is, omni-directionally. It may also include a elevation assembly that can assist lowering of an upper frame assembly to a corresponding elevation with a lower frame assembly to assist in packaging and in transportation. It may also provide a rotatable swivel lock system for the rotatable elements that may be restrained in various orientations, and may be controlled through a single station.

Claims

1. A method of supporting a user having a pelvis in a support assistive walking device comprising:

a. positioning said pelvis near a rigid and positive anterior superior iliac spine horizontal pelvis support in the vicinity of a front of said support assistive walking device;

b. biasing said pelvis toward said horizontal pelvis support;

c. vertically supporting said pelvis primarily on at least one ischial tuberosity of said pelvis with a vertical pelvis support element;

d. simultaneously and concentratedly anterior superior iliac spine supporting said pelvis in a horizontal direction above said vertical support element; and

e. providing mobility to said user by a plurality of rotatable elements connected to said support assistive walking device.

2. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 1 wherein said step of simultaneously and concentratedly anterior superior iliac spine supporting said pelvis comprises the step of supporting primarily a left and right anterior superior iliac spine.

3. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 1 comprising the step of allowing a full striding gait while horizontally supporting said pelvis.

4. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 1 further comprising the step of supporting said pelvis substantially independently of at least one arm of said user.

5. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 1 wherein said step of vertically supporting said pelvis and said step of simultaneously and concentratedly anterior superior iliac spine supporting said pelvis comprises the step of allowing elevation adjustments.

6. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 1 wherein step of biasing said pelvis comprises the step of biasing said pelvis toward a anterior superior iliac spine with a first restraining element.

7. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 1 comprising the step of flexibly allowing said rotatable elements to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to a horizontal plane with respect to a frame assembly while allowing said rotatable elements to separately turn about a second axis substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane with respect to said frame assembly.

8. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 7 further comprising the step of allowing said rotatable elements to be swivel locked into a plurality of positions about said second axis.

9. A method of supporting a user having a pelvis in a support assistive walking device as described in claim 8 wherein said step of allowing said rotatable elements to be swivel locked further comprises the step of allowing said swivel locking from a single station.

10. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 7 further comprising the step of braking said support assistive walking device with a braking assembly.

11. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 10 wherein said step of braking further comprises the step of fluidicly actuating said braking assembly.

12. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 10 or 11 wherein said step of braking comprises the step of advantaging said braking assembly.

13. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 10 wherein said step of braking comprises the step of braking a plurality of rotatable elements from a single station.

14. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 10 or 13 wherein said step of braking comprises the step of braking omni-directionally.

15. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 14 wherein said step of braking omni-directionally comprises the step of braking simultaneously a plurality of said rotatable elements.

16. A method of supporting said user in said support assistive walking device as described in claim 7 further comprising allowing said rotatable elements to be folded to a substantially aligned planar position with respect to said horizontal plane on said frame assembly.

17. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine comprising:

a. a frame assembly having a front and a back;

b. an ischial tuberosity vertical pelvis support element connected to said frame assembly adapted to engage said user;

c. a rigid and positive anterior superior iliac spine horizontal pelvis support element connected to said frame assembly in the vicinity of said front to engage said user simultaneous with said ischial tuberosity vertical pelvis support element wherein said horizontal pelvis support element is adapted to support said user above said ischial tuberosity vertical pelvis support element; and

d. a plurality of rotatable elements connected to said frame assembly which provide mobility.

18. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 17 wherein said horizontal pelvis support element comprises an anterior superior iliac spine left support element and an anterior superior iliac spine right support element.

19. A support assistive walking device as described in claim 18 wherein said horizontal pelvis support element is horizontally adjustable relative to said vertical pelvis support element.

20. A support assistive walking device as described in claim 19 wherein said horizontal pelvis support element is vertically adjustable relative to said vertical pelvis support element.

21. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 17 further comprising a pelvis biasing element attached to said horizontal pelvis support element.

22. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 17 wherein said vertical pelvis support element and said horizontal pelvis support element are adapted to support a full striding gait.

23. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 17 wherein said vertical pelvis support element and said horizontal pelvis support element are interactively adapted to allow a full striding gait independent of the substantial use of arms for support.

24. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 17 or 18 wherein said horizontal pelvis support element comprises a horizontal pelvis securing element connected to said horizontal pelvis support element to secure said horizontal pelvis support element.

25. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 24 wherein said horizontal pelvis securing element further comprises a left securing element and a right securing element wherein said left and right securing elements act independently of each other.

26. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 17 further comprising a braking assembly.

27. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 26 wherein said barking assembly is fluidicly actuated.

28. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 27 wherein said braking assembly further comprises a remote braking actuator attached to said braking assembly for remotely actuating said braking assembly to brake a plurality of said rotatable elements.

29. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 27 or 28 wherein said braking assembly is leveraged.

30. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 28 wherein said remote braking actuator element further comprises a single station and wherein said single station brakes a plurality of said rotatable elements.

31. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 29 further comprising a single station attached to said frame wherein said single station brakes a plurality of said rotatable elements.

32. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 26 wherein said braking assembly omni-directionally brakes a plurality of said rotatable elements.

33. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 32 wherein said braking assembly brakes simultaneously a plurality of said rotatable elements.

34. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 17 wherein said frame assembly comprises a lower frame assembly and a upper frame assembly and an elevation assembly connected between said lower and upper frame assemblies and wherein said elevation assembly allows changing an elevation of said upper frame assembly to a corresponding elevation with said lower frame assembly.

35. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 34 wherein said elevation assembly further comprises a forcing element to assist said user in said changing of said elevation.

36. A support assistive walking device as described in claim 34 or 35 wherein said elevation assembly is able to be directly and independently activated from a plurality of independent locations.

37. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 17 or 34 wherein said rotatable elements are able to be folded substantially within an envelope of said frame assembly.

38. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 17 wherein said rotatable elements are able to rotate about a horizontal first axis and separately turn about a second axis substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane with respect to said frame assembly.

39. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 38 wherein said rotatable elements are adapted to be automatically swivel locked into a position when said rotatable elements are folded to a substantially aligned planar position with respect to said horizontal plane on said frame assembly.

40. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 38 wherein said rotatable elements are able to be folded to a substantially aligned planar position with respect to said horizontal plane on said frame assembly.

41. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 38 wherein said rotatable elements are able to be swivel locked into a position about said second axis.

42. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine as described in claim 41 further comprising a single station to swivel lock a plurality of said rotatable elements.

43. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine comprising:

a. a lower frame assembly

b. an elevation assembly connected to said lower frame assembly; and

c. an upper frame assembly having a front and a back, having an adjustable height and

connected to said elevation assembly comprising;

i. an ischial tuberosity vertical pelvis support element connected to said frame assembly adapted to engage said user; and

ii. a rigid and positive anterior superior iliac spine horizontal pelvis support element connected to said frame assembly in the vicinity of said front to engage said user simultaneous with said ischial tuberosity vertical pelvis support element wherein said horizontal pelvis support element is adapted to support said user above said ischial tuberosity vertical pelvis support element; and

b. a plurality of rotatable elements connected to said frame assembly which provide mobility.

44. A support assistive walking device for a user having a pelvis with an anterior superior iliac spine comprising:

a. a frame assembly having a front and a back, said frame assembly comprising;

i. a lower frame assembly;

ii. a lowerable upper frame assembly comprising an ischial tuberosity vertical pelvis support element connected to said lowerable upper frame assembly adapted to engage said user and a rigid and positive anterior superior iliac spine horizontal pelvis support element connected to said lowerable upper frame assembly in the vicinity of said front to engage said user simultaneous with said ischial tuberosity vertical pelvis support element wherein said horizontal pelvis support element is adapted to support said user above said ischial tuberosity vertical pelvis support element;

b. an elevation assembly connecting said upper frame assembly to said lower frame assembly wherein said elevation assembly is able to allow said upper frame assembly to vertically change elevation to a corresponding elevation with said lower frame assembly and to maintain the upper frame assembly in a substantially constant pelvic orientation as said upper frame assembly changes elevation; and

c. a plurality of rotatable elements connected to said frame assembly which provide mobility.

45. A support assistive walking device as described in claim 44 comprising a frame wheel repositionable support connecting at least one of said plurality of rotatable elements to said lower frame assembly wherein said frame wheel repositionable support is adapted to allow at least one of said rotatable elements to be folded substantially within an envelope of said frame assembly.

46. A support assistive walking device as described in claim 44 wherein said elevation assembly is adapted to maintain said upper frame assembly in a substantially level orientation at a variety of elevations.

47. A support assistive walking device as described in claim 44 wherein said elevation assembly is adapted to be directly and independently activated from a plurality of independent locations.