Walker

• US 6,361,515 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VQ Orthocare
• Original Assignee: Bodyworks Properties Limited
• Inventors: Gilmour, Robert Farrer
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/670,581
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 36/88, 36/91--95, 361/03, 361/06, 361/07, 602/27-30
• US Class Current: 602/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0127 for the feet A61F5/0111 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/14 Special medical insertions for shoes for flat-feet, club-feet or the like

Abstract

The invention comprises a walker having a frame which provides a bottom and sides. Apertures are provided in the bottom, and a sole piece is positionable adjacent the outer surface of the bottom of the frame in a manner such that parts of the sole piece extend inwardly through the apertures. The inwardly extending parts of the sole piece comprise or include a plurality of protrusions which in use support part of the users foot.

Claims

1. A method of reducing margination walker comprising the steps of:

providing a walker chassis;

providing a weight bearing surface for a user'"'"'s foot and associated with the chassis, the weight bearing surface being provided with a plurality of protrusions;

removing a selected part or selected parts of the weight bearing surface; and

providing a lining over the weight bearing surface, including the removed part or parts, so that in use a sole of a user'"'"'s foot has areas which are positioned above the weight bearing surface but are not supported by the weight bearing surface, the user'"'"'s foot contacting the lining.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusions are spaced apart.

3. A method of reducing margination in a walker, comprising the steps of:

placing a user'"'"'s foot in a walker chassis that has at least one aperture in a bottom thereof;

supporting the user'"'"'s foot on a multiplicity of spaced-apart dimples that project through said aperture; and

reducing a height of a selected number of said multiplicity of spaced-apart dimples to provide an area of reduced support for the user'"'"'s foot.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of covering said multiplicity of space-apart dimples with a lining.