Walker apparatus

• US 6,743,156 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kramer, Kenneth L., Jacques, William L. II, Cerimele, Michael, Sagel, John, Meyer, Ken, Branson, Gregory W., Biondo, John P., Koenig, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/569,942
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 482/66-68, 135/65-67, 135/74, 135/76
• US Class Current: 482/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/006 with forearm rests, i.e. for non-used arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/046 with braking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1614 Shoulder, e.g. for neck stretching
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1633 Seat A61H2201/0149 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/06 Heartbeat rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/207 partial O2-value
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/04 Wheeled walking aids for patients or disabled persons

Abstract

A walker apparatus having a frame configured to support a user above a floor thereunder and an upper body support pivotably coupled to the frame to move between a use position and a storage position is shown. The upper body support is adapted to support the forearms of a user and includes a first pair of grip handles. A second pair of grip handles is coupled to the frame spaced apart from the first pair of grip handles. The walker apparatus has a patient measurement device coupled to the frame to measure a vital sign of the user and indicate the measurement on a display. An IV support is coupled to the frame to support a medical device. A base module is configured to hold personal belongings or medical devices. The frame includes upright segments extending from the base module. A seat has a frame member and a seat member. The frame member has a back segment and a seat segment coupled to the back segment. The seat member has a support wall, an oppositely facing wall, a front section coupled to the seat segment, and a rear section coupled to the uprights for movement about a pivot axis between a use position and a storage position. The back segment and the upright segments cooperate to limit pivotal movement of the seat when the seat is in the use position.

Claims

1. A walker apparatus comprising

a frame configured to support a user above a floor thereunder, and

an upper body support including a forearm rest configured to support the forearms of the user and wherein the forearm rest is pivotably coupled to the frame to move between a generally horizontal use position and a generally vertical storage position.

2. The walker apparatus of claim 1 wherein the frame includes a lower portion, an upper portion and an intermediate portion between the lower and upper portions, the lower and upper portions configured to be disposed in front of a person utilizing the walker for walking movement, the lower and upper portions having side portions, the upper body support including the forearm rest is carried on the frame upper portion to be in front of the person'"'"'s upper body to provide a support for the upper body when needed, and further comprising wheels movably supporting the frame lower portion.

3. The walker apparatus of claim 2 in which the forearm rest extends upwardly and forwardly from the frame upper portion to support the person'"'"'s forearms.

4. The walker apparatus of claim 2 in which the forearm rest extends inwardly, upwardly and forwardly from each side portion of the frame upper portion to provide a support for each forearm.

5. The walker apparatus of claim 4 including a handgrip portion disposed forwardly of the forearm rest positioned in front of the person'"'"'s upper body such that the person can lean forwardly for support.

6. The walker of claim 4 which the upper body support is coupled to the frame for movement between its upwardly and forwardly extending use position and a storage position.

7. The walker apparatus of claim 5 including a handle bar extending rearwardly from each side portion of the frame upper portion to be gripped by the person when walking.

8. The walker apparatus of claim 7 including a wheel support extending rearwardly from each side portion of the lower frame portion, each wheel support having a proximate end mounted to the frame lower portion and a distal end mounted to one of the wheels.

9. The walker apparatus of claim 8 in which the distal end of each wheel support is disposed rearwardly of the handle bar.

10. The walker apparatus of claim 2 including a seat having a patient support surface and a spaced apart oppositely facing lower surface, the seat being attached to the frame for movement between a first position in which the patient supporting surface is upwardly facing to facilitate receipt of a person thereon and a second position in which the lower surface faces a person utilizing the walker for walking movement.

11. The walker apparatus of claim 1 including a patient measurement device coupled to the frame and configured to measure a vital sign of the user.

12. The walker apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a display coupled to the frame and the patient measurement device to receive a signal generated by the patient measurement device and to display a vital sign corresponding to the signal generated by the patient measurement device.

13. The walker apparatus of claim 11 wherein the patient measurement device is a heart rate monitor.

14. The walker apparatus of claim 11 wherein the patient measurement device is a pulse oximeter.

15. The walker apparatus of claim 1 including a first pair of grip handles coupled to the frame and disposed forwardly of the forearm rest, and including a second pair of grip handles coupled to the frame, spaced apart from the first pair of grip handles and disposed rearwardly of the forearm rest.

16. The walker apparatus of claim 15 in which the forearm rest provides an upwardly, forwardly and inwardly extending support for each forearm.

17. The walker apparatus of claim 1 including a first pair of grip handles coupled to the forearm rest to be positioned above and in front of the forearm rest, and including a second pair of grip handles coupled to the forearm rest to be positioned below and behind the forearm rest.

18. The walker apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first and second pairs of grip handles are coupled to the forearm rest.

19. A walker apparatus comprising

a frame including a laterally-extending portion configured to be disposed in front of a person utilizing the walker, and

an upper body support including a forearm rest pivotably coupled to the laterally-extending portion configured to be disposed in front of the person utilizing the walker to move between a generally horizontal use position and a generally vertical storage position.