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Bipedal motion assisting method and apparatus

  • US 7,111,856 B1
  • Filed: 10/06/2004
  • Issued: 09/26/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A mobile support system having a longitudinal and lateral axis adapted to support an individual having a leg and right elbows and left and right hands, the mobile support system comprising:

  • a) a base frame comprising a first lateral frame member and a second lateral frame member, the first and second lateral frame members forming a central unobstructed region adapted to provide free motion of the leg of the individual,b) a wheel assembly attached to the base frame and comprising a longitudinally rearward wheel subassembly and a longitudinal forward wheel subassembly, where the longitudinally rearward wheel subassembly comprises first and second longitudinally rearward wheels each having ground engagement locations, the longitudinally forward wheel subassembly having a ground engagement location that is positioned laterally between the ground engagement locations of first and second longitudinally rearward wheels, the longitudinally rearward wheel assembly is comprised of a laterally inward displacing device that is adapted to reposition the first and second longitudinally rearward wheels laterally inwardly when biased by an external force and the laterally inward displacing device of the longitudinally rearward wheel assembly is comprised of a four bar linkage assembly having a forward linkage and a rearward linkage that are both pivotally attached to the base frame and first and second wheel carriages of the first and second longitudinally rearward wheels, such that when the wheel carriage is repositioned laterally, the first and second wheel axes of rotation remain substantially aligned in the lateral direction,c) an upper body support assembly attached to the base frame, the upper body support assembly comprising;

    an elbow support region comprising first and second elbow supports adapted to support the left and right elbows of the individual,a support handle assembly comprising first and second support handles adapted to be grasped by left and right hands,d) whereas the body weight of the individual is adapted to be partially supported by the upper body support assembly whereby a portion of the weight is distributed to the elbow support region and a portion of the weight is distributed to the support handle assembly.

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