Bipedal motion assisting method and apparatus
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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Abstract
A mobile support system having a central region that allows the legs to move in an unobstructed manner and providing an upper body support assembly where the weight is distributed between the elbow region and hand region of the individual for a desirable weight distribution for assisted bipedal motion such as walking or running.
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Citations
16 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of transporting an individual having a bodyweight and center of gravity, a leg and right elbows and left and right hands, the method comprising:
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a) retrieving a mobile support system having a longitudinal and lateral axis adapted to support an individual, the mobile support system comprising 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 legs of the individual, 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 being 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;
an upper body support assembly attached to the base frame, the upper body support assembly having an elbow support region comprising first and second elbow supports adapted to support the left and right elbows of the individual and a support handle assembly comprising first and second support handles adapted to be grasped by left and right hands,b) positioning the body weight of the individual in a manner 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 to distribute a portion of the individual'"'"'s body weight thereon. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. 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:
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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 forwardly and laterally between the ground engagement locations of first and second longitudinally rearward wheels, the longitudinally rearward wheel assembly being comprised of a laterally inward displacing device that is adapted to reposition the first and second longitudinally rearward wheels laterally inwardly and 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 and the mobile support system has a storage orientation where the first lateral frame member is positioned closer in proximity in the lateral direction to the second lateral frame member. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification