Mobility assist
First Claim
1. A mobility assist device comprising:
- (a) a seat for supporting at least a portion of the weight of a person endeavoring to walk, said seat being located at a height above the ground whereby such person may remain in continuous contact with the ground;
(b) a mobile support structure;
(c) a rocker beam having a first end and a second end, said rocker beam being carried by a rocking beam pivot at a point intermediate said first end and said second end, said first end of said rocker beam being resiliently coupled to said mobile support structure through a resilient coupling member; and
(d) said second end of said rocker beam carrying said seat;
whereby said person endeavoring to walk may be assisted in walking by resting at least a portion of the weight of said person upon said seat while the seat is oriented such that said person endeavoring to walk faces away from the support structure and wherein the seat is oriented to provide that the legs of said person endeavoring to walk are substantially free in the user'"'"'s forward direction from obstructions associated with the mobile support structure.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile apparatus for assisting a person with limited mobility. The apparatus is also for developing a higher level of mobility in a person having low mobility. The person may be assisted by the apparatus when walking. The apparatus includes a seating surface resiliently mounted to provide partial body weight support to the person. A person using the mobility assist may grasp lateral handles disposed on the apparatus while walking or he/she may attempt to mobilize without the use of the lateral handles. Multiple elastic cords positioned to generate a lifting force that varies according to the number of elastic cords employed provide the degree of resilience in the seat. The degree of resilience may be adjusted in accordance with the relative collapse of the lower extremities of the person. As the walking ability of the person progresses, such lifting force may be reduced overtime by reducing the number of elastic cords employed.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A mobility assist device comprising:
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(a) a seat for supporting at least a portion of the weight of a person endeavoring to walk, said seat being located at a height above the ground whereby such person may remain in continuous contact with the ground; (b) a mobile support structure; (c) a rocker beam having a first end and a second end, said rocker beam being carried by a rocking beam pivot at a point intermediate said first end and said second end, said first end of said rocker beam being resiliently coupled to said mobile support structure through a resilient coupling member; and (d) said second end of said rocker beam carrying said seat; whereby said person endeavoring to walk may be assisted in walking by resting at least a portion of the weight of said person upon said seat while the seat is oriented such that said person endeavoring to walk faces away from the support structure and wherein the seat is oriented to provide that the legs of said person endeavoring to walk are substantially free in the user'"'"'s forward direction from obstructions associated with the mobile support structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A mobility assist device comprising:
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(a) a mobile support structure; (b) a beam which is pivotally connected at a pivot point to the mobile support structure; (c) a seat, resiliently supported by the beam, for supporting at least a portion of the weight of a person endeavoring to walk, said seat being located at a height above the ground whereby such person may remain in continuous contact with the ground and being positioned and oriented such that said person endeavoring to walk faces away from the support structure with the legs of said person being substantially free in the person'"'"'s forward direction from obstructions associated with the mobile support structure whereby said person will be assisted in walking by resting at least a portion of the weight of said person upon said seat. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification