Step extending apparatus

• US 7,490,617 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Step Extender, LLC
• Original Assignee: Step Extender, LLC
• Inventors: Jones, Richard Martin, Bell, Frank Brabson
• Primary Examiner(s): YIP, WINNIE S
• Application Number:
  US10/263,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20030111100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,329 Days
• Field of Search: 135 65- 67, 135/84, 135/82, 135/69, 135/75, 482 51- 53, 482 66- 68, 482/35, 482/36, 482/75, 182/106, 182/113, 5 8/11, 425/4, 297/423.41
• US Class Current: 135/66
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus driving means for vibrating A61H23/00; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/001 on steps or stairways

Abstract

A step-extending device is adapted for use in association with a walker to ascend or descend a stairway. The step-extending device may employ a first base and a second base, each of which is adapted to receive legs of a walker upon respective upper surfaces. The device may be used in connection with a frame that connects the first and second bases to each other. A cross member connects first and second bases. A frame includes one or more upright members with handles adapted for grasping and moving the step-extending device from one stair to another stair during use. The height of each of the first and second support bases is adjusted to approximate the height of stairs upon a stairway, so that stairs of essentially any height may be accommodated.

Claims

1. A step-extending device configured for assisting persons to walk upon steps of a stairway using a four-point walker, comprising:

(a) a first base and a second base, each of said first and second bases defining a flat planar underside configured to rest unattended upon a first step when the device is in use, each of said first and second bases further defining a flat planar upper surface disposed above each respective underside and disposable in use to support one leg of the walker at a height substantially equal to the step disposed above said first step, each of said bases defining a height extending vertically between said flat planar underside and said flat planar upper surface;

(b) a cross member, said cross member comprising a first end and a second end, said first end of said cross member being attached to said first base, said second end of said cross member being attached to said second base,

wherein said device is selectively operable between a first mode and a second mode;

wherein in said first mode each of said first and second bases includes a first predetermined number of units stacked upon each other to define a first height; and

wherein in said second mode each of said first and second bases includes a second predetermined number of units stacked upon each other to define a second height different from said first height;

(c) a first hinge pivotally connecting at least two of said units of said first base;

(d) a second hinge pivotally connecting at least two of said units of said second base; and

(e) a flip bar having a first end connected to one of said hinged units of said first base, said flip bar having a second end disposed opposite said first end and connected to one of said hinged units of said second base, wherein pivoting movement of said flip bar reconfigures the device between said first and second modes.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lever having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said second end being pivotally connected to said flip bar, wherein said lever is configured and disposed so that activation of said lever effects said pivoting movement of said flip bar.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising:

a first upright member extending vertically from at least one of said cross member and one of said bases, said first upright member including a first end connected to at least one of said cross member and one of said bases and having a second end positioned above said first end;

a second upright member extending vertically from at least one of said cross member and one of said bases, said second upright member having a first end connected to at least one of said cross member and one of said bases and having a second end positioned above said first end;

a horizontal bar connecting said first upright member and said second upright member; and

wherein said lever is pivotally mounted upon said horizontal bar.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein pivoting of said lever relative to said horizontal bar effects said pivoting movement of said flip bar, thereby changing said step-extending device from said first mode to said second mode.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said lever defines a telescoping section, said telescoping section defining a distal end, said telescoping section being pivotally mounted upon said horizontal bar, said lever further defining a first rigid rod having opposite ends, one of said opposite ends of said first rigid rod being pivotally connected to said flip bar and the other of said opposite ends of said first rigid rod being pivotally connected to said distal end of said telescoping section.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said telescoping section includes a second rigid rod and a rigid hollow tube, said tube defining a proximal end, said distal end of said telescoping section being formed by a distal end of said tube and disposed opposite said proximal end of said tube, said tube further defining a plurality of along the length of said tube between said proximal and distal ends, said proximal end of said rigid tube being pivotally mounted upon said horizontal bar, said second rod defining at least one adjustment hole transversely through one end thereof and said one end of said second rigid rod being slideably disposed within said proximal end of said tube.

7. A step extending device configured for assisting persons who require a four-point walker in order to render themselves self-ambulatory under their own power, to walk upon steps of a stairway using a four-point walker, the stairway having a plurality of vertically extending risers, each riser being disposed between adjacent steps, which extend horizontally, the step extending device comprising:

(a) a first base and a second base, said first base defining a fiat planar underside configured to rest unattended upon a first step when the device is in use on a stairway, said second base defining a flat planar underside configured to rest unattended upon the same first step at the same time as the first base is resting unattended on the same first step when the device is in use on the same stairway, each of said first and second bases further defining a horizontally flat, rigid, non-moving planar upper surface extending the length and width of each respective base and disposed above each respective underside and disposable in use to support one leg of the walker at a height substantially equal to the height of a step that is disposed above said first step, each of said bases defining a height extending vertically between said flat planar underside and said flat planar upper surface, said second base being disposed horizontally spaced apart from said first base to define a vacant volume of space between said bases, said vacant volume of space being large enough to permit the assisted person to stand between the bases while the bases and the assisted person are simultaneously resting on the same step, each said base defining a forward portion and a rearward portion that is disposed opposite and spaced horizontally apart from said forward portion;

(b) a cross member, said cross member comprising a first end and a second end, said first end of said cross member being attached to and contacting said first base and said second end of said cross member being attached to and contacting said second base such that said cross member is disposed closer to said rearward portions of said first and second bases than to said forward portions of said first and second bases such that said cross member does not preclude the person being assisted from standing between the two bases on the same step on which the two bases are also then being supported and while the riser of the stairway is disposed closer to the forward portions of both of the bases than the rearward portions of both of the bases; and

a first upright member extending vertically from at least one of said cross member and said first base, said first upright member including a first end positioned adjacent one of said first base and said cross member, said first upright member including a second end positioned above said first end, said first upright member having a length extending from said first end to said second end;

a second upright member extending vertically from at least one of said cross member and said second base, said second upright member having a first end connected to at least one of said cross member and said second base, said second upright member defining a second end positioned above the first end;

a horizontal bar connecting said first upright member and said second upright member; and

an extension projecting upwards from said horizontal bar, said extension being adapted to facilitate grasping of said step extending device.