Virtual walker apparatus

• US 7,540,342 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert John Ein
• Original Assignee: Robert John Ein
• Inventors: Ein, Robert John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): YEAGLEY, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US10/390,309
• Time in Patent Office: 2,269 Days
• Field of Search: 180/19.1, 180/19.2, 180/65.1, 180/65.5, 180/65.6, 180/65.8, 735/10
• US Class Current: 180/19.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/043 with a drive mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/04 Wheeled walking aids for disabled persons A61H3/06 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention uses specialized wheel sets to navigate over various surfaces. The invention has a primary drive wheel with two outrigger wheels to provide stability. In the basic motorized configuration of the apparatus, the user provides certain hand movements of the control mechanism, which in turn produces control signal(s). Incorporated into the invention is a power lifting mechanism, which aids the user to be elevated from a seated position to a standing position without any assistance. A built-in seat is incorporated within the invention. The built-in seat is a fold down type that is adjustable in height.

In the virtual mode, various user motion signals are relayed, by wireless means, to an embedded computer module, within the apparatus. This embedded computer provides control signals to operate the invention.

For ease of transport and erection, retractable/deployable units are incorporated into the design of the invention.

Claims

1. A walker apparatus comprising

a frame, said frame having a handle portion adapted to be gripped by a user during ambulatory movement following said walker apparatus,

a plurality of wheels,

mounting means mounting each wheel on said frame,

a drive mechanism for controlling a direction and speed of movement of said walker apparatus,

connecting means connecting said drive mechanism to at least one of said plurality of wheels, said drive mechanism operative when said walker apparatus is used,

an electrical circuit connected to, for controlling operation of, said drive mechanism, and control means for controlling operation of said electrical circuit, said control means comprising a plurality of sensors located within an outsole portion of a covering for each foot of the user, wherein each said covering for each said foot of the user includes said outsole portion, wherein said outsole portion comprises said plurality of sensors located within said outsole portion, each said sensor arranged in a position within each outsole portion to respond to characteristics that normally are recognized as criteria in a determination of an individual'"'"'s gait of movement of the user, and said sensors within each outsole portion adapted to provide a continuous signal controlling said electrical circuit and said drive mechanism indicative of a total response of said sensors over time, including any change in response that may occur indicative of a change in said gait of movement.

2. The walker apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means further comprises a pair of shoes each having a sole plate portion, a heel section, outer shoe liner, and electronic means for controlling said walker apparatus.

3. The walker apparatus of claim 1 further comprising electronic means including said sensors and a microprocessor unit including a memory, and input/output modules.

4. The walker apparatus of claim 1 wherein an output signal of each sensor is characterized as a force measurement associated with the gait of movement of the user during walking, turning and/or running sequences.

5. The walker apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wireless link for relay of an output signal from each said sensor output signal to said control means.

6. The walker apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a microprocessor within said control means, said microprocessor adapted to analyze said output signal of each sensor output and provide guidance and control parameters to said drive mechanism.

7. The walker apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a pair of shoes having a sole plate portion, and each of said plurality of sensors comprises a piezo-electric sensor mechanically connected to said sole plate portion for producing a signal representing a force applied to said sole plate.

8. A walker apparatus capable of use with stability in operation both in assisting an individual in movement from a first non-ambulatory disposition to a second ambulatory disposition, and thereafter supporting said individual while in said second disposition for walking movement at a pace and in directions determined by operative conditions of use comprising:

a main frame including first and second legs each having a first end at a forward location and a second end at a rearward location, respectively, of said walker apparatus, said legs toward said rearward location being spaced apart, one to the other, at a distance greater than to a spacing of said legs at said forward location, and a member including opposed upper and lower, surfaces, substantially parallel to one another;

first means for mounting said member on said frame in a manner that said lower surface extends between, and upwardly from, locations along said first and second legs closer to said forward location than said rearward location;

a first and second support, each having a first and second end, for positioning and stabilizing said member on an orientation with said upper surface located within a plane above and substantially parallel to said first and second legs;

second means for mounting said first end of said first and second supports, respectively, to said first and second legs within substantially said forward location of each, and said second end of first and second supports equidistantly spaced from a center-line of said member;

a plurality of wheels for supporting said main frame said wheels arranged in a pattern providing said walker apparatus stability in said operative conditions of use on and along a supporting surface;

third and fourth means for mounting, respectively, one of said wheels of said plurality of wheels on said first and second legs within substantially said rearward location;

fifth means for mounting each remaining wheel of said plurality of wheels and interconnecting said first end of each leg;

first and second lift bar each said lift bar having a first and second end;

sixth and seventh means substantially at said spaced locations along said opposed, upper surface of said member providing a pivot mounting, respectively, for said first end of each lift bar whereby each said lift bar extends toward said rearward location;

handle means carried on said second end of each lift bar adapted to be grasped by said individual;

first and second lift bar drive mechanism, each said first and second lift bar drive mechanism having a first and second end;

eighth means connecting said first end of each said lift bar drive mechanisms to said member at a location below said opposed, upper surface and ninth means connecting said second end of each said lift bar, respectively; and

power means for driving each lift bar drive mechanism whereby said second end of each lift bar is capable of movement between indeterminate positions including a position near said surface to another position, above said surface in assisting said individual while grasping each said handle in movement from said first non-ambulatory to said second ambulatory disposition.

9. The walker apparatus of claim 8 wherein both said first and second leg and lift bars each include of individual segments with the segment most at a back from rearward of said walker apparatus adapted to be received telescopically within an adjoining segment, with the two segments received telescopically within the next adjoining segment, and so forth, resulting in a single cluster of segments closer to said forward region of the walker apparatus.

10. The walker apparatus of claim 9 further comprising switch means including on/off capability associated with said pluralities of individual segments to alert said individual to conditions that said individual segments are in non-operative locations not fully clustered or not fully extended.

11. The walker apparatus of claim 8 wherein said main frame includes a substantially rectangular opening defined by a pair of opposed, substantially vertical confronting surfaces, and further comprising a seat having an operative position extending toward said rearward location of said walker apparatus, and a non-operative position within said opening between said surfaces.

12. The walker apparatus of claim 11 wherein said vertical confronting surfaces each define a pair of rails along opposite edges, and further comprising:

a bar, opposite ends of said bar mounted within and movable along said pair of rails;

said seat along an edge adjacent said main frame supported by said bar;

bracket means mounted on said main frame; and

a pair of seat braces extending between said bracket means and said seat at spaced locations along the opposite edge.

13. The walker apparatus of claim 8 wherein each leg of said first and second legs extends from said first end at said forward location of said walker apparatus to said second end at said rearward location of said walker apparatus in a pattern generally forming a triangle.

14. The walker apparatus of claim 13 wherein said fifth means mounts only a single wheel in position substantially at an apex of said triangle.

15. The walker apparatus of claim 14 further including a housing member at said forward location, and wherein said fifth means mounts said single wheel to said housing member.

16. The walker apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a pair of non-skid assembly units, tenth means for mounting each non-skid assembly unit to a lower surface of a respective leg substantially at said first end throughout a distance toward said second end, and said fifth means for raising said single wheel whereby said non-skid assembly units support said walker apparatus on a surface supporting said walker apparatus, to stabilize said walker apparatus during said assist of said individual in movement from said first non-ambulatory to said second ambulatory disposition.

17. The walker apparatus of claim 15 wherein said power means drives said wheel, and eleventh means connecting said power means and said wheel.