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Electronically controlled brakes for walkers

  • US 7,708,120 B2
  • Filed: 08/17/2007
  • Issued: 05/04/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2007
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In a mobility assisting device having a support frame carried by at least one wheel:

  • a brake assembly incorporating a brake actuator for said at least one wheel;

    a control system for said brake actuator, said control system incorporating a microprocessor and a brake controller circuit and being normally in an inactive state to hold said brake assembly in an engaged condition and being shiftable to an active state to shift the brake assembly between said engaged and a released condition, the engaged condition preventing said at least one wheel from rolling and the released condition allowing said at least one wheel to roll;

    said brake controller circuit being responsive to brake control output signals from said control system microprocessor for shifting said brake assembly between its engaged and released conditions;

    at least one operator-engageable support handle on said support frame;

    an operator detector on said support frame handle for producing operator detector signals when an operator grasps said support frame handle to allow activation of said control system and to deactivate the control system when the operator releases said support frame handle;

    at least one brake controller sensor located on said support frame handle for easy access by an operator grasping said handle and being responsive to operator actuation for producing brake controller sensor signals;

    said microprocessor being responsive to the presence of both said brake controller sensor signals and said operator detector signals to provide corresponding brake control outputs to enable an operator to controllably release or engage the brake assembly actuator by actuation of said brake controller sensor, the microprocessor being further responsive to the operator releasing said handle to shift said control system to the inactive state to thereby engage the brake assembly; and

    said brake controller circuit being connected to release or engage said brake actuator in response to said brake control output from said microprocessor.

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