Systems and methods for assisting a seated person to a standing position

• US 8,166,987 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Craig Weaver
• Original Assignee: WeCare Products Inc. USA
• Inventors: Weaver, Craig E.
• Primary Examiner(s): YIP, WINNIE S
• Application Number:
  US12/024,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20080121259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 135 65- 67, 135/85, 135/75, 280/647, 280/650, 280/655.1, 280/87.021, 280/47.17, 280/87.041, 5 8/11.R, 5 8/31, 5 8/61, 482/67
• US Class Current: 135/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/14 Standing-up or sitting-down aids
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0533 Lifting poles
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1038 Manual lifting aids, e.g. frames or racks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/043 with a drive mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/046 with braking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1633 Seat A61H2201/0149 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/00 Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04 ; applying electrical currents by contact electrodes for stimulating motor muscles, e.g. walking assistance A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/04 Wheeled walking aids for patients or disabled persons

Abstract

A walker device including a walking aid and a lifting arm attached to, and extending in an approximate vertical direction from, the walking aid. The walking aid may include two front legs and two back legs. The walking aid may include two or more wheels attached to the bottom of the two front legs and/or two back legs. The walking aid may be a multiple-legged cane. The walking aid may be a wheeled mobility device. The lifting arm may include a gripping handle positioned at its approximate distal end.

Claims

1. A walker device for assisting a seated person to stand, comprising:

a walking aid comprising at least two horizontal and transversely spaced walking aid handles for gripping while using the walking aid for walking; and

a substantially straight lifting arm extending at least 12 inches in an approximate vertical direction from the walking aid and comprising a gripping handle positioned at an approximate distal end of the lifting arm, wherein the approximate distal end terminates in a substantially straight configuration, wherein the lifting arm is moveable independent of the walking aid;

wherein the lifting arm is positioned above the horizontal walking aid handle and is configured to receive at least one hand of a helper at a first position;

wherein the walking aid is configured to receive at least one hand of the seated person at a second position separated from the first position; and

wherein the first position and the second position are sufficiently separated to produce leverage so that the walking aid pivots about a front portion of the walking aid and lifts a back portion or the walking aid when the lifting arm is pulled in a direction away from the seated person by the helper, the lifting arm moves in a direction towards the helper, to assist the seated person to stand.

2. The walker device of claim 1, wherein the walking aid is a wheeled walker comprising two front legs and two back legs, wherein the two front legs or the two back legs comprise wheels positioned at their distal ends.

3. The walker device of claim 2, wherein the lifting arm extends from one of the two front legs.

4. The walker device of claim 2, wherein each of two front legs comprise a wheel attached at the distal ends and a locking mechanism to prevent rotation of the wheels when actuated.

5. The walker device of claim 1, wherein the walking aid is a rollator comprising two front legs and two back legs and the at least two handles extending from the two front legs or the two back legs, wherein each of the two front legs and the two back legs comprise a wheel attached at the distal ends.

6. The walker device of claim 5, wherein the lifting arm extends from one of the two front legs.

7. The walker device of claim 5, wherein the lifting arm extends from one or the two handles.

8. The walker device of claim 5, wherein each wheel positioned at the distal ends of the two front legs comprises a locking mechanism to prevent rotation of the wheels when actuated.

9. The walker device of claim 1, wherein the lifting arm is configured to pivot about a point of attachment to the walking aid in an approximate front to back direction, wherein the pivoting allows the lifting arm to be pivoted towards the seated person and towards the helper person.

10. The walker device of claim 9, wherein the gripping handle is a first gripping handle, and further comprising a second gripping handle sufficiently separated from the first gripping handle configured to receive at least one of the seated person.

11. A method for manufacturing a walker device for assisting a seated person to stand, comprising:

providing a walking aid comprising a pair of interconnected front legs, a pair of back legs, each front leg connected to a respective back leg by a top support, providing the walking aid having at least two walking aid handles, wherein the walking handles are transversely spaced and horizontal, and extending toward the back legs

attaching at least one substantially straight lifting arm extending at least 12 inches in an approximate vertical direction from the walking aid, wherein the at least one lifting arm is moveable independent of the walking aid, wherein the lifting arm positioned above the walking aid handles; and

affixing a gripping handle to an approximate distal end of the at least one lifting arm configured to receive at least one hand of a helper at a position in front of the walking aid, wherein the approximate distal end terminates in a substantially straight configuration, wherein the walking aid is allowed to pivot about a front portion of the walking aid and to tilt the back portion of the walking aid when the lifting arm is pulled in a direction away from a seated person by the helper to assist the seated person to stand.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising constructing at least one front leg to receive the at least one lifting arm in an area within the at least one front leg, wherein the at least one lifting arm and the at least one front leg are operable to allow the at least one lifting arm to telescopically extend from within the at least on front leg.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising removably attaching the at least one lifting arm.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising constructing the at least one lifting arm to comprise a first vertical member, a second vertical member substantially parallel to the first vertical member, and a horizontal connector connecting the first vertical member and the second vertical member, and attaching a distal end of the first vertical member to one of the front legs and attaching a distal end of the second vertical member to the other front leg.