Tray for a walker

• US 8,631,811 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2012
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harold T. And Alice M. Mccarthy Memorial Scholarship Fund Under Declaration Of Trust
• Original Assignee: Salem State University Foundation Incorporated
• Inventors: McCarthy, Alice
• Primary Examiner(s): YIP, WINNIE S
• Application Number:
  US13/598,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20120318312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 135 66- 67, 135/74, 135/85, 108/42, 108/44, 108/49, 108/50.11, 108/50.16, 224/407, 224/409, 297 5- 7, 482 66- 68, 280/87.021, 280/250.1
• US Class Current: 135/66
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/004 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0161 Size reducing arrangements when not in use, for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/04 Wheeled walking aids for patients or disabled persons

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tray for use with a walker. The tray includes a generally rigid tray base having an essentially rectangular shape with a front long side, a back long side, a first short side and a second short side, and wherein the tray has a length that extends to or past the essentially horizontal support member; a ridge extending along the sides of the tray, wherein the ridge has a height of at least about a ½ inch; a strap having a hook and loop fastener wherein the strap is positioned at or near the back long end; and a first hinge and a second hinge, the first and second hinges are positioned, when the tray is in use, at or near the front leg of the first and second support, respectively.

Claims

1. A tray in combination with a walker, said walker having a first support and a second support, the first support having an essentially vertical front leg of the first support and an essentially vertical back leg of the first support, and the second support having an essentially vertical front leg of the second support and an essentially vertical back leg of the second support, said essentially vertical front leg of the first support and the essentially vertical back leg of the first support being joined at a first top portion by a first handle and at a first lower portion by a first essentially horizontal support member, and said essentially vertical front leg of the second support and the essentially vertical back leg of the second support being joined at a second top portion by a second handle and at a second lower portion by a second essentially horizontal support member;

said walker further including a cross bar that connects the first support and the second support at an upper point of each front leg;

the tray comprises;

a. a generally rigid tray base having an essentially rectangular shape with a front long side, a back long side, a first short side, and a second short side;

b. a ridge or wall extending along the sides of the tray;

c. a fastener positioned at or near the back long side of the tray; and

d. one or more hinges, wherein at least one hinge is positioned at the essentially vertical front leg of the first support or at the essentially vertical front leg of the second support;

wherein a length of the tray is greater than or equal to a distance between the essentially horizontal support member of the first support and the essentially horizontal support member of the second support; and

a width of the tray is less than a distance between the essentially vertical front leg of the first support and the essentially vertical back leg of the first support or than a distance between the essentially vertical front leg of the second support and the essentially vertical back leg of the second support; and

wherein the two short sides of the tray can be placed on the essentially horizontal support members of the walker in a use position, and the fastener is connectable to the cross member of the walker to hang the tray to the walker in a folding position.

2. The tray of claim 1, wherein the one or more hinges comprises a loop or a tie.

3. The tray of claim 1, wherein the tray base, the ridge or the wall is made from the same material or from different material.

4. The tray of claim 1, wherein the tray base, the ridge or the wall, or both are made from metal, stainless steel, plastic, wood, hardboard, composites, or any combination thereof.

5. A method for carrying an item from a first location to a second location using a walker, the walker having a first support and a second support, the first support having an essentially vertical front leg of the first support and an essentially vertical back leg of the first support, and the second support having an essentially vertical front leg of the second support and an essentially vertical back leg of the second support, said essentially vertical front leg of the first support and the essentially vertical back leg of the first support being joined at a first top portion by a first handle and at a first lower portion by a first essentially horizontal support member, and said essentially vertical front leg of the second support and the essentially vertical back leg of the second support being joined at a second top portion by a second handle and at a second lower portion by a second essentially horizontal support member;

said walker further including a cross bar that connects the first support and the second support at an upper point of each front leg;

the method comprises;

a. placing the item on a tray that comprises;

i. a generally rigid tray base having an essentially rectangular shape with a front long side, a back long side, a first short side, and a second short side;

ii. a ridge or a wall extending along the sides of the tray;

iii. a fastener positioned at or near the back long side of the tray; and

iv. one or more hinges, wherein at least one hinge is positioned at the essentially vertical front leg of the first support or at the essentially vertical front leg of the second support;

wherein a length of the tray is greater than or equal to a distance between the essentially horizontal support member of the first support and the essentially horizontal member of the second support; and

a width of the tray is less than a distance between the essentially vertical front leg of the first support and the essentially vertical back leg of the first support or than a distance between the essentially vertical front leg of the second support and the essentially vertical back leg of the second support; and

wherein the two short sides of the tray can be placed on the essentially horizontal support members of the walker in a use position, and the fastener is connectable to the cross member of the walker to hang the tray to the walker in a folding position; and

b. walking to the second location using said walker.

6. The method of claim 5, further including folding down the tray by disengaging the fastener.

7. The method of claim 5, further including folding up the tray when in use and engaging the fastener.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein engaging the fastener further includes wrapping the fastener around the cross bar or attaching the fastener to the cross bar.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the tray further includes one or more hinges that are comprised of a loop or a tie.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the tray base, the ridge or the wall is made from the same material or from different material.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the tray base, the ridge or the wall, or both are made from metal, stainless steel, plastic, wood, hardboard, composites, or any combination thereof.

12. A system for carrying an item from one location to another using a walker;

the system comprises;

a. a walker having a first support and a second support, the first support having an essentially vertical front leg of the first support and an essentially vertical back leg of the first support, and the second support having an essentially vertical front leg of the second support and an essentially vertical back leg of the second support, said essentially vertical front leg of the first support and the essentially vertical back leg of the first support being joined at a first top portion by a first handle and at a first lower portion by a first essentially horizontal support member, and said essentially vertical front leg of the second support and the essentially vertical back leg of the second support being joined at a second top portion by a second handle and at a second lower portion by a second essentially horizontal support member;

said walker further including a cross bar that connects the first support and the second support at an upper point of each front leg; and

b. a tray that comprises;

i. a generally rigid tray base having an essentially rectangular shape with a front long side, a back long side, a first short side, and a second short side;

ii. a ridge or a wall extending along the sides of the tray;

iii. a fastener positioned at or near the back long side of the tray; and

iv. one or more hinges, wherein at least one hinge is positioned at the essentially vertical front leg of the first support or at the essentially vertical front leg of the second support;

wherein a length of the tray is greater than or equal to a distance between the essentially horizontal support member of the first support and the essentially horizontal member of the second support; and

a width of the tray is less than a distance between the essentially vertical front leg of the first support and the essentially vertical back leg of the first support or than a distance between the essentially vertical front leg of the second support and the essentially vertical back leg of the second support; and

wherein the two short sides of the tray can be placed on the essentially horizontal support members of the walker in a use position, and the fastener is connectable to the cross member of the walker to hang the tray to the walker in a folding position.

13. The system of claim 12, further including an adapter for allowing a stationary walker to slide across the floor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the adapter is a glide or a roller.