Patent ID: 6453921
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: A61H

Abstract:
A folding walker aid apparatus comprising:a pair of tubular P-shaped frame elements, wherein each frame element comprises a horizontal top portion having a grip, a vertical front portion containing apertures designed to accept a cotter pin, and a vertical rear leg sleeve portion having a series of aligned apertures adapted to accept a spring-loaded button contained inside the top of each rear leg; a tubular U-shaped frame element having an upper horizontal curvilinear crossbar, a lower horizontal curvilinear crossbar, and two vertical front leg portions, each consisting of an outer tube portion, and an inner tube portion; a pair of middle tube leg portions, one designated for each of said front leg portions, adapted to slide between said outer tube portion and said inner tube portion, assisted by a coil spring, and having a series of aligned apertures; a pair of hand controls levers located on said upper horizontal curvilinear crossbar adapted to control the extension and retraction of said middle tube leg portions; a pair of brackets connecting said pair of tubular P-shaped frame elements to said tubular U-shaped frame element, and said pair of brackets adapted to change the height of said pair of tubular P-shaped frame elements relative to preferred and appropriate user height, and adapted to rotate said pair of tubular P-shaped frame elements inward for folding said walker apparatus; and each of said outer tube portions containing said coil spring, which in turn surrounds said inner tube portion containing a flat spring-metal supported locking button protruding at one end thereof which is adapted to be connected by a cable to each of said hand control levers; whereby either, or both, of the said pair of hand control levers actuates both of said locking buttons simultaneously to retract from said apertures in said middle tube portion of each of said front leg portions to permit the simultaneous extension or retraction of said middle tube portions of said front leg portions for ascending or descending stairs.