Abstract:
A walker and standing aid provides lift assist handles operably coupled to opposing tracks connected to the walker. The handles can transition between lift and adjustment configurations whereby when in the lift configuration, a person&#39;s weight can be supported thereby and when in the adjustment configuration the lift assist handle can be elevationally adjusted relative to the track. For preferred embodiments, the handles are infinitely adjustable within a range of motion along the tracks.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/973,893 filed Apr. 2, 2014 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to walkers and/or standing aids for use by those of possibly limited mobility, and in particular a device which can provide for relatively easy elevation adjustment, such as without tools, and possibly over an infinite selection of elevations within a predetermined range. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Walkers are a relatively well established piece of medical equipment. Some have at least some wheels, some do not. 
     Some walkers, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,990, are a significant improvement over prior art walkers in that this design provides a lower set of handles which can pivot about an axis parallel to the front legs for use as a standing aid. However, for this design, the user, or another person, sets the height of the lower handles with collar clamps 250 which are then not easily changed by the user, and certainly not elevationally positionable as one works their way up from a seated position. 
     Furthermore, the design of the walker of the &#39;990 patent limits the range of motion elevationally to a range between the top and bottom front cross members. These cross members at least prevent a clamp from being slid through either of the positions of the top and bottom front cross members without first removing the clamp from the walker. This range is believed to be too limited for many embodiments. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved walker construction. 
     There is also a need for an improved standing aid for at least some individuals. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of many embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved walker construction which allows a user to relatively easily select an elevation for the lift assist handles. 
     It is another object of many embodiments of the present invention for the user to adjust the height of one lift assist handle while leaning on the other, and vice versa, to effectively “walk up” to a standing position. 
     It is yet another object of many embodiments of the present invention to provide opposing tracks which respectively receives lift assist handles therealong over a range for at least some embodiments extending below the bottom front crossbar, or even below the bottom side crossbar to above the top front crossbar, or even the top side crossbar for at least some embodiments. 
     It is yet another object of many embodiments of the present invention to allow the user to select one of an infinite selection of elevations for the lift assist handles over a range, preferably without tools. 
     Accordingly, in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a walker configuration provides a standing aid having opposing tracks which receive bases of lift assist handles therein. The bases of the lift assist handles are preferably constructed to be elevationally positionable such as by rotating the bases out of a friction hold configuration, such as in a downward position, to an upward or position allowing the bases to move up and down within the tracks. At a desired elevation, the handle is then rotated to the friction hold position (such as downward) where the base can be retained by friction in the track at a desired elevation. For many embodiments, this change in elevation can occur without tools. 
     The tracks are preferably connected to top and bottom side crossbars and extend over an elevation range further for many embodiments than the front top and bottom crossbars. Furthermore, the tracks may allow for the positioning of the handles below the bottom side crossbars as well as over the top side crossbars. 
     For many embodiments, there is an infinite selection of elevations over the range as opposed to selecting from a select number of possible elevation locations. Furthermore, for at least preferred embodiments, the user can “walk up”, possibly by applying pressure to one lift assist handle and raising the other handle to a desired elevation and then applying pressure to that lift assist handle and vise versa until the user is in a standing position. 
     For many embodiments the tracks can be located at or between the front and rear legs, and for at least some embodiments, the tracks can be supported by the side cross members. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a walker; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a portion of the walker shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross sectional view of a portion of a lift assist handle in a track showing an ability to move up and down in the track in a first configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross sectional view similar to that of  FIG. 3  in a second configuration showing the handle able to bear weight in the downward position at a desired elevation; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear partial cross section of the track and base portion of the lift assist handle; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side plan view of the walker of  FIGS. 1-5  in use as a standing aid. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a device a lift assist  10  of a presently preferred embodiment is provided as or with a walker  12 . This embodiment has wheels  14 , 16 , and other embodiments may, or may not have these or other wheels. If a walker  12  does have wheels  14 , 16 , brakes with brake handles may also be used to assist in preventing those wheels from turning under certain circumstances. 
     The walker  12  is elevationally adjustably such as by having feet  18 - 24  be received within legs  26 ,  30 , 32 , 34  as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rear feet  18 , 20  have rubber stoppers  36 , 38 , but could have wheels such as wheels  14 , 16  as discussed above. Similarly, front feet  22 , 24  could have stoppers such as stoppers  36 , 38  for at least some embodiments. 
     Legs  26 ,  30 , 32 , 34  are preferably formed so that legs  26 , 34  meet at a U or upper extension  39  at first hand hold  40  and legs  30 , 32  also meet at a U or upper extension  41  at second hand hold  42 . These are the traditional hand holds  40 , 42  on the upper extensions  39 , 41  most walker constructions currently available on the market provide. 
     Also, most walker constructions provide for front top and bottom crossbars  44 , 46  as well as top and bottom side crossbars  48 , 50  (right) and  52 , 54  (left). The front crossbars  44 , 46  may coordinate to allow for the folding of the walker for some embodiments as would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     What separates this walker  12  from prior art constructions is the combination with a standing aid or lift assist  10 . Lift assist  10  is provided in the form of opposing tracks  56 , 58  which are operably coupled to lift assist handles  60 , 62 . Lift assist handles  60 , 62  preferably have grips  64 , 66  connected to bases  68  (only one is shown, the other is similarly constructed for at least the preferred embodiment). Lift assists  10  as shown and described herein may also be provided on structures other than walkers  12  for at least some embodiments. 
     Tracks  56 , 58  may be mounted internally or externally relative to side cross bars  48 , 50  and/or  52 , 54  or even in plane thereto, for at least some embodiments. Tracks  56 , 58  are shown connected to the respective side cross bars  48 , 50  and  52 , 54  with U-bolts  70 , 72  and  74 , 76  although other embodiments could connect the tracks  56 , 58  differently such as to leg(s) or upper extension(s) or otherwise. 
     When connecting in this manner, the tracks  56 , 58  can extend above and below the side cross bars  48 , 50  and  52 , 54  respectively. As will be discussed below, the range of motion of where the handles  60 , 62  can be positioned relative to the tracks is preferably infinitely adjustable within the range of motion. Furthermore, for much of the tracks  56 , 58  the handles  60 , 62  can be positioned relative thereto. Although the operation of only one handle  60  is shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , the other handle  62  operates similarly thereto for many embodiments. 
     The handles  60 , 62  can preferably be elevationally adjusted by a user  78  shown in  FIG. 6  with reference to  FIGS. 2-5 . Specifically, the user  78  can select an elevation for each of the handles  60 , 62  relative to the respective tracks  56 , 58 . By rotating the handle  60  (and  62 ) and thus base  68 , a friction fit of the base relative to the track  56  can be released. For the preferred embodiment this can happen by rotating the shoulder  80  off of first inside face  82  of track  56  which may also rotate the toe  84  off of the opposing second inside face  86  of track  56 . For at least some embodiments, one or more rollers such as roller  88  may be useful to allow for the easy elevational positioning by the user  78  up or down as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     By rotating the handle in an opposite direction to the direction shown in  FIG. 3  as is shown in  FIG. 4 , the shoulder  80  contacts the first inside face  82  and the toe  84  contacts the opposing or second inside face  86  thereby providing a friction fit. Additional attempts at rotating in the direction shown in  FIG. 4  may allow the user  78  to place weight on the handle  60  to assist as a standing aid in a support configuration. 
       FIG. 5  may be helpful to show that the shoulder  80  may have ears  88 , 90  which extend from support  92  with support  92  passing within slot  94  of track  56  while ears  88 , 90  are located within and behind extensions  96 , 98  with the opposite sides of extensions  96 , 98  forming the first inside face  82  for at least the preferred embodiment. 
     Caps  100 , 102  may retain the base  68  within the track(s)  56 , 58 , and certainly other track and base constructions as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art may be employed with various embodiments. 
     One feature of the present embodiment of standing aid  10  is that a user may set the position of each of the handles  60 , 62 . By taking pressure off of one of the handles  60 , 62  and rotating upward or forward, the handle, such as handle  62  can be moved upward (or even downward) an amount desired by the user  78  in an adjust configuration. Then the user  78  can apply pressure to that handle  62  and pull up on handle  60  to put it in a desired position and vice versa. In this manner, the user  78  can “walk up” to a standing position. 
     Many embodiments of the present invention do not require tools by the user  78  to select the elevation of each of the handles  60 , 62  which is believed to be an advantage for those embodiments. Additionally, the tracks  56 , 58  may be oriented to be vertical as illustrated or angled relative to a vertical for at least some embodiments. 
     Other embodiments may have the tracks positioned forward of a center  104  of the traditional and holds  40 , 42 . Still others could connect the tracks  56 , 58 , or even integrate the tracks into the front legs  32 , 34 , front cross bars  44 , 46 , or other appropriate location. 
     When not in use, it may be that the handles  60 , 62  are directed to a bottom  106  of the tracks by gravity and the motion of the walker  12  where they can be lifted to a desired position by the user  78  the next time they are needed, or they may be a the desired position, such as to assist from standing from a particularly low position. 
     Handles  60 , 62  may also be directed to be at a desired angle relative to the tracks when in the locked position shown in  FIG. 4 , such as perpendicular to the track, or more preferably, at least slightly upwardly angled, such as to assist an individual in getting into a desirable standing position over their feet  106 , such as shown in  FIG. 6 . For slightly angled, the applicant provides at least about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees and more preferably about 5 degrees to about 10 degrees. 
     If a user decides not to “walk up” as described above, the user  78  could hold onto the handles  60 , 62  as they stand, and if they then need to stop at an intermediate point, downward pressure on the handles  60 , 62  can provide the friction fit to support at least some if not all of the weight of the user  78  at this position until they then resume standing to be able to transition to the traditional handles  40 , 42 . 
     Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.