Abstract:
A system of attaching a trailing seat attachment to a walker so a person can sit down while using the walker without the need to turn around. The system comprising a pair of facing identical wheeled walkers coupled by an extension rod there between, where the walker includes spring loaded casters to restrict rolling when downward forces are applied to the walker seat or grips.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to assisting users of walkers with a safe and convenient place to sit while using a conventional stand-alone walker and more specifically to providing trailing chair attachments for operation with various makes and models of pre-existing walkers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the past, it has not been uncommon in a nursing home environment to have many patients/residents each having their own personally owned conventional stand alone walker. The term “conventional stand alone walker” is hereby defined to be a walker apparatus for aiding a person walking, which includes at least three upwardly extending support members, which provide support to structures for two hands of a person to grasp while walking; and further having at least three points (either rolling, non-rolling, or a combination of the two) of contacting the ground. The term conventional stand alone walker shall specifically exclude a walker device which has a structure thereon which is specifically adapted to be coupled with a structure for pulling a rolling chair. 
         [0003]    At times, such as after surgery or other incident, residents may need to exercise by walking with a conventional stand alone walker. At times, these patients may temporarily require additional assistance. In such cases, many staff members can be needed in assisting users of conventional stand alone walkers. In many instances, two staff members are used simultaneously to aid a single user of a conventional stand alone walker. In such situations where the patient is using such a walker, one staff person is walking next to the patient and another follows with a wheel chair. In the event the patient begins to tire or fall, the person walking with the patient provides immediate support, while the other guides the wheel chair into place so the patient can be seated. 
         [0004]    In the past, it has been known to combine a walker and seat. U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,620 is directed to a walker with a seat which permits the person using the walker to take a rest by being seated in an opposite facing seat. Another patent describes a walker with an attached seat which allows the user to take a forward facing seat when desired. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,912. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,438 describes a collapsible rolling apparatus with a seat and a walking support structure. 
         [0006]    While these devices do provide significant utility, they do have drawbacks. 
         [0007]    The &#39;620 patent requires the walker to turn around to sit down. In some situations turning around may be difficult, especially if the patient is very unstable or needs to sit urgently. 
         [0008]    With the &#39;912 patent, the seat is facing the direction of travel but the system, with only wheels contacting the ground, may not provide the same level of exercise as is required of a person using a conventional stand alone walker, nor does it provide the same level of stability as a conventional stand alone walker. This system, with its ability to roll in any direction, could be difficult for some individuals to use as a walker and entering/exiting it may also be difficult for some. 
         [0009]    Lastly, the &#39;438 patent is a large structure, also with only wheels touching the ground, and the structure includes two collapsing segments which are not designed to work independently of the other. The &#39;438 patent does not take advantage of the installed base of walkers, and can not provide the same familiarity as the person&#39;s own walker. 
         [0010]    Consequently, there exists a need for improvements in using conventional stand alone walkers which overcomes some of the problems of these prior designs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient and safe method for assisting a large group of users of their own personal conventional stand alone walkers. 
         [0012]    It is a feature of the invention to utilize an installed base of pre-existing conventional stand alone walkers from various manufacturers. 
         [0013]    It is another feature of the invention to provide a quick connecting and disconnection method for coupling a trailing chair attachment to a patient&#39;s own pre-existing conventional stand alone walker. 
         [0014]    It is an advantage of the present invention to reduce the expense of providing assistance to a large number of users of conventional stand alone walkers with minimal investment in equipment, while at the same time allowing the patient to enjoy the comfort and peace of mind of using their own familiar personal conventional stand alone walker. 
         [0015]    Accordingly, the present invention comprises a trailing chair attachment which works with a conventional stand alone walker from various manufacturers, without a need to make changes to the patient&#39;s own walker. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is an assembly of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a dedicated trailing chair attachment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a roll restricting assembly of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Now referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a device, generally designated  100 , of the present invention, which could be as simple as a well known and very popular prior art wheeled walker except that it is equipped with connection arms  210  and spring loaded casters  120 , which restrict rolling when a downward force is applied thereon. These spring loaded castors may have adjustable tension for different weights of persons using the walkers. Such spring loaded casters are well known for use with rolling step ladders which roll freely when moved without a load and then lock down, with an internal to the castor brake, when a person steps on the ladder. In some instances, the casters  120  could, instead, be spring loaded wheels  304 . Now referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an alternate embodiment of the present invention which has standard walker legs  302  with firm gripping relatively soft pliable end caps  306 , such as found on crutches and walkers. The wheels  304  can be spring loaded to allow them to move upward relative to the legs when increased forces are being applied to the length adjustable handles  110  ( FIG. 1 ) or the seat  130 . These wheels  304  and casters  120  allow the trailing chair attachment  100  to roll freely when there is minimal force applied to the handles  110  or the seat  130 . Any suitable selective means for rolling could be used so long as the ability to roll is greatly reduced when pressure is increased on the walker. Spring loaded castors are just one method of allowing for weight sensitive rolling control to exist. For example, the castors  120  and  220  could be augmented with electric brakes which allow for the braking to occur in response to sensors detecting various things such as the amount of force the person walking applies to the handles  110 . A combination of rolling control mechanisms could be employed as well. 
         [0020]    Now referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a dedicated trailing chair attachment of the present invention, generally designated  200  which also could have variable length connection bars  210  for connecting with the device  100  or any conventional stand alone walker. Snaps tethers or quick release connections  212  could be used to easily loosely couple the connection bars  210  between the seat portion  230  and the walker  100 . The trailing chair attachment  200  can roll behind any walker on casters  220 , similar to castors  120 , as the person walking is located between the walker and the seat  230 . The person using the walker can sit down at any time without the need to turn around. The length of connection bars can be adjusted for the size of the person, the speed of walking and other factors as well. Trailing chair attachment  200  may have a storage basket  240 , similar to storage basket  140  beneath seat  130  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0021]    The main structural portions of the trailing chair attachment can be made of pipe, rods, straps, etc. and made of various materials such as steel, aluminum, plastic, wood or other suitable material. The walker can be constructed like many prior art walkers with suitable materials. It may be preferred, but is not essential, that the walker also have spring loaded casters. Some of the benefits of the present invention would still exist if the walker  100  had non-rolling tips, i.e. crutch tips, etc. The trailing chair attachment is readily detachable and can be removed to allow the use of the walker without a chair if a chair is not necessary. 
         [0022]    In the method and system of the present invention, the device  100  could be used as both a walker, which the patient moves forward while walking and/or it could be used as a trailing chair attachment. In one embodiment of the present invention, they could be identical structures reversed in direction (i.e. the seats facing each other) and coupled to each other by connecting rods  210 . The patient would be located between the two and could push one while the other trails along. When the patient is tired, the patient can merely sit down in the seat of the trailing chair attachment. 
         [0023]    The Applicant believes that the present invention can be understood by a person skilled in the art after reading this application.