Method and mechanism for securing a removable tray to a walker

A mechanism and method for securing a removable tray to a walker frame. The mechanism comprises a removable spacer wherein the spacer is adapted to frictionally engage the walker tray with a walker handle. The method of attaching the removable walker tray to the walker frame comprises securing a first spacer to a first cutout in the walker tray; securing a second spacer to a second cutout in the walker tray; inserting a first walker handle into the first cutout in the tray; inserting a second walker handle into the second cutout in the tray; and where upon inserting the walker handles into the cutouts, the tray is positioned on top of the walker frame and the tray secured in a substantially level position on the walker frame by frictional engagement of the spacer between the tray and the walker handles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a walker tray and an attachment for securing and stabilizing the tray to a walker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most walkers are of a standard construction, including at least two side frames, which generally include handles or hand grips for a user to grab and move the walker. Also included is a front frame that is connected by the side frames. A walker allows the user extra stability while walking or standing. It is known in the prior art to offer a removable tray for attachment to a walker. A walker tray allows the user to attach the tray to the walker allowing the user multiple uses of the walker.

General walker and walker tray configurations limit the point of attachment of the tray to the walker, based on the construction of a walker frame. Trays may not fit onto a walker in a stable or generally horizontal fashion, preventing the use of the walker tray as a utility surface during movement of a walker.

Additionally, removable trays for improved stability in the prior art render a cup holder hole useless when the tray is attached to the walker when the method of stabilizing the tray extends under the tray blocking the cup hole. The mechanisms for folding the walker up also can block the cup hole, preventing a user from using the cup holder as intended.

The trays of the prior art cannot universally be attached to all walker frames in a level that is a substantially horizontal position. This requires the user to use abundant caution when setting uncovered bowls or cups of soups or other liquids to prevent the inevitable spills and splashes of the liquid.

Removable walker trays have been described in the prior art including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,569,959, 7,980,263, and 6,883,529. However the prior art walker trays lack support and the ability to be attached in way that can be adjusted based on the desire of the user, while retaining full functionality of the walker and the tray and without requiring a specialized walker or a permanent tray attached to the walker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to a mechanism for securing a removable tray to a walker frame. The mechanism comprises a removable spacer wherein the spacer is adapted to frictionally engage the walker tray with a walker handle. The spacer is securable to the walker tray such that when the walker tray is placed on a walker frame, the tray is secured substantially horizontally level to a ground surface by engagement of the spacer with the walker handle.

This disclosure also relates to a method of attaching a removable walker tray to a walker frame, the method comprises securing a first spacer to a first cutout in the walker tray; securing a second spacer to a second cutout in the walker tray; inserting a first walker handle into the first cutout in the tray; inserting a second walker handle into the second cutout in the tray; and where upon inserting the walker handles into the cutouts, the tray is positioned on top of the walker frame and the tray secured in a substantially level position on the walker frame by frictional engagement of the spacer between the tray and the walker handles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure describes a walker tray and a spacer for attachment to the walker tray. The use of the spacer in attaching the walker tray to a walker frame allows the walker tray to be securely attached in a desired position to the frame. The spacer permits attachment of the tray to a variety of walker frames as explained further below. The spacer can also support attachment of the tray to the frame at a height selected by the user. The spacer also allows the tray to be attached to the walker frame, the tray being secured substantially horizontally with respect to a ground surface, the ground surface supporting the walker frame. When the spacer is inserted properly, the tray can be secured to the walker wherein the tray does not wobble and is retained steadily in a substantially horizontal or level position. The spacer, when attached, also allows both the tray and the walker to retain full functionality.

Illustrated in further detail inFIG. 1is an exemplary version of the walker tray10of this disclosure. The walker tray10is made of a durable plastic or other suitable, lighter weight material. The tray10is of a thickness sufficient enough to be sturdy for holding items, but no so thick as to inhibit attachment to and use of a walker80. The walker tray10is generally rectangular in shape, with a forward edge12and user facing edge14. The forward facing edge12comprises a leading edge16, which allows for a greater surface area of the tray10. The user facing edge includes an indentation15extending substantially the length of the user facing edge14between cutouts22and24. The tray10includes two side edges18and20. The walker tray comprises a generally smooth, substantially flat user surface, or top surface26. The tray10includes a lip25that extends generally around a perimeter portion27of the top or utility surface26. The lip25forms a raised surface, which aids in retaining material, such as utensils, plates, cups or bowls.

The tray10illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3also includes a perimeter skirt30extending downward from the lip25about the perimeter of the tray10. In the illustrated embodiment, the perimeter skirt30includes a forward edge side wall34, a left side wall36, a right side wall38, and a user facing side wall40, which cooperatively define a continuous side wall about a perimeter24of the tray10. The side walls34,36,38and40or skirt30provide structural integrity for the tray10, prevent the tray10from flexing as pressure is applied to the substantially flat surface26.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3, the walker tray10includes substantially rectangular cutouts22and24adjacent to the lip22and proximate side walls36and38. The cut outs22and24substantially co-extend along the lip25along side edge18and20. The cut outs22and24are of sufficient length and width to fit over walker handles such that the walker handles extend through the cut outs22and24. The cut outs22and24are used to attach the tray10to the walker. Illustrated in farther detail inFIG. 6, the side walls36and38are adapted with a depressed length41and42substantially along the length of the cut outs22and24. The depressed length, or adapted sections40and42allow for extra room between a users hands or knuckles and the tray sides when the walker handles78and82extend through the tray cutouts22and24thereby allowing a user to fully grip the walker handles without scraping the tray with the user's fingers.

A lip or extension portion44and46extends from the bottom surface of the walker tray close to the proximal end of each of the cutouts22and24, extending along the width of the cutouts. The lips44and46supports attachment of the spacer to the tray.

The walker tray10also includes a circular cut out48, which may be used as a cup holder. The top surface26also includes a depression50, the depression50being in the shape to accommodate a mug with a handle.

Illustrated inFIG. 2is a spacer60of this disclosure. The walker tray10and spacer60can be used with a majority of standard walkers in the marketplace. The spacer60is made from a suitable polymer that permits sufficient bending to attach to the tray while being sufficiently stiff to retain attachment of the spacer60to the tray10. The spacer60is separable from the tray10. The spacer60is sufficiently thick to be stable, but not so thick as to inhibit the spacer from snapping or sliding in to place. The spacer is also sufficiently wide to provide a sufficient surface for engagement with a surface of the walker handle78or82.

Illustrated in further detail inFIG. 2, the spacer60comprises an outer side62that is generally rounded at the top64leading to a flat top side66which is connected by a rounded bend to substantially flat back side68. The bottom side70of the spacer is generally rounded. The bottom edge72is further rounded to curve inward. The top inner side and space74is substantially rectangular in shape wherein the bottom side of the rectangular shape connects to the side of the top of the bottom inner side and space76which is substantially square shaped. When the spacer60is snapped into place (attached to the tray), the opening between the top portion and the bottom portion interacts with the tray10at the proximal edge of the width of the cutout22or24. The top inner side and space74of the spacer interacts with the top surface26of the tray10. The bottom inner side and space76of the spacer60interacts with the lip44or46and/or the bottom surface of the tray10. AS illustrated inFIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the spacer is attached to the tray by inserting, for example, lip46into space76. The top64of the spacer60is then bent slightly away from the edge of the cutouts22or24sufficiently to permit the top edge of the cutout22or24to be retained within the space24. Due to the elasticity of the polymer that comprises the spacer60, the spacer60although slight bent to attach to the tray, regains its original shape and is not deformed. The spacer can be removed and reused repeatedly.

The spacer60secures the tray10to the walker frame80, by frictional engagement of the outer side62with the surface of the walker handle78or82. The top inner side and space74frictionally engages with the top surface of the tray26at the cutout22or24. The bottom inner side and space76frictionally engages with the tray10at the bottom surface of the tray10and/or with the lip44or46. In essence, the spacer fills in the space between the tray10and the handles78or82of the walker. This space, in the past, has resulting in the tray “failing” to engage top mechanisms of the walker. This has resulting in trays not being level and not being secured to the walker.

The shape of the spacer is different at the top portion64and the bottom portion72to provide a visual and tactile cue to a user as to the preferred orientation of the spacer for insertion. In the illustrated example, the difference is the size between spaces74and76.

The spacer60is preferably made of rubber, but can also be made of plastic or other suitable semi-flexible materials that would allow the spacer to snap into place. The spacer60permits the tray10to be used with various walker configurations. The spacer60engages the lip44or46and the proximal width of the cut out22or24simultaneously with a walker handle78or82. The spacer60permits securing the tray10substantially horizontal to a ground surface, the ground surface supporting the walker frame80, and at a selected height with respect to the handles78and82. The spacer60can also snap into secure connection with the cut out handle portion of prior art trays, as the spacer60can be used securely with a tray without the lip.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, to secure the walker tray in a generally flat and horizontal position, a spacer can be secured in each cut out so that the spacer engages with each handle of the walker. Two or more spacers may be used to increase frictional engagement or stability of the walker tray when attached to the walker.