Tray for invalid's walker frame

An invalid's walker frame is combined with a tray on which various items may be transported while the invalid's hands are engaged in maneuvering the walker frame. The tray is slide coupled in position such that the tray may be extended forward of the frame to allow a person to stand within the confines of the frame in the course of manipulating the frame. When desired, the person may draw the tray back more fully within the confines of the frame for use as a small table or work surface.

BACKGROUND 
1. Technical Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to the field of prosthetic walker frames utilized by 
persons having infirmities as an aid in providing support and stability to 
such persons in the course of their walking. In particular, the invention 
relates to a utility tray to be coupled to the walker frame to enable a 
person using the frame to transport items or food. 
2. Prior Background Art 
Persons experiencing problems with their legs or hips often resort to the 
use of a walking a frame to provide them partial support as they move from 
one place to another and to lend stability to themselves as they move or 
stand. The typical walker frame has a framework positioned at each side of 
the person's legs and topped with a hand grip. The two frames are joined 
together by additional framework at the front of the person. Thus, a 
person utilizing a walker frame enters a semi-enclosure made up of support 
framework to either side and in the front. 
To utilize the frame, the person stands within the enclosure with left and 
right hand grasping the left and right hand grasp, respectively, of the 
frame at either side of the person. In his position, with the weight on 
the arms transferred through to the ground via the frame, stability is 
provided to enable a person to stand with some confidence. To move forward 
a person lifts the frame from the ground and places it slightly in front 
of himself. With his weight partially supported by the frame via the 
grasping of the hand holds, the person moves forward within the partial 
enclosure of the frame. Once positioned within the partial enclosure, the 
person repeats the process lifting the frame, advancing it and moving to 
within the enclosure again. 
It is readily apparent that the use of a walker frame occupies a person's 
hands and arms and inhibits the use of a person's hands for carrying 
objects. Thus, although a person who has difficulty walking may be able to 
move about, for example, in the kitchen so as to prepare a meal for 
himself, he would be unable to transfer a plate of food, or the like, to a 
position where he could sit and enjoy the meal. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a walker with means for 
transport of items from one place to another while the person using the 
walker has his hands otherwise occupied in maneuvering the walker. It is 
the further object of the invention to provide a work surface which will 
always be conveniently at hand when a person is utilizing the walker or 
has it within reach. 
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In a first sense, the invention may be summarized as the combination of an 
invalid's walker frame and a tray. The walker frame has two side frames 
coupled together to permit an invalid to stand generally between the two 
side frames to utilize the walker frame for support in moving forward or 
rearward from one location to another. The tray has a support surface with 
means for slide coupling the tray to the walker frame between the two side 
frames. 
The combination itself comprises the tray slide coupled to the walker frame 
between the two side frames and selectedly slide movable from a first 
position in which the tray is slidingly moved forward between the two side 
frames to permit an invalid access between the two side frames, to a 
second position in which the tray is slidingly moved rearward between the 
two side frames to permit the invalid convenient access to the support 
surface of the tray when not using the walker frame for support. 
As disclosed each of the side frames of the walker frame further comprises 
a reinforcing cross member, the tray being slide coupled to the cross 
members for slide positioning between the two side frames. The walker 
frame further has a front bracing member joining the two side frames. 
Additionally, the tray further comprises slide contact support means in 
sliding contact with the front bracing member for providing support 
between the support surface of the tray and the walker frame. 
In an alternate embodiment, the cross member is a supplemental reinforcing 
cross member, removably affixed to the side frame. 
The invention may be summarized as an improvement in a walker frame useful 
in providing added support to a person moving from one location to 
another. The walker frame has first and second side frames between which 
side frames one grasping the side frames generally positions oneself for 
support. The improvement itself comprises means for transporting items on 
the walker frame while the walker frame is maneuvered to support a person 
and for maintaining items conveniently at hand when the walker frame is 
stationary. 
The means for transporting items is a tray slide coupled to the walker 
frame for 
(a) slidable displacement forward between the first and the second side 
frames while one grasps the side frames for support while maneuvering the 
walker frame, and 
(b) slidable displacement rearward between the first and the second side 
frames for convenience of reaching the items while the walker frame is 
stationary. 
In the improvement the first side frame further comprises a first 
reinforcing cross member, and the second side frame further comprises a 
second reinforcing cross member, the tray being slide coupled to the first 
and the second cross members for selected slidable displacement along the 
first and the second cross members. The walker frame further comprises a 
front bracing member joining the first and the second side frames; and, 
the tray further comprises slide contact support means making displaceable 
sliding contact with the front bracing member for providing additional 
slide displaceable support between the walker frame and the tray. 
In an alternate embodiment of the improvement, the first reinforcing cross 
member is a supplementary cross member removably affixed to the first side 
frame and the second reinforcing cross member is a supplementary cross 
member removably affixed to the second side frame. 
Finally, the invention may be seen as a method for assisting a person who 
requires the aid of a movable support in moving from one location to 
another, the method comprising the steps of: 
providing a walker frame having first and second side frames between which 
a person may generally position herself while grasping the side frames for 
support and maneuvering the walker frame as she moves forward and rearward 
from one location to another; 
joining the first and the second side frames with a front bracing member, 
and providing each of the first and the second side frames with a 
reinforcing cross member proximate the front bracing member; 
making a tray with slide coupling means for slide coupling the tray to and 
between the reinforcing cross members of the first and second side frames; 
and 
slide coupling the tray to the cross members for selected forward and 
rearward slide displacement of the tray between the first and the second 
side frames. 
Additionally, the step of making the tray further includes the step of 
making the tray with slide contact support means for making slidable 
support contact between the walker frame and the tray; and, the method 
itself includes the further step of using the slide contact support means 
to make slidable support contact with the front bracing member.

DETAILS OF BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
For purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the 
invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in 
the drawings and specific language will be used to describe same. It will 
nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the 
invention is thereby intended, there being contemplated such alterations 
and modifications of the illustrated device, and such further applications 
of the principles of the invention as disclosed herein, as would normally 
occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. 
The invention 10, a tray 11 used in combination with an invalid's walker 
frame 12, is shown in perspective in FIG. 1, as an exploded assembly 
drawing, the tray 11 being removed from frame 12 and positioned above the 
frame, poised for installation thereon. Tray 11 has a raised rim 11 which 
generally encompasses a support surface 41. Surface 41 extends beyond 
encompassing rim 11 to provide two slide coupling extensions 42. Slide 
coupling clamps 17 affixed to the underside of each of extensions 42 
provide means for slide coupling tray 11 to walker frame 12. 
As will be disclosed, further support between tray 12 and walker frame 11 
is furnished by slide supports 18 which extend downward from below surface 
41 of tray 11. 
Walker frame 12 is made up of two, upright, side frames 13. One or more 
cross members reinforce each of side frames 13, for example, upper cross 
member 14 and lower cross member 15, as best seen in FIG. 1. Side frames 
13 are joined and further reinforced by truss-like front bracing 16. 
Although not shown in the illustrations, for clarity of detail in 
describing the invention, front bracing 16 is generally hinge coupled at 
each end to one of side frames 13. Such hinge coupling of brace 16 to side 
frames 13 permits each of side frames 13 to be rotated inwardly toward the 
other so as to form an essentially flat structure with each side frame 
overlapping in near parallel alignment with front bracing 16. Such folding 
capability is not necessary to the functioning of the invention. 
To utilize the invention, tray ;1 is tipped downward into the space between 
the two side frames 13, positioning slide coupling extensions 42 above 
upper cross members 14 of walker frame 12, with a slide coupling clamp 17 
in general alignment with each of those upper cross members. A downward 
pressure exerted on each of slide coupling extensions 42 engages slide 
coupling clamps 17 with their associated upper cross member 4, as shown in 
FIGS. 2-5. When clamps 17 so engage cross members 14, slide supports 18, 
extending downward below surface 41 of tray 11, come to rest atop front 
bracing 16 of walker frame 12 to supply a forward, centralized support for 
tray 11. See FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. 
The mechanics of the assembly is readily seen in the side, sectional view 
of FIG. 4. Here clamp 17 is seen to be slide coupled to cross member 14. 
The downwardly directed supports 18 rest in slide contact atop front 
bracing 16. By sliding tray 11 forward, i.e., to the right of FIG. 4, tray 
11 moves to the position shown in phantom outline. The ability to vary the 
position of tray 11 on walker frame 12 is best seen by comparison of FIG. 
2 and FIG. 5. 
In the tray position shown in FIG. 5, a person requiring the aid of walker 
frame 12 will position herself between side frames 13. The foreword 
position enables her to stand between side frames 13 grasping frame 
handles 50. She then moves walker frame 12 forward, and, using the frame 
for support, she moves forward herself to again position herself between 
side frames 13. The exercise is repeated as the person moves from one 
location to another. 
Because use of walker frame 12 requires a person to use both hands to hold 
the hand grips 50 of walker frame 12, the presence of tray 11 on the 
walker frame permits the person to transport food, drink, knitting, 
reading materials, etc as she moves with the frame. When the person 
arrives at a desired location at which she may sit, she does so, draws 
walker frame 12 towards herself, then slides tray 11 on walker frame 12 to 
a position close and convenient to her. 
Some walker frames, for example, walker frame 32 of FIG. 6 lack the upper 
cross member 14 of walker frame 12. To enable the use of walker frame 32 
with tray 11, a supplementary cross member 20 is made available. Cross 
member 20 is made up of outer cylinder 22 into which is slidingly inserted 
inner cylinder 23. By adjusting the depth to which inner cylinder 23 is 
inserted into cylinder 22, a cross member of desired length is obtained. 
Cross member 20 is thus an adjustable length cross member. 
Each end of adjustable length cross member 20 is equipped with a clamp 21, 
see FIG. 7, which is fixedly, but removably, coupled to side frame 33 of 
walker frame 32. Once walker frame 32 is equipped with adjustable length 
cross members 20, tray 11 may be utilized with frame 32 in the manner just 
disclosed with respect to walker frame 12. 
What has been disclosed is the combination of an invalid's walker frame and 
a tray on which various items may be transported while the invalid's hands 
are engaged in manipulating the walker frame. The tray is slide coupled in 
position such that the tray may be extended forward of the frame to allow 
a person to stand within the confines of the frame in the course of 
manipulating the frame. When desired, the person may draw the tray back 
more fully within the confines of the frame for use as a small table or 
work surface. 
Those skilled in the art will conceive of other embodiments of the 
invention which may be drawn from the disclosure herein. To the extent 
that such other embodiments are so drawn, it is intended that they shall 
fall within the ambit of protection provided by the claims herein.