Abstract:
An activity walker has three wheeled legs positioned about an adjustable trunk surround member. The trunk surround member is hinged to open and is curved to approximate a user&#39;s oval-shaped midriff. An adjustable closure on the torso/trunk surround member compensates for users of various girths. A flexible sling support extends across the interior of the surround member from its rear portion to its front portion, with fixed rearward attachments and a releasable front attachment to the interior of the surround member. This sling support is shaped to pass between a user&#39;s legs and provides body/trunk support when the user is standing upright. A length of each leg may be adjustable. The lateral extension of each leg outwardly from the surround member may be adjustable to reconfigure the stance/footprint of the walker. A friction pin may be utilized to adjust the rolling rate of each wheel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a walking aid for use while playing billiards, or working at a workbench, or working at a kitchen counter. 
         [0002]    “Walkers” have been designed for two basic classes of individuals. The first class includes: baby walkers for toddlers learning to walk; and assisted aid walkers for disabled or aged individuals. The second class includes: therapeutic and rehabilitative walkers for injured or disabled individuals. 
         [0003]    Regardless of which class of walker, these walkers generally have been built along two design approaches. A first design approach requires the individual to sit in a seated position and then either move the walker-device in a shuffling motion, or raise himself up to a standing position to walk within the perimeter of the walker by grasping a member of the walker structure for support and to control the direction and movement of the walker. 
         [0004]    A second design approach provides a walker with a support perimeter. This type of device can include wheels at the bottom of its legs or not. It also can include a superstructure extending above the individual. Included in this design approach are walkers which cage-in the individual and support the individual&#39;s entire weight with a harness or other means. 
         [0005]    Unless the walker has a harness, the individual is required to grasp some portion of the walker when moving about in order to keep control of the walker. If the walker has a rigid seat, or a non-rigid full seat, the individual is required to sit in a seated position and shuffle his feet/foot to move the walker structure. 
         [0006]    Walker manufacturers have previously designed walkers for sufficiently unstable individuals, each prior art walker has required four legs for stability regardless of whether they include wheels or not. Moreover, these prior art walkers place significant structure extending in front of the individual. This front structure precludes an individual from being able to get very close to a device, such as a pool table, a work bench, or a kitchen counter. For those devices which enable an individual to stand and walk freely, the individual is required to grasp the walker to control its movement. This keeps the individual&#39;s hands occupied and precludes other hand activities while moving the walker. 
         [0007]    Sherlock, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,851, discloses an example of a walker with operational limitations which the present invention overcomes. Sherlock includes a rigid circular rim/ring which surrounds an individual. The rim has an arc section which is pivoted and pinned to be opened for an individual to enter the ring. When the Sherlock full flexible seat is attached to four predetermined positions on the ring, an individual is required to sit in a seated position and shuffle the walker about. To stand upright within the Sherlock walker, the seat must be repositioned into a folded hanging position to clear the ring area. The ring is padded for comfort when an individual grasps it. An individual in the standing position, with the seat folded away, grasps the rim to control the movement of the Sherlock wheeled walker. The Sherlock walker with its fixed size ring, its wheeled support legs and its brace members limits a walking individual&#39;s stride and ability to freely change direction of travel. 
         [0008]    An objective of the present invention is to provide an activity walker which permits an individual to walk and move the walker about without hand-grasping a portion of the walker&#39;s structure. 
         [0009]    Another objective is that this activity walker has minimal structure in front of an individual using it. 
         [0010]    A further objective is that this activity walker is adjustable in height, the lateral extension of its legs, and the size of a support member which surrounds the trunk portion of an individual. 
         [0011]    An additional objective is that this activity walker supports the trunk portion of an individual while the individual is in a standing position or while walking. 
         [0012]    An also further objective is that this activity walker&#39;s trunk support member permits upright walking with minimal interference with a normal stride. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The objectives of the invention are realized in a relatively light weight, reasonably small footprint, activity walker, i.e. a walking and standing aid, having a substantially minimal front structure which not would interfere with a proximal approach to a fixed object. 
         [0014]    The activity walker provides support to the user&#39;s body/trunk portion when in the standing position, thereby freeing the user&#39;s hands for other activities. The device also provides support to the user&#39;s body/trunk when walking and subjects the user&#39;s stride to minimal interference. 
         [0015]    A trunk support surround member is adjustable to fit the user&#39;s trunk/body at midsection in close proximity, thereby freeing the user&#39;s hands both when standing and when moving about in the walker. Support legs attached to the surround member are adjustable in length to fit the user&#39;s height and adjustable outwardly to adjust the footprint of the walker to compensate for the user&#39;s standing instability and/or walking instability. 
         [0016]    The activity walker has three wheeled legs positioned about the adjustable trunk surround member and fixed thereto. Caster wheels are attached to the bottom end of each leg. The length adjustments for legs use a series of fixed detents at predetermined increments. This structure is implemented with a spring biased button and a series of adjustment holes or with a set screw which permits a continuous adjustment in infinitely small increments. 
         [0017]    The surround member is a rigid two-section walled structure forming a cylindrical-like body support. The two sections of the surround member are connected with a hinge at the back of the walker to permit the surround member to open for a user to enter the walker. A flexible front closure secures the two sections together at the front of the walker. The front closure is adjustable to enable the free ends of each section to overlap a distance, as needed, to compensate for a range of user midriff sizes. 
         [0018]    The two sections of the surround member are curved to approximate a user&#39;s oval-shaped midriff. Cushioning is mounted onto the inner surface of each of the two surround sections. This cushioning permits the surround member to be drawn into close proximity to a user&#39;s trunk in the region of the midriff and hips and provides comfort to the user in conforming to the individual user&#39;s shape. The surround member has a wall height which allows it to extend from about the lower rib to below the hip joint of a user. 
         [0019]    When the user becomes unstable when either standing or walking, his midriff leans against the inside of the surround member which intercepts the user&#39;s further movement, much as leaning against a railing or wall to intercept a fall. The walker&#39;s legs hold the trunk support surround member to keep the user upright. 
         [0020]    A flexible sling support extends across the interior of the surround member from the rear of the walker to its front. This support has fixed rearward attachments to the interior wall of the surround member, and a releasable front attachment to the interior of the trunk surround. The sling support is positioned and shaped to be able to pass between a user&#39;s legs and in order to provide body/trunk support while the user is standing upright or walking. 
         [0021]    A friction pin may be utilized to adjust the rolling rate of each wheel. The friction pin is mounted to pass through the wall of each caster bracket. This pin is incremented to indicate friction pressure. A friction pin engages an annular pressure surface on the respective wheel. By adjusting the pin pressure against a wheel the force needed to rotate the wheel is changed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The features, advantages and operation of the present invention will become readily apparent and further understood from a reading of the following detailed description with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a user in the activity walker of the present invention, where the walker is configured in its normal (small) footprint; 
           [0024]      FIG. 1   a  is a side view of a user in the activity walker of  FIG. 1  when configured for a larger footprint; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the activity walker; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of the activity walker of  FIG. 2  having a leg attachment track for adjusting the individual positions of the legs; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a top, plan view of the activity walker of  FIG. 2  showing a first sling support member; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3   a  is a top, plan view of the activity walker of  FIG. 3  with the surround member hinged open; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a top, plan view of the activity walker of  FIG. 3  showing a second embodiment for the sling support member; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an alternative leg bracket attachment structure; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a welded support leg attachment; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6   a  is a side view of a tubular support leg attachment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6   b  is a side view of a tubular support leg attachment permitting an adjustment in the lateral extension of a leg to alter the walker&#39;s footprint; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a top, plan view of the sling support member of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7   a  is a top, plan view of a third design for the sling support member; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the sling support member of  FIG. 7   a;    
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a wheel caster bracket showing a friction pin; 
           [0038]      FIG. 9   a  is a top, plan view of the wheel caster bracket of  FIG. 9  showing the friction pin; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a wheel used with the caster bracket of  FIGS. 9 ,  9   a.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    The present invention is a relatively light weight, reasonably small foot print activity walker with a minimal structure at the front. This reduces interference by the walker when the user is in close proximity to a fixed object. 
         [0041]    At the foundation of the walker is a girdle-like structure  11 ,  FIG. 1 , which fits about the midriff of a user from about the lowest rib to slightly below the hips. This girdle-like structure has two necessary elements, a reasonably rigid trunk surround member  13  and a flexible sling support  15 , shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 - 4 , and  7 - 8 . The flexible sling support  15  is passed between the legs of a user and supports the user&#39;s “seat” region while the user is in the standing position or is walking about. The surround member  13  is supported by three legs  17  fixed thereto, which each have a caster wheel  19  at the bottom end. This permits the walker to move easily as the user moves. It also permits hands-free operation where the user is not required to grasp the walker to control its movement. 
         [0042]    Each leg  17 ,  FIG. 1   a,  can have a lateral adjustment, shown in  FIG. 6   b,  in order to extend further laterally outwardly,  FIG. 1   a,  to provide a larger footprint for the walker. This creates a more secure configuration for a less stable user. Also shown is a tripod/triple wheel assembly. 
         [0043]    The surround member  13 ,  FIG. 2 , is oval-shaped to fit the average cross-sectional configuration of the midriff portion of a user, much as a belt would fit. Surround member  13  has two sections,  13   a,    13   b,  and are joined by a hinge  21  at the back of the walker. The hinge  21  is off-set to one side slightly to provide room for the attachment of the sling support  15 . 
         [0044]    The surround member  13  sections are constructed of a rigid material such as metal, reinforced fiberglass, or a very rigid plastic. The first section  13   a  has a flexible free end  23  which carries an adjustable closure structure  25  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . This closure has a mating part on the second section  13   b  to close the surround member  13  and to adjust the perimeter size of the girdle. 
         [0045]    The three legs  17  are securely attached to the surround member  13  with a spacing between each of about ⅓ of the perimeter,  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 . One of the legs  17  is positioned at the back of the surround member  13 . The other two legs are positioned on either side of the user forward of the user&#39;s shoulders. This provides tip-over stability similar to a three-legged stool. 
         [0046]    Each leg  17  has an adjustable extension  27  which slides outwardly from its free end,  FIGS. 2 and 2   a.  A caster bracket  29  carrying a caster wheel  19  is mounted onto the bottom free end of each extension  27 . An adjustment to the length of each leg  17  is facilitated by a spring biased button-type detent  31 , which can mate with any of a series of detent holes  33  of a particular leg  17 . This provides a leg length adjustment in a series of fixed increments. As an alternative, a set screw may be employed where the length adjustments are continuous and almost infinite. 
         [0047]    The legs  17  and extensions  27  are preferably made of metal. The top of each leg  17  has a 90 degree bend  35  transitioning from the vertical to the horizontal. The “horizontal run” for each leg  17  can be in the range of 2-4 inches, nominally, for a small footprint for the walker. The upper end of a leg  17  can be welded directly to the outside face of the surround member  13 ,  FIG. 2 . Welding provides an economical attachment when the legs  17  are not laterally adjustable and are also not adjustable for perimeter positioning,  FIG. 2 . 
         [0048]    With other materials, space-age adhesives and supplemental supports can be used to attach each leg  17  to the surround member  13  with or without reinforcing brackets, rivets, and the like. 
         [0049]    The surround member  13  has rounded upper and lower lips  37  to preclude having the wall of the surround member pinch, cut or dig into the user. 
         [0050]    The position of each leg  17  can be adjustable about the perimeter of the surround member  13  if a track  39  is mounted to extend about the outside face of the surround member  13 ,  FIG. 2   a.  The end of each leg  17  is fixedly secured to a bracket plate  41  which fits into the rails of the track  39 . The position of a bracket plate  41  is fixed in the track  39  with a pair of set screws  75  or other attachment structure. 
         [0051]    The front of the sling support is removably attached to a releasable catch  43  fixed on the inside face of the second, other section  13   b  of the surround member  13 . 
         [0052]    The sling support  15 ,  FIGS. 3 ,  3   a  can be implemented in a number of shapes and sizes, as can the other structural members of the walker. The sling support  15  can have a shape approximating the profile of a road bicycle saddle. In this configuration the sling support  15  has a narrow “horn” portion  45  and a wider hip-support portion  47 . 
         [0053]    The surround member  13  is opened,  FIG. 3   a,  to permit a user to enter. For user entry, the front of the sling support  15  is detached from its catch  43  and permitted to hang from its rear attachments. Once the user has entered the walker, the sling support  15  is passed between the legs of the user and securely attached to the catch  43 . The surround member  13  is then closed about the midriff of the user with the adjustable closure  25 . 
         [0054]    This closure  25  which carries a loop member  49  of a VELCRO® strip connector on the inside face of the flexible free end  23  of the second surround section  13   b,  while the outside face of the first section  13   a  carries a hook member  51 . The flexible free end  23  can overlap the first surround section  13   a  to tighten the surround member  13  about the midriff of a user. An adjustment is intended for a range of user midriff sizes. 
         [0055]    Another type of flexible fastener can be substituted. Alternatives can include a leather belt and buckle, or a flexible woven or braided metal or plastic webbing with a series of reinforced attachment holes for mating with a metal turn latch on the first section  13   a.    
         [0056]    The sling support  15  can have bifurcated rear section  53 ,  FIG. 4 , with two legs  53   a,    53   b.  Each of the first and second rear section legs  53   a,    53   b  is individually riveted or otherwise permanently attached to the inside face of the first surround section  13   a.  The twin-leg  53   a,    53   b,  bifurcated, rear section  53  gives has somewhat more sideways give, i.e., in a lateral direction, that the sling support  15  shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  3   a.  While this alternate design will not provide as comfortable a support at the user&#39;s hips, when the user walks about this design is less prone to chafe the legs. 
         [0057]    In the alternative, a U-shaped bracket  55  can be used to attach a leg  17  directly to the outside face of the surround member  13 . This bracket  55  has a rectangular base plate  57  and a U-shaped plate  59  extending outwardly. The base plate  57  is riveted, tack welded or bolted  61  to the surround member  13 . The U-plate  59  is shaped and sized to accept the horizontal portion of a leg  17  with a tight fit. A pin or bolt passes through holes in the walls of the U-plate  59  and through holes in the leg  17  to securely attach the leg  17  to the bracket  55 . The bracket  55  permits the leg  17  to be selectively mounted to and removed from the surround member  13 , for storage, cleaning or replacement. The bracket  55  adds strength and stiffness to the leg  17  attachment to the surround. 
         [0058]      FIGS. 6 ,  6   a,  and  6   b  show a side view of a leg  17  attachment to the surround  13  and a cross-section of the surround  13 . The surround walls have curved lips  65  at the top and bottom edges. The curved lips  65  can open,  FIGS. 6 and 6   b,  or curled completely,  FIG. 6   a.  The inner face of the surround member  13  is covered with a cushion or padding material  67 . The thickness of this cushioning can be varied to meet the needs of the intended user. Likewise, the composition of the padding  67  can be chosen from vinyl covered foam to a cloth covered memory foam, to an inflatable bladder which will assist in adjusting the size of the girdle action of the surround structure. 
         [0059]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 6  the upper end of the leg  17  is welded  69  directly to a mounting plate  71 . The mounting plate  71  is held within a track  39  which has upper and lower retaining lips  73 . The position of the mounting plate  71  and therefore the attached leg  17  is fixed by a plurality of four set screws  75 . With this embodiment each leg  17  can be repositioned about the surround  13 . 
         [0060]    The embodiment of  FIG. 6   a  also includes a track  39  mounted on the surround  13  outer face with a mounting plate  71  positioned in the track  39  and held there by set screws  75 . However, the upper end of the leg  17  is not connected directly to the mounting plate  71 . In this embodiment, a cylindrical sleeve is welded or otherwise attached to the mounting plate  71 . The upper end of the leg  17  is positioned within the sleeve  77  the entire length of its horizontal extension and held therein by a selectively removable fastener  77 . The sleeve  77  provides enhanced rigidity to the leg  17 . 
         [0061]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 6   b,  the cylindrical sleeve  77  is welded  69  directly to the outside face of the surround  13 . The sleeve  77  carries a series of adjustment holes  81 . This permits an adjustment to the point of attachment of the upper end of a leg  17  and an adjustment of the lateral extension of a leg  17  away from the surround. A spring biased detent button can be used to adjust the lateral (horizontal) position of the leg  17  outwardly from the surround  13 . In the alternative, a removable thumb screw  83  is used instead of the detent button. Such thumb screw is not as convenient, but is more secure. 
         [0062]    When a sling support  15  without bifurcated legs is employed,  FIG. 7 , the rear attachment edge can have slits  85  and grommet reinforced holes  87  for attachment to the wall of the surround first section  13   a.    
         [0063]    The bifurcation of the sling support  15 ,  FIG. 7   a,  can be cut more severely which will result in thinner legs  89   a,    89   b  and even more enhanced flexibility. The front end of the sling support has a ring  91  attached for being engaged by the releasable catch  43 . This ring assists in the positioning of the front end of the sling support  15 . The rear end of each leg  89   a,    89   b,  has a grommet reinforced rear attachment hole  87 . 
         [0064]    The sling support  15  can be constructed of any of various materials, including belt leather, woven nylon or rayon, or a metal mesh or polymer mesh. When the sling support  15  is made of a mesh material  93 ,  FIG. 8 , a padding  95  is bonded to the user-facing surface. Stranded (parallel strands of line, cord or rope) construction and a mesh construction provide the greatest lateral flexibility for a sling support  15 . 
         [0065]    The caster wheels  19  are each held in a caster bracket  29 ,  FIGS. 9 and 9   a.  Each bracket  29  has a vertically projecting shaft  97  which snaps into the lower end of a leg extension  27 . The shaft  97  interfaces with the bracket  29  with a bearing structure  99 . An adjustable friction pin  101  passes through a wall of a bracket  29  to press against the caster wheel  19  held in the bracket. Each pin has a wear end having a friction pad  103 . Each pin also has calibration markings along its length for pressure calibration. The caster wheel  19  rides on a bearing shaft  105  which bridges the bracket  29 . 
         [0066]    Each caster wheel  19  has a rubber or plastic tread  107  which provides a smooth, reasonably silent roll. On the side of each caster wheel  19  facing the friction pin  101  is an annular-shaped wear ring  109 . Each friction pin  101  is either adjusted for free rolling of its caster wheel  19  or adjusted to apply some friction which acts like a braking force to increase the force needed to turn each wheel  19 . Therefore, by adjusting each friction pin  101  the free wheeling of the walker can be adjusted as needed for the immediate conditions of its use. 
         [0067]    Many changes can be made in the above-described invention without departing from the intent and scope thereof. For example, the vertical position of the surround  13  can be raised to surround the user at a higher position. Or the vertical height of the surround  13  can be extended. The sting support  15  can be made longer to droop in the middle. The leg  17  length can be adjusted for the user to rest on the sling support  1   5  in a near-sitting position or in an actual sitting position. Or an outrigger leg can be added to each leg for enhanced stability. Such outrigger leg can have a quad-leg, tri-leg, bi-leg, or single leg design. 
         [0068]    It is therefore intended that the above description be read in the illustrative sense and not in the limiting sense. Substitutions and changes can be made while still being within the scope and intent of the invention and of the appended claims.