Abstract:
A portable ambulatory therapy device provides for the training or retraining of persons in developing walking skills after suffering a serious illness, injury, or other infirmity which limits their walking skills. The present device comprises a folding walkway with opposed folding hand rails along each side thereof. The hand rails are supported by a series of telescoping upright columns or posts, with the columns being pivotally secured to the walkway at their lower ends and pivotally secured to the hand rails at their upper ends. Each column includes a single locking pin which selectively locks the column in the upright position as desired, or allows the column to fold when removed. When the locking pins are removed, the walkway may be lifted at its center section to cause the two ends to fold together, along with the hand rails which fold to lie adjacent the walkway. The walkway is provided with rollers at each end to allow the ends to move smoothly over the surface during the folding and unfolding operation. Each end of the walkway is also provided with folding wheel assemblies, to allow the folded assembly to be rolled over a floor or other surface to a location for storage, transport, or deployment, as desired. The present portable ambulatory therapy device is of great value for use in hospitals, homes, and any other area where such physical rehabilitation is needed, and where space is at a premium so that permanent installation of such a device is not practicable.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/110,198, filed on Nov. 30, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of physical therapy, and more specifically to a physical therapy device for assisting persons requiring therapy in walking. The present therapy device includes all of the basic necessary components for such a device (e. g., adjustable hand rails, a solid walking surface, etc.), and is also foldable for ease of storage and portability. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Modern medicine has become more aware of the need to provide recovering patients with physical exercise and therapy as soon as is safely possible after an injury, illness, or surgery. The first steps, so to speak, in such an exercise program must be conducted very carefully and with due regard for the weakness of the patient and the need for assistance. In other words, the patient (and therapy program) must “walk before he can run.” 
     Simple walking is one of the best therapeutic exercises possible for a person who is capable of such to at least a limited extent, and accordingly, various ambulatory therapy devices have been developed in the past. Most such devices are relatively bulky, heavy, and complex, with the devices requiring an essentially permanent installation due to their lack of folding capability for storage. While some folding devices have been developed in the past, they generally lack one or more important features which are needed in such ambulatory therapy devices. 
     Accordingly, a need will be seen for a portable ambulatory therapy device for assisting patients who require ambulatory physical therapy after an injury, illness, or other infirmity. The present therapy device provides all of the basic requirements for such a device, including a firm and solid walking surface and adjustable height hand rails. In addition, the present ambulatory therapy device also provides portability, by means of the folding action of the walking surface and hand rails. The present therapy device is extremely easy to deploy and use, and also to fold and store as needed. Rollers are provided along opposite ends of the ramp or walking surface, to allow the inclined edges of the surface to roll freely during the folding or unfolding operation, and additional folding wheels are provided to allow the folded assembly to be moved easily to a storage area as desired. 
     A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,690,789 issued on Oct. 5, 1954 to Lucian J. Zadrozny, titled “Parallel Bar,” describes a set of vertically adjustable bars supported upon a series of telescoping columns. The columns, however, are permanently affixed to the underlying structure, rather than foldably extending upwardly from an underlying portable and folding ramp or walkway, as in the present therapy device. As the Zadrozny bars are affixed to the underlying permanent floor, he does not provide any means of folding the bars centrally, nor is there any motivation to provide such folding action for the bars, as there is in the case of the present device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,871,915 issued on Feb. 3, 1959 to Joseph L. Hogan, titled “Orthopedic Device,” describes an overhead rack arrangement with a motorized track. The track pulls a depending harness therealong, with a patient being partially suspended in the harness so as to relieve at least some of the weight on the patient&#39;s legs during ambulatory therapy. While the rack is vertically adjustable, no means is provided for folding the device longitudinally, as provided by the present portable ambulatory therapy device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,233 issued on Jul. 24, 1973 to Carlene Berryman, titled “Therapeutic Walking Apparatus,” describes a longitudinally folding walkway to which hand rails may be secured. However, the hand rails must be assembled and disassembled by means of threaded connectors, rather than merely folding by releasing a locking pin at the base, as in the case of the present therapy device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,000 issued on Feb. 20, 1990 to Robert D. Starks et al., titled “Toddler Walking Trainer,” describes a device having two opposed, rigid, telescoping hand rails, with the rails being supported by columns which are in turn supported by a pair of cross braces which pass beneath a resilient mat. The rigid cross braces are required due to the resiliency of the mat material. While the assembly may be disassembled, no folding action is provided for the two hand rails, nor is any folding described specifically for the resilient mat. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,092 issued on Jan. 29, 1991 to Travis Trout, titled “Break-Down Therapeutic Walker With Foot Separator,” describes a relatively complex device having a center divider requiring the feet of the user to remain laterally separated, as well as end panels and rails to keep a user of the device within the lateral confines of the rails. The Trout device may be folded, but requires considerable disassembly to do so, by removing the lateral rails and separating their telescoping sections (rather than merely folding them with the walkway, as in the present invention), removing the center foot divider, folding the end panels and vertical supports against the walkway, and finally folding the walkway portions together. The present ambulatory therapy device is considerably simpler to fold and store, by means of the simultaneous folding of the hand rails and walkway portions and the rollers and wheels provided for the walkway portion for ease of movement over the floor for storage. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D-246,036 issued on Oct. 11, 1977 to Morton I. Thomas, titled “Folding Walker,” illustrates a design for a four legged stand type walker. No underlying walkway is provided, as the device is intended for use in walking from one place to another, by being alternately picked up, moved forward, and used for support as the weight of the user is transferred thereto. 
     Finally, French Patent Publication No. 563,936 published on Dec. 17, 1923 illustrates an ambulatory therapy device which folds laterally, rather than longitudinally, as in the case of the present therapy device. The device of the French Patent Publication includes a folding seat or bench and a folding waist support which slides along the continuous lateral rails of the device. The rails are closed at each end by a folding mechanism, with the waist support being removed, the seat being folded, and the floor being lifted upwardly along one edge to allow the folding mechanism to close the two hand rails together. No wheels or rollers are apparent for ease of transport of the apparatus of the French Patent Publication, whereas the present therapeutic device includes such wheels and rollers for ease of folding, unfolding, and movement of the device for use or storage. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a portable ambulatory therapy device for assisting persons recovering from physical infirmities in recovering their ability to walk, and related ambulatory therapy. The present device comprises a walkway or ramp area, which may be formed of relatively heavy and durable materials in the manner of conventional hardwood flooring, i. e., with a plywood subfloor and a hardwood sheathing overlay. Portability is provided by rollers and folding wheels at each end of the walkway. The walkway is hinged in the center, with the rollers allowing each end of the walkway to roll easily across the underlying surface as the center is lifted for folding; handles are provided for lifting the walkway center. The folding wheels are used for transporting the folded assembly for storage or movement as desired. The hand rails also fold in the center, and fold close to the folded walkway surface when the assembly is folded for storage or transport. The supports for the hand rails each comprise telescoping members to provide height adjustment for the hand rails. 
     Folding of the structure is accomplished merely by releasing a single locking pin at the base of each hand rail support post, and lifting the center of the walkway with the handles on each side thereof. The entire structure is then free to fold about its center, with locking means being provided for securing the folded assembly together. Unfolding is accomplished merely by releasing the locking means and allowing the assembly to unfold, and then locking the hand rail support posts in their upright positions. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved portable ambulatory therapy device comprising an elongate walkway area and having opposed hand rails extending substantially the length of the walkway. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an improved ambulatory therapy device which walkway and hand rails are centrally hinged to provide for the simultaneous folding and unfolding thereof as desired. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved ambulatory therapy device which hand rails are adjustable in height and are supported by telescoping upright support members. 
     An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved ambulatory therapy device which may be locked in an unfolded position by installing a single pin at the base of each upright member, and unlocked for folding by removing the pins. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved ambulatory therapy device including roller means at each end thereof for ease in movably supporting the walkway ends during folding and unfolding, and folding wheels for ease in transporting the folded assembly. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of the present portable ambulatory therapy device, showing its operation and use. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the present therapy device, showing the device in a partially folded configuration. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view showing the present therapy device in a further folded configuration than that shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view showing the present therapy device in a completely folded configuration, and the folding extension of the wheels for portability. 
     FIG. 5 is a broken away detail perspective view of one corner of the therapy device, showing various structural details thereof. 
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention comprises a portable ambulatory therapy device, for assisting persons in learning or relearning walking skills after experiencing a serious illness, injury, or other infirmity. The present therapy device provides all of the basic features required in such a device, but the additional folding capability allows the present device to be folded or deployed as required in virtually any convenient location as desired. 
     FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of the present portable ambulatory therapy device, designated by the reference character  10  throughout the drawing Figures. The therapy device  10  generally comprises an elongate folding walkway  12  having a series of four hand rail supports, respectively  14   a  through  14   d,  extending upwardly from the corresponding four corners of the walkway  12 , with a pair of folding hand rails, respectively  16   a  and  16   b,  extending across opposite pairs of hand rail supports. 
     The walkway  12  is divided into two rigid, essentially equal parts, respectively  18  and  20 , connected along a central hinge line extending laterally across the walkway  12  to provide for the folding together of the two portions  18  and  20  of the walkway  12  such that the bottom surfaces  100  meet. Preferably, the walkway hinge means  22  connecting the two parts  18  and  20  of the walkway  12  is formed of a continuous hinge, but two or more separate smaller walkway hinges may be used alternatively. The first part  18  of the walkway  12  has a first end  24  opposite the hinge  22 , with the second part  20  of the walkway  12  having a second end  26  opposite the hinge  22  and the first end  24  of the first walkway part  18 . The walkway  12  also has a first lateral edge  28 , to which the first and third hand rail support columns  14   a  and  14   c  are attached adjacently, and a second lateral edge  30  opposite the first lateral edge  28 , to which the second and fourth hand rail support columns  14   b  and  14   d  are attached adjacently. 
     The two parallel hand rails  16   a  and  16   b  are divided into essentially equal length first and second parts, respectively  32   a  and  34   a  for the first hand rail  16   a,  and  32   b  and  34   b  for the second hand rail  16   b.  The joint between the parts  32   a,    34   a  and  32   b,    34   b  is positioned essentially straight over the hinge  22  connecting the two parts  18  and  20  of the walkway  12 , when the device  10  is deployed upon a flat and level surface. Each hand rail part  32   a,    34   a  and  32   b,    34   b  is connected by a centrally disposed, underlying lateral hand rail hinge, respectively  36   a  and  36   b,  to allow the two hand rails  16   a  and  16   b  to fold together simultaneously with the folding of the walkway  12 . 
     Each hand rail  16   a,    16   b  has a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, respectively  38   a  and  40   a  for the first hand rail  16   a  and  38   b  and  40   b  for the second rail  16   b.  These end portions provide for the pivotal attachment of the hand rails  16   a  and  16   b  to their respective support columns, with the first end  38   a  of the first rail  16   a  being connected to the first support column  14   a,  the first end  38   b  of the second rail  16   b  connected to the second support column  14   b,  and the second ends  40   a  and  40   b  of the first and second rails being connected respectively to the third and fourth support columns  14   c  and  14   d.    
     The four hand rail to support attachment assemblies, respectively  42   a,    42   b,    42   c,  and  42   d  corresponding to the four hand rail supports  14   a  through  14   d,  are shown generally in FIG. 1, with the detailed structure being described and referenced in the drawing Figures for only the first attachment assembly  42   a  for clarity in the drawings. It will be understood that each of the four hand rail attachment assemblies  42   a  through  42   d  is essentially identical, and that a discussion of the first hand rail attachment assembly  42   a  will suffice to describe all other hand rail attachment assemblies  42   b  through  42   d.    
     Each of the hand rail to support column attachment assemblies  42   a  through  42   d  comprises an attachment fitting  44 , configured to closely fit the cylindrical underside of the hand rails. A pair of spaced apart attachment flanges or lugs  46  depends from the attachment fitting  44 , with the hand rail attachment end  48  of the support column pivotally captured therebetween by a lateral pin  50  which passes through the attachment end  48  of the column and the two lugs  46  to each side thereof. Thus, the hand rail attachment ends  48  of each of the hand rail support columns  14   a  through  14   d  are free to pivot between their respective flanges  46 ; no locking means is required at these fittings or points, as the base ends of the supports  14   a  through  14   b  include locking means, as described below and illustrated in detail in FIG. 5 of the drawings. 
     The four hand rail support locking means or assemblies  52   a  through  52   d  are similar to the pivotal attachment means described above for the hand rail attachment ends of the support columns, but include a second locking pin to preclude the folding of the support columns relative to the walkway when the second pins are installed. As in the description of the hand rail attachment means for the support columns, the detailed description referring to the single locking assembly  52   a  for the support column  14   a  of FIG. 5, will be understood to be essentially identical to the locking means used for the other hand rail support columns  14   b  through  14   d,  and will not be repeated for those other columns. The adjustment and locking assemblies  52   a  through  52   d  each include a removable and adjustable support column base plate  54  which is secured to the upper surface of the walkway  12 , as described further below. The base plate  54  includes an opposed pair of hand rail base end attachment plates  56  extending upwardly or outwardly therefrom, with each of the plates  56  having a pivot or hinge hole or passage formed therethrough and a separate locking pin hole  58 . 
     In a like manner, the base end  60  of the support column  14   a  includes a pair of holes or passages therethrough, each concentric with the respective hinge pivot hole and locking pin hole  58  of the two attachment plates  56 . The hinge pivot passages include a hinge pivot pin  62  installed therethrough, about which the base end  60  of the support column  14   a  may pivot when the locking pin  64  is not installed. However, when the locking pin  64  is inserted through the lock pin holes  58  of the attachment plates or lugs  56  and corresponding hole through the bottom of the base end  60  of the support column  14   a,  the support column  14   a  is rigidly locked in place and cannot fold due to the shear resistance developed by the two pins  62  and  64 . With all of the support columns  14   a  through  14   d  being rigidly locked as described above, it will be seen that the hand rail attachment ends  48  of the columns are also precluded from movement, thus precluding any folding action for the two hand rails  16   a  and  16   b.    
     The four hand rail support base assemblies  52   a  through  52   d  also provide for the adjustment of the lateral spacing of the two hand rails  16   a  and  16   b.  FIG. 5 provides a detailed exploded view of the adjustment means, with it again being understood that the lateral adjustment means for the column  14   a  shown in FIG. 5 is essentially the same for all four hand rail columns  14   a  through  14   d,  and need not be repeated for the columns  14   b  through  14   d.    
     Each of the hand rail support base plates  54  is removably and adjustably secured to the walkway  12  by a pair of spaced apart tracks  66   a  and  66   b,  which are permanently and immovably installed and affixed within the upper surface of the walkway  12 . The tracks  66   a  and  66   b  each have a wide inner channel  68 , with opposed facing flanges  70  above each channel  68 . The base plate  54  to which the base end  60  of the hand rail support column  14   a  is mounted, includes opposite first and second ends  72   a  and  72   b,  which overlie the respective tracks  66   a  and  66   b.  Each base plate end  72   a  and  72   b  has an attachment hole  74  formed therethrough, with the two holes  74  overlying the channels  68  of the two tracks  66   a  and  66   b.    
     An inverted T-nut  76  having a generally T-shaped cross section with a relatively wide flanged head, is slidingly captured within each of the similarly shaped channels  68 . A mating bolt  78  with a head having hand tightening means  78   a  (wing extensions knurled knob, etc.) is passed through each hole  74  in the support column base plate  54  to engage the mating threaded passage  76   a  of the T-nut  76 , and tightened or loosened as required to lock or adjust the position of the base plate  54  relative to the walkway  12  as desired. 
     The above described mechanism allows the four hand rail support posts  14   a  through  14   d,  and thus the attached hand rails  16   a  and  16   b,  to be adjusted laterally inwardly and outwardly toward and away from one another, by loosening the bolts  78  and sliding the base plates  54  inwardly or outwardly as desired over the tracks  66 . When the support posts  14   a  through  14   d  have been positioned as desired, the bolts  78  are tightened to pull the flanged heads of the T-nuts  76  tightly upwardly against the undersides of the overlying flanges  70  of the tracks  66 . With the head flanges of the T-nuts  76  gripping the undersides of the flanges  70 , the support column base plates  54  are secured tightly against the tracks  66   a  and  66   b  and cannot move relative to the tracks  66   a  and  66   b  or walkway  12 , thus securing the two hand rails  16   a  and  16   b  laterally relative to one another and walkway  12 . 
     The present ambulatory therapy device also provides for height adjustment of the two hand rails, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. As in other detailed mechanisms discussed above, the height adjustment mechanism is described in detail only for the first column  14   a  for clarity in the drawing Figure, but the other columns  14   b  through  14   d  operate in an identical manner. The column  14   b  is actually formed of a pair of telescoping tubes  80  and  82 , with the second tube  82  (e. g., the upper tube) telescoping within the first tube (e. g., the lower tube  80 ). (These larger and smaller diameter tubes may be reversed, if so desired.) The outer or first tube  80  includes a series of locking pin passages  84  formed diametrically therethrough, with the second or inner tube  82  having at least one (or possibly more, if desired) diametric locking pin passage(s), not shown, formed therethrough. A locking pin, not shown but essentially the same as the pivot lock pin  64  of FIG. 5, is selectively inserted through one of the passages  84  of the first or outer tube  80  as desired, and passed through the lock pin passage of the second tube  82  to lock the two tubes  80  and  82  together at the desired extension or height. 
     The present portable ambulatory therapy device  10  is deployed for use essentially as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, with the lateral and/or vertical positions of the two hand rails  16   a  and  16   b  being adjusted as required essentially as described further above. When storage or transport of the device  10  is required, it may be folded easily, merely by pulling the four lock pins  64  at the base  60  of each of the hand rail support columns  14   a  through  14   d,  to allow the support columns to fold to lie essentially parallel to the upper surface of the folded walkway  12 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the initial folding operation of the device  10 , with the center sections of the walkway  12  and the two hand rails  16   a  and  16   b  lifted to begin the folding operation. Handles  85  may be provided on each edge  26 ,  28  of the walkway  12  and adjacent the center hinge  22 , to facilitate lifting the center of the walkway  12  for folding. The device  10  also includes rollers  86  (shown more clearly in FIG. 5) extending slightly from each end  24 ,  26  of the walkway  12 , to reduce friction and ease the folding operation as the walkway ends  24  and  26  move across the underlying surface. As the rollers  86  do not extend appreciably below the lower surface of the walkway  12 , the ambulatory therapy device  10  remains stable when deployed with the walkway sections  18  and  20  laid out flat. 
     In FIG. 3, the therapy device  10  has been folded further, with the walkway portions  18  and  20  having an included angle of slightly less than ninety degrees therebetween. The hand rail  16   a  has also been folded to a similar degree. Finally, in FIG. 4 the present ambulatory therapy device  10  has been folded to its completely folded position for storage or transport, with the two walkway portions  18  and  20  being folded immediately adjacent and parallel to one another. Latch means  88  (e. g., a hook and eye, etc.) may be used to secure the two walkway portions  18  and  20  to one another in the folded position as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. It will be seen that with the hand rail support columns  14   a  through  14   d  being free to pivot about their attachments with their respective locking assemblies  52   a  through  52   d,  that the columns  14   a  through  14   d  may fall outwardly from the stowed position shown in FIG. 4, with the hand rails  16   a  and  16   b  also falling and deploying to a wider angle than that shown. Accordingly, additional latch means (not shown, but similar to the latch or hook  88  provided near the base ends of the two support columns  14   a  and  14   c ) may be provided to secure the hand rail ends  38   a  through  40   b  to the folded walkway  12 , as required. 
     The opposed ends  24  and  26  and opposite lateral edges  28  and  30  of the walkway  12  will be seen to define four corners, respectively  90   a  through  90   d,  for the generally rectangular walkway  12 . Each corner  90   a  through  90   d  includes a transport wheel assembly, respectively  92   a  through  92   d,  foldably installed adjacent thereto, for rolling the folded assembly  10  to another location for storage or transport. These transport wheel assemblies  92   a  through  92   d  are shown in their folded states in FIGS. 1 through 3 and  5 , with the wheel assemblies  92   a  and  92   c  shown in their extended or deployed positions in FIG. 4 (with the wheel assembly  92   c  of FIG. 4 also shown partially extended, in broken lines). Each of the wheel assemblies  92   a  through  92   d  comprises an extension link  94  with a wheel or caster  96  attached conventionally thereto, with a pair of brace links  98  extending between the distal or wheel attachment end of the extension link  94  and a brace attachment point at some distance from the respective corner. FIG. 4 illustrates the various links  94  and  98  in their deployed and semi-deployed states. These transport wheel assemblies  92   a  through  92   d  are extended once the therapy device  10  has been folded as shown in FIG. 4, thus allowing the device to be rolled easily over a smooth underlying surface to another area for storage, or to a vehicle for transport, etc., as desired. 
     In summary, the present portable ambulatory therapy device provides a much needed means for persons requiring ambulatory exercise or therapy, to participate in such exercise or therapy without need for permanently installed equipment or facilities. The present therapy device provides the needed components for such therapy, i. e., a smooth, solid walkway surface, and opposed hand rails which may be adjusted laterally and vertically as required, depending upon the needs of the person using the device. 
     The present therapy device is solidly constructed, with hand rails and supports formed of stainless steel or other suitable material as desired. The walkway is preferably constructed of materials providing normal footing for the individual using the device. A heavy plywood subfloor (e. g., three quarter inch thick) covered by a hardwood floor overlay has been found to work well for the purposes of the present therapy device. The sturdy and durable nature of the present device results in a fairly massive structure, and accordingly, the end rollers for reducing friction of the opposed walkway ends over the underlying surface during folding, and the retractable and extendible wheels or casters for use in transporting the device to another area, enable the present therapy device to be deployed, adjusted for use, and then folded and moved for storage or transport to another area, with a minimum of time and effort. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.