Abstract:
An orthopedic mobility scooter for persons with a compromised leg or foot comprising a frame for supporting the weight of an occupant in a sitting position and a leg rest for supporting the compromised leg. The healthy leg is used to propel the scooter with an unobstructed stride. Wheels are located at the front and rear of the frame. Handles attached to a steering column and connected to a front wheel control the direction of travel. A padded seat is positioned near the center of the frame. A horizontal rod extending perpendicular to the frame is used to connect a leg rest and a stabilizing front wheel. The front horizontal rod and rear axle can both be positioned to either side of the frame to accommodate either a left or right compromised leg or foot. The scooter has enough clearance and stability to surmount obstacles such as street curbs.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is based upon U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/021,010 filed Jan. 14, 2008 entitled Sitting Orthopedic Scooter. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to mobility walker, scooter, and caddie devices for assisting those with a compromised leg or foot. In particular, this invention pertains to a sitting mobility device that can support a compromised leg in a comfortable safe position while the device is propelled using the healthy leg. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Walker-type devices with the means to allow the occupant to sit have been described in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,488,088; 3,992,024; 4,065,145; 4,239,248; 4,861,051; 5,158,313; 5,167,597; 5,741,020; D396,833; 6,149,170; and 6,161,860. Though each of these devices enable a person with a compromised leg or foot to transport themselves across relatively flat and even surfaces, e.g., school hallways, none of the devices, with exception of U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,860 by Corneau, have a mechanical means for supporting an injured leg or foot. The occupant would be required to support the weight of their compromised leg themselves. The walker described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,860 has a foot rest however, the intended design is to support the legs only while an attendant is pushing the walker. The foot rest is not designed to be used while the occupant is self-propelling the walker. The walkers listed above are limited by an inability to clear obstacles such as a street curb. Only the devices described in patents U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,248 by Evers; U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,313 by Becher, and U.S. Pat. No. D396,833 by Eidt and Tamison are designed with enough clearance to navigate the device up or down a street curb. However, as described above, these three inventions do not provide support of an injured leg or foot. Three patents in particular: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,065,145; 6,149,170; 6,161,860 have notable similarity to the present invention (Sitting Orthopedic Mobility Scooter) however, the inventions described in these patents do not allow the occupant to take optimal advantage of the full strength and stride of the healthy leg used to propel the scooter. This is due to either obstruction by the rear axle, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,145, or obstruction by the front axle and/or foot rest in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,149,170 and 6,161,860. 
     Kneeling-type orthopedic leg support scooters have also been described. U.S. Pat. Nos.: D363,904; 5,839,740; 6,053,189; 6,848,696; D517,455; 7,287,767; and 7,311,319 describe variations of a orthopedic wheeled leg support scooter. Each is propelled by a healthy leg, while the injured leg rests on a kneeling pad. Though each design has a unique set of distinguishing features, none of the scooters are designed to be propelled while the occupant is in a sitting position. Further, none of these orthopedic scooters are suitable for leg injuries at or above the knee. These scooters are only suitable for injuries to the foot or below the knee. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The goal of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, affordable, and compact sitting scooter device that enables an occupant to transport themselves to the various places required for modern urban and suburban living. The device provides full support of a compromised leg or foot and is not limited to injuries or impairments located below the knee. The device can be used to safely navigate street curbs, ramps, and doorways. The invention is designed to fit within buses, trains, and some airplanes. The device can be used on sidewalks, street surfaces, on grass, inside schools, office buildings, airports, stores, and shopping centers. The invention can be used inside the house, within the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. The device is collapsible for convenient stowage inside car trunks or backseats and storage in closets. 
     The scooter is asymmetric in design and is configured for either a left or right compromised leg or foot. The asymmetrical design allows for full unobstructed stride of the healthy leg used to propel the scooter. The configuration of the scooter is fully interchangeable between left or right configuration without the need for additional components. 
     The scooter is adjustable to fit occupants of varying size. The seat height can be raised or lowered and the seat can be moved rearward or forward. The leg rest can be raised or lowered and positioned to a full range of angles. Wheel locks are provided to prevent movement of the scooter during mounting and dismounting. Hand activated brake levers located on the handle bar are used by the occupant to slow or stop the scooter. 
     The direction of the scooter is controlled by rotation of the handle bar that is attached to the front primary wheel. A secondary front wheel, or wheels, is attached to a swivel mounted fork. The role of the secondary front wheel is to stabilize the scooter. The secondary front wheel moves in parallel to the primary front wheel and the direction of the secondary front wheel is dictated by the direction of the primary front wheel. The scooter can be controlled using only one hand. This allows use of the free hand for grasping and holding objects such as a coffee cup or a door knob. The later is important when the scooter occupant must go through a swinging door. 
     In short, the device of the present invention enables an occupant with a compromised leg or foot and a healthy leg to transport and maneuver themselves to the wide variety of locations required for modern living, all the while in a safe and comfortable sitting position with full support of the compromised leg or foot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWLING 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a four-wheeled orthopedic scooter. The scooter is configured for an occupant with a compromised right leg. In this configuration the left leg is used to propel the scooter. Only one rear wheel is visible from this perspective. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the scooter configured for a compromised right leg. The rear axle is positioned fully biased to the right side of the scooter. The leg rest pad is positioned on the right side of the scooter to support the compromised leg. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the scooter configured for a compromised left leg. The rear axle is positioned fully biased to the left side of the scooter. The leg rest pad is positioned on the left side of the scooter to support the compromised leg. 
         FIG. 4  is a frontal view of the scooter configured for a compromised right leg. The handle bar is height adjustable by means a telescopic arrangement of concentric tubes. Brake levers on the handles activate calipers located on the rear wheels. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view showing the scooter is a collapsed configuration. The front leg rest and secondary front wheel are folded back to the scooter frame. The foot rest is folded upward. The rear axle is folded forward into the scooter frame. The handles are lowered by collapsing the telescopic steering column. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view showing the scooter with optional crutches and an optional back rest. The height of the back rest can be adjusted to optimize the comfort of the occupant. The crutches are of a folding design and are secured to the scooter using brackets. Crutches may be necessary when an obstacle such as a flight of stairs is encountered. The occupant would use the crutches in a conventional manner while an assistant carries the lightweight scooter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a wheeled scooter designed for individuals requiring assistance with walking. The unique aspects of the present invention include, but are not limited to, inclusion of a padded seat to support the weight of a person in a sitting position and a padded surface to support a compromised leg, as well as the ability of the scooter to be configured for either a compromised left leg or right leg, and the ability to propel the scooter using the healthy leg. Unlike the devices of the prior art, the present invention overcomes the problem of being limited to injuries below the knee by providing a means for the occupant to remain in a sitting position while propelling the scooter and by providing full support of a compromised leg. The device overcomes the limitation of the prior art of not being suitable for navigating up or down street curbs by providing a design with high vertical clearance and low center of gravity to maintain stability. The prior art also limits the effective stride of the healthy propelling leg and the present invention is designed asymmetrically to overcome this problem. 
     In one general embodiment of the present invention, the scooter comprises tubular frame capable of supporting the weight of an occupant. A handle bar is used to steer the scooter and there is a padded leg support that extends past the front of the scooter. The scooter also contains two rear wheels, a front steering wheel mounted to a steering column, and a front stabilizing wheel mounted to a freely rotating fork. The leg support and front stabilizing wheel are both mounted to a rod that can be moved to either side of the scooter frame depending upon which leg is compromised. The rear axle can be positioned in a fully biased position to either the left side or right side of the scooter, depending upon which leg is compromised. The handle bar also comprises hand controlled brake levers that activate brake calibers on the rear wheels. The scooter is stable, compact, sturdy, lightweight, and collapsible. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a four-wheeled scooter designed for an individual with a compromised leg. Referring now to the drawings, in particular to  FIG. 1 , the occupant, Person A, shown with a compromised right leg, is seated on padded seat  11  of scooter  10 . Person A is also referred to as the occupant. The compromised leg rests on padded surface  12 . The foot is additionally supported by heal rest  13 . The healthy leg (left leg in  FIG. 1 ) makes contact with the ground and is used to propel the scooter. The scooter contains two rear wheels  14   a  and  14   b , both attached to rear axle  15 . Only one of the rear wheels is visible from the side view of  FIG. 1 . A front wheel  16 , referred to as the “primary front wheel” is mounted to front fork  17 . The primary front wheel is used to steer the scooter. Another front wheel  18 , referred to as the “secondary front wheel” is mounted to a freely swiveling front fork  19 . The secondary front wheel is used to stabilize the scooter. 
     The scooter frame is comprised of five tubular members rigidly attached together. The first frame member  20  extends along the lower portion of the scooter from the rear of the scooter to the front of the scooter in an upward arching manner. The second frame member  21  extends vertically upward from the first frame member to the seat post  25 . The third frame member  22  extends forward from near the top of the second frame member to just above the front terminus of the first frame member. The fourth frame member  23  is connected near the top of the second frame member and extends rearward, arches downward, and connects to the rear terminus of the first frame member. The fifth frame member  24  is vertically oriented and connects the front termini of the first and third frame members. The fifth frame member also functions as the main structural component of the steering column. 
       FIG. 2  shows a rear view of the orthopedic scooter configured for an occupant with a compromised right leg.  FIG. 3  shows a rear view of the scooter configured for a compromised left leg. Refer now to  FIG. 2 . A horizontal rod  26  connects the swiveling secondary front wheel fork  19  to the front of the scooter frame just above the primary front wheel fork  17 . Padded leg rest  12  is mounted to rod  26  using a bracket  27  that is mounted to the backside of the padded leg rest. The angular position of the padded leg rest is fixed at a continuum of possible angles by clamps  28   a  and  28   b . Screws  29   a  and  29   b  hold the padded leg rest to the bracket  27 . The height of the padded leg rest can be adjusted by using threaded ports spaced incrementally on the back side of the leg rest. The padded seat  11  is mounted to horizontal rods  30   a  and  30   b  that allow the seat to be horizontally positioned forward or rearward by sliding the seat along the rods. Clamps (not shown) are used to lock the seat into the desired position. The vertical height of the seat is adjusted by sliding the seat post  25  up or down and locking into place using clamp  31 . The rear axle  15  is attached to the scooter frame by clamp  32 . When the clamp is released, the axle can slide horizontally to the right side or left side of the scooter depending upon which leg of the occupant is compromised and requires support. The clamp  32  is also a pivot point for the axle so that it can be folded inward to collapse (see  FIG. 5 ) the scooter for storage. 
     Handles  33   a  and  33   b , with padded grips, are used to steer the scooter by controlling the direction of the primary front wheel  16 . Brake levers  34   a  and  34   b  are mounted to the handles and control brake calipers  35   a  and  35   b  that are mounted to the rear wheels. A flexible cable system  36  is used to activate the brake calibers when the handles are squeezed, allowing the occupant to slow or stop the scooter. Wheel locks  37   a  and  37   b  are also included and function independently from the braking system. The wheel locks can be engaged to prevent the scooter from moving while the occupant is mounting or dismounting the scooter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , showing a frontal view of the scooter, the handles  33   a  and  33   b  are mounted to a pair of concentric, telescopically adjustable tubes  38  and  39 , which enable the height of the handle to be fixed at a desired position. Clamps  40  and  41  are used to lock the position of the telescopic tubes. The bottom of the lower tube  39  fits through the fifth frame member  24  (see also  FIG. 1 ) and is attached to the top of front fork  17 . The tube  39  can rotate freely within the fifth frame member to allow steering of the front primary wheel  16 . The horizontal rod  26  connects the secondary front wheel  18  to the scooter frame and is locked into position by a bracket  42  that contains two clamps  43   a  and  43   b . Release of the clamps allows the front rod to be moved from one side of the scooter to the other depending upon which leg requires support. The bracket  42  contains a fused collar that fits around the fifth frame member  24  and is able to rotate about the fifth frame member. This enables the horizontal rod to fold backward into a collapsed position (see  FIG. 5 ) for storage of the scooter. A clamp (not shown) locks the bracket into either a collapsed or un-collapsed position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the scooter is shown in a collapsed configuration for storage. To collapse the scooter, the bracket  42  is unclamped. This bracket is fused with a collar fitting around the outside of the fifth frame member  24  and enables the front horizontal rod  26  to rotate backwards about the axis of the steering column. The padded leg rest  12  moves rearward since it is attached to the horizontal rod. The heal rest  13  can flip upward. The rear axle  15  can rotate forward about a pivot point located on clamp  32 . The steering column collapses by releasing clamps  40  and  41  and sliding the two concentric tubes  38  and  39  downward. In the collapsed configuration the scooter can be stowed in the trunk or back seat of a car, or stored in a closet. 
       FIG. 6  shows a side view of the scooter with optional features. A back rest  43  can be mounted to the seat post  25 . A curved extension bar  44  is used to attach the back rest to the scooter. A threaded knob  45  secures the back rest to the extension bar. The vertical position of the back rest is adjustable by releasing a clamp  46  that is used to attach the extension bar to the seat post  25 . Optional folding crutches  47  can be secured to the scooter by brackets  48   a  and  48   b . Crutches may be necessary when encountering obstacles like a flight of stairs. The scooter occupant will need to unfold the crutches and dismount the scooter. An assistant will carry the lightweight scooter up or down the flight of stairs while the person with the compromised leg uses the crutches. It is an object of the scooter to provide a means for a person with a compromised leg to transport themselves to the various places required for modern living. Toward this end, there will be instances where crutches may be needed. By conveniently storing crutches on the scooter, the occupant can transport themselves to a greater variety of places. 
     The description above is considered illustrative of only the principles of the invention. To those skilled in the art, numerous modifications will be obvious to conceive. It is therefore not the intent of this patent to limit the scope of the invention to only the exact description included here. All reasonable or obvious modifications and extensions are within the scope of the invention.