Abstract:
A walker having a detachable backrest is described. The walker contains a seat, and a person may sit in the walker, and rest his or her back against the detachable backrest.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This application relates generally to the field of walkers and, more particularly, to a detachable backrest for a walker having a seat.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Walkers are commonly used by the elderly, persons with infirmities, and patients recovering from injuries or surgery. A variety of styles of walkers are available. Some have wheels, while others simply have legs tipped with rubber or a similar skid-resistant material.  
           [0003]    Persons who use walkers often have a desire to sit down at certain times when they are using their walker. For example, the person may become tired and need to rest, or the person may have taken the walker to view an event, such as a sporting event or a parade, and wishes to use the walker as a seat while viewing the event. In this regard, it is desirable for the walker to have a backrest, to make the use of the seat more comfortable.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention provides a backrest for use when the seat of the walker is deployed. The backrest is particularly adapted to be detachable for easy stowing. In one embodiment, the backrest conveniently attaches to the walker by inserting ends of the backrest into a housing. The backrest is secured in place, in one embodiment, by a spring-biased peg. The backrest may be padded, so as to provide greater comfort.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    The features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosed subject matter will become more fully apparent from the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with accompanying illustrations in which:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is an illustration of an elevated perspective view of an embodiment of a folding walker.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is an illustration of an perspective view of an embodiment of a folding walker in the folded position.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exploded view of a detachable backrest in an embodiment of a folding walker.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is an illustration of an elevated cross-sectional view of a portion of an attaching peg and peg housing in an embodiment of a folding walker.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of an attaching peg and peg housing in an embodiment of a folding walker.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. For example, those skilled in the art would understand that the present invention may be used in rollators, as well as walkers. In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known methods and devices are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a folding walker in which the present invention has been incorporated. Walker  10  includes front frame  12  and rear frame  14 . Front frame  12  includes front upright members  13 . The length of front upright members  13  is telescopically adjustable, so as to accommodate users of varying height. In one embodiment, front cross braces  19  and  20  couple front upright members  13 .  
         [0013]    Rear frame  14  includes rear upright members  15 . Rear cross brace  21  couples rear upright members  15 . Grips  18  are affixed to upright members  13 . A user holds grips  18  as he or she uses walker  10  to walk. In embodiments where walker  10  includes casters  16 , brakes  25  are included in walker  10  and may be applied to slow down or stop at least one of casters  16  from rolling.  
         [0014]    In an embodiment, the posterior end of the underside of seat  24  is pivotally coupled to front cross brace  20 . The anterior end of the underside of seat  24  has two positions. In the first position, when seat  24  is down, the anterior end of the underside of seat  24  is detachably coupled to rear cross brace  21 . In the second position, when seat  24  is pulled up and walker  10  is collapsed for storage, the anterior end of seat  24  is detached from rear cross brace  21 . In one embodiment, the anterior end of seat  24  is coupled to rear cross brace  21  with two semi-ring clips (not shown).  
         [0015]    In an embodiment, detachable backrest  30  is coupled with front frame  12  by inserting the ends of backrest  30  into housings  40 , which are coupled to front frame  12 . Detachable backrest  30  may include a single bar, or, in other embodiments, may comprise multiple transverse bars. In an embodiment, backrest  30  is made of a rigid material or materials. In other embodiments, backrest  30  may be made of a flexible material. Those skilled in the art will recognize that seat  24  may also be configured in a manner whereby the posterior end of seat  24 , rather than the anterior end, is detachably couple to rear cross brace  21 , and the anterior end of seat is pivotally couple to front cross brace  20 . Additionally, those skilled in the art will recognize that backrest member  30  may be coupled with rear frame  14 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a folding walker in the folded position. Side support assembly  26  includes side support members  27  and  28 . Side support member  27  is pivotally coupled to front frame  12 , and side support member  28  is pivotally coupled to rear frame  14 . The ends of side support members  27  and  28 , which are not coupled to either front frame  12  or rear frame  14 , are coupled together. Pivot lever  29  is pivotally coupled with both side support assembly  26  and seat  24 . When seat  24  is pulled upward and detached from rear cross brace  21 , pivot lever  29  pulls side support members  27  and  28  upward, thus drawing front frame  12  and rear frame  14  together, thereby collapsing walker  10 , so that it may be easily stowed. In the folded position, backrest  30  may be used as a handle for carrying walker  10  or backrest  30  may be detached, so that folded walker  10  has an even smaller girth, and is more easily stowed.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of detachable backrest  30 . Backrest  30  may be attached to front frame  12  by inserting attaching pegs  32  into peg housings  40 . When attaching peg  32  is inserted into peg housing  40 , knob  50  protrudes through lock pin hole  43  and into notch  34 , and secures backrest  30  in place. A spring (not shown) in peg housing  40  is biased so as to keep an inner portion of knob  50  protruding into notch  34 . Backrest  30  may be detached from walker  10  by pulling out knob  50 , and removing attaching peg  32  from peg housing  40 .  
         [0018]    In an embodiment, padding sheath  31  covers a portion of backrest  30 . Padding sheath  31  is soft, and makes backrest  30  more comfortable to the seated user. In an embodiment, padding sheath  31  may only cover a portion of backrest  30 , but, in other embodiments, padding sheath  31  may cover all of backrest  30 . Padding sheath  31  may include multiple independent pieces of padding material, or, it may include only one piece of padding material. In an embodiment, padding sheath  31  includes foam rubber as a padding material. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various materials, soft or firm, will be suitable for padding sheath  31 , and the selection of the materials may depend on the particular characteristics or wishes of different users. As such, foam rubber is a representative padding material, and is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the subject matter described and claimed by the inventor.  
         [0019]    Attaching pegs  32  are coupled to opposite ends of backrest  30 . In an embodiment, backrest  30  is a hollow, cylindrical bar. Also, in such an embodiment, attaching pegs  32  are coupled to backrest  30  by inserting a portion of attaching pegs  32  into opposite hollow ends of backrest  30 . The portions of attaching pegs  32  that are inserted into backrest  30  are secured to backrest  30  by rivets, in an embodiment. Attaching pegs  32  include notch  34 , in an embodiment. When attaching peg  32  is inserted into peg housing  40 , a portion of knob  50  protrudes through lock pin hole  43  into notch  34 , thereby keeping backrest bar  30  in a secure position. In an embodiment, attaching pegs  32  includes tapered ends  38 , which allows attaching pegs  32  to easily slide into peg housing  40 . Attaching peg  32  may also include rim  36 , which acts as a stopper, allowing only a specified length of attaching peg  32  to be inserted into receptacle  41 , and lining up notch  34  with lock pin hole  43 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a detailed illustration of one embodiment of spring housing  42 . In an embodiment, spring housing  42  is coupled to peg housing  40 . Spring housing  42  contains a spring (not shown) that is used to bias knob  50  so as to pull knob  50  and lock pin  52  towards peg housing  40  when backrest  30  is attached for use. Lock pin  52  runs through spring housing  42 , and, when backrest  30  is attached to front frame  12 , forces lock pin head  54  (not shown) into notch  34 , thereby holding backrest  30  in a secure position.  
         [0021]    Spring housing  42  includes engaging members  48 , which may engage with engaging members  56  of knob  50  when backrest  30  is attached to front frame  12 . Only when engaging members  48  are engaged with engaging members  56 , may lock pin  52  force lock pin head  54  through spring housing  42  and into notch  34  (not shown). FIG. 4 shows engaging members  56  disengaged from engaging members  48 . In the disengaged position, lock pin head  54  does not substantially enter notch  34 , and backrest  30  may be easily removed from peg housings  40 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a detailed illustration of one embodiment of peg housing  40  and knob  50 . Each peg housing  40  includes receptacle  41 . Backrest  30  is attached to front frame  12  by inserting attaching pegs  32  into receptacle  41  of peg housing  40 .  
         [0023]    In one embodiment, spring housing  42  is coupled to peg housing  40 . In other embodiments, spring housing  42  is part of peg housing  40 . Spring  44  is disposed inside spring housing  42 . Spring  44  biases lock pin  52  and lock pin head  54  toward peg housing  40 , so that, when backrest  30  is attached to front frame  12 , lock pin head  54  protrudes into notch  34  of attaching peg  32 , thus securing backrest  30  in the attached position.  
         [0024]    Knob  50 , in an embodiment, includes lock pin  52 , lock pin head  54 , and engaging members  56 . In an embodiment, knob  50  is a quarter-turn-locking pin that has two positions. In the protruding position, lock pin head  54  protrudes into notch  34  of attaching peg  32 , thereby securing backrest  30  in the attached position. In another embodiment, knob  50  does not include lock pin head  54 , and lock pin  52  inserts protrudes into notch  34 .  
         [0025]    In the non-protruding position, engaging members  48  on spring housing  42  do not engage with engaging members  56  of knob  50 . As such, the biasing in spring  44  is unable to pull lock pin head  54  into notch  34 . As such, in the non-protruding position of lock pin head  54 , backrest  30  is not secured. The non-protruding position of lock pin head  54  facilitates easy detachment of backrest  30 , or easy insertion of backrest  30  into peg housing  40 .  
         [0026]    Those skilled in the art will recognize that other configurations may be used to secure attaching pegs  32  in receptacles  41 , and also fall under the subject matter disclosed herein. Likewise, those skilled in the art will also recognize that various structural configurations may be used to prevent lock pin head  54  from entering notch  34  in the non-protruding position, and also fall within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein.