Abstract:
An assistive walking rear entry device including a main frame, elongated upright body weight support members connected to each side portion of the main frame and two elongated leg members connected to each body support member one extending forwardly, the other extending rearwardly, each leg member including a rollable member attached to a distal end portion thereof. An elongated seat is attached to and supported on a lower portion of a centerpost, the centerpost being supported on the main frame. Rearwardly opening lateral torso supports are attached to the upper portion of the centerpost and make supporting contact with the thoracic area and for propelling the device during a walking gait. The seat is positioned against the perennial region to support the pelvis and to help propel the device on a “hands free” basis. The body weight support members are preferably multi-function for partial body weight support during a walking gait and in facilitating entrance and egress.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not applicable  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable  
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC  
       [0003]     Not applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     This invention relates generally to adaptive aids for the handicapped and physically impaired, and more particularly to a weight-relieving walker which will assist in supporting the user&#39;s body in specific variable amounts during ambulation and without the need for being hand held for propulsion.  
         [0006]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0007]     Adaptive aids of all sorts for the handicapped and physically impaired are to be found in an ever-growing market. One such area of growth is with respect to improvements in enhanced functionability of a conventional walker which is relied upon by the user through hand grasping of the side grips and either sliding or lifting forwardly or lateral movement of the walker by the user as each assisted step in ambulation is taken. However, arm strength is taxed and no body-supported rest is provided.  
         [0008]     The following U.S. patents represent various improvements in the adaptive aids aimed at assisting in the ambulation of those who are physically impaired in walking:  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,426 to Motloch  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,248 to Ewers  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,465 to Stillings  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,730 to Hoffman  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,697 to Grauer  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,402 to Nestor, et al.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,388 to Bertani  
         [0016]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,802 to Workman, et al.  
         [0017]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,250 to Balan  
         [0018]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,202 to Palmer  
         [0019]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,681 to Gutierrez  
         [0020]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,018 to Razon  
         [0021]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,523 to Dubats  
         [0022]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,770 to Wright-Ott, et al.  
         [0023]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,248 to Ewers teaches a three-wheeled collapsible walker with spaced parallel bars disposed horizontally, two bars hingedly connected to the first bars and a third bar to which the second bars are hingedly attached. Stillings, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,465 discloses a safety walker with rigid framework surrounding the front, back and sides of a handicapped user.  
         [0024]     An assisted walking apparatus is taught by Bertani in U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,388 which includes a frame having a pair of lower horizontal members between which the person may stand and a vertical member extending upwardly for disposition behind the person&#39;s back.  
         [0025]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,802 to Workman, et al. discloses a support assistive device having a frame assembly, a vertical pelvis support connected thereto and a horizontal pelvis support element. Balan teaches a safety support device in U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,250 which includes a frame and pairs of forward and rearward rollered legs.  
         [0026]     Gutierrez discloses a seating and walking wheelchair in U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,681 and Razon discloses a stand-up walker for supporting weight in U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,018. Dubats teaches an ambulator for assisting an individual in walking or standing in U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,523 and an orthotic walker is disclosed by Palmer in U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,202.  
         [0027]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,730 to Hoffman teaches a walking aid comprising a wheeled frame which is freely moved by body contact without the use of the user&#39;s hands. A walking support apparatus is taught by Grauer in U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,697 and Wright-Ott, et al. discloses an ambulation aid which has a support structure for supporting the user&#39;s weight and is movable laterally with respect to the framework to accommodate sideways hip movement of the user&#39;s gait.  
         [0028]     A portable mobile stand is taught by Nestor, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,402 which uses a pair of side members with a vertical support member and a weight-relieving ambulator is disclosed by Motloch in U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,426.  
         [0029]     The present invention is intended to further enhance the range of functions and the effectiveness of feature utilization for someone who is handicapped or in any way functionally impaired with respect to ambulatory muscle control or strength and which will be self-propelled by body movement as the user ambulates without the need for hand grasping to slide or lift the device during each stride taken during a walking gait. Moreover, the user is free to move and reach forwardly, laterally and rearwardly without substantial obstruction and is further provided with a seat, which provides the user with variable weight bearing as the torso moves up and down during each step taken. Convenient collapsibility is also provided.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]     This invention is directed to an assistive walking rear entry device including a main frame, elongated upright body weight support members connected to each rear portion of the main frame and two elongated leg members connected to each body support member extending forwardly, the other extending rearwardly, each leg member including a rollable member attached to a distal end portion thereof. An elongated seat attached to and supported on a lower portion of a centerpost, the centerpost supported on the main frame at the mid portion thereof. Rearwardly opening lateral torso supports attached to the thoracic area for propelling contact therewith during a walking gait. The seat positions against the perennial region to support the pelvis. The body weight support members are preferably multi-function for partial body weight support during a walking gait and during entrance and egress.  
         [0031]     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved assistive walking device for individuals of insufficient leg strength to stand or walk independently.  
         [0032]     Yet another object of this invention is to provide an assistive walking device which is easily foldable into a compact carrying and storage size.  
         [0033]     Yet another object of this invention is to provide an assistive walking device which will automatically support varying amounts of body weight of an individual with weak leg strength during a walking gait.  
         [0034]     Still another object of this invention is to provide an assistive walking device for the physically impaired who are not fully capable of standing and walking independently and which is adjustably versatile to accommodate a very broad range of user height, size and strength requirements.  
         [0035]     Another object of this invention is to provide an assistive walking device providing rear loading and egress features for the user while maintaining full front and rear clearance for normal upper torso and arm movement.  
         [0036]     In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)  
       [0037]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the invention.  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the invention.  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the invention depicting adjustment features associated therewith.  
         [0040]      FIG. 3A  is a section view in the direction of arrows  3 A- 3 A in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the invention.  
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the invention.  
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the invention.  
         [0044]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the invention depicting a humanoid supported thereby during a normal walking gait.  
         [0045]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 10  is a rear elevation view of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of the invention in the collapsed or folded configuration.  
         [0049]      FIG. 12  is a rear perspective view of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 14  is a rear elevation view of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 15  is a top plan view of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0053]      FIG. 16  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0054]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged front perspective view of a portion of the main frame and the body weight support member.  
         [0055]      FIG. 18  is a side elevation section view of  FIG. 17 .  
         [0056]      FIG. 19  is a further enlarged view of the lower portion of  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0057]     Referring now to the drawings, the invention is there shown generally at numeral  10  and, in this preferred embodiment, includes a generally U-shaped frame  12 , spaced apart upright body weight support members  14   a  (right side) and  14   b  (left side), longitudinally extending leg assemblies  16   a  and  16   b , a centerpost  18  and a seat assembly  19 . The generally upright body weight supports  14   a  and  14   b  are connected at their upper ends to a mid portion of the corresponding side portions  20  and  22  of frame  12 . The centerpost  18  includes an upright channel member  44  having a cross section which is shown in  FIG. 3A  having fore and aft opposing channels  45  and  47  and which is slidably lockable within a tubular support channel  42  rigidly attached to a mid point of the main frame  12 .  
         [0058]     The seat assembly  19  includes a uniquely configured seat  62  better adapted to a user anatomy and movement as described in more detail herebelow which is connected for fore and aft adjustable securement in the direction of arrow E as best seen in  FIG. 6  to a longitudinally extending tubular member  64  rigidly connected at a forwardly end thereof to a tubular channel member  66 . The tubular member  66  is, in turn, slidable engagable within the channel section shown in  FIG. 3A  of channel member  44  and lockable at a desired height position in the direction of B by lock handle  65 .  
         [0059]     Four leg assemblies  16   a  (right side) and  16   b  (left side) are provided and include arcuately shaped legs  32   a  and  32   b  and  34   a  and  34   b , each of which has a generally upright portion lockably engageable for vertical support and from axial rotation into upright support tubes rigidly attached to the front and rear surfaces of the lower tubular portion  28  of each body weight support  14   a  and  14   b . By this arrangement, each of the leg assemblies  16   a  and  16   b  is held for selected releasable rotation into a storage position (described herebelow) about axes  76 ,  78 ,  80 , and  82 , respectively shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 .  
         [0060]     Disposed at or adjacent to a lower end of each of the legs  32   a  and  32   b  and  34   a  and  34   b  are rollable castered wheels  36  supported for rotation about a vertical axis  38  and having a donut shaped horizontally disposed bumper  40  which also may rotate to reduce scuffing and ease of passing past close upright surfaces. Additionally, the rear casters  36  which are attached to each of the rear legs  32   a  and  32   b  are lockable in a fore and aft non-steerable position by pivoted lock member  110  acting into a slot  112  of the extended mounting shaft of the caster  36 . A release lever  106   a  and  106   b  and connecting cable  108  facilitate the lockable and released engagement therebetween.  
         [0061]     The mid section of the torso of a user is supported forwardly against a laterally extending padded torso bar  48  connected centrally thereof to a mounting block  50  for vertical lockable adjustment in the direction of arrow T on channel member  44 . Two padded L-shaped torso support arms  52  and  54  are pivotally connected at  56  and  58  to either end of the torso bar  48  such that, in the closed configuration shown, the torso of the user is substantially held from unbalanced or excessive movement both laterally and rearwardly when positioned within the device  10 . As best seen in  FIG. 5 , by releasing each of the locking pins  57  and  59  individually, these torso support arms  52  and  54 , which are also padded for comfort, will swing outwardly in the direction of arrows G and H to provide convenient access or entrance by the user into the device from rearwardly thereof for use. Thereafter, these torso support arms  52  and  54  are pivotable in the opposite direction of arrows G and H back into the closed and locked position for torso support. Additionally, adjustment for body size is accomplished in the direction of arrow D and, again, height wise in the direction of arrow T as seen in  FIG. 3  as required.  
         [0062]     Preferably disposed at a rearward end of the horizontal seat support member  64  is a padded coccyx support  68  which is held on upright pivotable shaft  70  for adjustability in the direction of arrow C. By releasing spring loaded locking pin  75 , adjustment fore and aft in the direction of arrow S of the coccyx support  38  is achieved. To facilitate entrance and egress by the user, the coccyx support  68  is pivotally movable about the lower pivot point  74  by the release of spring loaded pin  92  in the direction of arrow F shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0063]     The height of the seat  62  is initially positionable above a support surface W in the direction of arrow B as seen in  FIG. 3  such that its generally hourglass shape as best seen in  FIG. 6  is positioned against the thighs of the user, and further, that the arcuate concave top surface of the seat  62 , as best seen in  FIG. 3  and partially in  FIGS. 9 and 10  is comfortably positioned against the perineal area of the user. By this arrangement, during each stride taken during a normal walking gait, as the body of the user slightly moves upward and downwardly, the body weight is carried on the seat  62  and distributed and interactive with respect to the body weight supports  14   a  and  14   b  through main frame  12  as will be described herebelow.  
         [0000]     Collapsibility  
         [0064]     Referring now to FIGS.  11  to  16  specifically, the collapsibility of the invention  10  into a compact easily carryable and storable configuration is there shown. Each of the leg assemblies  16   a  and  16   b  is released by corresponding spring biased pins  84   a  and  84   b  and  88   a  and  88   b  which facilitates closing pivotal movement about the pivotal axes  76 ,  78 ,  80  and  82  as best seen in  FIG. 16 . These leg assemblies  16   a  and  16   b  thus fold onto themselves in an alternate or stacked arrangement in a generally transverse orientation.  
         [0000]     Height Adaptability  
         [0065]     Turning lastly to  FIGS. 17, 18  and  19 , the structure and function of the body weight support members  14   a  (and  14   b ) are there shown and represents a preferred aspect of this invention. Each of these body weight supports  14   a  includes an upper tubular member  24   a  which is rigidly connected as by weldment to the arcuate tubular member  20  of the main frame  12 . A lower tubular member  28   a  is slidably engageable in close mating overlapping telescoping alignment with respect to the upper tubular member  24   a . Positioned within the upper and lower tubular members  24   a  and  28   a , respectively, is an elongated height adjustment block  122  which receives an elongated axial adjustment screw  120  attached at an upper end to adjustment handle  100   a . Disposed at the lower end of the height adjustment block  122  is an elongated compression spring  124  having a spring seat  126  positioned at the lower end thereof. An elongated gas spring  128  extends downwardly from a seating cavity in the lower surface of this spring block  126 , the spring seat  126  being held within opposing slide bearings  130  which are held within the lower tubular member  28   a . These slide bearings  130  also prevent rotation of height adjustment block  122 .  
         [0066]     The elongated actuating shaft  132  of the gas spring  128  extends downwardly to a gas spring release head  134  which is held in position by transverse pin  142  within aligned apertures  140  formed into the lower tubular member  28   a . This pin  142  in aperture  140  may be viewed as equivalent to being grounded on support surface W.  
         [0067]     After the initial gross height of seat  62  is established in the direction of arrow B and the tubular member  66  is secured at that height by handle  65  as previously described in  FIG. 3 , the second mode of adjustment provided to the user is with respect to height adjustment handle  100   a  which is manually rotated by the user to cause the threaded height adjustment screw  120  in height adjustment block  122  to elevate or lower the main frame  12  in the direction of arrow A. In this mode of operation, the gas spring  128  and the compression spring may be viewed as substantially non-compressible. This adjustment facilitates fine incremental movements of the seat  62  up and down to more precisely suit the comfort level and height needs of the user.  
         [0068]     During each stride taken within the walking gait of the user, the height of the perineal area and pelvis of the user rises and falls a distance K in  FIG. 17 , the lowest point of the perineal area of the user being at the end point of each stride as seen in  FIGS. 7, 8  and  9 . At the mid-point in the stride (not shown) when the legs are adjacent one to another, the height of the perineal area is at its maximum height above the support surface W. With the seat  62  properly adjusted height wise, the user will receive upwardly body support from the compression of spring  124  which is selected to have a compression spring rate such that a movement of 1″ in the perineal area and pelvis of the user downwardly will product an upward supportive force in the range of about 80-170 pounds.  
         [0000]     Entrance and Egress  
         [0069]     As previously described, the coccyx support  68  is pivotally downwardly movable in the direction of arrow F in  FIG. 9 . This places the coccyx support  68  in the general height range of seat  62 . However, to further facilitate entrance and egress, the seat  62 , along with the main frame  12 , may be lowered a significantly larger distance L in  FIG. 17 . This is accomplished by moving lever  114   a  (and  114   b ) upwardly in the direction of arrow M in  FIG. 19  about its pivot point  136 . This pivotal movement in the direction of arrow M is facilitated by the rotational movement of lever  102  laterally which actuates the inner cores  105   a  and  105   b  of cables  104   a  and  104   b  upwardly in the direction of arrow P.  
         [0070]     This pivotal movement of arm  114   a  and  114   b  causes the corresponding nipple  150  to be depressed into the actuator rod  132  of the gas spring  128 . At this point, the gas spring is in the “released” position whereupon the actuator rod  132  is biased to extend fully from the body of the gas spring  128 . However, applying body weight to the seat  62  will cause the gas spring  128  to completely compress in the direction of arrow L in  FIG. 17  to a fully retracted or shortened position whereupon release of the nipple  150  will again lock the air spring  128  and maintain that retracted orientation.  
         [0071]     Upon entrance to the device  10 , the user will simply position himself above the seat  62  in this fully lowered position and again pivot the handle  102  to cause the gas spring  128  to move into the “released” mode whereupon the actuator rod  132  will fully extend in the direction of arrow J and raise the seat back to the preadjusted in-use position.  
         [0072]     While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.