Patent Publication Number: US-8973192-B2

Title: Collapsible mobility assistance device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This utility application claims priority to, and hereby incorporates by reference, U.S. Provisional Application 61/333,962, filed on May 12, 2010, entitled “Collapsible Mobility Assistance Device.” 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to mobility assistance devices. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to assistance devices, such as bed rail devices, which may assist individuals in positioning themselves onto and securing themselves in beds or on similar furniture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments disclosed herein will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings depict only typical embodiments, which will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a collapsible mobility assistance device in an operative configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the collapsible mobility assistance device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the collapsible mobility assistance device of  FIG. 1  in a storage configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the collapsible mobility assistance device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the collapsible mobility assistance device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a collapsible mobility assistance device in an operative configuration. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the collapsible mobility assistance device of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Mobility assistance devices may generally refer to pieces of medical equipment used to assist individuals with disabilities and/or other infirmities, including conditions incident to accidents, disease, age, or other causes. Mobility assistance devices may be designed to help individuals get into and out of reclining, sitting, and/or prone positions. For example, a mobility assistance device may be coupled to a bed or other piece of furniture designed for one to sit, lie down, or sleep upon. Furthermore, mobility assistance devices, such as bed rails, may also secure an individual in or on a piece of furniture, such as a bed, such that the individual is less likely to accidentally fall off the piece of furniture. Mobility assistance devices may be used in various environments, including in connection with a bed as a bed rail device. 
     In some instances, manufacturers of mobility assistance devices may desire to compactly package the devices for mass retail sale. Likewise, retailers may desire compact device storage to aid in optimizing profit per retail space, as products which are packaged in bulky containers, yet have a relatively small profit margin, may negatively impact profit per retail space. 
     Some mobility assistance devices are comprised of two sections: a base section and an upright section. The base section may form a plane configured to couple to a piece of furniture; for example, the base section may be configured to fit between a mattress or cushion and the support frame of a piece of furniture, such as between the mattress and box springs or foundation of a bed. The upright section may form a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the base, and may include a handle configured to be graspable by a user. Each of these sections may be sized so as to provide sufficient support for the intended function of the mobility assistance device. In some embodiments, each section may be quite large. Accordingly, mobility assistance devices may be packaged in substantially bulky containers, thus potentially resulting in a negative impact on the profit per retail space of mass retailers that carry mobility assistance devices. 
     The present disclosure provides a collapsible mobility assistance device and method of packaging which may allow for decreased package size. The mobility assistance device of the present disclosure may collapse down to a plurality of pieces sized such that they may be packaged in flat, planar packaging having a thickness as small as the thickness of a single piece. The upright section may break down into two or more pieces and the base may break down into two or more pieces, such that, when all the pieces are arranged in the storage (packaged) configuration, no piece is stacked upon any other piece. Thus, in some embodiments the package may only have the thickness of a single piece of the mobility assistance device. 
     The present disclosure may also optimize the number of parts into which the mobility assistance device separates. Optimization is not necessarily reducing the size of the pieces (which could result in a corresponding increase in the number of pieces) in order for the mobility assistance device to maintain desired operational dimensions. While the disclosure may optimize the number of pieces, it is not limited to breaking the product into more pieces to achieve a smaller packaged form. Optimization broadly means minimizing the number of pieces while simultaneously achieving a minimally sized package; this may be accomplished by making the pieces in similar sizes, of in particular shapes, in certain embodiments. 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated. 
     The phrases “connected to,” “coupled to,” and “in communication with” refer to any form of interaction between two or more entities, including mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, fluid, and thermal interaction. Two components may be coupled to each other even though they are not in direct contact with each other. For example, two components may be coupled to each other through an intermediate component. 
     Referring generally and collectively to  FIGS. 1-5 , a collapsible mobility assistance device  10  may be disposed in, at least, an operative configuration and a storage (packaged) configuration. The mobility assistance device  10  depicted may be used in various environments, including with a bed as a bed rail device. In the illustrated embodiment, the collapsible mobility assistance device  10  comprises a base section  12  and an upright section  14 . 
     The base section  12  may be separable into two base portions  22   a ,  22   b . In some embodiments, the base portions  22   a ,  22   b  may be similarly sized. In some embodiments, the base section  12  may be configured to couple to device  10  to a piece of furniture, for example it may be configured to be disposed under a cushion-type portion of a piece of furniture. 
     The upright section  14  may include a handle  16 , configured to be graspable by a user, which may be configured to support a user during movement. The upright section  14  may be separable into a plurality of pieces, including a handle portion  24 , and two or more upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b . In some embodiments, upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  may be similarly sized. Moreover, in certain embodiments, the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  may also be similarly sized to the two base portions  22   a ,  22   b . Similarly sizing each upright support portion  20   a ,  20   b  with each base portion  22   a ,  22   b  may allow for a desirable package shape or configuration. 
     Each upright support portion  20   a ,  20   b  may couple to the base section  12  such that the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  are disposed at an inclined angle in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the base section  12 . Further, the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  may each include a junction portion  18   a ,  18   b  adapted to couple the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  to the base portions  22   a ,  22   b , thereby coupling upright section  14  to the base section  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the junction portions  18   a ,  18   b  include a substantially 90 degree elbow (or bend) configured to position the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the base portions  22   a ,  22   b . In the embodiment shown, the junction portions  18   a ,  18   b  are coupled to the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b . In some embodiments, the junction portions  18   a ,  18   b  may be integrally formed with the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b.    
     In certain embodiments, the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  may be substantially disposed in a plane perpendicular to the base, while also being inclined toward one another within that plane, such that the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  are not parallel. Thus, in some embodiments, the distance between the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  may be smaller near the handle  16  than the distance between the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  near the base section  12 . In some applications, such a design may provide stability for a user who applies pressure on the mobility assistance device. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the junction portions  18   a ,  18   b  are located on the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b . In other embodiments, the junction portions  18   a ,  18   b  may alternatively be positioned on the base portions  22   a ,  22   b . In still other embodiments, the junction portions  18   a ,  18   b  may be partially located on the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  and partially located on the base portions  22   a ,  22   b.    
       FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5  illustrate one embodiment of a mobility assistance device  10  in an operative configuration. As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the operative configuration, the handle portion  24  may couple to the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b . Further, the base portions  22   a ,  22   b  may couple together, and the upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  may also couple to the base portions  22   a ,  22   b .  FIG. 2  illustrates each of these components decoupled from the others, yet substantially oriented as they would be in an operative configuration. 
     Any of the portions or components of the mobility assistance device  10  (for example, portions  20   a ,  20   b ,  22   a ,  22   b , and  24 ) may be coupled together through any method or means known in the art. For example, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the portions may be coupled together with button detent connectors. A person of ordinary skill in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will recognize that any suitable connector, or connector means, including but not limited to a clip, a clamp, a detent, threads, or any combination thereof, may be used to couple the portions together. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in some embodiments, the mobility assistance device  10  may be broken down into common-sized portions (or components), which may thereby optimize the size of the packaging in which the mobility assistance device can be packaged, shipped, and/or stored. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the two base portions  22   a ,  22   b  are substantially equally sized, as are the two upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b.    
     In some embodiments, the components of the mobility assistance device  10  may be sized and designed such that they may be disposed in specific storage configurations. For example,  FIG. 3  specifically shows the pieces of the mobility assistance device  10  broken down and arranged in one particular storage configuration. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the mobility assistance device may be designed such that the two base portions  22   a ,  22   b , the two upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b , and the handle portion  24  may be oriented in a substantially rectangular, coplanar orientation when the device is in a storage configuration. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the two upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  are disposed such that they form an outermost rectangle, while the two base portions  22   a ,  22   b  are disposed such that they form a second rectangle within the outermost rectangle. In other embodiments, a rectangle formed by the two base portions  22   a ,  22   b  may be disposed outside a rectangle formed by the two upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b . Furthermore, in some embodiments, the outermost and inner rectangles may each be formed by one base portion ( 22   a  or  22   b ) and one upright support portion ( 20   a  or  20   b ). In each and any of these exemplary embodiments, the handle portion  24  may be configured to be disposed within any of the rectangles. 
     In some embodiments, the configuration, size, and/or arrangement of the portions of the mobility assistance device  10  may allow the mobility assistance device  10  to be packaged in a container having a thickness only large enough to accommodate a single layer of pieces. For example, in the storage configuration illustrated in FIG.  3 , no piece is disposed on top of, or underneath, any other piece. Thus, a container, such as a box, sized to accommodate the collapsible mobility assistance device  10  of  FIG. 3  need only be thick enough to accommodate one layer of components. Similarly, a wide variety of storage configurations, such as those described in more detail above, may be designed such that a package configured to accommodate the portions need only be as thick as the thickest portion of the pieces. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the base section  12  is separable into two portions  22   a ,  22   b , and the upright section  14  is separable into three portions  20   a ,  20   b ,  24 . Other configurations and combinations are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, a base section may be separable into three pieces, and an upright section may be separable into two pieces. In other embodiments, the base section and the upright section may be separable into other combinations of pieces. In these and other embodiments, the pieces may have a substantially common size, which may allow for compact packaging in some instances. Specifically, in certain embodiments, the two upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  may be substantially the same size. In other embodiments, the two base portions  22   a ,  22   b  may also (or alternatively) be substantially the same size. Furthermore, in certain embodiments the two upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b  may be substantially the same size as the two base portions  22   a ,  22   b , including embodiments where the two base portions  22   a ,  22   b  are exactly the same size, slightly larger, or slightly smaller than the two upright support portions  20   a ,  20   b.    
     Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , each portion  20   a ,  20   b ,  22   a ,  22   b ,  24  of the mobility assistance device  10  is formed such that each individual portion is planar. In other words, each portion of the device  10  is configured such that the longitudinal axis of the portion lies substantially in a one plane. (As used in this sense, the longitudinal axis of a part refers to a collection of points along the center axis of the part, for example along the center of a substantially tubular part. This axis may not necessarily for a straight line, as the tubular parts may include bends, for example junction portions such as  18   a  and  18   b .) Thus, each portion is able to “lie flat” in a box or on a flat surface. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, that a wide variety of configurations (including, for example, altering the location of joints between the portions, the number of portions into which the device may be separated, and the location of junctions and/or elbows and other bends) may be designed such that each individual part is planar. In some embodiments, the device may be designed with all planar portions such that each portion can simultaneously be substantially disposed in a single plane, for example, when the device is disposed in a storage configuration. In such embodiments, a suitable storage container may only need a thickness configured to accommodate parts with a maximum thickness equal to the outside diameter of the tubular parts. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate another embodiment of a collapsible mobility assistance device  50 . The collapsible mobility assistance device  50  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  includes a base section  52  and an upright section  54  (which also includes a handle  56 ). The base section  52  may be separable into two base portions  62   a ,  62   b  while the upright section  54  may be separable into two upright support portions  60   a ,  60   b  and a handle portion  64 . Further, the device  50  may include junction portions  58   a ,  58   b . The collapsible mobility assistance device  50  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  may, in certain respects, resemble the collapsible mobility assistance device  10  described in connection with  FIGS. 1-5  above. It will be appreciated that all the illustrated embodiments have analogous features. Relevant disclosure set forth above regarding similarly identified features thus may not be repeated hereafter. Moreover, specific features of the collapsible mobility assistance device and related components shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  may not be shown or identified by a reference numeral in the drawings, or specifically discussed in the written description that follows. However, such features may clearly be the same, or substantially the same, as features depicted in other embodiments and/or described with respect to such embodiments. Accordingly, the relevant descriptions of such features apply equally to the features of the collapsible mobility assistance device of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Any suitable combination of the features, and variations of the same, described with respect to the collapsible mobility assistance device and components illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  can be employed with the collapsible mobility assistance device and components of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , and vice versa. 
     Analogous to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 , the collapsible mobility assistance device  50  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  may be configured to be disposed in, at least, an operative configuration and a storage (packaged) configuration. The collapsible mobility assistance device  50  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  may further include a pouch  66  configured to couple to the mobility assistance device  50 . In some embodiments, the pouch  66  may be configured to provide a storage location, such as a pocket, on a device such as a bed rail. The pouch  66  may be removable from the collapsible mobility assistance device  50  in order to facilitate storage of the device  50 . For instance, the pouch  66  may be designed with sleeves configured to fit over a portion of the collapsible mobility assistance device  50  such as the upright support portions  60   a ,  60   b . In such embodiments, the pouch  66  may be held in place (due to, for example, friction between the sleeves and the upright support portions  60   a ,  60   b ) while the device  50  is in an operable configuration. Further, in such embodiments, the pouch  66  may be easily slipped off the upright support portions  60   a ,  60   b  when they are uncoupled from other portions of the device  50 . The pouch  66  may be formed of relatively thin, flexible fabric such that it may easily be disposed within a package designed to accommodate the collapsible mobility assistance device  50 , without necessitating a significant increase in the size of the package. 
     Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can use the preceding description to utilize the present disclosure to its fullest extent. The examples and embodiments disclosed herein are to be construed as merely illustrative and exemplary, and not a limitation of the scope of the present disclosure in any way. It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the disclosure herein. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.