Patent Publication Number: US-10765584-B2

Title: Foldable frame construction for mobility aids

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a foldable frame construction, and more particularly to a foldable frame construction for mobility aids that may be operated conveniently, may save space, and may provide high practicality. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With the advancement of medicine and the development of science and technology, the life expectancy of human beings has gradually prolonged and the proportion of senior population has gradually increased. Therefore, mobility aids currently available to the elderly are also increasing. Among them, conventional mobility aids include walkers, wheelchairs, and ladder climb assist systems, etc. Although the conventional mobility aids may provide certain auxiliary effects for the elderly, most of the conventional mobility aids, in order to provide sufficient structural strength, are fixed and unfoldable in structural design and configuration. 
     Although the conventional mobility aids with fixed configuration can provide sufficient structural strength, the fixed structures of the conventional mobility aids cannot provide a folding effect to the conventional mobility aids. Therefore, the conventional mobility aids cannot be adjusted in size, may occupy a certain space and cannot travel or be transported in a narrow space, and this may increase the storage space required by the user, is inconvenient in use and may limit the practicality of the conventional mobility aids. 
     To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a foldable frame construction to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main objective of the present invention is to provide a foldable frame construction for mobility aids that may be operated conveniently, may save space, and may provide high practicality. 
     The foldable frame construction for mobility aids in accordance with the present invention has a mounting frame, a pivotal arm, and an operating element. The mounting frame has a fixed end, a limiting end, a limiting hole formed through the mounting frame adjacent to the limiting end, and a through hole formed through the mounting frame between the fixed end and the limiting hole. The pivotal arm is rotatably connected to the mounting frame and has a pivotal end, a pressing end, and a positioning hole formed through the pivotal arm and selectively aligning with the through hole. The operating element is connected to the pivotal arm and the mounting frame to limit a position of the pivotal arm relative to the mounting frame, and has a fixing ring base securely connected to the pivotal arm around the positioning hole, an engaging bolt movably mounted in the fixing ring base, and a pull button connected to the engaging bolt. 
     Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a foldable frame construction for mobility aids in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the foldable frame construction in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view in partial section of the foldable frame construction in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an operational side view in partial section of the foldable frame construction in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is another operational side view of the foldable frame construction in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an operational perspective view of the foldable frame construction in  FIG. 1 , mounted with an assistive device; 
         FIG. 7  is an operational perspective view of the foldable frame construction in  FIG. 6  under a folded condition; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a foldable frame construction for mobility aids in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the foldable frame construction in  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 10  shows operational perspective views of the foldable frame construction in  FIG. 8 , mounted with an assistive device under a folded condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a first embodiment of a foldable frame construction for mobility aids in accordance with the present invention has a mounting frame  10 , a pivotal arm  20 , an operating element  30 , and a reinforcing rib  40 . 
     The mounting frame  10  has a fixed end, a limiting end, a side edge, a connecting tab  15 , a limiting hole  11 , a through hole  12 , two pivot holes  13 , a pivot shaft  16 , and at least one guiding slice  14 . The limiting end of the mounting frame  10  is opposite to the fixing end of the mounting frame  10 . With further reference to  FIG. 6 , the fixed end of the mounting frame  10  is securely connected to a chair frame  61  of an assistive device  60 . The connecting tab  15  is formed on and protrudes from the fixed end of the mounting frame  10  to connect the mounting frame  10  with the chair frame  61  of the assistive device  60 . The limiting end of the mounting frame  10  extends outwardly out of the assistive device  60 . 
     The limiting hole  11  is formed through the mounting frame  10  adjacent to the limiting end of the mounting frame  10 . The through hole  12  is formed through the mounting frame  10  between the fixed end and the limiting hole  11  of the mounting frame  10 . The two pivot holes  13  are formed through the mounting frame  10  at a spaced interval, and the through hole  12  is disposed between the two pivot holes  13 . The pivot shaft  16  is connected to one of the two pivot holes  13  that is disposed between the through hole  12  and the fixed end of the mounting frame  10 . The at least one guiding slice  14  is aslant formed on and protrudes from the side edge of the mounting frame  10  adjacent to the limiting hole  11  or the through hole  12 . Furthermore, the mounting frame  10  has two guiding slices  14 , and one of the two guiding slices  14  is disposed adjacent to the limiting hole  11 , and the other one of the two guiding slices  14  is disposed adjacent to the through hole  12 . 
     The pivotal arm  20  is rotatably connected to the mounting frame  10 , and has a pivotal end, a pressing end, a flange  23 , a positioning hole  21 , a pivotal hole  22 , and a pivotal rod  24 . With reference to  FIG. 6 , the pivotal end of the pivotal arm  20  is disposed away from the fixed end of the mounting frame  10 , and is pivotally connected to a seat  62  of the assistive device  60 . The pressing end of the pivotal arm  20  is opposite to the pivotal end of the pivotal arm  20  and selectively abuts against the fixed end of the mounting frame  10  to limit the pivoting of the pivotal arm  20  relative to the mounting frame  10 . 
     The flange  23  is formed on and protrudes from the pressing end of the pivotal arm  20  and selectively abuts against the pivot shaft  16  of the mounting frame  10 . The positioning hole  21  is formed through the pivotal arm  20  and selectively aligns with the through hole  12  of the mounting frame  10 . The pivotal hole  22  is formed through the pivotal arm  20  adjacent to the positioning hole  21 , and aligns with the pivot hole  13  of the mounting frame  10  that is disposed between the limiting hole  11  and the through hole  12 . The pivotal rod  24  is connected to the pivotal hole  22  and the corresponding pivot hole  13  to enable the pivotal arm  20  to pivot relative to the mounting frame  10 . 
     The operating element  30  is connected to the pivotal arm  20  and the mounting frame  10  to limit a position of the pivotal arm  20  relative to the mounting frame  10 , and has a fixing ring base  31 , an engaging bolt  32 , and a pull button  33 . The fixing ring base  31  is securely connected to the pivotal arm  20  around the positioning hole  21 . The engaging bolt  32  is movably mounted in the fixing ring base  31  and has an inserting end and a connecting end. The inserting end of the engaging bolt  32  extends into the through hole  12  via the positioning hole  21  to limit the position of the pivotal arm  20  relative to the mounting frame  10 . The connecting end of the engaging bolt  32  extends out of the fixing ring base  31  and is opposite to the mounting frame  10 . 
     The pull button  33  is connected to the connecting end of the engaging bolt  32  to enable the engaging bolt  32  to move with the pull button  33  relative to the through hole  12 , the positioning hole  21 , and the fixing ring base  31 . In addition, with reference to  FIG. 4 , when the inserting end of the engaging bolt  32  is separated from the through hole  12  by the pull button  33 , the inserting end of the engaging bolt  32  abuts against the at least one guiding slice  14  during the rotation of the pivotal arm  20  relative to the mounting frame  10 . Furthermore, with reference to  FIG. 5 , when the positioning hole  21  aligns with the limiting hole  11 , the inserting end of the engaging bolt  32  is inserted into the limiting hole  11  via the positioning hole  21  to hold the pivotal arm  20  with the mounting frame  10 . 
     Additionally, when the pull button  33  is released by a user, an elastic element is mounted in the fixing ring base  31  and can provide a flexible force to restore the engaging bolt  32  back to the original position. The elastic element and the return mechanism are conventional and the features and the structures of the elastic element and the return mechanism are not described in detail. 
     The reinforcing rib  40  is connected to the mounting frame  10  and the pivotal arm  20 , and has a connecting end, a linking end, a curved segment  41 , and two communicating holes  42 . The connecting end of the reinforcing rib  40  is connected to the fixed end of the mounting frame  10  to hold the pivotal arm  20  between the mounting frame  10  and the reinforcing rib  40 . The linking end of the reinforcing rib  40  is opposite to the connecting end of the reinforcing rib  40 , and is pivotally connected to the pivotal arm  20  and the mounting frame  10 . The curved segment  41  is formed on the reinforcing rib  40  between the connecting end and the linking end of the reinforcing rib  40  and surrounds the fixing ring base  31 . 
     The two communicating holes  42  are formed through the reinforcing rib  40  respectively at the connecting end and the linking end of the reinforcing rib  40 , and the communicating hole  42  that is disposed at the connecting end of the reinforcing rib  40  aligns with the pivot hole  13  that is disposed adjacent to the fixed end of the mounting frame  10 . The pivot shaft  16  extends through the communicating hole  42  that is disposed at the connecting end of the reinforcing rib  40 , and is connected to the corresponding pivot hole  13  to connect the reinforcing rib  40  with the mounting frame  10 . The communicating hole  42  that is disposed at the linking end of the reinforcing rib  40  aligns with the pivotal hole  22  of the pivotal arm  20  and the pivot hole  13  of the mounting frame  10  that is disposed adjacent to the limiting hole  11 . Then, the pivotal rod  24  is connected to the reinforcing rib  40 , the pivotal arm  20 , and the mounting frame  10  via the corresponding communicating hole  42 , the pivotal hole  22 , and the corresponding pivot hole  13 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the first embodiment of the foldable frame construction for mobility aids is in use, the pull button  33  is pulled to move away from the reinforcing rib  40 , and the engaging bolt  32  is moved with the pull button  33  relative to the mounting frame  10  to separate from the through hole  12 . Then, the pivotal arm  20  can be pivoted relative to the mounting frame  10 , and the pivotal arm  20  is pivoted relative to the mounting frame  10  with the pivotal rod  24  as a fulcrum, so that the flange  23  is separated from the pivot shaft  16  and drives the engaging bolt  32  to move along and abut against the two guiding slices  14  toward the limiting hole  11  of the mounting frame  10 . The two guiding slices  14  may provide a guiding effect to the engaging bolt  32 . 
     When the engaging bolt  32  moves into the limiting hole  11  by the guiding effect of the two guiding slices  14 , the pivotal arm  20  cannot be pivoted relative to the mounting frame  10 , and the first embodiment of the foldable frame construction is set under a folded condition. Additionally, when a user wants to unfold the first embodiment of the foldable frame construction, the pull button  33  is pulled to enable the inserting end of the engaging bolt  32  to separate from the limiting hole  11 , and this enables the pivotal arm  20  to pivot relative to the mounting frame  10  to move the engaging bolt  32  toward the through hole  12 . Then, the first embodiment of the foldable frame construction can be operated under an unfolded condition conveniently. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the first embodiment of the foldable frame construction can be assembled on an assistive device  60  between a chair frame  61  and a seat  62 . The mounting frame  10  is connected to the chair frame  61 , and the pivotal arm  20  is connected to the seat  62 , and the seat  62  can be pivoted relative to the chair frame  61  by the pivotal arm  20  pivoting relative to the mounting frame  10 . Then, the assistive device  60  can be folded by the first embodiment of the foldable frame construction conveniently to save space for placing the assistive device  60 . Furthermore, the assistive device  60  can move or be transported in a small space under the folded condition, and this may provide high practicality of the assistive device  60 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a second embodiment of a foldable frame construction for mobility aids in accordance with the present invention has a mounting frame  10 A, a pivotal arm  20 A, an operating element  30 A, and a reinforcing rib  40 A. The second embodiment of the foldable frame construction is substantially the same as the first embodiment except for the following features. The shapes and lengths of the second embodiment of the foldable frame construction are different from those of the first embodiment of the foldable frame construction. With reference to  FIG. 10 , the mounting frame  10 A is connected to a foot frame  64 A of an assistive device  60 A, and the pivotal arm  20 A is connected to a bottom frame  63 A of the assistive device  60 A. Furthermore, the flange  23 A is formed on and protrudes transversally from the pressing end of the pivotal arm  20 A and selectively abuts against the pivotal rod  24 A. Then, when the pivotal arm  20 A is pivoted relative to the mounting frame  10 A, the bottom frame  63 A and the foot frame  64 A of the assistive device  60 A can be pivoted with each other to enable the assistive device  60 A to set under a folded condition. 
     According to the above-mentioned features and structural relationships of the foldable frame construction of the present invention, in use, a user only needs to pull the pull button  33  of the operating element  30 ,  30 A, and the engaging bolt  32  can be separated from the through hole  12 . Then, the pivotal arm  20 ,  20 A can be pivoted relative to the mounting frame  10 ,  10 A, and the chair frame  61  and the seat  62  of the assistive device  60  or the bottom frame  63 A and the foot frame  64 A of the assistive device  60 A can be operated to fold conveniently. After folding the mobility aids  60 ,  60 A, the engaging bolt  32  is moved into the limiting hole  11 , and the pivotal arm  20 ,  20 A cannot pivot relative to the mounting frame  10 ,  10 A. Therefore, the mobility aids  60 ,  60 A can be operated conveniently under the folded condition by the foldable frame construction, and this also can reduce the space for placing the mobility aids  60 ,  60 A, and can facilitate moving or transporting the mobility aids  60 ,  60 A in a small space to improve the practicality of the mobility aids  60 ,  60 A. 
     Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the utility model, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.