Abstract:
An improved walker has a detachable propulsion unit, which is attached to the walker by a platform member which extends forwardly from the propulsion unit, with an upwardly extending walker structure partially attached to the platform member. The user steps onto the propulsion unit while support on either side by the handles of the walker. The platform member is so attached to the propulsion unit as to allow a left section and a right section of the propulsion unit to be independently movable with respect to one another, thereby allowing operation of the propulsion unit. The propulsion unit may be a hover board or power board.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to walkers utilized by persons requiring additional support as they walk. The present invention also relates to self-propelled vehicles in which the operator is standing upon the vehicle and the vehicle is controlled by a user&#39;s feet. The present invention more particularly relates to providing a self-propelled walker which utilizes a propulsion unit controlled by a user&#39;s feet. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,738,278 (the “&#39;278 patent”) teaches a two-wheeled, self-balancing vehicle having two platform sections which are independently moveable with respect to one another and which provides independent control and/or drive of the wheel associated with a given platform section. The disclosed vehicle is operated by a user leaning forward to go forward, leaning backward to reverse, pointing left toes downward to turn right and to point right toes downward to turn left. A variety of these devices are available to the consumer under a number of different generic names, such as power board, hover board, self-balancing scooter, gyro board, etc. These types of devices, among others, may be utilized as a propulsion unit for propelling the invention forward, backward, and turning left or right. 
     The inventors herein are inventors of in U.S. Pat. No. 9,403,573, which discloses a hover board tricycle, which may be formed by attaching a platform member to a hover board and attaching a wheel or roller to the underside of the platform member and a handle member to the top side of the platform member. 
     Hover boards and related devices are typically utilized by individuals who have no difficulty standing and have relatively good balance. However, such devices are not typically considered for use by persons having difficulty standing or walking because of age, injury, or other conditions impacting a person&#39;s balance or endurance. Such persons may utilize any number of support devices, including walkers, which assist the person in standing and walking. While walkers provide stability to a user, the devices nevertheless require the user to propel himself or herself by walking. While certain known devices propel a person in a standing position, these devices are generally directed toward persons who do not require the additional stability provided by the structure of a walker. Morever, the known devices are relatively expensive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a self-propelled walker which utilizes a propulsion unit to propel a person, thereby allowing a person additional mobility and utility, but also allowing that person to have the stability and safety of a walker. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may have a propulsion unit having a first foot placement section and a second foot placement section. The first foot placement section and the second foot placement section are coupled to one another and are independently movable with respect to one another. A first wheel is associated with the first foot placement section and a second wheel is associated with the second foot placement section. The first and second wheels are spaced apart and substantially parallel to one another. The propulsion unit may also have a first position sensor and a first drive motor configured to drive the first wheel. Similarly, the propulsion unit has a second position sensor and a second drive motor configured to drive the second wheel. Because hover boards and power boards provide a satisfactory propulsion unit, the present invention may be assembled by integrating one of these devices with the other structural components resulting in a relatively inexpensive self-propelled walker. Embodiments of the invention include a self-propelled walker, an improved walker, and an improved propulsion unit. 
     In addition to the propulsion unit, embodiments of the invention have a platform member which has a first end which attaches to the approximate middle of the propulsion unit and a second end which cantilevers forward from the propulsion unit. The second end of the platform member has a bottom side from which depends a ground engaging wheel or roller. The second end of the platform member has a top side from which, in some embodiments, a handle member may extend. The handle member extends upwardly a sufficient length to be grasped by a person standing upon the propulsion unit. 
     The platform member may be coupled to the propulsion unit by a front u-block which is attached to a rear u-block, the front u-block and the rear u-block attached in opposite-facing relation, wherein an opening is defined between the attached u-blocks and a portion of the propulsion unit is disposed within the opening and sandwiched between the u-blocks. 
     Alternatively, the platform member may be coupled to the propulsion unit by a pair of u-bolts, wherein each u-bolt comprises a pair of threaded arms protruding from a curved base and the threaded arms extend into a downwardly facing vertical plate and the curved base of each u-bolt is disposed about a portion of the propulsion unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a partial side perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a close up view of the engagement of a rear post of a walker with the walker support member in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a rear view of a propulsion unit, a platform member and a walker support member in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a left side view of the propulsion unit, the platform member and the walker support member depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a front view of the propulsion unit, the platform member and the walker support member depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the figures, embodiments of the self-propelled walker  10  comprise a propulsion unit  20 , a platform member  40 , a walker support member  60 , and a walker  80 . The terms “left”, “right”, “front”, “back”, “forward”, “upward” and “downward” are used with respect to a user standing facing forward on an embodiment of the self-propelled walker as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The term “propulsion unit” as used herein includes, among other things, a two-wheeled, self-balancing vehicle having a left foot section  22  and a right foot section  24  which are coupled together but independently moveable with respect to one another. Left foot section  22  and right foot section  24  each provide independent control and/or drive of the wheel associated with a given section, such that left foot section  22  provides control to left wheel  26  and right foot section  24  provides control to right wheel  28 . The disclosed self-propelled walker  10  is operated by a user leaning forward to go forward, leaning backward to reverse, pointing left toes downward to turn right and to point right toes downward to turn left. Such a propulsion unit is taught in the &#39;278 patent by Chen, entitled “Two-wheel, self-balancing vehicle with independently movable foot placement sections.” 
     Left wheel  26  and right wheel  28  are spaced apart and substantially parallel to one another. The propulsion unit  20  further comprises a left side drive motor  30  configured to drive the left wheel  26  and a right side drive motor  32  configured to drive the right side drive wheel  28 . As schematically shown in  FIG. 4 , a left side position sensor  34 , such as a gyroscopic sensor, is mounted on a circuit board and provides measurement of the orientation of left foot section  22 . Likewise, right side position sensor  36  is mounted on a circuit board and provides measurement of the orientation of the right side foot section  24 . 
     Platform member  40  generally comprises a plate extending forward from the propulsion unit  20 . Platform member  40  has a first end  42  and a second end  44 . Platform member  40 , which may be manufactured from a rectangular piece of steel plate, has a top  46  and a bottom  48 . Platform member  40  cantilevers horizontally forward from propulsion unit  20 , where first end  42  is coupled to the propulsion unit  20 . At the second end  44  of platform member  40 , ground engaging wheel  50  depends from bottom  48  and engages the ground. The ground engaging wheel  50  will typically be of the plate-mounted caster type as shown in the figures, with a rubber wheel, although other wheel substances such as polyurethane, pneumatic, or polyolefin wheels may also be used. Ground engaging wheel  50  may also be a roller. The wheel  50  will typically be of the swivel self-turning type. 
     Walker support member  60  is attached to the platform member  40 . Walker support member  60  has a left support member  62  outwardly extending from the left side of the platform member  40  and a right support member  64  outwardly extending from the right side of the platform member  40 . 
     An embodiment of the combination of the propulsion unit  20 , the platform member  40 , and the walker support member  60  is depicted in  FIGS. 4-6 . This combination may be coupled to an upwardly extending walker structure  80 . The upwardly extending walker structure (“walker”)  80  may have two front wheels  82 ,  84  which engage the ground. This configuration provides a stable self-provided vehicle having five ground engaging wheels, namely propulsion unit wheels  26 .  28 , ground engaging wheel  50  depending from platform member  40 , and walker front wheels  82 ,  84 . 
     Walker  80  may comprise walker front wheels  82 ,  84 , a left side  86 , a right side  88 , a transverse member  90  attaching the left side  86  to the right side  88 , a left hand support  92 , a right hand support  94 , a left side rear post  96 , a right side rear post  98 , a left side front post  100  to which left front wheel  82  is attached, and a right side front post  102  to which right front wheel  84  is attached. An opening is defined between the left side  86  and the right side  88 , wherein a user may place stand with a foot on the left foot section and a foot on the right foot section and hold onto the left hand support and the right hand support. 
     It is to be appreciated that the present invention may comprise a very basic walker having some or all of the components just described. However, the walker  80  may have many other features which are known to be used with walkers. For example, the left side rear post  96  may comprise a left rear wheel  104  and right side rear post  98  may comprise a right rear wheel  106 . The walker  80  may also have a seat member  108 , a front support  110 , brake levers  112 , and other optional features. 
     It is to be appreciated that in the operation of the present invention, if the walker  80  has left rear wheel  104  and right rear wheel  106 , those wheels will not necessarily engage the ground when the walker  80  is coupled to the walker support member  60 . The walker support member  60  provides a universal attachment fixture for a variety of different embodiments of walker  80 . The walker support member  60  may have a variety of locking mechanisms which secure the walker  80  to the walker support structure. For example the walker support structure may have a pivoting latch which secures the walker to the walker support member, such as the mechanisms described below. 
     In attaching walker  80  to the walker support member  60 , the left side rear post  96  is received by a left side engagement structure  66 , such as the channel configuration of left support member  62 . Left support member  62  may further comprise a left side lock member  68  which secures the left side rear post  60  to the walker support member  60 . Left side lock member  68  may pivot with respect to left support member  62 , so that the left side lock member may pivot over and engage a member of the left side rear post  96  which extends toward the left side lock member  68 . For example, if a left rear wheel  104  is attached to left side rear post  96 , an axle member or axle nut will typically extend toward left side lock member  68 . Left side lock member  68  may then pivot over the axle member  114  or axle nut and secure the walker  80  to the walker support member  60 . This locking mechanism allows the walker to easily be attached and removed from the propulsion unit  20 . 
     Likewise, in attaching walker  80  to the walker support member  60 , the right side rear post  98  is received by a right side engagement structure  70 , such as the channel configuration of right support member  64 . Right support member  64  may further comprise a right side lock member  72  which secures the right rear post  98  to the walker support member  60 . Right side lock member  72  may pivot with respect to right support member  64 , so that the right side lock member  72  may pivot over and engage a member of the right side rear post  98  which extends toward the right side lock member  72 . For example, if a right rear wheel  106  is attached to right side rear post  98 , an axle member or axle nut will typically extend toward right side lock member  72 . Right side lock member  72  may then pivot over the axle member or axle nut and further secure the walker  80  to the walker support member  60 . 
     Embodiments of the self-propelled walker  10 ′ may further comprise a handle member  120  which extends upwardly from the top  46  of the platform member  40 . The handle member  120  is of a sufficient length to be grasped by a person standing upon the self-propelled walker  10 ′, which means the handle member  120  will typically have a length of at least thirty inches, or the handle member  120  may be of a telescoping type, as shown in  FIG. 7 , which adjusts to the height of the user, whether child or adult. As shown in  FIG. 7 , handle member  120  may have a tee grip  122 . 
     Platform member  40  may be coupled to propulsion unit  20  in a variety of manners so long as the platform member is sufficiently attached to prevent significant pivoting of the platform member about the propulsion unit  20 . However, it is to be appreciated that the coupling of platform member  40  to propulsion unit  20  must allow left foot section  22  to be independently movable with respect to right foot section  24 . Typically, adapter brackets and fasteners will be utilized. Because of the different dimensions of the various devices utilized as propulsion units  20 , it is desirable to have a coupling mechanism which is universal, such as that shown for the embodiments shown in the figures, which allows sufficient independent movement of the left foot section  22  and the right foot section  24 . 
     For the embodiments of the disclosed self-propelled walker  10 ,  10 ′ depicted herein, the platform member  40  is coupled to the propulsion unit  20  by a front u-block  140  which is attached to a rear u-block  142 . The front u-block  140  and the rear u-block  142  are attached in opposite-facing relation. An opening is defined between the points of attachment of front u-block  140  and rear u-block  142  where fasteners  148  are utilized to attach the front u-block and the rear u-block together. A portion of the propulsion unit  20  is disposed within the opening with the portion sandwiched between the u-blocks  140 ,  142  when the u-blocks are attached together with fasteners  148 . 
     Embodiments of the self-propelled walker  10 ,  10 ′ may have an optional rear wheel  160  which attaches to a backward facing side of rear u-block  142 . The optional rear wheel  160  provides additional stability and support which assists the operator from falling over backwards. In normal operation of the self-propelled walker  10 ,  10 ′, rear wheel  160  does not engage the ground. 
     The ability to attach a conventional walker  80  to a propulsion unit  20  provides both an improved walker and an improved propulsion unit. For example, a walker of generic design may be removably attached to a known hover board, when the hoverboard has been modified by utilization of the platform member  40  and walker support member  60  disclosed herein. The conventional walker  80  may be attached with relative ease and then removed when desired. 
     While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited according to these factors, but according to the following appended claims.