Abstract:
A rollator is provided which has a modified frame with offset wheels and upright armor handle posts which extend into handles. Further, the rollator has a flip-up seat and a push member to allow an attendant to push a person seated on the seat. The rollator has hand brakes mounted on the handles and an optional front basket and foot rests.

Description:
[0001]    THIS PATENT APPLICATION IS BASED UPON U.S. PROVISIONAL APPLICATION SER. NO. 60/237,810, FILED Oct. 4, 2001 
     
    
     
         [0002]    The invention relates generally to wheeled ambulatory supports, or rollators, and more particularly to a foldable rotatory which is designed to allow transport of the user using the device.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Certain health conditions hinder vertical balance and other mechanics of walking. The health care industry has developed aids for those who suffer from such conditions, including crutches, walkers, rollers, and wheelchairs. Rollators are wheeled supports which aid individuals who have function in their lower limbs, but lack the strength or balance to enable them to walk unsupported. Generally, these supports include two sets of wheels in order to avoid the need to lift the device as is the case for walkers. Further, these devices usually include a seat so that a user may use the device to sit and rest.  
           [0004]    Prior art rollators have a frame that forms a enclosure about the user. The enclosure is open to the back and the user leans toward the closed front portion of the frame. These frames are usually U-shaped or A-shaped. If the rollator includes a seat, the user turns to face the open side and seat facing the opposite direction from the orientation when the rollator is in active use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention has a modified frame which provides for seated transport of a user. In particular, the frame is a modified A-frame which has offset wheels in a wider wheelbase for balance, and a more vertical arm or handle posts that provides a better position for pushing a user when seated in the rollator. Two embodiments are provided. In the first embodiment, the rollator has a back handle that can be used as a push bar. In a second embodiment, the walking handles can be rotated in the handle post in order to provided for a means for an attendant to push a seated user from the rear. Further, the rollator has small, unobtrusive feet rest members which are mounted on the rear wheels in order to allow the user a position to rest his feet if the device is used for transport. These feet rest members can also be used to tilt the device for curb climbing. The device has a seat which can be positioned at a number of seat heights and flips up, a reversible basket which can be loaded from under the seat, or from the front, and the device can be folded for more compact storage. The device has front and rear castor forks. The backrest or back strap can be reversed to accommodate ambulation or transport. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a front perspective of a first embodiment of the rollator in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a front perspective of the rollator shown in FIG. 1 in a folded position;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the backrest and push handle assembly;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a right side view of the backrest and push handle assembly shown in FIG. 4;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the backrest and push handle assembly shown in FIG. 4; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a top perspective of a second embodiment of the rollator frame in accordance with the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    The wheeled ambulatory support, or rollator of the present invention has a foldable frame  10  having a pair of tubular lateral side supports  12  in the front, which extend downwardly from a hinged connection  14  with the pair of tubular lateral side supports  16  in the rear of the device. The references to front and rear relate to the device when it is open for use in walking, and with respect to the orientation of the patient user. These references remain the same even though a seated user will be seated in the opposite direction.  
         [0014]    Each of the pairs of lateral side supports include forked wheel holders  18  which are supported on wheels  20 . The front lateral side supports  12  also include a transverse link  22  to provide for further stability. The lateral side supports are offset laterally inward above the connection with the link  22  in order to provide for pass-by room with the rear set of wheels during folding, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The front set of forks are freely pivotable to provide a castor type wheel. The frame assembly also includes a release link assembly  30 . This assembly  30  has a pair of side members  32  which are hinged in the middle  34  to allow the assembly to collapse. In the open position, these side members lock the frame into an open position. A release bar  136  can be seen in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 in order to fold the side member of that embodiment about the pivot  134  to allow the frame to be folded when the release bar is pulled upward.  
         [0015]    A seat member  40  is pivotably mounted on a horizontal seat support member  42 . The seat  40  further rests on a second seat support member  44 . The seat includes a hand hold  46  which can be grasped to rotate the seat  40  about the seat support member  42  and pull the seat into the folded position. The seat can also be released from the seat support in order to access an optional basket  48  which can be mounted between the front and rear side supports  12 ,  16 .  
         [0016]    A pair of laterally spaced handle support posts,  50  extend upwardly from the front pair of lateral side support members  12 . These support posts  50  are substantially vertical or angled slightly off vertical toward the rear. Handlebars  52  extend upward from the support posts  50  and can have a adjustable telescoping relationship in order to permit the adjustment of the height by raising of lowering the handlebars in the posts and than locking them into position by sliding a key into the aligned holes  54  shown in FIG. 2. The handlebars  52  also include hand grip members which are located on a substantially horizontally positioned portion  55  of the handlebars  52 . The handlebars  52  also include brake members  58 . The handlebars  52  are positioned so that the can act both as push bars for an ambulatory user, and also can be position to allow the user to rest their arms on the horizontal portion  55  during transport.  
         [0017]    The rollator also includes a backrest assembly  60  which has a lower transverse backrest member  62  supported between the spaced side members  64 of a U-shaped frame  66 . The backrest member  62  includes a tubular pad  68  to make the backrest more comfortable for the seated user. The top transverse member  69  of the U-shaped frame  66  is joined to support posts by a pair of tubular elbow joints  70 , which form an angle of 57 degrees to the side members. The top transverse member is used as a push bar by an attendant when the device is used for transport.  
         [0018]    The rear wheels each include small U-shaped supports  80  which extend a few inches into the open space of the rollator. These supports  80  can be used to tilt the rollator for curb climbing, and also to accommodate the feet of the user during transport.  
         [0019]    A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 7. This drawing shows a modified A-frame assembly having a front pair of side supports  112 , and a rear pair of side supports  116  joined at a hinged connection  114 . The front supports  112  include two transverse links  122 ,  123 . The rear side supports also include a transverse link  127 . Once again, the frame includes a pair of substantially upright support posts  150  which have height adjustable telescoping handlebars  152 . These handlebars can be rotated 180 degrees in order to allow for pushing of the rollator for transport.  
         [0020]    While in accordance with the patent statutes the best mode and preferred embodiment have been set forth, the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, but rather by the scope of the attached claims.