Patent ID: 7740566

Claim:
An apparatus to train a user to use muscles required for walking, the apparatus comprising: a wheeled frame to be pushed forward by the user while training; an elastic cord having a first segment, a second segment and a third segment, the third segment interconnecting the first and second segments; a first harness coupled to the first segment; a second harness coupled to the second segment; and a coupling structure to couple the elastic cord to the wheeled frame, the first segment and the first harness depending from one side of the coupling structure, the first harness to couple to a first lower extremity of the user, the second segment and the second harness depending from an opposed side of the coupling structure, the second harness to couple to a second lower extremity of the user, the third segment interacting with the coupling structure, the third segment being movable with respect to the coupling structure, the first harness being slidable with respect to the first segment, and the second harness being slidable with respect to the second segment to ensure that tension in the elastic cord is substantially evenly distributed during training, the elastic cord to apply a first force to the first lower extremity, the first force having an upward vertical component and a forward horizontal component upon the wheeled frame being pushed forward, and the first lower extremity being vertically and horizontally distant from the coupling structure, the first force to assist the first lower extremity in an upward and forward movement upon the user shifting his weight from the first lower extremity to the second lower extremity and attempting to lift the first lower extremity, the user progressively shifting his weight from the second lower extremity to the first lower extremity to lower the first lower extremity while stepping forward with the first lower extremity, the elastic cord also to apply a second force to the second lower extremity, the second force having an upward vertical component and a forward horizontal component upon the user having stepped forward with the first lower extremity and the weight of the user being on the first lower extremity, the second force to assist the second lower extremity in an upward and forward movement upon the weight of the user being on the first lower extremity and the user attempting to lift the second lower extremity.