Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/431,170, entitled “WHEELCHAIR HANDLEBAR ADJUSTMENT”, filed Jan. 10, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a mobility device for the aged and/or disabled, and, more particularly, to a mobility device that has individually adjustable handgrips. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     People who are unable to move about or are not fully ambulatory require the assistance of a traditional device such as a wheelchair or a walker in order to facilitate their mobility. Wheelchairs include a seat and often include feet rests and a pair of handles on the back for use of a second person in pushing the seated individual to a desired location. Wheelchairs typically have individual brakes located close to the two largest wheels and are individually engagable generally consisting of a toggle type mechanism which applies the brake by compressing a portion of the resilient wheel. 
     Some adult walkers include four wheels with a brake mechanism having a control associated with each of two handgrips. The braking mechanisms can be either positive or negative in that the brakes may be applied when the controls are released or when the controls are applied depending upon the particular configuration of the walker. The walker may have a seat upon which the operator can turn around and sit down on, thereby providing a temporary spot to rest. This is generally accomplished by having the seat facing towards the rear of the walker thereby requiring the individual to turn around and sit in the seat. This positions the handgrips generally in front of the seated individual and often some tubular frame is associated with the walker to provide some type of backrest. Walkers may have a device allowing for the adjustable height of the extending handgrips by way of a compressible feature associated with cylindrical tubes nested inside of each other. The adjustable features are typically located at the upper portion of the outer tube. 
     What is needed in the art is a mobility device with an easily adjusted handle height. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention in one form is directed to a mobility device including a frame, a plurality of wheels, a pair of telescopically arranged assemblies and a pair of handgrips. The plurality of wheels are rotatably coupled to the frame. The pair of telescopically arranged assemblies are coupled to the frame. The pair of handgrips are each coupled to a corresponding one of the pair of telescopically arranged assemblies. The pair of handgrips are arranged to adjust a height of the pair of telescopically arranged assemblies. 
     The invention in another form is directed to a telescopically arranged assembly for use with a mobility device having a frame and a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the frame, the telescopically arranged assembly includes an outer tube, an inner tube and a handgrip. The inner tube is arranged in a telescopically manner with the outer tube. The outer tube being coupled to the frame of the mobility device. The handgrip is coupled to the inner tube. The handgrip controlingly adjusts the position of the inner tube relative to the outer tube. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a mobility device having an embodiment of the adjustable handgrips of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of the mobility device of  FIG. 1   a , having the seat reversed; 
         FIG. 2  is another view of a portion of the mobility device of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   b  illustrating some of the adjustment features; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a left handgrip of the mobility device of  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b , and  2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is another view of the left handgrip illustrating portions of the adjustability features of the mobility device of  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b , and  2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial interior side view of the left handgrip assembly of the mobility device of  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b , and  2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is another partial interior view of details of the adjustment mechanism of handgrip illustrated in  FIGS. 1   a - 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial interior view of the left handgrip illustrating the locked position of the telescoping tubes; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial interior view of the left handgrip illustrating an unlocked position of the adjustable feature of the hand grips of  FIGS. 1   a - 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a right handgrip of mobility device of  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b , and  2 ; 
         FIG. 10  is another view of the right handgrip of the mobility device of  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b , and  2 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a partial interior side view of the handgrip of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is another partial interior view of the handgrip of  FIGS. 10 and 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is another view of the right handgrip of  FIGS. 10-12  with the handgrip rotated; 
         FIG. 14  is another view of the rotated handgrip of  FIG. 13  also illustrating the retraction of locking mechanism from the inner tube; 
         FIG. 15  is a partial interior side view further illustrating the retraction of the locking mechanism of the rotated handgrip of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is another view of the rotated handgrip illustrating the positions of some of the internal parts of the handgrip of  FIGS. 13-15 ; 
         FIG. 17  is another partial interior view of some of the internal parts of the handgrip of  FIGS. 13-16 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the mobility device of  FIG. 1   b , with the handgrips rotated to a reverse position as that shown in  FIG. 1   b ; and 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the mobility device of  FIG. 18  with the handgrips rotated to a position that allows the vertical adjustment of the handgrips. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1   a , and  1   b , there is illustrated a mobility device  20  which may be in the form of a walker  20  or a wheelchair  20 . Mobility device  20  includes telescoping handgrip assemblies  26  having an inner tube  22  and an outer tube  24 . A guide block  28  is associated with an upper portion of handgrip assemblies  26 . Tubes  22  and  24  are arranged in a telescopic manner with tube  22  being adjustably fixed in tube  24  by way of the inventive nature of handgrip assemblies  26 . A seat  54  is shown in these two views as being reversed, this allows seat  54  to be oriented as desired. The reversibility of seat  54  coacts with the reversible orientation of handgrip assemblies  26  to allow configuration possibilities not otherwise attainable. 
     Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 2-6  a cap screw  30  is shown making up part of handgrip assembly  26 . A latch plate  32  is illustrated in  FIG. 5  extending through a slot identified elsewhere as slot  52  in inner tube  22 . Latch plate  32  pivots about pivot pin  34  and is held in position by resilient biasing device  36  also known as a spring  36 . Spring  36  is retained in position by a spring retainer pin  38 . Latch plate  32  extends through slot  40  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  of outer tube  24 . As can also be seen in  FIG. 2 , portions of the frame and seat are all connected to each other as well as to handgrip assemblies  26 . Each handgrip assembly  26  is telescopically arranged so that inner tube  22  slides within outer tube  24 . Tubes  22  and  24  are illustrated as being rectangular in nature although other shapes are also contemplated. Generally tubes  22  and  24  will not be cylindrical in nature so that the alignment of latch plate  32  and slots  40  can be maintained thereby requiring an oriented tube arrangement so that tubes  22  and  24  do not rotate relative to each other but only slide relative to each other. 
     A release cable  42  extends down the inside of tube  22  as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Release cable  42  extends to connect to a portion of latch plate  32  allowing the mechanism in handgrip assembly  26  to collectively release the inner connection of latch plate  32  with inner tube  22  and outer tube  24  to allow the adjustment of handgrip assembly  26  in a longitudinal direction of tubes  22  and  24 . 
     Now additionally referring to  FIGS. 7-19  there is further illustrated some of the different views of handgrip assembly  26  as well as different positions of handgrip assembly  26  so that latch plate  32  can be selectively disengaged from outer tube  24 . Also associated with handgrip assemblies  26  is a brake cable  44  extending therefrom to a brake mechanism associated with the wheels of mobility device  20 . Brake lever  46  provides for controlled engagement of the brake system by way of brake cable  44 . Advantageously in the present invention the braking mechanism is fully controllable even though the handgrip assembly  26  is used to adjust the positioning of inner tube  22  relative to outer tube  24 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , pin  48  is engaged preventing any movement of handgrip  26  in a rotatable manner relative to tube  22 . Pin  48  can also engage the assembly when handgrip  26  is rotated to a position 180° from that shown in  FIG. 7 . Two positions of handgrips  26  are illustrated in the two views afforded by  FIGS. 1   b  and  18 . In  FIG. 8  knob  50  is pulled or otherwise retracted to thereby move pin  48  in an outward direction to thereby release the handgrip  26  so that it can rotate relative to tube  22 .  FIGS. 9-12  illustrate pin  48  being engaged and handgrip assembly  26  retaining tubes  22  and  24  in a fixed position relative to each other. In  FIG. 13  with knob  50  having been pulled out and a portion of handgrip assembly  26  has been rotated approximately 90° relative to its position in the former figures causing cap screw  30  to be positioned in a new location as seen in the inset of  FIG. 13  also the upper portion of handgrip assembly  26  is slightly elevated relative to guide block  28 . This particularly slight vertical movement causes the retraction of latch plate  32  as can be seen in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . The rear portion of cap screw  30  can be seen in  FIG. 16  in its elevated position as it has moved along the ramped portion in guide block  28  to thereby pull the inner portion of release cable  42 , which is also illustrated in the inner view of handgrip assembly  26  as illustrated in  FIG. 17 . Once the handgrip assembly is positioned approximately vertically in a desired position, handgrip assembly  26  is rotated 90° back to either of its normal positions and with an optional slight vertical movement either up or down latch plate  32  will then again engage tubes  22  and  24  to position them in the desired location. Perhaps prior to that engagement when the upper handgrip assembly  26  is rotated back to one of its normal positions, then pin  48  also returns to its normal location thereby locking upper portion of handgrip assembly  26  in a normal operational position. 
     The symmetrical nature of the ramp in guide block  28  helps to show how handgrips  26  can be rotated and locked in two positions substantially 180° apart, and yet the intermediate position where handgrips  26  are rotated approximately 90° is the position in which latch plates  32  disengage from slot  52  allowing the longitudinal movement of tube  22  relative to tube  24 . Although tubes  22  and  24  are shown at a small angle to vertical, they can also be oriented in a substantially vertical manner. Guide block  28  is geometrically configured so that an angle of tube  22  is altered to establish the plane of movement of handgrips  26  as they rotate. The plane of movement is nominally or approximately normal to the longitudinal direction of tube  22 . This plane of movement is substantially parallel with the plane of the surface upon which mobility device  20  traverses, which may be the ground. 
     As a general observation the orientation of handgrips  26 , in  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b , and  2  correspond to that shown in  FIGS. 3-8 . The orientation of handgrips  26  in  FIG. 18  corresponds that shown in  FIGS. 9-12 , and the orientation of handgrips  26  in  FIG. 19  corresponds to that shown in  FIGS. 13-17 . 
     Advantageously handgrip assemblies  26  can be positioned in a generally lower position so that when someone is sitting in the seat of mobility device  20  the handgrip assemblies  26  can serve as support under the arms of the individual and when handgrip assemblies  26  are extended the mobility device  20  can serve as a walker by an individual walking there behind. Another advantage of the present invention is that the levers  46  travel with the handgrips so that they are always available to the user even when the height of the handgrip assembly is being adjusted. Another advantage of the present invention is that it allows for a quick, non-tool adjustment of the height of the handgrip assembly of tubes  22  and  24 , which remain unrotated during the operation. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the handgrips are orientable in either direction of the two main directions that mobility device  20  will move. The handgrips serve several functions including the locking and adjustable movement of the height of the handgrips based on their rotated position. 
     While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 4