Patent Document

This invention relates in general to walking support apparatus and in particular such a walker for persons having little control of limb movements or poor coordination of their limbs. 
     In prior designs for such people, it was usually required that they be lifted into the device and constrained and either placed in an upright walking position or placed upon a seat in the device. These devices are difficult to transport and have little flexibility for the user. It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a walker support apparatus in which the user may be placed in the device easily, may be supported partially or wholly by a seat mechanism and be foldable for easy transportation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A walking support apparatus is provided which, by means of minimal disassembly allows the user to be placed in the device without lifting. The user can then be supported by seat means which is adjustable to provide minimal support or total support at the user&#39;s option. The device is provided with a low center of gravity for lateral stability and, with minimal disassembly, may be folded into a compact shape for easy transport. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is isometric view of the assembled walker support apparatus. 
     FIG. 2 is a detailed assembly of the vertical support attachment means. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the means of disassembly for folding. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the upper frame assembly. 
     FIG. 5 is an alternate design for the vertical support means which is adjustable for users of different height. 
     FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the device in its folded state. 
     FIG. 7 is an alternate method of fabricating the basic support member. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the assembled walker support. The lower frame member 10 is formed of a single piece of tubing material to form a U shape member being open at the rear end. This member is typically fabricated from 1 inch black steel pipe in order to form a heavy base for ensuring a low center of gravity of the device and is covered with a protective padding 45. Attached at each corner of the lower frame member are casters 12 of any well known type. Three vertical support means 14, 16 and 18 are provided to support the upper frame 25. These vertical support members are attached to the lower frame member 10 by means of attachment 20. This T shape member 20 is rotatably supported on the frame 10. It is maintained in place along the frame member 10 by collars 22 secured to the frame by set screws 23 as shown in detail in FIG. 2. The rotatable attachment of these members will be described in further detail in connection with the folding feature of the device. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, the upper frame member is composed of a forward bar 24, lateral bars 34 and a rear bar 30. The forward, rear and lateral bars are covered with a protective padding 46. The front, lateral and rear bars are all attached to each other by means of attachment assembly 32. The upper frame member is supported by the vertical members and attached by means of T shaped attachment means 26, 27 and 28. These members are rigidly attached to the frame members to prevent rotation between the vertical support means and the upper frame member. The seat member 38 is attached to the upper frame by means of straps 40, 42 and 44. These straps are adjustable by any of several well known means. By this means the seat may be adjustable in accordance with the height of the user or to provide minimal or total support of the user in the device. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a detail exploded view of the means of assembling the upper frame member. The T shape member 32 is firmly attached to the front member 24. A lateral support means 34 is slidably inserted in the long arm of the T 32 and retained by fixed collar 29. This member is freely rotatable within member 32. A cap 36 is provided at the end of the lateral support. Member 34 is support means 26 by means of threads 37. This assembly is typical of all four corners of the device. 
     In using the device, the procedures are as follows. First, the front strap member 44 is detached from the upper frame member and the seat is allowed to drop freely and be suspended by straps 40 and 42. Next, lateral support member 34 at the rear of the upper frame is unscrewed from the support member 26 and the rear upper frame member 30 is allowed to pivot downwardly to open the rear of the upper frame. With the lower and upper frame members opened at the rear, the user may be walked into the upper and lower frame without lifting. Next, the seat support strap 44 may be reattached after bringing the seat under the user. The seat is then adjusted to the appropriate height for the user. Next, the rear member of the upper support frame 30 is reattached by screwing lateral support means 34 into vertical support 26. Thus, the user is firmly encircled by the device and provided sitting means as required and may then proceed to propel the device on his caster wheels. 
     In order to make the device easily portable, it has been provided with means to fold the vertical members into a compact, easily transportable package as shown in FIG. 6. In order to accomplish this folding feature, the upper frame member is disassembled at each corner as ,shown in FIG. 3 in the reverse procedure defined above. The vertical support members 14, 16 and 18 may now be rotated on frame member 10 to members 14, 16 and 18 may now be rotated on frame member 10 to a substantially horizontal position as shown in FIG. 6. This partial disassembling and folding can be accomplished without the use of any special tools. The threaded members of the upper frame are engaged to be finger tight and easily removed for folding. 
     In order to make the device more versatile for users of different sizes, the side support members 14, 16 and 18 may be replaced by adjustable side members, an example of which is shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the vertical support member is divided into two sections, a lower section 15 and an upper section 17. The lower section 15 is formed of larger diameter pipe than that of 17, such that member 17 may slide within the lower member 15. The series of holes 19 are provided in both 15 the upper and lower members. When the device is set at the proper height, a pin or bolt 21 may be inserted to secure the support at the desire height. 
     FIG. 7 shows an alternate means of forming the lower frame members 10. In this embodiment, the lower frame is assembled of component parts, typically used in plumbing applications. The lower frame is comprised of lateral members 48 and 56 and forward member 54. At the rear end of each lateral member, an elbow member 55 is attached by a thread means for support of the rear casters 12. The two lateral members 48 and 56 are connected to forward member 54 by means manner. A short pipe member 60 is threaded into the casters and the T fitting 50 and the elbows 52,54 and 55. This pipe 60 may be varied in length to adjust the total height of the device The vertical support attachment means 20 are assembled in the same manner as described in connection with the preferred embodiment above. By this means, the entire device may be assembled from readily available materials. 
     Thus, it can be seen from the above description that an easily manufactured walking support device may be provided for adult or children who may be easily introduced into the device without lifting. The device is totally adjustable to provide the amount of sitting support required by the user. In addition, an embodiment is provided for adjustable vertical support members to adjust the height of the device.

Technology Category: 1