Assistive walking device with multiple support spheres

Abstract

An Assistive Walking Device that provides added support to persons requiring a mobility aid. Three or more stiff or flexible spherical or partial spherical-shaped structures are attached to a support or frame structure that includes a handle or grip. The three or more spherical structures attached to the support structure or frame, absorb shock during the walking motion and grip the ground, thus improving walking stability. The three or more spherical or partial spherical-shaped structures can vary in size, composition, construction design, pattern arrangement and pliability characteristics, and the frame or support structure to which the spherical structures are attached is variable in design according to the specific application requirements of the person requiring the mobility aid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings; wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing the external appearance of the preferred embodiment of the present invention entitled Assistive Walking Device with Multiple Support Spheres.

FIG. 2A is a cross section of a spherical shaped structure shown in FIG. 1 that includes a hard or flexible outer layer, shell or section along with a flexible inner core.

FIG. 2B is a cross section of a spherical shaped structure shown in FIG. 1 that includes a flexible outer layer, shell or section along with a hard inner core.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of a spherical shaped structure shown in FIG. 1, which consists of the same material construction throughout the sphere.

FIG. 4A-FIG. 4J are bottom views of the many possible arrangements of spherical shaped structures that can contact the ground when a user of the present invention is walking.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B consist of views of two of the many possible partial spherical shaped structures that can be used with the present invention.

FIG. 6A-FIG. 6C are cross sections of some of the possible outer contact surfaces of the spherical shaped structures that can be used with the present invention, including, a smooth outer surface (6A), a surface that includes protrusions (6B), and a surface that includes a raised tread (6C).

FIG. 7 is a cross section that illustrates how when a downward pressure is applied to a spherical shaped structure of the present invention that is flexible in construction, a portion or section of the outer contact surface of the spherical shaped structure flattens against the ground and grips the ground.

FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, and FIG. 8C illustrate a joint and spring mechanism that can be applied in embodiments where the joint enables a bending of the shaft or pole shown in FIG. 1 to take place when the user of the present invention applies a downward pressure while walking, and the tension from the springs result in the shaft automatically straightening when the downward pressure on the present invention is relieved.

FIG. 9 illustrates a spring mechanism that can be used with the spherical shaped structures of the present invention to absorb shock and enable the multiple spheres to adjust to uneven ground surfaces when walking.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention that includes two groups of multiple spherical shaped structures to improve stability.

Claims

1. A walking device; comprised of:three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, spheroidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to a support structure operable for being hand held or gripped by a person;Whereby, the said three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure, contact the ground surface when said person holding said support structure of said walking device is walking.

2. A walking device as recited in claim 1, wherein the said three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure are flexible.

3. A walking device as recited in claim 1, wherein the size, material composition, number, pliability, or pattern arrangement of the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure can be selected before, during, or after manufacture to address different walking applications.

4. A walking device as recited in claim 1, wherein the distance between each of the said three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure is variable according to the requirements of the walking application.

5. A walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby, a said spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can be of the same material composition throughout the said spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure and can be either flexible or stiff; whereby, a said spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can consist of a layered construction; whereby, a said spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can include a space or section that contains a gas, gel, liquid, plastic foam or some other flexible material; whereby, a said spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can include a flexible or stiff outer section or layer and a flexible or stiff inner section or layer; or whereby, a said spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can include a hollow space.

6. A walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby said support structure that the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures are attached or connected to is variable in regards to material composition, may be stiff or flexible, and may be straight like a pole or include angles, bends, curves, plates, tubes or extension legs in the construction.

7. A walking device; comprised of:three or more flexible spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal shaped structures attached or connected to a support structure operable for being hand held or gripped by a person;Whereby, the said three or more flexible spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure, contact the ground surface when said person holding said walking device support structure is walking.

8. A walking device as recited in claim 7, whereby the distance between each of the said three or more flexible spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure is variable according to the requirements of the walking application.

9. A walking device as recited in claim 7, whereby the size, material composition, number, pliability, material composition and pattern arrangement of the said three or more flexible spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure can be selected to meet the requirements of the walking application.

10. A walking device as recited in claim 7, whereby, a said flexible spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can be of the same material composition throughout the said flexible spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure; whereby, a said flexible spherical, ellipsoidal or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can consist of a layered construction; whereby, a said flexible spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can include a space or section that contains a gas, gel, liquid, plastic foam or some other flexible material; or whereby, a said flexible spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can include a hollow space.

11. A walking device as recited in claim 7, whereby said support structure that the said three or more flexible spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures are attached or connected to is variable in regards to material composition, may be adjustable, may be stiff or flexible, may be straight like a pole, or may include angles, bends, curves, plates, tubes or extension legs in the construction.

12. A walking device; comprised of:two or more groups of three or more spherical, spheroidal, ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures operable for contacting the ground attached or connected to a support structure operable for being hand held or gripped by a person;Whereby, the said two or more groups of three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure, contact the ground surface when said person holding said walking device support structure is walking.

13. A walking device as recited in claim 12, whereby the said two or more groups of three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure are flexible.

14. The walking device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one spring mechanism is included in or located above one or more of the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure, enabling the said spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure that has the spring mechanism positioned in or above it to move in a linear motion, thus enabling said walking device to adjust to a variety of ground surfaces and to absorb shock.

15. The walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures are removable from said support structure.

16. The walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure include a sunken or raised tread pattern.

17. The walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure include protrusions protruding from the outer surface of the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures or include indentations in the outer surface of the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures.

18. The walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby one or more pivots or joints are located in or between said support structure enabling said support structure to bend at said one or more pivots or joints when a downward pressure is applied to said support structure and associated one or more pivots or joints and that includes at least one spring mechanism associated with each of the said one or more pivots and joints located in or between said support structure operable for straightening said support structure when downward pressure is relieved from said support structure and associated one or more pivots or joints.

19. The walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached to said support structure are removable from said support structure.

20. The walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby the pliability characteristics of each of the said three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure is variable.