Patent Application
20190060731
Generally, the present invention relates to sports equipment. More specifically, the present invention is related to a skating aid apparatus for use primarily in supporting individuals with mobility/balance disabilities that would make skating difficult and unsafe in the absence of appropriate physical support or protection.
Individuals with mobility/balance disabilities often face difficulties when engaging in physical activities that others often take for granted. One such example is ice skating, an activity which requires a great amount of coordination and balance to avoid falling. For persons who must cope with impaired faculties such as dexterity, mobility, balance, sensory perception or mental acuity, skating is consequently difficult and unsafe without the assistance of specialized equipment.
Skating aids that provide support for skaters are well known in the art but are aimed primarily at beginning skaters, children in particular. Such skating aids are generally simple frames which a skater grasps to support his or her body weight until he or she can develop balance. These simple frames help stabilize a skater to some degree—but do not necessarily arrest a fall, should one occur. As such, they present difficulties for persons with mobility/balance disabilities. For example, such designs often insufficiently account for the unique difficulties and safety concerns that individuals with mobility/balance disabilities face. In particular, individuals with mobility/balance disabilities are more susceptible to losing their balance and falling, and are less able to protect themselves should they fall. Thus, they are at greater risk of injury. In addition, such designs do not provide support for attendants of the disabled. Should the individual using the skating aid require the support of an attendant, the attendant is also at risk of injury when trying to prevent the skater from falling or in trying to get the skater back on his or her feet.
Skating aids that provide means for preventing a fall even where the skater loses balance are also known in the art, though less common. However, these aids do not sufficiently accommodate individuals with mobility/balance disabilities. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,734 entitled “Training Aid for Skaters” describes a skating aid comprising a frame surrounding the skater and a seat suspended from said frame that the user straddles. Difficulties are apparent in terms of getting into and out of the frame without assistance, an issue which is exacerbated if the skater is physically disabled and is wearing skates at the time.
Similarly, the skating aid described in US Patent Application No. 2014/0141940 A1 entitled “Training Aid for Skaters” features a horizontal support bar with a seat for the skater to rest upon and handlebars which the skater grasps for balance and to propel the aid forward. A disadvantage of this device is that there is nothing on the sides or rear of the apparatus to protect the skater from collisions or from falls in these directions. An additional potential drawback of this skating aid is that there is nothing at the rear to stabilize an attendant or allow him or her to push or steer from behind. A further potential drawback is that the device is primarily designed for use by children and may not accommodate adults.
Accordingly, there is a need for lightweight, compact, adjustable skating aid apparatus that enables persons with a range of disabilities or impairments to skate (or act as an attendant to a skater) with significantly reduced risk of injury to either party.
The present invention relates to a skating aid apparatus for use primarily in supporting individuals with mobility/balance disabilities.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for providing support for a skater. The apparatus comprising; at least two support members, at least one of which the skater can grasp for support; a stabilizing beam for connecting the at least two support members and which the skater can straddle when using the apparatus; and at least one gliding or rolling element connected to each of said at least two support members to allow movement of the apparatus.
In one embodiment, the height and width of the at least two support members are independently adjustable.
In another embodiment, the at least two support members comprise telescopic sections to allow for the height and width to be adjusted independently.
In a further embodiment, the stabilizing beam is releasably connected to the at least two support members.
In a still further embodiment, the stabilizing beam can rotate with respect to the at least two support members from a skating position, whereby the plane of the stabilizing beam is substantially perpendicular to the surface in which the apparatus is being operated, to a resting position, whereby the plane of the stabilizing beam is substantially parallel to the surface in which the apparatus is being operated.
In yet another embodiment, the length of said stabilizing beam is adjustable.
In yet a further embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one side rail that interconnects the at least two support members for improving the structural integrity of the apparatus. The side rails can be any shape; however, the skater may find it easier to grasp cylindrically shaped or substantially cylindrically shaped side rails.
In another embodiment, the length of the at least one side rail is adjustable.
In a further embodiment, the at least one side rail is fully detachable from the at least two support members.
In still a further embodiment, one end of the at least one side rail is pivotably attached and dimensioned to be stored inside one of the support members.
In yet a further embodiment, the apparatus further comprises slots vertically arranged on the at least two support members to receive the ends of said stabilizing beam, the one or more side rails, or a combination of both of these.
In another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a base to which the at least two support members are attached thereto. The base comprising a keel that is dimensioned to span the distance between the at least two support members.
In another embodiment, the keel is rotatable along its longitudinal axis from a vertical position, whereby the plane of said stabilizing beam is substantially perpendicular to the surface in which the apparatus is being operated, to a foot rest position, whereby the plane of said stabilizing beam is substantially parallel to the surface in which the apparatus is being operated.
In yet a further embodiment, the gliding elements are skis or runners that interconnect the at least two support members. The length of the skis or runners can be adjusted.
In a still further embodiment, the support members are foldable upon the base to facilitate transport and storage of the apparatus when not in use.
In another embodiment, the rolling elements are wheels.
In a further embodiment, the apparatus further comprises wheels attached to at least one of the support members or to the base to facilitate transportation of the apparatus to and from a desired location for use.
In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a seat element attached to said stabilizing beam. The seat element being dimensioned to be storable in a support member or removed from the apparatus when not in use.
In another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises at least three support members and at least two stabilizing beams.
In a still further embodiment, the stabilizing beam comprises fastening elements at each end for connecting the stabilizing beam to said support members.
In a still further embodiment, the apparatus comprises a base with central beam or keel that is intended to prevent skaters with certain disabilities from inadvertently crossing their ankles.
In a still further embodiment, the apparatus comprises a base with central beam or keel and open sides to permit skaters with certain disabilities to adopt a wider lateral stride.
In a still further embodiment, the apparatus comprises a base with central beam or keel and sides that may be enclosed to constrain the lateral stride of skaters with certain disabilities.
In a still further embodiment, the base comprises length adjusting means.
In a still further embodiment, the side rails are removable and comprise fastening elements at each end for connecting them to said support members.
In a still further embodiment, the side rails may be connected to the support members at various points to form a protective enclosure of variable height and width.
In a still further embodiment, at least one of the side rails may be connected to the support members at a point close to the base to serve as a footrest when putting on or removing skates.
In a still further embodiment, at least one of the side rails may be connected to the support members at a point above the beam to serve as a backrest when putting on or removing skates.
In a still further embodiment, at least of the one side rails is dimensioned to be storable in the base of the apparatus.
In a still further embodiment, at least one rolling element is affixed to the base or to a support element such that the folded apparatus may be rolled along by the skater or the attendant (in a manner similar to luggage).
In a still further embodiment, at least one handle is affixed to the base or to a support element such that the folded apparatus may be grasped and towed or pushed by the skater or the attendant (in a manner similar to luggage).
In a still further embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a seat element attached to said stabilizing beam that may be reconfigured to serve as a platform bench.
In a still further embodiment, the seat element is dimensioned to be storable in a support member or in the base or to be removed from the apparatus when not in use.
In a still further embodiment, the apparatus further comprises lights positioned on at least one of the support members.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of assembling the apparatus described above. The method comprising the steps of: positioning the at least two support members vertically with respect to the base; attaching the stabilizing beam to the at least two support members; and fastening the at least one side rail to the at least two support members.
In one embodiment, the at least two support members hinged to the base and rotated into their vertical orientation.
In another embodiment, the step of positioning comprises inserting the at least two support members into the base.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of supporting a skater who is skating on a surface. The method comprising the steps of: providing a skating aid apparatus; communicating skating motion of the skater within the apparatus by pushing on one of the support members so as to cause the apparatus to move upon the surface, and communicating skating motion of the attendant stationed outside of the apparatus by pushing on one of the support members so as to cause the apparatus (and the skater inside the apparatus) to move upon the surface.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided the use of a skating aid apparatus for supporting a skater who is skating or rolling on a surface.
Described herein are mobile skating aid apparatuses, and methods of use thereof. It will be appreciated that embodiments and examples are provided for illustrative purposes for those skilled in the art, and are not meant to be limiting in any way.
These, and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
As shown in
The support members (12, 14) are vertically positioned and make up the front and rear of the apparatus (10). When in use, a skater can grasp one of the support members (12, 14) for balance and to steer the apparatus (10) along the surface. In addition, an attendant positioned outside the apparatus (10) and to the rear can grasp the other support member and push or steer the apparatus (10) from behind, using greater or lesser force depending on the degree of assistance required by the skater. The support members (12, 14) may be constructed from a range of materials, including but not limited to: metal, synthetic materials, natural materials, sheets, fibers, castings, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the support members (12, 14) can further comprise grips (16, 18) which a skater or attendant can use to better grasp the apparatus when using it. The grips (16, 18) can be separate elements that can be added to the support members (12, 14) to surround the support members (12, 14) or can be simply separate sections of the support members (12, 14) having a different texture from the main portion of the support members (12, 14) to provide added grip for the attendant/skater. When the grips (16, 18) are provided as separate elements, they can be made from various materials to provide comfort and/or warmth to the skater/attendant. For example, the grips (16, 18) could be made from foam or resilient plastic. Optionally, low voltage healing coils can be integrated with the grips (16, 18) to provide warmth to the grips.
In some embodiments, the support members (12, 14) can be independently adjusted for height and width to accommodate skaters of varying sizes and to minimize interference with the skater's natural skating stride. For example, the support members (12, 14) can be provided with telescopic sections that are stored in and can be extended from the support members (see
Although the support members (12, 14) are shown throughout the figures as having similar shape and size, it is conceivable that each support member may have a unique shape and/or size. For example, in some embodiments it may be desirable to provide an apparatus having a front support member, as shown in the figures, to provide the skater with a comfortable and safe surface to grab and support themselves. However, it might be more convenient for the attendant to have a support member that is shorter than the front support member, but is provided with a handle that extends from the support member to allow for easier pushing and steering of the skater.
The stabilizing beam (20) is horizontally positioned and interconnects the support members (12, 14). For skating, the beam hangs down from the connection points, presenting a narrow profile that a skater positioned inside the apparatus (10) straddles so as to arrest a fall in situations where said skater loses balance. In some embodiments, when the skater tires and needs a more comfortable seat or needs to put on or take off skates, the stabilizing beam (20) may be rotated so that its broad surface is parallel to the ground to serve as a wider bench. The stabilizing beam (20) may be constructed from a range of materials, including but not limited to: metal, synthetic materials, natural materials, sheets, fibers, castings, and combinations thereof. However, it is preferred that the overall construction of the beam (20) is rigid in order to improve the structural integrity of the apparatus (10). To improve the level of comfort for the skater using the apparatus (10), some or all the stabilizing beam (20) can be covered with a material (24), or combination of materials, that provide cushioning for the skater.
In some embodiments, the length of the stabilizing beam (20) can be adjustable. For example, as shown in
For ease of transport, it is preferred that the stabilizing beam (20) is releasably connected to the support members (12, 14). Several different mechanisms for releasably connecting the stabilizing beam (20) to the support members (12, 14) are known in the art. For example, the ends of the stabilizing beam (20) can be provided with rigid hooks (25) that are inserted, and pressure fitted into slots (26) provided on the support members (12, 14). In another embodiment, the slots (26) can be in the form of keyholes to which a bolt can be inserted and screwed into the stabilizing beam (20). The arrangement depicted in
The gliding or rolling elements (30) serve as a point of contact between the gliding surface, such as ice, pavement, concrete and wood flooring, and the rest of the apparatus (10). Examples of gliding elements include, but are not limited to, rounded pegs, skates, skis, runners, and any other casting or extrusion with a smooth or rounded surface to enable the apparatus to smoothly glide along a surface. Examples of rolling elements include, but are not limited to, wheels and other round or spherical elements that enable the apparatus to move smoothly along a surface. In some embodiments shown in
In a further embodiment, the length of the gliding elements (30), in the form of skis or runners, can be adjusted in order to accommodate various lengths of the stabilizing beam (20) within the apparatus (10). In another embodiment, one or more detachable side rails (50) can be positioned on each side of the apparatus (10), extending from one support member (12) to another (14) to further stabilize the apparatus (10) and to protect a skater from side collisions with obstacles or other skaters. Moreover, when the stabilizing beam (20) is rotated into a position where it is parallel to the surface and being used as a bench seat for the skater, the side rails (50) can act as a back rest or as a bottom rail (52) as a footrest.
Similar to the stabilizing beam (20), the side rails (50) can be adjustable in length such that when extended, they match the length of the stabilizing beam (20) and/or the keel (70). In addition, the side rails (50) can be attached to the support members (12, 14) using a rigid hook and slot system, or can be attached using the keyhole and bolt arrangement, as described above with respect to the stabilizing beam (20). In this case, a plurality of slots (26) can be vertically and horizontally arranged on the support members (12, 14), so that the side rails (50) can be positioned according to the situation. Preferably, at least one side of the side rails (50) are detachable from the apparatus (10) to facilitate access to the middle of the apparatus. In order to make the apparatus (10) easy to store and transport, it is preferred that all side rails (50) are detachable from the support members (12, 14). In a further embodiment, at least one of the side rails (50) is storable within or by attachment to the support members (12, 14), allowing users to easily access the centre of the apparatus (10) as shown in
In a further embodiment, at least one of the side rails (50) is storable within or by attachment to the base (5), allowing users to easily transport the apparatus.
In another embodiment, a folding seat (60) attachable to a support member and/or stabilizing beam may be opened up at times when a skater needs to sit. The back of the seat is lockable at an adjustable height such that the seat, when folded down, may rest on or beside the stabilizing beam. In a further embodiment, the seat may be folded and stowed along or within a support member when not in use so as not to interfere with the skater's stride.
In one particular embodiment of the apparatus (10), as shown in
In one particularly advantageous embodiment, the keel (70) can rotate about its longitudinal axis to form a foot rest. When used in combination with the side rails (50) as a back rest and when the stabilizing beam (20) is rotated to form a bench seat, the keel (70) positioned as a foot rest can help the skater or attendant take on and off skates. The keel (5), when in its vertical orientation, can help prevent the skater from crossing the ankles and turning the skate blades at an angle to the direction of travel that could inadvertently cause a sprain or cause the user to fall from the apparatus (10).
Integrated with the base (5) or separate thereto, bottom rails (52) can be provided to add stability to the apparatus (10). Similar to the side rails (50), the bottom rails interconnect the base (5). The bottom rails (52) may be used as a means of constraining the lateral stride of the skater or as a footrest. Although the bottom rail is described herein as a separate component from the side rails, it should be understood that the side rail (50) closest to the ground can be considered a “bottom rail”.
Inclusion of a base (5) allows for the other detachable parts of the apparatus (10), such as the side rails (50), stabilizing beam (20), to be positioned on the base (5) and the support members (12, 14) to be folded over onto the detachable parts and base (5) to form a very planar shape, which is easily transported in most vehicles (see
To aid in the transport of the apparatus (10) in unassembled form to and from the desired location for use, one of the supporting members (12, 14) can be provided with wheels (32) or, if present, the wheels (32) can be attached to the base (5). The presence of wheels (32) allows the user to pick up the opposite end of the apparatus (10) and push or pull the apparatus (10) to its desired location. In addition, to help maneuver the apparatus (10), a handle (76) can be integrated with the base (5) or the support members (12, 14).
As shown in
As shown in
The detachable side sections (72, 74) can be mated, or otherwise attached to, the main section (76) in a manner that the overall width of the apparatus (10) can be adjusted to accommodate skaters of various sizes and skating strides. One way the overall width of the apparatus (10) can be adjusted is to provide the detachable side sections (72, 74) with a series of eyelets (78) which fasteners can inserted through to secure the detachable side sections (72, 74) to the main section (76) at attachment points (80, 82, 84 and 86). In order to improve the overall structural integrity of the apparatus (10), it is preferred that the detachable side sections (72, 74) be mated to the main section (76) through a tongue and groove arrangement, where the detachable side sections (72, 74) are slid into a channel on the main section (76).
In this embodiment, the height of the support member (14) can be adjusted by providing a detachable top section (88) that is attached to the main section (76). The detachable top section (88) can be attached to the main section (76) through a series of eyelets either positioned on the detachable top section (88) or the main section (76). These two sections can be attached together using a fastener, such as a bolt.
As shown in
In order to facilitate assembly of the apparatus (10), the main section (76) can be hinged with respect to the base (5). The user can rotate the main section (76) into a vertical position and lock the bottom portion of the main section (76) by friction tabs (100), which allow for the main section (76) to be held in place while the rest of the apparatus (10) is assembled. A backstop bar (102) can also be provided to prevent over-rotation of main section (76).
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, various changes and modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2977125 | Aug 2017 | CA | national |
