The invention relates generally to a personal mobility apparatus. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus, and components thereof, configured to assist a user in standing, sitting, or making other transitions.
Many persons who are elderly, weak, in a post-surgical condition, or otherwise physically disabled experience difficulty with mobility. Without suitable assistance, such persons have restricted movement and/or risk injury.
Canes, walkers, wheelchairs, lifts, and other mobility aids are known. Such aids have many shortcomings, however. For instance, canes, walkers and wheelchairs generally do not provide adequate support for certain types of transitions, such as for standing and sitting. This lack of support can lead to falls, resulting in serious or fatal injury. In addition, lifts and other known devices that do facilitate such transitions typically require one or more attendants/operators to position the mobility aid and/or assist the disabled person in making the transition. Moreover, many mobility aids are bulky, and thus difficult to reposition and/or store when not in use. An improved mobility aid that is specially adapted for transitions, may allow for greater personal independence, and/or is more easily moved and stored, is therefore needed.
The invention seeks to overcome one or more of the limitations described above. In embodiments of the invention, a personal mobility apparatus includes ergonomic handrails that are specially configured for standing and sitting operations, yet can also be used for support during various standing exercises. The apparatus includes a base with compression casters to provide a stable platform during use, yet facilitate easy movement of the apparatus when not in use. Preferably, the handrails can be decoupled from the base, or folded toward the base, for convenient storage.
Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following drawings, wherein:
Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to
In one application, the personal mobility apparatus is disposed adjacent to the location where a user requires assistance standing. For instance, the apparatus may be positioned in front of a chair, bed, wheelchair, or commode. Then, from a seated position, the user places his or her feet on a portion of the base assembly 110, grips a portion of each handrail assembly 105, and stands. After standing, the user could return to the seated position (for example in a rehabilitation setting). Alternatively, the user could walk between the handrail assemblies 105 (for instance to a waiting walker).
The two handrail assemblies 105 can preferably be decoupled from the base assembly 110 to facilitate storage of the personal mobility apparatus. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated in the Figs.), the handrail assemblies 105 could be hinged to the base assembly 110; in this instance, the handrail assemblies 105 could be disposed in a folded position adjacent to the base assembly 110 during storage.
Preferably, the handrail tube 215 is bent at an angle 230 at each end with respect to horizontal 235 for improved ergonomics. For example, the angle 230 could be in the range of 11 to 45 degrees, and is preferably 22.5 degrees (+/−10%) so a user's wrists can be relatively straight under typical conditions when grasping the handrail 210 from a seated position.
The illustrated handrail assembly 105 also includes a button connector 240 disposed in the riser 205 to facilitate removable coupling to the base assembly 110.
Variations to the configuration of the handrail assembly 105 illustrated in
In use, risers 205 are disposed in each of the receiving tubes 325. The button connector 240 cooperates with a selected pair of the vertical adjustment holes 330 to fix a height of the handrail 210. When downward force is not applied to the personal mobility apparatus, the caster assemblies 335 facilitate easy movement of the apparatus to other locations. On the other hand, when a user steps on the base plate 305, pulls downward on the handrail 210, or otherwise applies a downward force on the personal mobility apparatus, the caster assemblies 335 compress, the foot pads 315 engage a floor surface, and movement of the personal mobility apparatus is substantially restricted by frictional forces.
Variations to the base assembly 110 illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the caster assembly 335 includes a compression spring 505, a sleeve 510, a spring cup 515 with threaded holes 520, a roller base 525, mounting screws 530, bushings 535 and corresponding pins 540, a roller ball 545, a roller cap 550, and an outer sleeve 555. The spring cup 515 and outer sleeve 555 are preferably made from aluminum, and the roller ball 545 is preferably steel, although other suitable materials could be used.
The spring cup 515 supports the compression spring 505. The mounting screws 530 secure the roller base 525 to the spring cup 520. The roller base 525 secures the bushings 535 and pins 540 to facilitate the rolling action of the roller ball 545. The roller cap 550 engages with the roller base 525 to support the roller ball 545 and also limit contamination of the caster assembly 335. The sleeve 510 is preferably made from teflon, and serves to reduce friction between the spring cup 515 and the outer sleeve 555 during compression/decompression of the caster assembly 335. The outer sleeve 555 protects components of the caster assembly 335 from collision with debris, flooring thresholds, or other obstacles to lateral movement of the personal mobility apparatus. Preferably, the outer sleeve 555 is press fit into the cavity 340. In embodiments of the invention, one or more roll pins (not shown) may be lately disposed to join one or more of the sleeve 510, spring cup 515, roller base 525, roller cap 550, and outer sleeve 555 for enhanced strength.
In operation, the compression springs 505 combine to resist slightly more than the weight of the personal mobility apparatus. As an example, the personal mobility apparatus may weigh approx. 30 lbs (not including the weight of the caster assemblies 335) and each of the four caster assemblies 335 may be able to resist 10 lbs of force over its operational vertical displacement; in this instance, a downward applied force that exceeds 10 lbs would overcome the compression springs 505 and restrict lateral movement of the personal mobility apparatus.
Variations to the configuration of the caster assembly 335 illustrated in
Embodiments of the invention thus better support standing and sitting transitions compared to known devices, facilitate the independence of users, and include features that enable compact storage. Those skilled in the art can readily recognize that numerous variations and substitutions may be made in the invention, its use and its configuration to achieve substantially the same results as achieved by the embodiments described herein. Accordingly, there is no intention to limit the invention to the disclosed exemplary forms. Alternative features may be combined in ways not expressly illustrated or described. Many variations, modifications and alternative constructions therefore fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosed invention.
This application is a U.S. national stage filing of International Application No. PCT/US2017/017582, filed on Feb. 12, 2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/294,830, filed on Feb. 12, 2016.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US17/17582 | 2/12/2017 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62294830 | Feb 2016 | US |