This application was prepared with financial support from the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, and in consideration therefore the present inventor has granted The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a non-exclusive right to practice the present invention.
1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates to a mobility aid device, and more specifically, to a portable, foldable, and multifunctional mobility aid device that assists the user in standing up, sitting down, and/or walking.
2. Description of the Related Art
The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventor, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.
Existing mobility aid devices generally fail in providing independent mobility aid to a user, as they require help and supervision of another person. Also, many such devices are not foldable and portable.
This disclosure describes a portable, foldable, and multifunctional mobility aid device that assists the user in standing up, sitting down, and/or walking. Users can stand on the device and drive it as an electric mobility device. The device may also be used as a conventional passive walker. The device has an integrated power source and, in one non-limiting embodiment, is based on 4 wheels. The device includes a pair of supporting beams to be placed under the user's armpits. The distance between the pair of supporting beams is adjustable to properly fit the user. Device functions are controlled via a control panel located on a pair of user handles.
A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,
A standing plate (1015) is supported by the left and right base frame beams (1009, 1010), and mounted to the base frame (1008) via a standing plate hinge (10001) which is shown in another perspective device view in
A power screw motor (1001) is mounted to the base frame (1008). The power screw motor (1001) drives a lower power screw (1017) vertically mounted to the base frame (1008). A middle power screw (1018) is fully extending out of the lower power screw (1017). An upper power screw (1019) is fully extending out of the middle power screw (1018).
A left lower slider (1021) and a right lower slider (1025) are mounted on the base frame (1008) via a left lower slider holder (1020) and a right lower slider holder (1024), respectively. A left middle slider (1022) and a right middle slider (1026) are fully extending out of the left lower slider (1021) and the right lower slider (1025), respectively. A left upper slider (1023) and a right upper slider (1027) are fully extending out of the left middle slider (1022) and the right middle slider (1026), respectively.
The upper power screw (1019), the left upper slider (1023), and the right upper slider (1027), are connected to an upper beam (1028) via a power screw joint (1031), a left slider joint (1029), and a right slider joint (1030), respectively.
A left supporting beam (1034) and a right supporting beam (1035) are connected to the upper beam (1028) via a left supporting beam joint (1032) and a right supporting beam joint (1033), respectively. A left compressed sponge (1038) and a right compressed sponge (1039) are mounted to the end of the left supporting beam (1034) and the right supporting beam (1035) opposite to the left supporting beam joint (1032) and the right supporting beam joint (1033), respectively. A left handle (1036) and a right handle (1037) are vertically mounted to and protruding out of the left supporting beam (1034) and the right supporting beam (1035), respectively.
The left and right compressed sponges (1038, 1039) on the left and right supporting beams (1034, 1035) may have a curved or other ergonomic shape.
Next, the operation of the device is described with reference to the figures.
A user leans into the left and right supporting beams (1034, 1035) and adjusts the width between the left and right compressed sponges (1038, 1039) under his/her armpits. The user adjusts the left and right supporting beams (1034, 1035) via the left and right supporting beam joints (1032, 1033) to fit his width and make the left and right supporting beams (1034, 1035) catch his body to prevent him from falling back. The user grips the left and right handles (1036, 1037). The left and right handles (1036, 1037) may include up and down buttons (4002, 4003) to control the device height. The right handle may include a safety switch (4004) to make sure that the user is gripping the right handles (1037) while using the device. The safety switch (4004) is hinged to the right handle (1037) and held by a spring in an inactive state, and the device is disabled. When the right handle (1037) is gripped, the safety switch (4004) is pressed into an active state, thereby allowing the operation of the device. The left and right handles (1036, 1037) may also include a mobility button (4001) for controlling the operation of the left and driving motors (1003, 1002).
The user presses the up button (4002) or the down button (4003) depending on whether the user needs support for standing up or sitting down, respectively. The power screw motor (1001) starts rotating clockwise or counter-clockwise depending on whether the user needs assistance standing or sitting.
The lower and middle power screw nuts (6002, 6003) may be made of a material different than the middle and upper power screws (1018, 1019), to reduce the manufacturing costs and the friction between the lower and middle power screw nuts (6002, 6003) and the middle and upper power screws (1018, 1019), respectively. The lower and middle power screw nuts (6002, 6003) may be made of copper.
According to another embodiment, the lower power screw (1017) may have a conical-shaped end on the side that is mounted on the base frame (1008) and a gear stage is attached to the conical-shaped end of the lower power screw (1017) after insertion in the base frame (1008).
The lower, middle, and upper power screws (1017, 1018, 1019) may be configured such that the middle power screw (1018) extends out of the lower power screw (1017) only when the upper power screw (1019) is fully extending out of the middle power screw (1018). In another embodiment, the lower, middle, and upper power screws (1017, 1018, 1019) may be configured such that the upper power screw (1019) extends out of the middle power screw (1018) only when the middle power screw (1018) is fully extending out of the lower power screw (1017).
The lifting system includes the power screw system, the right slider system, and the left slider system. The power screw system includes the lower, middle, and upper power screws (1017-1019). The left slider system includes the left lower, middle, and upper sliders (1021-1023). The right slider system includes the right lower, middle, and upper sliders (1025-1027). The power screw system carries the axial load of the user weight, while the right and left slider systems carry the bending moment due to the user weight. Each of the slider systems include three free pipes inside each other. To avoid lose fit between these three pipes, a bush is provided at the upper end of the lower and middle sliders. Also, to prevent the sliders from going out of each other, there are extended edges at the bottom of the left middle and upper sliders (1022, 1023) and at the bottom of the right middle and upper sliders (1026, 1027).
The user can stand on the standing plate (1015) and drive the device. Toggle switches on the left and right handles (1036, 1037) or a joystick may be used to control the device. Before the user starts driving the device, he should slide the left and right supporting beams (1034, 1035) along the upper beam (1028) until they catch him very well on the sides of his body, to prevent him from falling due to a backward force or any sudden movement.
To store or transfer the device in a small area such as a car trunk, the user can fold the device to a minimum device size. To minimize the device, the user may reduce the device height to a minimum height, as shown in
After folding the left and right supporting beams (1034, 1035), the user folds the standing plate (1015), and then the left and right base frame beams (1009, 1010).
The device may be used as a passive walker with wheels by folding the standing plate (1015) and disabling the left and right driving motors (1003, 1002).
The left and right driving motors (1003, 1002) and the power screw motor (1001) are operated by batteries which may be rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries. The batteries are preferably located at or around the device center of gravity to enhance device stability. The remaining charge of the batteries may be reported to the user by an indicator provided on a control panel.
The power screw motor (1001) may lock itself if the battery is low, to prevent the power screw system from collapsing.
The device may include a mechanical coupling feature on the front side of its top portion such that the device may be used with a trailer connecter to lift and move the device.
To lift the device by the above-described hitch connection system, the height of the device is brought to the same height as the trailer hitch (14007), and the device is attached to the trailer hitch (14007). The height of the device is then minimized, causing the device to be lifted.
The device may include optical sensors mounted on the front side of the device to sense the shape of the path in front of the device and send feedback to stop the device when the path shape in front of the device is an uneven path shape such as stairs.
The device may have a pair of outriggers or stabilization bars for added stability.
Next, a hardware description of a computer according to exemplary embodiments is described with reference to
Further, the claimed advancements may be provided as a utility application, background daemon, or component of an operating system, or combination thereof, executing in conjunction with CPU (1700) and an operating system such as Microsoft Windows 7, UNIX, Solaris, LINUX, Apple MAC-OS and other systems known to those skilled in the art.
CPU (1700) may be a Xenon or Core processor from Intel of America or an Opteron processor from AMD of America, or may be other processor types that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, the CPU (1700) may be implemented on an FPGA, ASIC, PLD or using discrete logic circuits, as one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize. Further, CPU (1700) may be implemented as multiple processors cooperatively working in parallel to perform the instructions of the inventive processes described above.
The computer in
The wireless network may be used to identify and/or monitor the location of the device by another person such as a primary care giver.
A remote controller (1746) may be used in conjunction with a remote control (1728) to remotely operate the device and, for example, drive the device to the location of the user.
The computer further includes a display controller (1708), such as a NVIDIA GeForce GTX or Quadro graphics adaptor from NVIDIA Corporation of America for interfacing with display (1710), such as a Hewlett Packard HPL2445w LCD monitor. A general purpose I/O interface (1712) interfaces with a keyboard and/or mouse (1714) as well as a touch screen panel (1716) on or separate from display (1710). General purpose I/O interface also connects to a variety of peripherals (1718) including printers and scanners, such as an OfficeJet or DeskJet from Hewlett Packard.
A sound controller (1720) is also provided in the computer, such as Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium from Creative, to interface with speakers/microphone (1722) thereby providing sounds and/or music. The speakers/microphone (1722) can also be used to accept dictated words as commands for controlling the computer or for providing location and/or property information with respect to the target property.
The general purpose storage controller (1724) connects the storage medium disk (1704) with communication bus (1726), which may be an ISA, EISA, VESA, PCI, or similar, for interconnecting the components of the computer. A description of the general features and functionality of the display (1710), keyboard and/or mouse (1714), as well as the display controller (1708), storage controller (1724), network controller (1706), sound controller (1720), and general purpose I/O interface (1712) is omitted herein for brevity as these features are known.
The computer may include a GPS (1730) connected to a GPS controller (1732) to provide a navigation system. The navigation system may provide routes with no steps or irregular path shapes. The navigation system may be via a Bluetooth connection to Google maps on the user's cell phone via the network controller (1706). The navigation display may be included in the display (1710).
The computer may have an emergency button (1732) connected to an emergency button controller (1734). The emergency button (1732) is controlled by the user to ask for help in case of emergency. The emergency button (1732) may be connectable to the user's body by a clip-on strap such that if the user falls off of the device, the emergency button (1732) is activated.
The computer may include a gyroscope (1736) connected to a gyroscope controller (1738) to indicate the orientation of the device. The gyroscope (1736) may activate an audible alarm via the speakers (1722), a wireless alarm via the network controller (1706), or another emergency indicator, when the orientation of the device indicates tipping over.
The optical detector (15001) is connected to an optical detector controller (1740) within the computer.
The power screw motor (1001) is connected to a power screw motor controller (1742) within the computer. The left and right driving motors (1003, 1002) are connected to a driving motor controller (1744) within the computer.
Thus, the foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting of the scope of the invention, as well as other claims. The disclosure, including any readily discernible variants of the teachings herein, define, in part, the scope of the foregoing claim terminology such that no inventive subject matter is dedicated to the public.
This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/527,379, filed Jun. 19, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/520,952 filed on Jun. 20, 2011. Each of the above-noted documents is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3154290 | Johnson | Oct 1964 | A |
3394933 | Benoit | Jul 1968 | A |
3397883 | Kiehn | Aug 1968 | A |
4443902 | Baer | Apr 1984 | A |
4704749 | Aubert | Nov 1987 | A |
5185895 | Gagne et al. | Feb 1993 | A |
5261640 | Yuan | Nov 1993 | A |
5365621 | Blain | Nov 1994 | A |
5411044 | Andolfi | May 1995 | A |
5428851 | Shore et al. | Jul 1995 | A |
5819338 | Hession | Oct 1998 | A |
6092247 | Wilson | Jul 2000 | A |
7506388 | Brown | Mar 2009 | B1 |
20060137091 | Gramkow et al. | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20080072940 | Cheng et al. | Mar 2008 | A1 |
20090249544 | Palay et al. | Oct 2009 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
WO 0121128 | Mar 2001 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20140316662 A1 | Oct 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61520952 | Jun 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 13527379 | Jun 2012 | US |
Child | 14321337 | US |