This invention relates generally to rollators (also known as rolling walkers).
Wheelchairs are typically designed to transport a sitting person and so-called companion chairs are a lighter-duty mechanism having a similar operating purpose. Accordingly, both wheelchairs and companion chairs typically have leg riggings to support the transportee's lower appendages above the ground. Rollators are a walking aid and hence lack such leg riggings. That said, some rollators include a seat. This seat provides the user with a place to sit when that need arises (for example, when the user needs a break from standing or walking).
The basic design for a rollator is well established; a frame having four ground-contacting wheels and a pair of handles that the user can grip when walking with the aid of the rollator. Unfortunately, these deceptively simple design concepts are not always implemented in a fashion that well suits the needs of the expected user population. Persons who seek walking assistance can also present a variety of other maladies, infirmities, and conditions that can, in practice, interfere with their successful use of the rollator. Examples include, but are not limited to, reduced dexterity or upper-body strength, limited visual acuity, and reduced cognitive capabilities.
The rollator user population also represents a wide variety of usage patterns, lifestyles, and operating environments. Some users, for example, may only utilize their rollator within a fairly limited and constrained application setting while other users may need to frequently transport their rollators in a vehicle and more aggressively use their rollators in a variety of application settings.
The above needs are at least partially met through provision of the IMPROVED ROLLATOR described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
FIGS. 4.1-4.8 comprises a perspective view as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;
FIGS. 7.1-7.7 comprises a perspective schematic view as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;
Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity though are drawn to scale. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.
Generally speaking, pursuant to some of these various embodiments, a rolling walker comprises a frame, a seat supported by that frame, and a backrest supported by the frame. By one approach the backrest is configured to selectively move between a first position that provides back support for a person sitting in the seat facing in a forward direction and a second position that provides back support for a person sitting in the seat facing in a rearward direction. If desired, this backrest can be comprised of a material (such as a memory foam material) that biases the backrest towards that first position when the backrest is in the first position and that biases the backrest towards the second position when the backrest is in the second position.
By one approach this backrest can be selectively vertically adjusted to accommodate persons of differing statures and builds. A simple, intuitive, and relatively large user interface can provide the mechanism by which the user effects such an adjustment.
By one approach this backrest can include a back-support strap that couples at either end thereof to a corresponding rotating strap holder. These rotating strap holders can, in turn, be configured to provide an elbow support surface to a person sitting on the seat if desired.
To accommodate ease of transport, the frame can be configured to fold about pivot points between an unfolded state and a folded state. By one approach the right-side legs of the frame (front and back) become disposed proximal to and substantially parallel to one another when the frame is in the folded state (as are the left-side legs, front and back, of the frame). If desired, some but not all of the rollator's wheels can be laterally offset with respect to a point of attachment to the frame. So configured, all of the wheels can be substantially coaxial with one another when the frame is collapsed to the folded state. This, in turn, can permit the frame to be folded to a very compact state to thereby better facilitate, for example, placing the folded rollator into a limited storage or transport space such as a vehicle's trunk.
Also to accommodate ease of transport, and again if desired, the rollator's handles can be configured to comprise hand-graspable surfaces that can be selectively rotated between a deployed state (where the handles are disposed rearwardly of the rollator) and an undeployed state (where the handles face at least substantially inwardly towards one another). Using this approach, the handles (in the non-deployed state) can fit within at least a depth-based envelope defined by the frame when the frame is in the folded state.
By one approach, a handle height user interface permits one to selectively set these handles (individually) at any of a variety of selectable heights. This handle height user interface can comprise, for example and at least in part, a user-accessible push button.
If desired, the rollator can include brakes that a user asserts using a brake assertion interface available on the rollator's handles. The brake itself can comprise, at least in part, a wheel-contacting surface that is configured to apply braking resistance to multiple points of contact with each of at least one of the rollator's wheels. This wheel-contacting surface can comprise, for example, a substantially-straight wheel-contacting edge.
The aforementioned seat can be configured, if desired, to pivot with respect to the frame. This can permit, for example, a user to access a flexible basket disposed beneath the seat. This flexible basket can be comprised, for example, of neoprene and can serve to hold the user's items such as, by way of example, a purse, medication, binoculars, reading glasses, a water bottle, food, a cellular telephone, a portable computer, and so forth. By one approach this flexible basket can be selectively forwardly collapsed in order to permit the user to position themselves further inwardly of the rollator as may be desired.
So configured, a rollator can be readily and intuitively customized to better suit the stature and physical requirements of a given user. Such a rollator can also be easily collapsed into a considerably smaller form factor that is readily lifted and stored. These teachings can be implemented in an economical manner and can, individually or in combination with one another, offer a considerably improved rollator experience for various persons having a wide range of needs and/or preferences in these regards.
These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thorough review and study of the following detailed description. Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to
In this illustrative example the rolling walker 100 comprises a frame 101 that includes a first and second front leg 102 and 103 that are coupled by a brace 104. The frame 101 also includes a first and second rear leg 105 and 106. A bracket 107 (shown as well in
So configured, and with momentary reference to
The frame 101 can be comprised of any desired material including plastic and/or metal. In this example the aforementioned components 102-106 are comprised of aluminum tubes having a generally rectangular cross section. The external corners of these aluminum tubes are rounded to provide an aesthetically-pleasing form factor.
In this illustrative example a wheel assembly 109 attaches to the bottom of each leg 102, 103, 105, and 106. Each wheel assembly 109 includes a wheel 110 that rotates about an axle 111. These wheels 110 can be formed of one or more appropriate materials. By one approach the wheels 110 can include an inflated tire. By another approach the wheels 110 can comprise a solid material such as appropriate rubber or plastic material.
The rear wheels 110 each rotatably couple to a corresponding leg extension 112. These leg extensions 112, in this illustrative example, comprise aluminum tubes that are sized to conformably fit within the rear legs 105 and 106. Generally speaking, the leg extensions 112 can be sized to slide back and forth within the rear legs 105 and 106 without requiring more than a modicum of strength while nevertheless not being so small as to, for example, rattle loosely within the rear legs 105 and 106 during use.
Also in this illustrative example the rear legs 105 and 106 each include a plurality of spaced openings 113 that are sized to accommodate a user-accessible spring-biased push button 114 that comprises a part of the leg extensions 112. These openings 113 can be spaced, for example, at a desired regular distance such as one inch, two inches, or some other distance of choice. So configured, the effective length of the rear legs 105 and 106 can be varied to accommodate users having different heights. The user-accessible push buttons 114 are disposed outwardly of the frame 101 and hence are readily observed and their purpose intuitively understood by even an untrained observer. The leg extensions 112 for these rear legs 105 and 106 each also include a lower portion 118 that is substantially parallel to the aforementioned legs 105 and 106 but laterally and outwardly offset therefrom.
In this illustrative example the front wheel assemblies 109 are configured somewhat differently from the rear wheel assemblies 109. The front wheel assemblies 109 include a corresponding leg extension 115 that again includes a user-accessible spring-biased push button 116 that can be secured within one of a plurality of corresponding openings 117 in the first and second front legs 102 and 103. These leg extensions 115 for the front wheel assemblies 109, however, are not laterally offset from the legs 102 and 103 themselves. Instead, these leg extensions 115 simply angle downwardly somewhat and then rotatably couple to a fork 119 that holds the wheel's axle 111.
So configured, the effective length of the front legs 102 and 103 can again be easily and selectively varied to accommodate users of varying statures. The ability of the front wheels 110 to rotate about a vertical axis, in turn, improves the steerability of the rolling walker 100. Referring again momentarily to
Referring again to
Referring to
With reference in particular to FIGS. 2 and 4.1, the seat frame 121 can further comprise a handle 126. So configured, a user can grip the handle 126 to facilitate folding the rolling walker 100 into a collapsed state. In particular, gripping this handle 126 and pulling upwardly will cause the aforementioned rods 125 to move along the aforementioned slots 123 while the seat frame 121 pivots around the aforementioned pivot points 122 as the frame 101 folds inwardly to the above-described collapsed state.
A user-support surface 127 is disposed atop the seat frame 121. By one approach the user-support surface 127 pivotally couples proximal to the front edge of the seat frame 121. With particular reference to
By one approach a latch mechanism 406 can serve to hold the user-support surface 127 in the fully-closed position. With reference in particular to
By one approach, and referring to
If desired, and referring now to
These teachings will also accommodate, if desired, disposing a flexible basket 128 beneath the seat assembly 120. This flexible basket 128 can be comprised, for example, of a neoprene material of choice and can be supported by the frame 101. So configured, the flexible basket 128 can serve to receive and hold any of a variety of user items such as items of clothing, food or drink, communications devices, magazines, medicine or other related supplies, and so forth.
By one approach this flexible basket 128 can be configured to collapse forwardly when desired. With reference to
Moving the flexible basket 128 to a vertically-collapsed state as described above, in turn, opens up a space (417 as illustrated in
Generally speaking, the aforementioned user-support surface 127 serves, at least in part, to support a sitting person. Accordingly, this user-support surface 127 will permit a walking or standing user to rest in a sitting position as desired.
With reference to
In this illustrative example, the opposing ends of the backrest 129 connect to corresponding rotating strap holders 130. If desired, and as shown, these rotating strap holders 130 can be configured to provide an elbow support surface 131 to a person sitting on the seat 120. Because these strap holders 130 can rotate about their vertical axis, the backrest 129 can, in turn, selectively move between one position that provides back support for a person sitting in the seat 120 facing in a rearward direction (as shown in
By one approach, the user can move the backrest 129 between these two backrest orientations by simply grasping the backrest 129 (near, for example, the center thereof) and pulling the backrest 129 towards the desired orientation. When the backrest 129 comprises flexible material, the backrest 129 will readily follow such an action and the rotating strap holders 130 will freely rotate to permit the backrest 129 to reach the opposing orientation.
When the backrest 129 comprises a material having some resiliency (in addition to the aforementioned flexibility), the backrest 129 will further serve to bias the backrest 129 towards the first position noted above when the backrest 129 is, in fact, in that position, and will also serve to bias the backrest 129 towards the second position noted above when the backrest 129 is, in fact, in that second position. Such a configuration will help retain the backrest 129 in a desired state of deployment and available and ready for service.
If desired, this backrest 129 can be vertically adjusted in height. By one approach, and referring to
So configured, a user can readily determine the means by which the backrest 129 can be moved to a different height. The described approach is also simple and intuitive to employ in these same regards.
This rolling walker 100 can also include, if desired, handles 132 that are supported by the frame 101 and that provide hand-graspable surfaces 133 to facilitate a user using the rolling walker 100 in the unfolded state to aid in maintaining their balance when walking or standing. By one approach, and referring momentarily to
A hand-operated push button 134 (
If desired, another latch mechanism 708 can serve as a handle-rotation user interface that permits the user to selectively rotate the handles 132 between a deployed state (as shown in
Referring to
Referring now to
This basic approach to a rolling walker design will accommodate any of a wide variety of alterations and/or embellishments. As but one simple example in these regards, one or more cupholders of choice can be attached thereto as desired. As one specific example in these regards, but without intending any particular limitations in these regards, a collapsible cupholder 900 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9-11 can be attached, for example, to one of the legs of such a rolling walker 100. Such a cupholder 900 can have a main body 901 (comprised, for example, of a suitable plastic material) configured to attach to a desired surface on the rolling walker 100. A tray component 902 and a corresponding retainer component 903 (formed, for example, of metal or plastic) can be pivotally coupled to the main body 901 and can be flexibly joined to one another by a bridge piece 904 (as shown in
These various teachings described herein can be used alone or in various combinations as desired. The resultant rolling walker will benefit accordingly. More particularly, a rolling walker that comports with these teachings can be made relatively inexpensively while providing superior usability and functionality. Various dimensions are readily modified to suit the particular physical circumstances of a given user. Furthermore, the mechanisms by which such modifications are effected are simple to discern, understand, and operate. These teachings also permit a rolling walker to be collapsed into a very small package that can be more easily handled and stored.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept. In these regards, an appendix as is attached hereto and made a part hereof includes a number of views as correspond to many such possibilities.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application No. 61/723,067, filed Nov. 6, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61723067 | Nov 2012 | US |