BACKGROUND
The present disclosure relates to ambulatory aids, and in particular to walkers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to collapsible and height-adjustable rolling walkers.
SUMMARY
A rolling walker in accordance with the present disclosure includes a collapsible frame having four legs, a pair of upwardly extending push arms mounted to top of the frame, and a wheel unit coupled to the bottom of each leg. The collapsible frame is configured for movement between an unfolded use position and a folded storage position.
In illustrative embodiments, the rolling walker includes laterally spaced first and second collapsible side frame units, each side frame unit having a front leg, a rear leg, an upper “bridge” link positioned to lie between upper portions of the front and rear legs, and a lower link extending between the front and rear legs and positioned to lie below the bridge link, a lock including a jaw assembly coupled to an upper end of the rear leg, a lock pin having a spring mounted for movement on the upper link, and a lock-release apparatus coupled to the walker frame.
In illustrative embodiments, the lock-release apparatus includes an actuator and a pair of cables coupled to the jaw assembly on a first end and to the actuator on a second end. Each cable is arranged to move a portion of the jaw against a biasing force provided by the spring to move the lock pin from a mated position extending into the jaw mechanism to establish a locked position of the rear leg to the bridge link and an unmated position disengaging the lock pin to allow pivoting movement of the rear leg relative to the bridge link. The locked position and unmated position of the lock pin correspond to an unfolded use position and a folded storage position, respectively, of the first and second collapsible side frame units.
Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rolling walker in accordance with the present disclosure, with portions broken away, showing laterally spaced first and second collapsible side frame units, two upwardly extending push arms, each push arm being coupled to an tipper portion of companion first and second collapsible side frame units, four wheel units, two wheel units being coupled to a lower portion of the first side frame unit and two other wheel units being coupled to a lower portion of the second collapsible side frame unit, a portion of a seat-and-basket unit positioned to lie between the first and second collapsible side frame units, and a lower crossbar coupled to the first and second collapsible side frame units and located below the seat-and-basket unit, each of the first and second collapsible side frame units comprising a “four-bar” linkage as suggested illustratively in FIG. 6 and diagrammatically in FIGS. 7-9;
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the rolling walker of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3-5 show movement of components included in the rolling walker as the rolling walker is moved (e.g., collapsed) from an unfolded use position to a folded storage position;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view showing the rolling walker in the unfolded use position, and further showing a first leg included in the first side frame unit and coupled to the first upwardly extending push arm and a first wheel unit, a second leg extending away from a mid-point of the first leg and coupled to a second wheel unit;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view showing a partly collapsed rolling walker during movement from the unfolded use position toward the folded storage position;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the rolling walker after it has been moved to assume the folded storage position;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of illustrative components included in the first side frame unit of FIGS. 1-5 showing (counter-clockwise from left) the first leg unit providing a first bar, a lower link providing a second bar, the second leg unit providing a third bar, and a bridge link providing a fourth bar, and showing a pivot pin is associated with a pivot joint established between each pair of adjacent bars and that the four bars and four pivot pins cooperate to define the four-bar linkage;
FIG. 7 is a “free-body” diagram of the structure of FIG. 3 showing diagrammatically the four-bar linkage of the first side frame unit in the unfolded use position shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a free-body diagram of the structure of FIG. 4 showing diagrammatically the four-bar linkage of the first side frame unit in the partly collapsed position shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 9 is a free-body diagram of the structure of FIG. 5 showing diagrammatically the four-bar linkage of the first side frame unit in the folded storage position shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged side elevation view, with portions broken away, showing a portion of a lock associated with the bridge link where a lock pin is received in a pin keeper passage to block pivoting movement of the bridge link;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged side elevation view, with portions broken away, showing a portion of the first side frame unit in the unfolded use position shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing a cable being moved in response to the manual operation of a one-hand actuator by the user to cause a lock pin associated with the bridge link to move out of a pin receiver to allow the bridge link to pivot counterclockwise about the first leg while the second leg pivots clockwise about the bridge link away from the first leg so that the user can collapse the rolling walker to the folded storage position;
FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIGS. 11 and 12 showing a portion of the four-bar linkage in the folded storage position shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along lines 14-14 of FIG. 3, with portions broken away, of the four-bar linkage in the unfolded use position showing the lock associated with the bridge link including a lock pin mover configured to move the lock pin out of the pin receiver;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the pin mover of FIG. 14, with portions broken away, showing the pin mover coupled to a first cable end;
FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing another embodiment of a side frame unit in accordance with the present disclosure; and
FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the rolling walker of FIG. 1 showing the rolling walker configured for shipping in a shipping carton where the four-bar linkages included in the first and second collapsible side frame units have been moved to the folded storage position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A rolling walker 10 for use by persons in need of ambulatory assistance is provided. Rolling walker 10 includes laterally spaced first and second collapsible side frame units 13, 15 having a foldable “four-bar” linkage 19 configured to allow a user to collapse first and second collapsible side frame units 13, 15 between an unfolded use position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a folded storage position as shown in FIG. 5 in the manner shown in FIGS. 3-5. The various components of the foldable four-bar linkage are shown in FIG. 6. The collapsing action of four-bar linkage 19 is shown in “free-body” diagrams in FIGS. 7-9. A lock 14 is provided to lock four-bar linkage 19 in the unfolded use position as shown in FIG. 11 and to unlock and enable movement of foldable four-bar linkage 19 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 corresponding to the folded storage position. Rolling walker 10 can be shipped in an unassembled state in a relatively small and compact carton as suggested in FIG. 17
Rolling walker 10 further includes a first and a second upwardly extending push arm 17, 17′, each push arm 17, 17′ being coupled to an upper portion of companion first and second collapsible side frame units 13, 15, four wheel units 18, two wheel units 18 being coupled to a lower portion of first side frame unit 13 and two other wheel units 18 being coupled to a lower portion of second collapsible side frame unit 15, foldable four-bar linkage 19, a seat-and-basket unit 25 positioned to lie between first and second collapsible side frame units 13, 15, and a lower crossbar 70 located below seat-and-basket unit 25 and positioned to extend between first and second collapsible side frame units 13, 15.
Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, first and second collapsible side frame units 13, 15 are similar to one another in structure and function so that the description of one collapsible side frame unit 13, 15 applies to the other collapsible side frame unit 13, 15 as well. First collapsible side frame unit 13 includes a first leg unit 20 having a second pivot mount 21 comprising an upper mounting bracket 21 coupled to an upper portion of first leg unit 21 to lie in close proximity to push arm 17 and having a distal end arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first leg unit 20, and a first pivot mount 23 comprising a lower mounting bracket 23 coupled to a lower portion of first leg unit 20 to lie in close proximity to wheel unit 18 and formed to include a distal end arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first leg unit 20, a second leg unit 22, a lower link 24 pivotably coupled to and extending between lower mounting bracket 23 of first leg unit 20 and second leg unit 22, and an upper “bridge” link 26. Illustratively, first leg unit 20 is a front leg 20 and second leg unit 22 is a rear leg 22. Bridge link 26 is pivotably coupled to an upper end 28 of rear leg 22 on one end and pivotably coupled to upper mounting bracket 21 on another end to connect front leg 20 and a first end portion 28 of rear leg 22. Illustratively, first end portion 28 is an upper end 28.
Each front leg 20 is coupled to one upwardly extending push arm 17 or 17′ on an upper end and coupled to one wheel unit 18 on a lower end as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2. A portion of front leg 20 provides a first bar 37 of foldable four-bar linkage 19. Front leg 20 includes a longer portion 120 and a shorter portion 122 shorter than the longer portion, a bend 124 is positioned between longer portion 120 and shorter portion 122 so that longer and shorter portions 120, 122 are angled relative to one another, longer portion 120 includes a first end portion 126 formed to include a push arm receiver channel 130 to which push arm 17 or 17′ is coupled, and shorter portion 122 includes a second end portion 128 to which one wheel unit 18 is coupled.
Rear leg 22 includes a first end portion 28 or upper end 28 and a second end portion 29. Rear leg 22 is coupled to a jaw assembly 30 on upper end 28 of rear leg 22, as shown best in FIG. 6. Jaw assembly 30 extends away from rear leg 22 and is positioned to lie in an in-line relation thereto. Illustratively, second end portion 29 is a lower end 29 and is formed to include a wheel unit receiver 31 to receive and couple one wheel unit 18 to rear leg 22. A portion of rear leg 22 provides a third bar 41 of foldable four-bar linkage 19.
Lower link 24 is pivotably coupled to lower mounting bracket 23 on one end and pivotably coupled to rear leg 22 on another end as shown, for example, in FIG. 6. Lower link 24 provides a second bar 39 of foldable four-bar linkage 19.
Bridge link 26 is formed to include a pair of apertures in each end portion to receive a pivot pin 45 for pivotably coupling bridge link 26 to upper mounting bracket 21 and rear leg 22 as shown in FIGS. 11-13. Bridge link 26 is further formed to include a parallel pair of oblong pin-guide apertures 46 or slots 46 extending along a center portion of link 26. Bridge link 26 is tubular in cross-section so as to be formed to include an interior channel 48 and an exterior wall 26′ through which, in series, a pin carrier 38 comprising a lock pin block 38 and a spring 40 extend. A lock pin 36 is coupled to lock pin block 38 and arranged to extend through oblong pin-guide apertures 46. Bridge link 26 thus provides means for lock pin 36 and lock pin block 38 to move slidably in response to a bias force applied by spring 40. Bridge link 26 provides a fourth bar 43 of foldable four-bar linkage 19. Illustratively, bridge link 26 has a short length and lower link 24 has a long length that is longer than the short length.
Seat-and-basket unit 25 includes a seat 25′ and a basket 25″ and is positioned to lie between the first and second collapsible side frame units 13, 15, as shown once again in FIGS. 1-5. Seat 25′ is generally rectangular in shape and is pivotably coupled on one edge to a crossbar 70′ extending between front legs 20 and an opposite edge is positioned to rest on an upper portion of crossbar 70. Basket 25″ is coupled to crossbars 70 and 70′ and is positioned to extend below and therebetween. Thus, seat 25′ substantially covers an open portion of basket 25″ when seat 25′ is in a closed position. The user is able to pivot seat 25′ about crossbar 70′ to an opened position to gain access to an interior portion of basket 25″ to store or retrieve personal items therein. Crossbar 70 is generally U-shaped and is tubular in cross-section. A crossbar receiver 79 is coupled to each rear leg 22 to receive an end portion of crossbar 70 to couple crossbar 70 between first and second collapsible side frame units 13, 15.
A seat back 63 is provided as shown best in FIG. 2. Seat back 63 includes a pair of mounting posts 65, a pair of seat back mount receivers 65′ coupled to the upper portion of each front leg 20 and arranged to lie in a spaced-apart relation to upper mounting bracket 21, and a belt portion 65″ coupled to and extending between mounting posts 65. Seat back 63 is configured to provide the user with a back rest when the user is seated in seat 25′.
A braking system 110 is provided to assist the user in controlling the movement of rolling walker 10 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1-5. Braking system 110 includes a pair of hand brakes 112, a pair of brake cables 114, and a pair of brakes 116 coupled to rear legs 22 to arrest the rotation of wheel units 18.
Referring now to the free body diagrams of FIGS. 7-9, first bar 37 is coupled to second bar 39 to establish a first pivot joint 51 and define a first included angle 51′ therebetween. Second bar 39 is coupled to third bar 41 to establish a second pivot joint 53 and define a second included angle 53′ therebetween. Third bar 41 is coupled to fourth bar 43 to establish a third pivot joint 55 and define a third included angle 55′ therebetween. Fourth bar 43 is coupled to first bar 37 to establish a fourth pivot joint 57 and define a fourth included angle 57′ therebetween.
First link 37, second link 39, third link 41, fourth link 43, and first lock unit 14 cooperate to define a leg-movement control system as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9. The leg-movement control systems is configured to selectively retain first bridge link 26 (associated with the first side frame unit 13) in fixed relation to first rear leg 22 to establish the unfolded use position of first side frame unit 13 comprising first front leg 20, first and second pivot mounts 21, 23 coupled to first front leg 20, first rear leg 22, first lower link 24, and first bridge link 24, and to release first bridge link 26 to pivot relative to rear leg 22 to establish the folded storage position of first side frame unit 13.
Upon movement by the user of collapsible side frame unit 13 toward the unfolded use position of FIGS. 3 and 7, first included angle 51′ of about 135°, second included angle 53′ of about 70°, third included angle 55′ of about 180°, and fourth included angle 57′ of about 180° are defined. Upon subsequent movement by the user of collapsible side frame unit 13 toward the folded storage position of FIGS. 5 and 9, first included angle 51′ of about 105°, second included angle 53′ of about 145°, third included angle 55′ of about 35°, and fourth included angle 57′ of about 270° are defined. Thus, first collapsible side frame unit 13 has a folded shape different from an unfolded shape.
Referring now to FIG. 10, illustratively, lock 14 is a bridge link lock 14 and is configured to block movement of bridge link 26 relative to front and rear legs 20, 22 to maintain bridge link 26 in an in-line locked position. Bridge link lock 14 further allows the user to enable movement of bridge link 26 relative to front and rear legs 20, 22 so that bridge link 26 and rear leg 22 can be moved to an angled unlocked position (as shown in FIG. 13). Bridge link lock 14 includes jaw assembly 30 coupled to top end 28 of rear leg 22, a first cable end portion 32, a cable connector assembly 34, lock pin 36, lock pin block 38, spring 40, a pin mover 42, a pair of R-shaped pin receiver channels 44, and a protective guard 52.
Jaw assembly 30 includes a jaw 50 coupled to and extending away from top end 28 of rear leg 22, as shown best in FIG. 13. Jaw 50 includes a sleeve portion 54 coupled to and substantially surrounding a portion of top end 28, a planar portion 56 coupled to and extending away from sleeve portion 54 in an in-line relation to rear leg 22, and a pair of spaced-apart flanges 58 depending from planar portion 56. Each flange 58 is coupled along a top edge of each flange 58 to an edge of planar portion 56 and further coupled on another edge to sleeve portion 54. Planar portion 56 cooperates with flanges 58 to form a U-shaped cavity 62 therebetween. U-shaped cavity 62 is configured to receive bridge link 26 when bridge link lock 14 is in the locked position.
Flanges 58 are formed to include R-shaped pin receiver channels 44. Each pin receiver channel 44 is formed to include an entry passage 60 comprising a pin-capture notch 60 and a pin keeper passage 61, as shown in FIG. 13. Pin capture notch 60 is configured to capture and guide lock pin 36 in a direction 99 into pin receiver channel 44 and pin keeper passage 61 as bridge link lock 14 and jaw assembly 30 are moved from the unlocked position toward the locked position. Flanges 58 are further formed to include a pair of apertures 49 adjacent to sleeve portion 54. Referring now to FIG. 6, apertures 49 align with companion apertures formed in bridge link 26 to receive pivot pin 45 therethrough to establish a pivot axis 47. Bridge link 26 pivots about pivot axis 47 in relation to rear leg 22.
Protective guard 52 extends about U-shaped jaw 50, as shown best in FIGS. 11 and 12. Illustratively, protective guard 52 is U-shaped and substantially covers planar portion 56 and flanges 58 to protect the user from unintended contact with bridge link lock 14. Illustratively, protective guard 52 is configured as a generally U-shaped jacket constructed of a plastic material. However, protective guard 52 may be constructed of any suitable material such as steel, aluminum, wood, or any other suitable material. Protective guard 52 is formed to include cable connector assembly 34 having an aperture 37 configured to receive first cable end portion 32 therethrough to couple first cable end portion 32 to pin mover 42. Cable connector assembly 34 defines an interior cavity 35 arranged to receive a portion of pin mover 42 for slidable movement therein.
Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, U-shaped pin mover 42 is slidably coupled to a first surface 82 of planar portion 56. Pin mover 42 includes a horizontal wall 84, a pair of vertical walls 86 depending from edges 88 to form a U-shaped channel 90 therebetween, and a cable anchor receiver 94. Horizontal wall 84 is formed to include an oblong guide slot 92 configured to receive a fastener 81 therethrough to couple pin mover 42 to jaw 50. Cable anchor receiver 94 includes a generally U-shaped flange 87 having an aperture 95 configured to receive a portion of cable 68 therethrough and coupled to an edge adjacent to oblong guide slot of horizontal wall 84. U-shaped flange 87 extends upwardly from horizontal wall 84 and is arranged to receive an anchor 96 coupled to first cable end portion 32 to interconnect each cable 68 with each pin mover 42. Each vertical wall 86 includes a first edge 91, a second edge 93, and a pin-pusher edge 98 positioned to lie between first edge 91 and second edge 93. Pin-pusher edge 98 is generally oblique in relation to edges 91 and 93 and has a generally arcuate profile. Pin pusher edge 98 is arranged to confront lock pin 36 to push lock pin 36 out of pin keeper passage 61 to unlock bridge link lock 14 to enable pivoting movement of bridge link 26 in relation to front and rear legs 20, 22 so that bridge link 26 can be moved to the angled unlocked position.
Lock-release apparatus 16 includes a housing 64, a one-hand actuator 66, and left and right cables 68, as shown in FIGS. 11-13. Housing 64 is coupled to a crossbar 70 extending between rear legs 22. Actuator 66 is coupled to housing 64 for slidable movement therein.
Referring once again to FIGS. 3-5 and 11-13, to unlock cable 68 is pulled toward lock-release 16 in response to the manual operation of one-hand actuator 66 by the user. Cable movement away from lock 14 causes lock pin 36 to move out of pin-keeper passage 61 in a direction 106 enabling bridge link 26 to pivot counterclockwise in a direction 100 about front leg 20. Simultaneously, rear leg 22 pivots clockwise in a direction 102 about bridge link 26 away from front leg 20 and lower link 24 pivots counterclockwise with respect to front leg 20 in a direction 104 so that the user can collapse collapsible frame 12 to a folded storage position.
When collapsible side frame unit 13 is in the folded storage position, bridge link 26 and rear leg 22 are positioned to lie in an angled relation to one another as shown best in FIGS. 5 and 13. In the unfolded use position shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, bridge link 26 and rear leg 22 are positioned to lie in the in-line relation to one another.
First and second front legs 20, front crossbar 70′positioned to interconnect first and second front legs 20, first and second pivot mounts 21, 23 coupled to first and second front legs 20, wheel units 18 coupled to first and second front legs 20 comprising front wheel units 18, and push arms 17, 17′ cooperate to define a front assembly 11 as shown in FIG. 1. First and second rear legs 22, cross bar 70 interconnecting first and second rear legs 22, and wheel units 18 coupled to first and second rear legs 22 comprising rear wheel units 18 cooperate to define a rear assembly 11′ as shown best in FIG. 2.
Foldable four-bar linkage 19 may be useful for configuring rolling walker 10 for shipment to, for example, a retailer as shown in FIG. 17. A manufacturer is able to remove upwardly extending push arms 17, 17′ and wheel units 18, and move first and second collapsible side frame units 13, 15 toward the folded storage position so that rolling walker 10 can assume a smaller profile suitable for insertion into a shipping carton 106.
With respect first and second collapsible side frame units 13, 15, first bar 37, second bar, 39, third bar 41, and fourth bar 43 cooperate to provide means for maintaining first and second collapsible side frame units 13, 15 in the unfolded use position. First bar 37, second bar, 39, third bar 41, and fourth bar 43 also cooperate to provide collapsing means for collapsing first and second collapsible side frame units 13, 15 toward the folded storage position.
Patent Application
20070235067
