Patent Application
20190175429
The present disclosure generally relates to a support frame used to help a person rise up from a floor or the ground. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a vertically stable support structure sufficient for an infirmed person to lean on as the person rises from the floor or the ground.
After many medical procedures, such as hip or knee replacement, a patient finds it difficult to rise from the floor or from ground level. In some cases, pain prevents the patient from moving their knee below their body such that they can begin the process to rise. In other cases, the artificial joint does not provide a full range of motion, and once again, the patient is not physically or comfortably able to move their knee below their body. In many cases, the condition persists long after the post-operative recovery of the patient and the person has resumed a normal life.
The subject matter discussed in the Background section is not necessarily prior art and should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its discussion in the Background section. Along these lines, any recognition of problems in the prior art discussed in Background section or associated with such subject matter should not be treated as prior art unless expressly stated to be prior art. Instead, the discussion of any subject matter in the Background section should be treated as part of the inventor's approach to the particular problem, which in and of itself may include inventive subject matter.
In accordance with some embodiments described herein, a vertically stable support structure is provided. A mobility-restricted person can use the device to rise up from the floor or the ground by placing their hands on the support structure and lifting their head and torso sufficiently up that the person can move their leg below their body and thus begin the process of rising. The person may rise to a full standing position, or the person may rise enough to lean or sit on another structure.
In a first embodiment, a method is performed by a human being to stand. The human being has a body, two hands, two legs, two feet, and at least one debilitated joint. A first act includes positioning a support structure in front of the human being. The support structure is described by way of a reference frustum, which has a first planar side and a third planar side each having a first trapezoidal perimeter, a second planar side and a fourth planar side each having second trapezoidal perimeter, a planar top having a first rectangular perimeter, and a planar bottom having a second rectangular perimeter. Each side of the first rectangular perimeter is shorter than a corresponding side of the second rectangular perimeter, and each parallel side of the first trapezoidal perimeter is shorter than a corresponding parallel side of the second trapezoidal perimeter. The reference frustum has a height between 10 and 20 inches, the first rectangular perimeter has a length between 10 and 16 inches, the first rectangular perimeter has a width between 6 and 14 inches, the second rectangular perimeter has a length between 12 and 18 inches, and the second rectangular perimeter has a width between 8 and 16 inches. The support structure has horizontal support portions including a first horizontal support member corresponding to a first edge of the reference frustum formed by the first planar side and the planar top, and the support structure has a second horizontal support member corresponding to a second edge of the reference frustum formed by the third planar side and the planar top. The support structure has vertical support portions including a first vertical portion corresponding to a third edge of the reference frustum formed by the first planar side and the second planar side, a second vertical portion corresponding to a fourth edge of the reference frustum formed by the second planar side and the third planar side, a third vertical part corresponding to a fifth edge of the reference frustum formed by the third planar side and the fourth planar side, and a fourth vertical part corresponding to a sixth edge of the reference frustum formed by the fourth planar side and the first planar side. In the method, the human being grasps the first horizontal support member with a first of the two hands, grasps the second horizontal support member with a second of the two hands, swings a first of the two legs at least partially under the body, supports at least a first portion of the body through the two hands grasping the support structure, supports at least a second portion of the body with the first of the two legs, and raises the body upwards to a standing position.
In a second embodiment, a support structure device to assist a human patient to rise includes one or more substantially tubular components formed into a shape described by way of a reference frustum. The reference frustum has a first planar side and a third planar side each having a first trapezoidal perimeter, a second planar side and a fourth planar side each having second trapezoidal perimeter, a planar top having a first rectangular perimeter, and a planar bottom having a second rectangular perimeter. Each side of the first rectangular perimeter is shorter than a corresponding side of the second rectangular perimeter, and each parallel side of the first trapezoidal perimeter is shorter than a corresponding parallel side of the second trapezoidal perimeter. The reference frustum has a height between 10 and 20 inches, the first rectangular perimeter has a length between 10 and 16 inches, the first rectangular perimeter has a width between 6 and 14 inches, the second rectangular perimeter has a length between 12 and 18 inches, and the second rectangular perimeter has a width between 8 and 16 inches.
In another embodiment, a support frame assists a human being to move upwards. The human being has two arms, two hands, two legs, and at least one infirmed joint. The support frame has a single conduit structure suitably bent into a shape described by way of a reference frustum. The reference frustum has a first planar side and a third planar side each having a first trapezoidal perimeter, a second planar side and a fourth planar side each having second trapezoidal perimeter, a planar top having a first rectangular perimeter, and a planar bottom having a second rectangular perimeter. Each side of the first rectangular perimeter is shorter than a corresponding side of the second rectangular perimeter, and each parallel side of the first trapezoidal perimeter is shorter than a corresponding parallel side of the second trapezoidal perimeter. The reference frustum has a height between 10 and 20 inches, the first rectangular perimeter has a length between 10 and 16 inches, the first rectangular perimeter has a width between 6 and 14 inches, the second rectangular perimeter has a length between 12 and 18 inches, and the second rectangular perimeter has a width between 8 and 16 inches.
In some embodiments, a support structure device is combined with an optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure to prevent or reduce the likelihood of rolling, tipping, slipping, sliding, or other undesirable motion of the support structure as a patient uses the support structure to rise off a floor or off the ground. The anti-skid/anti-tip structure optionally includes anti-skid/anti-tip wings, coupling locations, and anti-skid/anti-tip components. In addition, the anti-skid/anti-tip structure may optionally have at least one identifiable feature.
For example, in a fourth embodiment, a method is performed by a human being to stand, the human being having a body, two hands, two legs, two feet, and at least one debilitated joint. The method includes positioning a support structure in front of the human being, wherein the support structure described by way of a reference frustum.
In the fourth embodiment, the reference frustum has a first planar side and a third planar side each having a first trapezoidal perimeter, a second planar side and a fourth planar side each having second trapezoidal perimeter, a planar top having a first rectangular perimeter, and a planar bottom having a second rectangular perimeter. Here, each side of the first rectangular perimeter is shorter than a corresponding side of the second rectangular perimeter, and here, each parallel side of the first trapezoidal perimeter is shorter than a corresponding parallel side of the second trapezoidal perimeter. Also here, the reference frustum has a height between 10 and 20 inches, the first rectangular perimeter has a length between 10 and 16 inches, the first rectangular perimeter has a width between 6 and 14 inches, the second rectangular perimeter has a length between 12 and 18 inches, and the second rectangular perimeter has a width between 8 and 16 inches.
In the fourth embodiment, the support structure has horizontal support portions. The horizontal support portions include a first horizontal support member corresponding to a first edge of the reference frustum formed by the first planar side and the planar top, a second horizontal support member corresponding to a second edge of the reference frustum formed by the third planar side and the planar top, and a lower horizontal support member corresponding to a third edge of the reference frustum formed by the fourth planar side and the planar bottom. The lower horizontal support member is substantially transverse to the first and the second horizontal support members,
In the fourth embodiment, the support structure has vertical support portions. The vertical support portions include a first vertical portion corresponding to a third edge of the reference frustum formed by the first planar side and the second planar side, a second vertical portion corresponding to a fourth edge of the reference frustum formed by the second planar side and the third planar side, a third vertical part corresponding to a fifth edge of the reference frustum formed by the third planar side and the fourth planar side, and a fourth vertical part corresponding to a sixth edge of the reference frustum formed by the fourth planar side and the first planar side.
The support structure of fourth embodiment also includes an anti-skid/anti-tip structure that surrounds the lower horizontal support member of the support structure. The anti-skid/anti-tip structure has a plurality of coupling locations, a plurality of coupling components coupling the anti-skid/anti-tip structure about the support structure at each coupling location of the plurality of coupling locations, and a plurality of anti-skid/anti-tip components formed at a base of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure.
The method of the fourth embodiment includes acts of grasping the first horizontal support member with a first of the two hands, grasping the second horizontal support member with a second of the two hands, swinging a first of the two legs at least partially under the body, supporting at least a first portion of the body through the two hands grasping the support structure, supporting at least a second portion of the body with the first of the two legs, and raising the body upwards to a standing position.
In some cases of the fourth embodiment, the debilitated joint is an artificial hip joint or an artificial knee joint. In some of these or other cases, the human being is on a floor or the ground. In some cases, the method includes placing the support structure in proximity to the human being prior to the human being lying on the floor or the ground. And in some cases, the method also includes releasing one of the two hands from the respective first or second horizontal support member while raising the body upwards.
In a fifth embodiment, a support structure device to assist a human patient to rise includes one or more substantially tubular components formed into a shape described by way of a reference frustum. The reference frustum has a first planar side and a third planar side each having a first trapezoidal perimeter, a second planar side and a fourth planar side each having second trapezoidal perimeter, a planar top having a first rectangular perimeter, and a planar bottom having a second rectangular perimeter. Each side of the first rectangular perimeter is shorter than a corresponding side of the second rectangular perimeter, and each parallel side of the first trapezoidal perimeter is shorter than a corresponding parallel side of the second trapezoidal perimeter. Also, the reference frustum has a height between 10 and 20 inches, the first rectangular perimeter has a length between 10 and 16 inches, the first rectangular perimeter has a width between 6 and 14 inches, the second rectangular perimeter has a length between 12 and 18 inches, and the second rectangular perimeter has a width between 8 and 16 inches.
In the fifth embodiment, the support structure has horizontal support portions. The horizontal support portions include a first horizontal support member corresponding to a first edge of the reference frustum formed by the first planar side and the planar top, a second horizontal support member corresponding to a second edge of the reference frustum formed by the third planar side and the planar top, and a lower horizontal support member corresponding to a third edge of the reference frustum formed by the fourth planar side and the planar bottom, the lower horizontal support member being substantially transverse to the first and the second horizontal support members. The support structure also has an anti-skid/anti-tip structure having a first half and a second half. The first half and the second half of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure are arranged to surround the lower horizontal support member. The anti-skid/anti-tip structure has an enclosure region that encloses the lower horizontal support member and anti-skid/anti-tip wings coupled to the enclosure region and located at the ends of the enclosure region. The anti-skid/anti-tip structure has a plurality of coupling locations on the anti-skid/anti-tip wings and a plurality of coupling components coupling the first half and the second half of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure at each coupling location of the plurality of coupling locations.
In some cases, the support structure device of the fifth embodiment includes a plurality of anti-skid/anti-tip components formed at respective bases of the anti-skid/anti-tip wings. In some of these cases, the plurality of anti-skid/anti-tip components are formed as a plurality of ellipses, wherein the plurality of anti-skid/anti-tip components extend through the base of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure, and wherein the plurality of anti-skid/anti-tip components are substantially evenly spaced along the base of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure.
In some cases of the support structure device of the fifth embodiment, at least some of the one or more substantially tubular components are stainless steel, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or a composite material. And in some cases, the support structure device includes an anti-skid material applied to each terminal end of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure wherein a first terminal end of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure corresponds to a left-most point of the reference frustum formed by the first trapezoidal perimeter and the third trapezoidal perimeter and a second terminal end of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure corresponds to right-most point of the reference frustum formed by the second trapezoidal perimeter and the third trapezoidal perimeter. In some of these cases, the anti-skid material and the anti-skid/anti-tip structure are substantially a polyurethane material or a rubber material.
In some cases, the support structure device of the fifth embodiment includes a first fastener structure positioned at a first location of the lower horizontal support member, and a second fastener structure positioned at a first location of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure, wherein the second fastener structure of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure is arranged to align with the first fastener structure of the lower horizontal support member.
In some cases of the fifth embodiment, where at least some of the one or more substantially tubular components of the support structure device are stainless steel, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or a composite material, the first half of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure and the second half of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure are substantially mirror images of each other. And in some cases, at least some portion of the one or more substantially tubular components includes a chromed surface, an electrochemically colored surface, or an enamel surface.
In some cases of the fifth embodiment, at least one portion of the one or more substantially tubular components of the support structure device or at least one portion of the anti-skid/anti-tip structure includes at least one identifiable feature. In some of these cases, the at least one identifiable feature includes at least one of a decoration, a visible marking, a textured surface, and an anatomically complimentary structure.
In a sixth embodiment, a support frame is arranged for assisting a human being to move upwards. The human being has two arms, two hands, two legs, and at least one infirmed joint. The support frame includes a single conduit structure suitably bent into a shape described by way of a reference frustum. The reference frustum has a first planar side and a third planar side each having a first trapezoidal perimeter, a second planar side and a fourth planar side each having second trapezoidal perimeter, a planar top having a first rectangular perimeter, and a planar bottom having a second rectangular perimeter. Each side of the first rectangular perimeter is shorter than a corresponding side of the second rectangular perimeter, and each parallel side of the first trapezoidal perimeter is shorter than a corresponding parallel side of the second trapezoidal perimeter. The reference frustum has a height between 10 and 20 inches, the first rectangular perimeter has a length between 10 and 16 inches, the first rectangular perimeter has a width between 6 and 14 inches, the second rectangular perimeter has a length between 12 and 18 inches, and the second rectangular perimeter has a width between 8 and 16 inches,
In the sixth embodiment, the single conduit structure has horizontal support portions including a first horizontal support member corresponding to a first edge of the reference frustum formed by the first planar side and the planar top, a second horizontal support member corresponding to a second edge of the reference frustum formed by the third planar side and the planar top, and a lower horizontal support member corresponding to a third edge of the reference frustum formed by the fourth planar side and the planar bottom, the lower horizontal support member being substantially transverse to the first and the second horizontal support members, the lower horizontal support member having a first end and a second end. The support frame of the sixth embodiment also has an anti-skid/anti-tip structure, which has a first anti-skid/anti-tip structure portion positioned at the first end of the lower horizontal support member, and a second anti-skid/anti-tip structure portion positioned at the second end of the lower horizontal support member.
In some cases, the single conduit structure of the support frame of the sixth embodiment has a substantially square cross-section. In these or in other cases, the support frame of the sixth embodiment has a first plurality of anti-skid/anti-tip components formed at a first base of the first anti-skid/anti-tip structure portion and a second plurality of anti-skid/anti-tip components formed at a second base of the second anti-skid/anti-tip structure portion. Here, the first and the second plurality of the anti-skid/anti-tip components extend respectively out of the first and the second base of the first and the second anti-skid/anti-tip structure portions, and the first and the second plurality of anti-skid/anti-tip components are substantially evenly spaced respectively along the first and the second base of the first and the second anti-skid/anti-tip structure portions.
These features with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully described hereafter and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof. This Brief Summary has been provided to introduce certain concepts in a simplified form that are further described in detail below in the Detailed Description. Except where otherwise expressly stated, the summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following drawings, wherein like labels refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements are selected, enlarged, and positioned to improve drawing legibility. The particular shapes of the elements as drawn have been selected for ease of recognition in the drawings. One or more embodiments are described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Hips and knees of human beings can fail or be injured. Sometimes, the person will endure the pain, discomfort, and reduced mobility associated with the damaged joint. Other times, the person will undergo a surgical operation to replace the failing or injured joint with an artificial joint. Even when surgery is successful, some pain, discomfort, and reduced mobility may remain.
Frequently, people with affected hips and knees have difficulty raising their body off of the ground or a floor. In some cases, pain or discomfort prevents the person from positioning one of their legs below their body. In other cases, reduced mobility of one or both legs prevents such positioning. In these cases, if the person does not have a piece of furniture, a wall, or some other support mechanism nearby, it is very difficult or even impossible for the person to get up.
Recognizing the problems faced by people with one or more debilitated joints, the inventors created a support structure with many benefits.
An example of use of the support structure 100 is now described. In this case, the person is aware of their debilitated joint (e.g., artificial knee, artificial hip, or the like). The person is also aware they will be lowering their body to ground level so as to exercise, for example, or to retrieve an item that has fallen on the floor, to work in a garden, or for some other reason. In this case, the person will put the support structure 100 nearby and accessible to the place on the ground or floor where the person will be, and the person will then lower their body to the ground or floor. When the person wishes to raise their body upwards to a standing position or, for example, to sit on a chair, the person will position the support structure 100 in front of themselves. The person will grasp one of the horizontal members of the support structure 100 with their left hand and the other horizontal member with their right hand. Using the support structure 100 for support and stability, the person may begin raising their upper body, and the person will swing one of their legs at least partially under their body. At this time, some portion of the person's body will be supported through their hands, which are grasping the horizontal members of the support structure 100. The person may optionally draw their other leg at least partially under their body. Once the person has at least one leg positioned under their body, the person will support at least a portion of their body with their leg, and upon doing so, the person will raise their body upwards off of the ground or floor.
The reference frustum 200 may also be described herein as a truncated four-sided pyramid. The frustum 200 will have a rectangular footprint or a square footprint.
In the reference frustum 200, a first planar side AHDL and a third planar side BFCJ each have a first trapezoidal perimeter. A second planar side CGDK and a fourth planar side BEAI each has a second trapezoidal perimeter. To improve clarity,
A planar top EFGH of the reference frustum 200 forms a first rectangular perimeter, and a planar bottom IJKL forms a second rectangular perimeter. In some embodiments, each side of the first rectangular perimeter is shorter than a corresponding side of the second rectangular perimeter. In some embodiments, each side of the first rectangular perimeter is substantially the same length as a corresponding side of the second rectangular perimeter.
Also in
The support structure embodiment 400 of
Measurement 704 may range from about 3 inches to about 19 inches. Measurement 704 corresponds to the length of edge L, the length of edge J, or the lengths edges L and J in the reference frustum 200 of
Measurement 706 may range from about 8 inches to 20 inches. Measurement 706 corresponds to the length of edge F, the length of edge H, or the lengths edges F and H in the reference frustum 200 of
In view of
Prior to the formation, the support structure 100 may be formed as a straight length of tubular material, for example, thin-walled aluminum having an inside diameter of about 0.5 inches to about 2.0 inches. The straight length of tubular material may be about 50 inches to about 108 inches.
The support structure 100 begins at a point formed at the intersection of edges CJK (i.e., the lower right corner of second planar side CGDK (
The first bend in the support structure 100 along edges CG forms a first angle. A second bend in the support structure 100 along edges DG forms a second angle. A substantially straight section of the support structure 100 forms a first horizontal support member between the first bend and the second bend. The first horizontal support member may otherwise be described as corresponding to a first edge (i.e., edge G) of the reference frustum 200 formed by the first planar side of the reference frustum 200 and the planar top of the reference frustum 200.
A third bend in the support structure 100 along edges DL forms a third angle, and a fourth bend along edges AL forms a fourth angle. A substantially straight section of the support structure 100 forms a lower horizontal support member (i.e., edge L). As illustrated in
The third bend and fourth bend of the support structure have a particular radius. The radius may be directed by the diameter of the tubular material. Accordingly, as illustrated in
Second and third vertical parts of the support structure 100 correspond, respectively to edges D and A. That is, the second vertical support structure is formed between the second bend and the third bend, and the third vertical support structure is formed between the third bend and a fourth bend. Edge D may be described as the second vertical part of the support structure 100, which corresponds to a fourth edge of the reference frustum 200 formed by the second planar side in the third planar side. Edge L may be described as the third vertical part of the support structure 100, which corresponds to a fifth edge of the reference frustum 200 formed by the third planar side and the fourth planar side of the reference frustum 200.
A fifth bend in the support structure 100 along edges AE forms a fifth angle, and a sixth bend along edges BE forms a sixth angle. Another substantially straight section of the support structure 100 forms a second horizontal support member (i.e., edge E) between the fifth bend and the sixth bend. The second horizontal support member may otherwise be described as corresponding to a second edge of the reference frustum 200 formed by the third planar side of the reference frustum 200 and the planar top of the reference frustum 200.
The support structure 100 terminates at a point formed at the intersection of edges BIJ. Between the point of the support structure 100 formed at the intersection of edges BIJ and the sixth bend in the support structure 100 formed along edges BE, a fourth vertical part of the support structure 100 corresponds to edge B. Edge B may be described as a fourth vertical part of support structure 100, which corresponds to a sixth edge (i.e., edge B) of the reference frustum 200 formed by the fourth planar side of the reference frustum 200 and the first planar side of the reference frustum 200.
In some embodiments (not shown), an optional third horizontal support member is formed as part of the support structure 100. The optional third horizontal support member corresponds to a third edge of the reference frustum 200 formed by the fourth planar side of the reference frustum 200 and the planar top of the reference frustum 200. Wth respect to
Plugs 110, 112 may be formed such that a portion of the plugs extending out from the end of the tubular material corresponds to distance 108 (
In some embodiments, the optional handles 114, 116 are textured surfaces (e.g., knurling, jeweling, beading, or the like) integrated with the horizontal support or otherwise attached thereto. The handles 114, 116 may be formed of rubber, plastic, or some other material selected for a desired comfort, friction, texture, or the like. In some other embodiments, the handles 114, 116 may have anatomically correct features to compliment a right hand, a left hand, or either hand. The handles 114, 116 may include other shaped features to assist a user in correct and safe operation of the support structure 100a such as bumps, protrusion, bulges, bulbs, knobs, protuberances, hollows, depressions, valleys, or the like. The handles 114, 116 may include other features such as a plurality of apertures, perforations, holes, slits, or the like to pass moisture from a hand and thereby facilitate useful friction. In some cases, the textured or otherwise shaped handles 114, 116 also include visible features described herein, for example, the decoration and visible marking “R” and “L” signifying, respectively, where on the anatomically complimentary structure a user should place their right hand and left hand.
In some cases, support structures 100, 100a, and 100b are identical to each other. In other cases, support structures 100, 100a, and 100b are formed as a plurality of straight and curved segments which are assembled into shape as illustrated and described. Optionally, one or more couplings of the straight and curved segments are joined at one or more points. One or more of the points may be illustrated in, for example, as the substantially orthogonal lines across the tubular material of support structure 100. In some cases, the couplings are fixed and immovable. In some cases, the couplings are permitted to rotate fully or partially. In cases where the couplings are permitted to rotate fully or partially, the support structure may be manipulated (e.g., folded) for easier transportability.
Optionally, padding may be added to the first and second horizontal support members (i.e., along edges E and G, respectively;
The optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 may be made of any suitable material. In some cases, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 may be made of plastic, and in other cases, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 may be made of wood, polyurethane, rubber, metal, or some other material or combination of materials. The optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 may be formed by injection molding, compression molding, milling, or by some other formation technique. Furthermore, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 may be a single piece or may be formed of multiple parts.
In this embodiment of
In the support structure 100c of
In the embodiment of
In this embodiment of support structure 100c, the enclosure region 135 of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 contains a plurality of ribs 127. The ribs 127 are illustrated in an enlarged portion of
In alternative embodiments, the enclosure region 135 may be formed to have one or more thicker dimensions. Such embodiments may be arranged to form a tight fit around the lower horizontal support member, the third bend, the fourth bend, or some other portion or portions of the support structure 100c. In addition, thicker material may add weight, greater surface area, or some other aspect to the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 to reduce or avoid movement between the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 and other portions of the support structure 100c. Additional size, weight, or other characteristics may be added to further reduce the likelihood of or even prevent rolling, slipping, tipping, sliding, and other undesirable motion of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 and the support structure 100c.
In yet another alternative embodiment, the plurality of ribs 127 may be combined with another material to add weight to the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700. For example, the space between ribs of the plurality of ribs may be filled with any material to add weight to the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 to further prevent rolling, tipping, slipping, sliding, and other undesirable motion of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 and the support structure 100c.
In the embodiment of
When the support structure 100c is in use, the anti-skid/anti-tip wings 137 of the first half 124 and the second half 134 are formed to contact the floor, the ground, or another surface where the support structure 100 is in use. Each anti-skid/anti-tip wing 137 extends from an opposing end of the enclosure region 135 and encloses one of the third bend AL (
The anti-skid/anti-tip wings 137 of the first and second halves 124, 134 include a plurality of first coupling locations 126, 128. In one or more alternative embodiments, the plurality of first coupling locations 126, 128 may be formed along the enclosure region 135 of the first half 124 and the second half 134 of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 or at one or more other locations of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700. The plurality of first coupling locations 126, 128 may be formed to accept a plurality of fasteners, a plurality of locking mechanisms, or any other coupling structures or combination thereof. The coupling structures may be arranged to couple the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 to the support structure 100c. In addition, or in the alternative, the coupling structures may be arranged to couple the first half 124 to the second half 134.
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
The coupling mechanism 111 includes male and female connector portions. The coupling mechanism 111 of support structure 100c has been formed along an edge of the enclosure region 135 of the first half 124 and the second half 134 corresponding to the fourth bend AL (
In the embodiment of
The optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 of
Because of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700, the support structure 100c may be utilized on various terrains and surfaces. For example, the support structure 100c having the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 may be utilized on flat surfaces, uneven surfaces, angled surfaces, or other surfaces that would otherwise increase the likelihood of rolling, slipping, tipping, sliding, and other undesirable motion. In addition, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 may be made of materials resistant to one or more environmental conditions such as water, chemicals, heat, sharp objects, and the like. Accordingly, selection of appropriate materials may permit the support structure 100c to be used in an outside environment where external stresses and factors exist. For example, outside environments may be a yard, a park, a garden, a boat, or any place exposed to external stresses and factors. In addition, for example, external stresses and factors may be rain, snow, sun, external motion, or other external stresses or factors that occur in a particular environment such as an outside environment.
In this embodiment of
The anti-skid/anti-tip components 136 in
In this embodiment of
In the support structure 100c embodiment, direction of force arrows and reference characters (i.e., ½*F) show that in a desirable method of use, one half of the force applied by a person using the support structure 100c is passed through a first (e.g., left) side of the support structure 100c, and one half of the force applied by the person using the support structure 100c is passed through a second (e.g., right) side of the support structure 100c. This configuration would be present when a person is supporting some portion of their body weight centered above the support structure 100c. It is recognized that prior to centering their weight over the support structure 100c, the person using the support structure 100c may first place some or all of their weight on one side of the support structure 100c. In these cases, the presence of an optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 may reduce or eliminate the chance that the support structure 100c will tip or otherwise become unstable.
The optional anti-skid/anti-tip structures 800 may be made of any material. In some cases, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structures 800 may be made of plastic, and in other cases, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structures 800 may be made of wood, polyurethane, rubber, metal, or some other material or combination of materials. The optional anti-skid/anti-tip structures 800 may be formed by injection molding, compression molding, milling, or by some other formation technique.
In this embodiment of
The optional anti-skid/anti-tip structures 800 include a first optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 138 that corresponds to the third bend AL (
In this embodiment of
In this embodiment of support structure 100e, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 has at least one identifiable feature 142. The identifiable feature 142 is located on an external portion of an enclosure region 135 that surrounds and corresponds to a lower horizontal support member of the support structure 100e. In alternative embodiments, the identifiable feature 142 may be located anywhere on the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 or in some other part of the support structure 100e.
The identifiable feature 142 may be a decoration, a visible marking, a textured surface, an anatomically complimentary structure, or any combination thereof, or some other identifiable feature. In some cases, the identifiable feature 142 is arranged to indicate who produced, manufactured, or sold the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700, the support structure 100e, or both the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700, the support structure 100e. In other cases, the identifiable feature 142 may include advertising, instructions for use, a bar code, or some other human or machine readable information. Furthermore, the identifiable feature 142 may include customer service and support information. In alternative embodiments, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 700 may have no identifiable features 142, two identifiable features 142, or any number of identifiable features 142. The identifiable feature 142 may include contact information such as a name, a phone number, an e-mail, a uniform resource locator (URL), or any other identifying information or contact information.
In the embodiment of
In some embodiments, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a is ribbed. In alternative embodiments, however, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a may be hollow, solid, or arranged according to some other structure.
The optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a includes a coupling location 126a. The coupling location 126a is formed to allow coupling components 118a, 122a (
The optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a includes a protruding nub 144. In this embodiment, the protruding nub 144 is arranged to slide and fit into a coupling location 152 (
The protruding nub 144 may have “plus” cross-section, a circular cross-section, an ovular cross-section, a keyed cross-section, or some other cross-section.
In addition, in other and alternative embodiments, the protruding nub 144 may be arranged to have an interference fit, a snap fit, or some other type of fit with the coupling location 152. In some embodiments, the coupling location 152 may be arranged without using a hole, a recess, or any other type of opening.
In some embodiments, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a may be arranged without a protruding nub 144. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a may be arranged with a plurality of protruding nubs and a plurality of coupling locations.
In this embodiment of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a, the plurality of ribs 127a are arranged to support the support structure 100f when the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a is coupled to the support structure 100f (
In other and alternative embodiments, the ribs 127a may be formed to have one or more thicker dimensions. Such embodiments may be arranged to form a tight or otherwise secure fit around the lower horizontal support member, the third bend, the fourth bend, or some other portion or portions of the support structure 100f. Thicker material may add weight, greater surface area, or one or more other characteristics to the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 800a to reduce or avoid movement between the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 800a and other portions of the support structure 100f (
In other and alternative embodiments, the plurality of ribs 127a may be combined with another material to add weight to the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 800a. For example, the space between the ribs 127a may be filled with any material to add weight to the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 800a. The additional weight may further prevent rolling, tipping, slipping, sliding, and other undesirable movement (e.g., motion) of the support structure 100f with the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 800a. In another alternative embodiment, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a may be a solid piece of material.
In this embodiment of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a, the coupling location 126a is a fastener orifice, which may be a circle, a square, a rectangle, an oval, or of one or more other shapes. The coupling location 126a is arranged to receive a bolt 118a (
In this embodiment of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a in
In other and alternative embodiments, the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a may be arranged to have a plurality of protruding nubs 144. In some cases, a plurality of protruding nubs 144 are arranged to form a robust connection between the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure and the support structure 100f. The plurality of protruding nubs may be arranged to reduce movement between the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a and the support structure 100f, and further reduce the likelihood of or even prevent rolling, slipping, tipping, sliding, and other undesirable movement (e.g., motion) of the support structure 100f with the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 800a (
In this embodiment of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 140a in
In this embodiment of the support structure 100f of
In some embodiments, the first coupling locations 150 are arranged to receive a bolt 118a and a nut 122a. The second coupling locations 152 are arranged to receive the protruding nub 144 of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip components 138a, 140a. In other and alternative embodiments, the coupling locations 150, 152 may be arranged to both receive a bolt and a nut, both receive a protruding nub, both receive a snap fit, both receive an interference fit, both receive a force fit, or both receive any other coupling means component or be coupled to the support structure 100f by utilizing any other coupling technique or coupling mechanism.
In
In this embodiment of the support structure 100f with optional features in
In this embodiment of the support structure 100f with the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 800a, the coupling location 126a and the protruding nub 144 of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip components 138a, 140a are aligned with the respective coupling locations 150, 152 of the support structure 100f. Bolts 118a pass through the respective coupling locations 126a of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip component 138a, 140a and the coupling locations 152 of the support structure 100f. The protruding portions 144 of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip components 138a, 140a enter the coupling locations 150 of the support structure 100f. Nuts 122a are coupled to bolts 118a thereby coupling the optional anti-skid/anti-tip components 138a, 140a to the support structure 100f. The optional anti-skid/anti-components 138a, 140a reduce the likelihood of or even prevent tipping, slipping, rolling, or any other such undesirable movement (e.g., motion) of the support structure 100f with the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 800a. The coupling location 126a and the protruding portion 144 of the optional anti-skid/anti-tip components 138a, 140a may be referred to as a cooperative coupling location.
In this embodiment of the support structure 100f with the optional anti-skid/anti-tip components 138a, 140a, which together form the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 800a of
In the alternative embodiment with protruding nuts, the protruding nuts may provide greater traction on various surfaces. In addition, the embodiment with protruding nuts may provide a mounting surface for other traction materials such as rubber, plastic, or any other suitable material arranged to provide suitable (e.g., increased, decreased, variable, or the like) traction on various surfaces to avoid slipping, rolling, tipping, or any other undesirable movement (e.g., motion) of the support structure 100f with the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure 800a.
In other and alternative embodiments, the support structure 100f may include the optional plugs 112 (
In the foregoing description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures associated with electronic and computing systems including client and server computing systems, as well as networks have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments.
The terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, e.g., “including, but not limited to.”
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” and variations thereof means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the embodiments.
As described herein, for simplicity, patients, persons, human beings, and the like are in some case described in the context of the male gender. For example, the terms “his hand,” “his left thumb,” and the like are used. It is understood that human beings of any condition or status can be of any gender, and the terms “he,” “his,” and the like as used herein are to be interpreted broadly inclusive of all known gender definitions.
As described herein, terms such as stiff, soft, flexible, pliable, and the like are understood in their common and ordinary meaning. For example, stiff is not necessarily completely un-bendable. Instead, something that is stiff resistance deformation to a desired degree. The desired degree of stiffness may be measured, for example, in units such as foot pounds per inch or some other units. One structure may be stiffer than another structure. The increased (or decreased) stiffness may be caused by the devices being formed from different materials, from materials having different physical or chemical properties, or for some other reason. Correspondingly, the terms “flexible,” “flexibility,” “pliable,” “soft,” and the like impart a desired degree of flexibility or softness to the structure which the term modifies.
Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention.
In the absence of any specific clarification related to its express use in a particular context, where the terms “substantial” or “about” in any grammatical form are used as modifiers in the present disclosure and any appended claims (e.g., to modify a structure, a dimension, a measurement, or some other characteristic), it is understood that the characteristic may vary by up to 30 percent. For example, a support structure 100 may be described as having “substantially straight sections,” In these cases, a section that is exactly straight has a length that forms a straight line from a proximal end to a distal end, and any three or more points along the line will have zero degrees of variance. As another example to add clarity, two exactly straight sections of a support structure, if arranged normal to each other, will maintain a right angle (i.e., 90 degrees) at all corresponding points along their entire lengths as if to form a virtual plane where one section forms an “X” axis and the other section forms a “Y” axis. Different from the exact precision of the term, “straight,” the use of “substantially” to modify the characteristic permits a variance of the “straight” characteristic by up to 30 percent. Accordingly, a support structure 100 that has “substantially straight sections” includes structure having sections that may vary between [63] degrees and [117] degrees at one or more portions along their length. For the avoidance of doubt, a section of a support structure having a 45 degree bend is not a “substantially straight section.” As another example, a support structure 100 may be described as having substantially hollow sections. A support structure having a section a volume that is formed 30 percent solid or less is a “substantially hollow” section, and a section having a volume that is more than 30 percent solid is not substantially hollow. As yet one more example, a section length that is “between about [6] inches and [10] inches” includes such sections in which the linear dimension varies by up to 30 percent. Accordingly, the particular linear dimension of the section may be between 3 inches and 13 inches.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, a limited number of the exemplary methods and materials are described herein.
The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.
The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.
This continuation-in-part application claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/074,952, filed Mar. 18, 2016, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/135,557, filed Mar. 19, 2015. Each of these applications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62135557 | Mar 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15074952 | Mar 2016 | US |
| Child | 16274105 | US |
