Patent Application
20240139056
The present invention relates generally to the field of walking assistance devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved walker having a convenient carrier or caddy which is removably connected to the walker and provides users with a secured storage unit and beverage holder used for transporting food, beverages, tools, pet accessories, and other items while using a walker. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
By way of background, this invention relates to improvements in walking assistance devices. Specifically, improvements in the user experience for those individuals that have to use walkers, whether a rolling or non-wheeled assist or other similar devices. The present invention comprises an attachable tray and beverage holder for transporting food, beverages, tools, pet accessories, and other items while using a medical walker. Devices for transporting items while using a walker are generally desired in the art to provide more accessibility and convenience for users who require a walker or other mobility assist device. One particular area of concern is that while using both hands to operate a walker or other mobility assist, the user cannot transport multiple other items. For example, while using a traditional walker, a user finds themselves having to return to the kitchen multiple times to retrieve separate parts of a single meal or to go to other areas to obtain accessories that the user may need to complete a task. This process can be very frustrating and tiresome.
Furthermore, with a traditional walker or mobility assist device, if a user attempts to carry multiple items while still relying on the walker, the situation can become dangerous rather quickly. Prior art solutions include hanging a bag or pouch off one side of the walker or mobility assist but that can lead to the walker or mobility assist device tilting to one side and potentially destabilizing the user and causing them to fall. By focusing on carrying these other items, their physical stability can become compromised and the user may fall and seriously injure themselves. Another problem is that if the user were to drop or spill a liquid-based item while using the walker or mobility assist device, the floor may become slippery, which also may result in a fall.
Specifically, the present invention relates to a tray or bin that attaches to a medical walker or other mobility assistance device to transport food, tools, remote controls, accessories, or other items. The tray or bin securely clamps to the frame of the walker or mobility assistance device, freeing both hands of the user to properly use the walker or mobility assistance device. The device also features a beverage holder for the same purpose described.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a storage unit for transporting food, beverages, remotes, tools, medicine, pet and other accessories, and other items while using a walker or mobility assistance device. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a walker or mobility assistance storage unit or caddy that features a secure lid to prevent the spilling of liquid-based or other items. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a walker or mobility assistance storage unit that allows users to transport multiple items and accessories while keeping both hands free to properly use the walker or mobility assistance device. Furthermore, there is a long-felt need in the art for a walker or mobility assistance storage unit that allows users to transport multiple items without the assistance of another individual.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a caddy attachment for a walker or mobility transporter. The device is a walker or mobility storage unit that allows users to transport multiple items that an individual may need at one time in a safe and secure manner. The device includes a tray that is securable to the frame of a walker or mobility assistance device to transport food, medicine, remotes, various accessories, and other items. The tray also features a lid to prevent spilling of the items being transported or carried. The invention also includes a cylindrical beverage holder that is removably attachable to one of the legs of a walker frame for the transportation of beverages.
The mobility assistance caddy may also be configured to provide a light, such a LED light, or a series of lights to illuminate an area, a speaker for playing music or alerting others, and a battery compartment for powering the lighting source and speaker.
In this manner, the walker or mobility assistance transporter of the present invention accomplishes all the foregoing objectives and provides users with a device that allows for the safe and secure transportation of multiple items at one time while keeping both hands free to use the walker or the mobility assistance device.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key or critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The present invention provides an improvement for use with walking or mobility assistance devices. The walker transporter or caddy features an attachable tray and beverage or accessory holder. The tray and accessory/beverage holder allow users to transport food, medicine, and other items with them while keeping both hands free to safely use the walker or mobility assistance device. This eliminates the need to travel many times back and forth to bring different items to a desired location where the individual is to perform a task. The tray attaches to the frame of a walker and can be sealed with a lid or other cover to prevent the spillage of items being transported. The beverage holder attaches to a leg of the walker allowing the transportation of beverages.
In one embodiment, an attachment is provided for a walker or mobility assist device and features a tray or caddy component that is removably attachable to the cross bars of a medical walker frame. The tray component allows for the transportation of food, medicine, accessories, or other items while using a walker or mobility assist. The tray attaches via a clamping mechanism, magnets, snaps, other mechanical fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, or other suitable attachment element found on two opposing sides of the tray.
In one embodiment, the tray component and attaching lid or cover are manufactured from heat-sealable plastic or polymers, such as polypropylene or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), or metals, such as aluminum, stainless steel, etc.
In another embodiment, the tray component of the walker or mobility assistance transporter features a plurality of individual compartments as well as specifically sized areas such as a silverware compartment, although any arrangement of compartments deemed suitable for the purpose described may be used. The individual compartments can be of varying sizes and/or shapes in order to accommodate user need and/or preference.
In another embodiment, the tray component features a lid or cover to further secure the items inside, preventing spilling or contents from falling.
In one embodiment, the tray component may be manufactured from a dishwasher safe material allowing easy cleaning. The transporter or caddy can also be produced with an anti-microbial material to prevent the spread of germs or other contaminants.
In a further embodiment, the walker or mobility assistance transporter includes a beverage holder. This beverage holder is generally cylindrical in shape and attaches to one of the legs of the walker allowing for the transportation of a beverage or other cylindrically shaped items such as medicine containers.
In one embodiment, the beverage holder attaches to a leg of the walker using a hook and loop strap although any securing means such as magnets or other mechanical fasteners deemed suitable for the purpose described may be used.
In one embodiment, the beverage holder is manufactured from heat-sealable plastic or polymers, such as polypropylene or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), or metals, such as aluminum, stainless steel, etc.
In a further embodiment a method of making a transporter or caddy is disclosed and includes accessing a website by a smartphone, tablet, or computer, and selecting a plurality of compartments, designing the compartment sizes, choosing a fastening arrangement, color, and adding any other personalization desired by a user.
Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, upon reading and understanding the following detailed specification.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a walker or mobility assistance storage unit for transporting food, medicine, beverages, tools, remotes, accessories, and other items while using a walker or mobility assistance device. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a walker or mobility assistance storage unit or caddy that features a secure lid or cover to prevent the spilling of liquid-based items and preventing items from falling out of the unit. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a walker or mobility assistance storage unit or caddy that allows users to transport multiple items while keeping both hands free to properly use the walker or mobility assistance device. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a walker or mobility assistance storage unit or caddy that allows users to transport multiple items without the assistance of another individual or having to make multiple trips to pick up additional items.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel storage unit for use with a walker or other mobility assistance device. The invention is a utility carrier for transporting food, beverages, medicine, remote controls, pet and other accessories, or other items safely while using a walker or mobility assistance device. The invention comprises a generally rectangular or quadrate tray with multiple compartments which may be of similar sizes or different sizes depending on a configuration selected by a user. The tray component clamps or is secured to the frame of a medical walker or mobility assist and has a lid or cover to further secure the contents inside the caddy or transporter. The invention also has a beverage holder. The beverage holder is generally cylindrical and attaches to one of the walker's legs or support for the transportation of beverages or other items which may fit within the holder. Further, the invention allows the transportation of food, beverages, medicine, tools, pet or other accessories, or other items without requiring the assistance of a second individual or the need to make multiple trips to pick up additional items.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The walker transporter or caddy 100 also has a beverage holder 120 that attaches to one of the legs or supports of a walker for the transportation of beverages or other items that can fit within the sized holder.
In the present embodiment, the tray 110 is generally rectangular or quadrate in shape and attaches to the frame of a walker via clamps or other fasteners 116, although any attachment means deemed suitable for the purpose described may be used, such as magnets, mechanical fasteners, such as snaps, hook and loop fasteners, adhesive, such as removable, repositionable, or permanent types of adhesive, or various combinations of fasteners. This allows the tray 110 to remain stable and secure on a walker or mobility assistance frame during use. The tray or caddy 110 may be detached once a user has reached the desired location or if the user no longer needs the tray or caddy, thereby allowing the user to eat directly from it or use it for another purpose. The tray or caddy 110 then may be reattached to the walker or mobility assist frame to transport it to the sink or dishwasher after use.
In the present embodiment, the beverage holder 120 is generally cylindrical in shape and has a diameter of about 3 inches and is about 5 inches tall allowing the transportation of a glass, bottle, or can. The beverage holder attaches to one leg or support of a walker or mobility assist device. This may be accomplished by way of a hook and loop straps, clamp, magnets (e.g., neodymium iron boron, samarium cobalt, aluminum nickel cobalt, ferrite), mechanical fasteners (e.g., snaps buttons, etc.), adhesive (e.g., permanent, removable, repositionable) or any other attachment connection means or combination thereof deemed suitable for the purpose described.
As shown in
The caddy or transporter 110 has side walls 123 and end walls 127 which may be continuous or discontinuous depending on the construction of the caddy 110. The caddy 110 has a top edge 121 which runs around the periphery of the caddy 110. A series of ribs 125 run from the top edge 121 and defines the individual compartments 112. The series of ribs 125 are shown as both running perpendicular and parallel to the top edge to define the individual compartments 112.
As shown in
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different users may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “walker transporter”, “walker storage unit”, “walker caddy” and “storage unit” are interchangeable and refer to the walker or mobility assistance transporter 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the walker transporter 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the walker transporter 100 as shown in
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/421,604, which was filed on Nov. 2, 2022, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63421604 | Nov 2022 | US |
