DE102017008258A1 - Electrically operated mobile walker - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a walker in the form of a rollator, comprising a frame, on the underside of which at least three wheels are arranged and on which two handles are formed, an electric drive system for driving at least one of the wheels and a platform in the lower region of the frame, wherein the Platform is arranged on the frame so that a user of the walker can stand on the platform without the walker tipping over when the user is standing upright.

Description

The invention relates to an electrically operated, mobile walker.

Walking aids are used for the mobility of people who, due to their age or other physical limitations, have difficulty walking independently. The technical field considered here is that of mobile walkers, which can also be called "walkers" or "walkers". Such walkers have long been known and can serve disabled or physically disabled persons as a permanent or temporary support. An advantage of these walking aids is that a user, unlike walking sticks or walkers without wheels, does not have to lift them off the ground. As a result, they ensure the user more stability when walking and standing and prevent the risk of falling.

Rollators have also been offered with electric drive for some time, e.g. under the name "Ello" or "beactive + e".

Disadvantage of these rollators is that the electric drive only facilitates the pushing of the walking aids, but does not take into account the limited walking ability of the user beyond.

The object of the present invention was to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a walking aid which allows a user to travel more easily.

This object is achieved by a walker in the form of a rollator according to the claims.

The (mobile) walker according to the invention in the form of a rollator comprises a frame, on the underside of which at least three wheels are arranged and on which two handles are formed, on which a user can hold. Furthermore, the walker comprises an electric drive system for driving at least one of the wheels.

In addition, the walker comprises a platform in the lower part of the frame, which is arranged on the frame so that a user of the walker can stand on the platform without tipping the walker when the user is standing upright.

This invention helps people who have discomfort when walking, especially the elderly. With the walker invention, these can easily reach their destination, even if they are exhausted, since in this case, simply boarded the platform and can be driven with the walker. By eliminating unnecessary pauses, walkers also save time on their way home, to visit, or to shop.

The walking aid according to the invention has the form of a rollator, so it is mobile. The form of a rollator is known to the person skilled in the art. A rollator comprises a frame, at least three wheels are arranged on the underside, ie the side which, when used as intended, faces the ground. The wheels are arranged in three-wheeled walkers at the corners of a triangle and four-wheeled walkers at the corners of a quadrangle, in particular a trapezoid, so that the rollator can roll on the wheels on the ground and is stable. The frame preferably comprises struts or tubes of metal, carbon, plastic or wood.

The user can hold on the rollator on two handles, which are arranged at a height that the user can comfortably reach while standing, usually with loosely hanging or slightly bent arms. These handles are formed on the frame, preferably height adjustable and in particular equipped with brakes acting on at least one of the wheels to decelerate the rollator, e.g. downhill during a movement. The brakes are preferably detectable in order to achieve a stable locking of the wheels, e.g. when the rollator is used as a seat or fixed support.

The handles are preferably positioned or positionable over the platform to provide a grip position located in the front half of the walker. This allows the user to position the hands in a standing position on the platform so that they do not have to reach backwards, but can always assume a stable and secure grip position. Depending on the application, the handles are preferably arranged above the platform so that they do not protrude beyond the rear wheels. However, depending on the application, they may also be comparatively long or have two gripping positions, so that they provide a walking position near the rear wheels for a walking user and a grip position in the front area of the walking aid for a person riding on the platform. With regard to the center of gravity of the walker or the expected center of gravity of the user / walker system in a user driving on the platform, at least one grip area of the grab handles is located in front of the center of gravity or the grab handles can be positioned in this respect.

The drive system preferably comprises an electric motor which is arranged so that it can drive at least one of the wheels electrical energy storage, which can supply the electric motor for its movement with electrical energy and control electronics for controlling the power of the electric motor and thus the speed of the walker. The electric motor is preferably a hub motor which is arranged in the hub of a wheel.

According to a preferred embodiment, the drive system, e.g. its electric motor, decoupled from the wheels when the walker is pushed. This can be done manually or automatically, for example, by a switch or sensor, which detects in particular a folding or moving the platform or a load on the platform below or above a preset threshold. Also by means of a light barrier can be determined whether a user is on the platform or not. In the event that the switch determines that there is no user on the platform, or that the platform has been folded or shifted to a predetermined position, it is preferred that the drive system, e.g. its electric motor, decoupled from the wheels. This has the advantage that the drive system causes no unwanted resistance when pushing.

Preferably, a control element for controlling the speed is arranged on at least one of the handles, on the frame or on the platform. This control element allows the user to control acceleration and deceleration of the drive system.

The platform serves to allow the user to stand on it. For a safe stand, the center of gravity of the entire system of walker and user should be as far down as possible. This is ensured by the fact that the platform is located in the lower part of the frame. Of course, the platform is aligned parallel to the horizontal, so not wrong, except in the case of an active tilting described below.

In order not to touch normal bumps in the operation of the walker, the platform is preferably arranged so that it is further than 3 cm, in particular more than 6 cm from the ground, so a ground clearance of more than 3, in particular more than 6 cm.

Preferably, the ground clearance is not greater than 20 cm, in particular not greater than 10 cm. This is beneficial for the center of gravity and the level that must be overcome when entering the platform. Preferably, the platform is disposed in a region between the height of the wheel hubs and the suspension (for steerable wheels, the area in which the wheels are steerable). In particular, the platform is not, or at least not more than 2 cm, arranged below the wheel hubs on the frame.

Preferably, the platform is hinged, in particular in a form that it at least partially (at least its rear part) can be folded up to the front of the walker, or to one of the sides, or in each case a part to each of the two sides. This has the advantage that the platform does not interfere with normal walking and can be folded down for use. To lock the folded and / or folded platform, the walker includes in particular locking elements.

As an alternative or in addition to a folding possibility, the platform or a part of the platform can be displaced according to a preferred embodiment, in particular by means of a groove and / or rail system. Preferably, a shift from front to back and vice versa or a lateral displacement is possible. If the walker is to be pushed, push, for example, the platform or the rear of the platform forward. In the case that you want to go with the walker, push the platform or the forward shifted rear part of the platform to the rear. The platform is preferably locked by means of locking elements against unwanted displacement.

According to a preferred embodiment, the inclination of the platform is variable relative to a horizontal tilt axis which is substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement or substantially orthogonal to the force vector acting on the person. The platform is tiltable. The term "substantially" here means that a deviation of not more than 10 °, in particular not more than 5 °, but preferably not more than 1 °, may be possible. The walking aid in this case comprises tilting elements, in particular electrical tilting elements, which are designed to tilt the platform during travel as a function of the acceleration acting on the user in such a way that they face upwards with the side which lies in the direction of the acceleration is tilted. The degree of tilt is preferably dependent on the acceleration (in particular linear): the stronger the acceleration, the stronger the tilt. For example, in the event that the walker brakes, the platform is tilted slightly backwards with the user, which improves the user's standing. In the event that there are no acceleration forces, the platform is preferably held horizontally by the tilting elements.

It is advantageous depending on the embodiment that the tilting of the platform relative to the Frame or together with the frame (especially including the handles). Preferably, however, the tilt always takes place relative to the wheels.

Although three wheels are basically sufficient, the walker preferably includes at least four wheels. For a stable state, it is advantageous if at least one of the wheels is arranged in front of the platform and at least one of the wheels behind the platform and at least one wheel is located on each side of the platform.

In a walker with three wheels, a wheel is preferably arranged in front of the platform and two wheels behind the platform, one right and one left of the platform. It is also a reversal of the arrangement of the front wheel (to the rear) and the pair of wheels (forward) possible.

In a walker with four wheels preferably two wheels are arranged in front of the platform and two wheels behind the platform, wherein at least one of the pairs of wheels, preferably in both pairs of wheels, one right and one left of the platform is arranged.

Preferably, at least one wheel is steerable, more preferably at least two wheels, e.g. the front wheels or the front wheel. Preferably, the steering of the walker is controllable via a control system, in particular by means of a servo motor, via which the control system acts on the steerable wheels.

Preferably, a steering element for steering the wheels is arranged on at least one of the handles. It is also preferred that the rollator is steerable via a weight shift on the platform.

The rollator preferably additionally comprises a seat surface and / or a backrest. However, this element is not a saddle as in a scooter, but is arranged so that the walker, usually with blocked wheels, can be used as a seat. For this purpose, the seat or the backrest is arranged on the frame between the wheels so that the feet of a user sitting or leaning on it are looking forward in front of the front wheel or looking behind behind the rear wheel on the floor.

Preferably, the rollator additionally comprises one or more elements of the group trays, drink holders, transport baskets, carrying bags and holders for umbrellas or walking sticks.

Preferably, the rollator is foldable or foldable, so that it can be downsized for transport in a motor vehicle.

• 1 zeigt schematisch eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform.
• 2 zeigt schematisch eine weitere bevorzugte Ausführungsform.
• 3 zeigt schematisch eine weitere bevorzugte Ausführungsform in Seitenansicht.

Examples of preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention are shown in the figures.

• 1 schematically shows a preferred embodiment.
• 2 schematically shows a further preferred embodiment.
• 3 schematically shows a further preferred embodiment in side view.

1 schematically shows a preferred embodiment of a walker according to the invention in a perspective view. Only important or helpful details are shown. The walker is designed in the form of a rollator. On a frame 1 are four wheels 2 attached and two handles 3 shaped, allowing a user the walker on the handles 3 can keep rolling over the ground. Brakes are an advantage, but not shown in the figure. The two front wheels could also be replaced by a single, centrally positioned wheel.

At the front of the walker is an electric motor 4 an electric drive system 4 shown the two front wheels 2 drives. In the case where these wheels 2 are steerable, it may be cheaper to use the rear wheels 2 to drive and the electric motor 4 or two electric motors 4 for positioning on the rear wheels. In the figure, the rear wheels can 2 in the area of the suspension 5 rotatable on the frame 1 be attached so that they are steerable.

In the lower part of the frame 1 the walker includes a platform 6 in the amount of the suspension 5 is appropriate. The platform 6 here consists of two parts, which lie one behind the other. A user of the walker can access the platform 6 without the upright of the user overturning the walker as the platform 6 right between the wheels 2 located.

2 schematically shows a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a walker according to the invention. It is basically like the walker 1 built, with the difference that the platform 6 at the height of the hubs of the wheels 2 located. The platform 6 here too consists of two parts that lie one behind the other. The rear part is folded up in the figure so as not to disturb when pushing the walker.

Would like a user of the walker on the platform 6 the rear part has to be folded down as in 1 you can see. If the user wants the walker after 1 slide, it would be useful to fold up the back of the platform, as in 2 you can see.

3 schematically shows a preferred embodiment of a walker according to the invention in side view. The walker is built like the one after 1 with the only difference being that the grab handles 3 Both have gripping areas in the area of the rear wheels 2 lie so that the walker can be easily pushed, as well as having grip areas, which are in the front of the walker, so that a user can hold comfortably while driving on the platform. Depending on the height of the platform, the front grip areas can also be arranged slightly higher.

Claims (10)

Walking aid in the form of a rollator, comprising a frame, on the underside of which at least three wheels are arranged and on which two handles are formed, an electric drive system for driving at least one of the wheels, - A platform in the lower part of the frame, wherein the platform is arranged on the frame so that a user of the walker can stand on the platform, without tipping the walker in an upright position of the user. Walker after Claim 1 characterized in that the handles are positioned above the platform or positionable to permit a grip position located in the front half of the walker, the handles preferably having two handle positions so as to provide a grip position near the rear wheels and a grip position in the front area of the walker. Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one handle portion of the handles with respect to the center of gravity of the walker or the expected center of gravity of the system user / walker in a driving on the platform user, in front of the center of gravity or that the handles are positioned in this regard. Walker according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive system, an electric motor, which is arranged so that it can drive at least one of the wheels, an electrical energy storage, which can supply the electric motor for moving it with electrical energy, and control electronics for Control of the power of the electric motor comprises, wherein the drive system, in particular the electric motor, preferably decoupled from the wheels. Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a control element for regulating the speed of the drive system, which is preferably arranged on at least one of the handles, on the frame or on the platform. Walker according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform is arranged in a region between the height of the wheel hubs and the suspension and / or is arranged with a ground clearance between 3 and 20 cm on the frame. Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform is foldable and / or displaceable, in particular in a form that it, at least partially, folded up to the front of the walker and / or can be moved, or to one of the sides, or one part to each of the two sides. Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inclination of the platform is variable relative to a horizontal tilt axis which is substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement or substantially orthogonal to the force acting on the person force vector, said walker comprises tilting elements, the are adapted to tilt the platform while driving depending on the acceleration acting on the user so that it is tilted upward with the side lying in the direction of acceleration, and wherein the degree of tilting is preferably dependent on the acceleration. Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the wheels is arranged in front of the platform and at least one of the wheels behind the platform and at least one wheel is in each case on one side of the platform. Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one wheel is designed to be steerable, wherein preferably the steering of the walking aid is controllable via a control system, and wherein preferably a steering element for steering the wheels is arranged on at least one of the handles and / or Preferably, the rollator is steerable via a weight shift on the platform.

Images