EP0250415B1 - Walker - Google Patents

Walker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0250415B1
EP0250415B1 EP86901564A EP86901564A EP0250415B1 EP 0250415 B1 EP0250415 B1 EP 0250415B1 EP 86901564 A EP86901564 A EP 86901564A EP 86901564 A EP86901564 A EP 86901564A EP 0250415 B1 EP0250415 B1 EP 0250415B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
arm support
gas spring
walker
support
base
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP86901564A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0250415A1 (en
Inventor
Stellan Lund
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
PARIR TRADING I AVESTA AB
Original Assignee
PARIR TRADING I AVESTA AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by PARIR TRADING I AVESTA AB filed Critical PARIR TRADING I AVESTA AB
Priority to AT86901564T priority Critical patent/ATE70434T1/de
Publication of EP0250415A1 publication Critical patent/EP0250415A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0250415B1 publication Critical patent/EP0250415B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
    • A61H3/04—Wheeled walking aids for patients or disabled persons

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a walker having an arm support which is journalled for vertical adjustment in a base supported by wheels for allowing a user to move about freely aided by the walker, and which is vertically adjustably connected to the base through at least one raise/lower device for raising and lowering the arm support.
  • GB-A-2 105 677 discloses a walker of the general kind indicated above.
  • the arm support is not raised and lowered vertically but is pivoted about an axis positioned at the front part of the walker so that the user, when being raised, is lifted upwards-backwards in a circular movement by the walker, which has proven to be a bad solution primarily making it difficult for the user to try and raise himself with the aid of the walker.
  • the latter fact is of great disadvantage since it is of great importance for seriously ambulatory handicapped persons that they are not rendered too great a lifting aid by the walker. In many instances it is necessary for these persons to keep on being active and to train their muscles according to ability, so that the muscles do not undergo atrophy.
  • this known walker employs a great number of mechanical means, such as a jack screw, a gearing, an electrical motor and a battery, adding substantially to the weight of the walker and requiring much space, as a consequence of which the walker will be comparatively heavy and difficult to manoevre.
  • the complex design and the great number of components additionally make this walker unacceptably expensive to manufacture.
  • the known walker requires periodical maintenance, mainly recharging and maintenance of the battery.
  • US-A-3 596 298 discloses an aid which is primarily not a walker for allowing a disabled person to move about freely, but simply a lifting device by means of which disabled persons can raise themselves from a sitting position or can sit down.
  • This prior art lifting device comprises a drive means of the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder type, to which pressure fluid must be supplied from an external pressure fluid source, such as a pressurized air compressor.
  • an external pressure fluid source such as a pressurized air compressor.
  • his known lifting device likewise does not take account of the fact that it is extremely important that seriously ambulatory handicapped persons are urged to train their muscles and are not simply lifted up.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to provide a walker of the kind indicated in the introduction, by means of which the above discussed drawbacks of conventional walkers can be eliminated.
  • Fig. 1 The invention is shown in Fig. 1 in conjuction with a known type of a walker. It should, however, be clear that the invention can as well be used for other types of walkers having the common basic features as stated in the preamble of the accompanying claim 1.
  • the walker thus, comprises a base 3 provided with wheels 4, from which base two support tubes 9 extend upwardly.
  • the support tubes 9 being tubular are adapted, each one of them, to receive a leg 8 extending downwardly from an arm support 2.
  • the arm support 2 is, seen from above, U-shaped and has a padded upper surface, so that the user can be standing in the U-opening with both arms resting on the arm support and the hands placed on the handles 2a, which are fixed in connection to the web of the U-shape.
  • a control handle 14 is fixed in connection to the handles 2a, the function of which is to operate a valve mechanism 6, which in turn actuates a raise/lower device, which will be described more in detail further below.
  • Alternative options for the operation of the valve mechanism will also be discussed below.
  • the raise/lower device 5 is mounted in the legs 8 of the arm support constituting the actual connection between this leg 8 and the support tube 9 of the base 3. It is conceivable, however, to mount a raise/lower device 5 in one of the arm support legs 8 only, but in order to attain a reliable function, it is of an absolute preference that the raise/lower device is arranged in each of the arm support legs.
  • the raise/lower device 5 comprises a gas spring 7 which is of a conventional type, and therefore needs no further description.
  • gas springs of this kind contain a compressed gas, which continously exerts a force that urges the piston rod to extend toward its outermost position.
  • the piston At the piston end opposing the piston rod end, the piston has a pin 7c, which when being unloaded, automatically locks the piston in the position it has reached. By depressing the pin the piston is activated, so that the compressed gas urges the piston rod to extend.
  • the gas spring is at its rear end and through a male thread mounted in an end piece 11 which is fixedly provided in the upper end of a slide tube 10 forming the arm support leg.
  • the piston rod 7a of the gas spring extends downwardly from the slide tube 10 and into the support tube 9 of the base 3, having at its free end a guiding block 7b, preferably of aluminium, which is a tight fit in the support tube 9 for fixing the piston rod transversely, but which yet is provided with an outer dimension that is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the support tube 9, so that it can be readily withdrawn therefrom.
  • the guiding block 7b is in a constant contact with the base 3 at the bottom of the support tube 9, whereby the base functions as a stop face.
  • the slide tube 10 of the arm support is tightly received inside the support tube 9 of the base 3 so as to be slidably guided therein when the raise/lower device 5 is operated.
  • the end piece 11 which is fixedly arranged in the slide tube 10, is at its lower end provided with a female threaded bore 11b, in which the gas spring 7 is mounted in the above indicated way.
  • the female threaded bore 11b debouches into a bore 16, which is transversely made through the end piece 11 and which is intended to cooperate with a valve mechanism, which will be described later on. It is also realized, that when the gas spring is mounted in the end piece, its pin 7c protrudes a distance into the transverse bore 16 of the end piece 11.
  • a bolt 12 which is fixed to the arm support and protrudes downwardly therefrom, is engagable for the detachable mounting of the end piece and, thus, the slide tube 10 to the arm support 2.
  • the whole raise/lower device 5 including the slide tube 10 and the end piece 11 connected thereto can be exchanged, when needed, as a complete casette.
  • This possibility of a simple changing of the complete casette permits a smooth and easy way of adapting the walker according to patients of different weights.
  • ready-to-use casettes which are equipped with gas springs of varying power.
  • the lifting aid it is very important that the lifting aid be adapted carefully according to the user of the walker, on the one hand, because the lifting force must not be greater than to permit the person to press down the walker, without any problem, in order to sit himself down and, on the other hand, because the lifting force yet should be sufficient to make it possible for the person to rise and sit down without help.
  • the seriously ambulatory handicapped persons it is additionally of a great importance that they are not rendered too great a lifting aid by the walker, since, in many instances, it is necessary for these persons to keep on being active and training their muscles according to ability, so that the muscles do not undergo atrophy. It has proven in practice that the best function, with regard to the above, is achieved if the raise/lower device 5 has a lifting power that is lower than the weight of the user by approximately 20 kilograms.
  • the valve mechanism comprises a valve body 17 with a through bore 18 (Fig. 3b) having a diameter adapted to the outer diameter of the slide tube.
  • the valve body 17 is mounted onto the slide tube, which is inserted into the through bore 18 and secured to the slide tube by means of not shown lock screws.
  • valve body 17 has a valve bore 20 which, with the valve mechanism being mounted, is in alignment with the transverse bore 16 of the end piece 11, and has the same cross section dimension as the transverse bore, so that these bores integrally form a passage for a valve slide 19, which by means of a spring 21 is biased to the left in Fig. 3a.
  • openings 10a the dimension of which corresponds to the transverse bore 16, are made in the slide tube 10 in connection with the ends of the transverse bores.
  • the valve slide 19 has at its underside an oblique groove 22, the depth of which increases from left to right in Fig. 3a.
  • the pin 7c of the gas spring 7 extends into the transverse bore 16 of the end piece 11, and it is now obvious that the pin 7c is received in the groove 22 of the valve slide 19 and is depressed gradually as the slide is brought to the right in Fig. 3a.
  • the valve slide 19 is operated by means of the handle 14 through a cable 23, one end of which is fixed to the valve slide.
  • the left end, according to Fig. 3a, of the valve bore 20 is closed by means of a not shown plug, which at the same time serves as a stop for the valve slide and restricts its movement to the left.
  • a servo motor can, however, be mounted in the left end, according to Fig. 3a, of the valve bore, which servo motor drives the valve slide to the right in the figure when being activated.
  • the embodiment with a servo motor is preferably used in those cases, when the walker is to be used by a patient, who lacks sufficient hand strength in order to operate the valve slide in the described way by means of a handle and a cable. It is well known in a similar context to use servo motors operated by the patient for example blowing air into a tube. These known operative devices are not, per se, part of the invention, and are therefore not described any further.
  • Fig. 4 shows another, simpler embodiment of the valve mechanism 6', which in this case comprises an operating arm 13 pivoted by a trunnion in the end piece 11', which operating arm via the control handle 14 arranged in connection to the arm support, and the cable 23, is brought to rotate around its pivot so as to engage the pin 7c of the gas spring 7 for raising or lowering, respectively, the arm support.
  • the described walker functions in the following way: When a patient, who moves by means of the walker, wants to sit down, he maneuvers himself so that he is standing with his back turned to the chair, the bed or similar, where he wants to sit down, after which he actuates the control handle 14. By actuation of the handle, the gas spring 7 is activated and by putting his weight onto the arm support which, thus, is being pressed down, the patient can smoothly and safely lower himself down toward the seat. Thereafter, he lets go of the control handle 14, before unloading the arm support, so that the gas spring is blocked in position and, thus, the arm support is also restrained in the position to which it has been forced down.
  • the arm support Since the arm support remains in the depressed position, it is easy for the patient to reassume the arm support position whenever he wishes to rise.
  • the patient once again operates the control arm 14 and by not pressing down against the arm support, using all his weight, but instead, according to ability, trying to raise himself, the patient will get sufficient lifting aid from the gas compressed in the gas spring, so that he, without any assistance from another person, can rise.
  • the arm support After the arm support has reassumed a height level appropriate to the patient, the patient will let go of the control handle, whereby the gas spring once again will be locked.
  • a gas spring without damping should preferably be used, i.e., a gas spring which is completely rigid in a locked position. This will make it easier for the patient to move by means of the walker.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)
  • Liquid Crystal (AREA)
  • Finish Polishing, Edge Sharpening, And Grinding By Specific Grinding Devices (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Plant Substances (AREA)
  • Saccharide Compounds (AREA)
  • Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
EP86901564A 1985-02-19 1986-02-19 Walker Expired - Lifetime EP0250415B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT86901564T ATE70434T1 (de) 1985-02-19 1986-02-19 Gehhilfe.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE8500787A SE452105B (sv) 1985-02-19 1985-02-19 Gastol
SE8500787 1985-02-19

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0250415A1 EP0250415A1 (en) 1988-01-07
EP0250415B1 true EP0250415B1 (en) 1991-12-18

Family

ID=20359182

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86901564A Expired - Lifetime EP0250415B1 (en) 1985-02-19 1986-02-19 Walker

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0250415B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS62502381A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) ATE70434T1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AU (1) AU5543986A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE3683045D1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IL (1) IL77909A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NO (1) NO863921L (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE452105B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
WO (1) WO1986004813A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130180557A1 (en) * 2012-01-18 2013-07-18 Case Western Reserve University Vertical Lift Walker for Sit to Stand Transition Assistance

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29900419U1 (de) * 1999-01-13 1999-04-08 Maquet AG, 76437 Rastatt Gehwagen
JP4613312B2 (ja) * 2005-03-10 2011-01-19 国立大学法人富山大学 移乗作業支援器具
JP5907370B2 (ja) * 2011-11-16 2016-04-26 国立大学法人 筑波大学 歩行訓練装置
US10045896B2 (en) * 2014-12-04 2018-08-14 Tsushima Ironworks Co., Ltd. Standing-up assist tool and walking support device
CN110742780B (zh) * 2019-11-14 2021-09-17 漯河医学高等专科学校 一种室外体育训练辅助运动器械及其运动方法
JP2022080157A (ja) * 2020-11-17 2022-05-27 徳機株式会社 要介護者の自立支援車

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3596298A (en) * 1969-05-14 1971-08-03 John A Durst Jr Lifting device
US4443902A (en) * 1981-07-06 1984-04-24 Baer Richard K Invalid walker and transfer device

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130180557A1 (en) * 2012-01-18 2013-07-18 Case Western Reserve University Vertical Lift Walker for Sit to Stand Transition Assistance
US9351898B2 (en) * 2012-01-18 2016-05-31 The United States of America, as Represnted by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs Vertical lift walker for sit to stand transition assistance

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5543986A (en) 1986-09-10
NO863921D0 (no) 1986-10-02
DE3683045D1 (de) 1992-01-30
ATE70434T1 (de) 1992-01-15
SE8500787D0 (sv) 1985-02-19
SE8500787L (sv) 1986-08-20
NO863921L (no) 1986-10-02
WO1986004813A1 (en) 1986-08-28
SE452105B (sv) 1987-11-16
EP0250415A1 (en) 1988-01-07
JPS62502381A (ja) 1987-09-17
JPH0354588B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1991-08-20
IL77909A (en) 1991-06-30

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