GB1588209A

GB1588209A - Walking support

Info

Publication number: GB1588209A
Application number: GB2486478A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-05-31
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-04-15

Description

(54) WALKING SUPPORT (71) We SANKAR KUMAR DAS, a British subject of 62 Rose hill, Sutton, Surrey The invention relates to a walking support, for supporting a walking or standing person who is unsteady on his feet.

In the treatment and care of elderly and handicapped people, it is most advantageous if these people, who often cannot walk more than five yards due to heart disease, lung disease, peripheral neuropathies or hemiplegias, are able to derive the considerable benefit afforded by regular exercise by using some form of walking support. This relieves various pressure sores on the body and prevents venous congestion, thereby stopping further deterioration in elderly people.

However, walking supports hitherto available consist of frame structures which are normally of rectangular prism shape. In use, a person is first able to steady himself by standing close to the frame structure while clinging to the frame structure. The person can then push the frame structure away from him and then, while still holding on to the frame structure, can step forward until he is standing beside the frame structure once more. By repeating this process, with or without rest periods while leaning on the frame support, the person can travel relatively long distances and thereby perform useful exercise.

However, this known form of apparatus is not entirely satisfactory for a number of reasons. In the first place, if the person's legs fail and are unable to support the person, the person will fall unless able to lean forward over the support. Similarly, if the person leans too far backwards the frame support provides no security for the person.

In addition, these walking supports are bulky and therefore difficult to handle and store when not in use. Moreover, when constructed in a size which is more convenient for handling and storage when not in use, these frame supports are often not sufficiently stable for more infirm people.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a walking support in which at least some of the foregoing disadvantageous features are at least mitigated.

According to the invention, there is provided a walking support, for supporting a walking or standing person who is unsteady on his feet, in which a frame structure of truncated pyramidal form comprises two rectilinearly extending leg members respectively forming front edges of two inwardlyinclined, trapezium-shaped frames arranged on opposite sides of a vertical plane of symmetry of the structure, strut means interconnecting the two leg members, elongate support means connected to the strut means and extending upwardly beyond the upper ends of the two leg members along the axis of intersection between the said plane of symmetry and a plane which is parallel to a plane defined by the axes of the two leg members, two elongate upper support members pivotally connected to the upper end of the elongate support means for movement into and out of a closed position in which the axes of the elongate upper support members form a substantially closed loop defining a horizontal plane, and releasable locking means for retaining the upper support means in said closed position.

With apparatus such as this, the elongate upper support members can first be moved out of their closed position so as to allow the person to stand between the two side frames. The elongate upper support members can then be moved, one at a time, into their closed position so as to provide support below the armpits of the person standing between the two side frames. The person can then grip the side frames for further support and, when steady, can push the walking support forward and then step forward so as to stand upright within the walking support once more. The person is at all times supported under the armpits by the elongate upper support members and is prevented from falling forwards, backwards or sideways by the closed loop provided by the upper support members in their closed position.Moreover, by virtue of the truncated pyramidal shape of the walking support, the person is provided with a large support base which provides him with greater stability.

In a preferred form of construction, each side frame has upper and lower portions extending rearwardly from opposite ends of one of the two leg members and a crossmember extending between these upper and lower portions. These side frames can be interconnected by strut means at the front of the walking support so as to allow the person to walk into the support from the rear when the elongate upper support members are moved out of their closed position.

Where the walking support is to be used by people of different heights, the leg members, the elongate support means and the cross members may all be of adjustable length and releasable locking means may be provided for preventing unwanted variation in length of the leg members, the elongate support means and the cross-members.

However, in most instances, it is unnecessary to change the dimensions of the elongate upper support members because the width between the armpits of the people using the walking support will not vary significantly. Because the side frames are interconnected by the strut means, they can be held in their original inclination so that lengthening and shortening of the leg members and cross-members is accompanied by corresponding variation in the lateral dimensions at the base of the walking support. Moreover the trucated pyramidal shape of the walking support may be maintained by varying the length of the elongate support means and thus the height of the elongate upper support members connected to the elongate support means.

In order to facilitate handling and storage of the walking support, when not in use, it is preferred that each leg member and each cross-member has first and second separable parts respectively connected to the upper and lower portions of the side frame of which the leg member and the crossmember form parts. One of the first and second parts of each leg member may be tubular and the other of the first and second parts of each leg member may be tubular and the other of the first and second parts of the leg member may extend in sliding engagement within the tubular part of the leg member. Similarly one of the first and second parts of each cross-member may be tubular and the other of said first and second parts of the cross-member may extend in sliding engagement within this tubular part of the cross-member.Provided the cross-member of each side frame is substantially parallel to the leg member of the same side frame, each side frame can be easily dismantled into two parts. Moreover, where the strut means are connected to the second parts of the two legs members, adjacent the lower portions of the side frames, the strut means may also be of adjustable length and provided with releasable locking means for preventing unwanted variation in the length of the strut means.

Thus, where the strut means have at least two separable parts, one of which is tubular and the other of which extends in sliding engagement within the tubular part, it is also possible to separate the lower ends of the side frames from each other thereby further facilitating storage and handling of the walking support when not in use.

With this form of construction, further strut means may be connected between the first parts of the two leg members and, in this case, the further strut means may comprise at least two separable parts, one of which is tubular and the other of which extends in sliding engagement within the tubular part. This means that although the upper portions of the side frames may be braced together during use of the walking support, these upper portions of the side frames may also be separated to facilitate storage and handling when the walking support is not in use.

The elongate support means may also comprise two separable parts, one of which includes at least one tubular member and the other of which extends in sliding engagement within the or each said tubular part in the elongate support means.

To facilitate movement of the walking support, wheels may be disposed adjacent the junctions of the leg members and the lower portions of the two side frames so as to engage a support surface at spaced points on an axis extending between the points of intersection of the axes of the leg members with the support surface. These wheels may be provided with resilient mounting means so as to support the weight of the remainder of the walking support so that the forward ends of the lower portions of the side frames are clear of the support surface and brake means may be provided for preventing rotation of the wheels when the walking support is loaded so as to press the junctions of the leg members and the lower portions of the two side frames into engagement with the support surface.

In a further refinement of the walking support, the lower portion of each side frame is bent so that a first part of the lower portion, adjacent the free end of this lower portion is engageable with the support surface whereas a second part of the lower portion extending between the first part and the junction between the lower portion of the side frame and the leg member is able to clear the support surface. The free end of the side frame can also be bent so as to be able to clear the support surface unless the walking support is tilted so as to relieve the loading on the wheels by a predetermined amount.This form of construction minimises frictional resistance to movement of the walking support over a support surface and also ensures that if the walking support is tilted backward, the trailing end of the lower protion of each side frame comes into engagement with the support surface so as to provide an extended base of support.

The two elongate upper support members may be "U" shaped, one end of each being provided with pivot means which are cooperable with portions of the elongate support means.

At least one flexible strap may be connected to the upper portions of the two side frames to form a truss for supporting a person standing within the walking support if that person's legs are unable to support him. Similarly, a commode chair or a conventional chair seat can be attached to the side frames for use, as necessary.

An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the walking support, according to present invention; Figures 2 and 3 are side and end elevations of the walking support shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a wheel and its mounting which, together, form part of the walking support shown in Figure 1 to 3; and Figure 5 shows the walking support in an extended condition in which one of two upper support members forming part of the walking support is pivoted from its normal position in which it co-operates with the other of the elongate upper support members to form a closed loop, as shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the walking support comprises a frame structure 10 of generally overall truncated pyramidal shape. Two inwardly-inclined, trapeziumshaped side frames 11, arranged on opposite sides of a vertical plane of symmetry, each include a leg member 12, a cross-member 13 extending substantially parallel to the leg member 12 and upper and lower portions 14 and 15 of the side frame 11 extending from the leg member 12, rearwardly of the cross-member 13. The lower end of the leg members 12 are interconnected by strut means 16 and interconnected by strut means 16 and the upper ends of the leg members 12 are interconnected by further strut means 17.

Elongate support means 18 comprise two parallel members 19 and 20 which are welded or otherwise connected to the strut means 16, at their lower ends, and extend upwardly above the upper ends of the leg members 12 in a plane which is parallel and adjacent to the plane defined by the axes of the leg members 12. The members 19 and 20 are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry and are interconnected by braces 21. Two "U"shaped elongate upper support members 22 are each provided, at one end, with a tubular member 23 which receives a spigot (not shown) extending from one of the members 19 and 20 so as to be pivotable about the axis of said one of these members 19 and 20 into and out of the closed position shown in Figure 1 where the axes of the two upper support members 22 form a substantially closed loop.Each of the elongate upper support embers 22 is provided with a stiffening members 24 which is each secured to the tubular member 23 and each tubular member 23 is provided with detent means 25 for releasably securing the upper support member 22, to which it is attached, in the closed position shown in Figure 1. Two hooks 26 and 27 are attached to spaced parts of the upper portions 14 of the side frames 11 and two flexible straps 28 and 29 are connected to those hooks so that each strap extends between one hook 26 and one hook 27 to provide a truss for supporting the weight of a person using the walking support.

Two wheels 30 are supported by tubular members 31 and each tubular member 31 is attached, as by welding, to one of the leg members 12 and an adjacent portion of the strut means 16. As shown in Figure 2, each wheel is arranged so as to contact a support surface 32 and a plane defined by the axes of the leg members 12.

As shown in Figure 4, the member 31 has a smaller diameter extension 34 extending through a sleeve 35 carrying a support fork 36 for the wheel 30. A compression spring 47 mounted on the extension 34 between a collar 38 on the extension 34 and an inwardly extending portion 39 of the sleeve 35 so as to resist movement of a braking head 40 on the free end of the extension 34 from engaging the outer periphery of the wheel 30. However, when a person standing within the walking support leans forward, the compression spring 37 is compressed and the braking head 40 engages the wheel 30 so as to brake the wheel 30 and prevent the walking support from travelling further in the direction in which the person standing within the walking support is leaning.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the lower portion 15 of each side frame 11 has a curved configuration so that, when the springs 37 are compressed and the wheels 30 are braked, the lower portion 15 only makes contact with the support 32 at a first part 41 adjacent the free end 42 of the lower portion 15 and at a junction 43 between the lower end of the leg member 12 and a second part 44 of the lower portion 15 extending between the first part 41 and the junction 43.

When the loading of the springs 37 is released the junction 43 rises from the support surface 32 and the free end 42 of the lower portion moves towards the support surface 32. However, the free end 42 does not make contact with the support surface 32 unless the person standing within the walking support leans backwards, in which case the walking support steadies the person who is thereby able to retain his balance.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the frame structure is in the shape of a truncated pyramide having sides equally inclined to the horizontal support surface 32. For compact constructions, the sides of this truncated pyramidal shape are inclined at approximately 75 degrees to the horizontal, but this angle of inclination may be reduced to 60 degrees without causing the structure to be too ungainly. Clearly, any further decrease in the angle of inclination will improve the stability of the walking support, but this improved stability is offset by loss in compactness and. in particular, by an enlarged base for the walking support. which makes it difficult to move the walking support through narrow spaces such as doorways.

As shown in Figure 5. the leg members 12 each consist of two tubular portions 12A and 12C. A rod 12B which is anchored in the part 12A extends slidably in the part 12C and is provided with a series of holes (not shown) for receiving a split pin 12D which serves as the releasable locking means which. on removal. permit separation of the parts 12A and 12C. However. as shown in Figure 5. the split pin 12D can be reinserted so as to maintain the leg members 12 in the extended condition shown. As shown. the cross-members 13 are of a similar construction.

The rcsulting widening of the base of the walking support is accommodated by a similar interconnection between the two parts 16A and 16C of the strut means 16. In this case. a split pin 16D interlocks a horizontal member of part 16C of the strut means 16 and an internally slideable member l6B projecting from a horizontal member of the part 16A of the strut mean 16.

The resulting separation of the members 19 and 20 is accommodated by extension of the members 21. As shown in Figure 5, tubular parts 21A are attached to member 19 and carry smaller cross-section extensions 21B which are slideably received and tubular portions 21C attached to member 20. Once again, split pins 21D are provided for locking the members 19 and 20 together in their separated condition.

In order to raise the height of the upper support member 22, the member 19 and 20 forming the elongate support means 18 both comprise first parts 19A and 20A provided with extensions 19B and 20B of smaller cross-section which are slidably received in end portions 19C and 20C which are respectively attached to the parts 16A and 16C of the strut means 16. Split pins 19D and 20D serve to releasably secure the parts 19A and 19C and the parts 20A and 20C together in their original condition or in their extended condition as shown in Figure 5.

As also shown in Figure 5, each of the elongate upper support members 22 may be swung out of its closed position where, together with the other elongate upper support member 22 it forms a substantially closed loop. To allow for this movement, the members 23 receive extension (not shown) of the members 19A and 20A.

Releasable locking means, such as split pins 23D, are used to maintain the elongate upper support members 22 in the closed condition. In alternative forms of construction, the releasable locking means can be provided in the form of detent which engage in recesses formed in the extensions of the members 19A and 20A.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A walking support. for supporting a walking or standing person who is unsteady on his feet, in which a frame structure of truncated pyramidal shape comprises two rectilinearly extending leg members respectively forming front edges of two inwardlyinclined trapezium-shaped side frames arranged on opposite sides of a vertical plane of symmetry of the structure, strut means interconnecting the two leg members, elongate support means connected to the strut means and extending upwardly beyond the upper ends of the two leg members along the axis of intersection between the said plane of symmetry and a plane which is parallel to a plane defined by the axes of the two leg members; two elongate upper support members pivotally connected to the upper end of the elongate support means for movement into and out of a closed position in which the axes of the elongate upper support members form a substantially closed loop defining a horizontal plane; and releasable locking means for

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

30 so as to brake the wheel 30 and prevent the walking support from travelling further in the direction in which the person standing within the walking support is leaning.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the lower portion 15 of each side frame 11 has a curved configuration so that, when the springs 37 are compressed and the wheels 30 are braked, the lower portion 15 only makes contact with the support 32 at a first part 41 adjacent the free end 42 of the lower portion 15 and at a junction 43 between the lower end of the leg member 12 and a second part 44 of the lower portion 15 extending between the first part 41 and the junction 43.

When the loading of the springs 37 is released the junction 43 rises from the support surface 32 and the free end 42 of the lower portion moves towards the support surface 32. However, the free end 42 does not make contact with the support surface 32 unless the person standing within the walking support leans backwards, in which case the walking support steadies the person who is thereby able to retain his balance.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the frame structure is in the shape of a truncated pyramide having sides equally inclined to the horizontal support surface 32. For compact constructions, the sides of this truncated pyramidal shape are inclined at approximately 75 degrees to the horizontal, but this angle of inclination may be reduced to 60 degrees without causing the structure to be too ungainly. Clearly, any further decrease in the angle of inclination will improve the stability of the walking support, but this improved stability is offset by loss in compactness and. in particular, by an enlarged base for the walking support. which makes it difficult to move the walking support through narrow spaces such as doorways.

As shown in Figure 5. the leg members 12 each consist of two tubular portions 12A and 12C. A rod 12B which is anchored in the part 12A extends slidably in the part 12C and is provided with a series of holes (not shown) for receiving a split pin 12D which serves as the releasable locking means which. on removal. permit separation of the parts 12A and 12C. However. as shown in Figure 5. the split pin 12D can be reinserted so as to maintain the leg members 12 in the extended condition shown. As shown. the cross-members 13 are of a similar construction.

The rcsulting widening of the base of the walking support is accommodated by a similar interconnection between the two parts 16A and 16C of the strut means 16. In this case. a split pin 16D interlocks a horizontal member of part 16C of the strut means 16 and an internally slideable member l6B projecting from a horizontal member of the part 16A of the strut mean 16.

The resulting separation of the members 19 and 20 is accommodated by extension of the members 21. As shown in Figure 5, tubular parts 21A are attached to member 19 and carry smaller cross-section extensions 21B which are slideably received and tubular portions 21C attached to member 20. Once again, split pins 21D are provided for locking the members 19 and 20 together in their separated condition.

In order to raise the height of the upper support member 22, the member 19 and 20 forming the elongate support means 18 both comprise first parts 19A and 20A provided with extensions 19B and 20B of smaller cross-section which are slidably received in end portions 19C and 20C which are respectively attached to the parts 16A and 16C of the strut means 16. Split pins 19D and 20D serve to releasably secure the parts 19A and 19C and the parts 20A and 20C together in their original condition or in their extended condition as shown in Figure 5.

As also shown in Figure 5, each of the elongate upper support members 22 may be swung out of its closed position where, together with the other elongate upper support member 22 it forms a substantially closed loop. To allow for this movement, the members 23 receive extension (not shown) of the members 19A and 20A.

Releasable locking means, such as split pins 23D, are used to maintain the elongate upper support members 22 in the closed condition. In alternative forms of construction, the releasable locking means can be provided in the form of detent which engage in recesses formed in the extensions of the members 19A and 20A.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A walking support. for supporting a walking or standing person who is unsteady on his feet, in which a frame structure of truncated pyramidal shape comprises two rectilinearly extending leg members respectively forming front edges of two inwardlyinclined trapezium-shaped side frames arranged on opposite sides of a vertical plane of symmetry of the structure, strut means interconnecting the two leg members, elongate support means connected to the strut means and extending upwardly beyond the upper ends of the two leg members along the axis of intersection between the said plane of symmetry and a plane which is parallel to a plane defined by the axes of the two leg members; two elongate upper support members pivotally connected to the upper end of the elongate support means for movement into and out of a closed position in which the axes of the elongate upper support members form a substantially closed loop defining a horizontal plane; and releasable locking means for

retaining the upper support means in said closed position.
2. A walking support. according to Claim 1, in which each side frame has upper and lower portions respectively extending rearwardly from opposite ends of one of said two leg members and a cross-member extending between said upper and lower portions. parallel to the leg member.
3. A walking support. according to Claim 2, in which the leg members. the elongate support means and the crossmembers are all of adjustable length and releasable locking means are provided for preventing unwanted variation in length of the leg members, the elongate support means and the cross-members.
4. A walking support. according to Claim 3, in which each leg member and each cross-member has first and second separable parts respectively connected to the upper and lower portions of the side frame of which the leg member and cross-member form parts. one of said first and second parts of said leg member is tubular and the other of said first and second parts of said leg member extends in sliding engagement within said tubular part of said leg member and one of said first and second parts of said cross-member is tubular and the other of said first and second parts of said crossmember extends in sliding engagement within said tubular part of cross-member.
5. A walking support. according to Claim 4. in which the strut means are connected to the second parts of the two leg members. are of adjustable length. and are provided with releasable locking means for preventing unwanted variation in length of the strut means.
6. A walking support. according to Claim 5. in which the strut means have at least two separable parts. one of which is tubular and the other of which extends in sliding engagement within said tubular part of the strut means.
7. A walking support. according to Claim 6. in which further strut means are connected between the first parts of the two leg members and the further strut means comprise at least two separable parts. one of which is tubular and the other of which extends in sliding engagement within said tubular part of the further strut means.
8. A walking support. according to any one of Claims 3 to 7. in which the elongate support means comprise two separable parts. one of which includes at least one tubular member and the other of which extends in sliding engagement within the or each tubular part of the elongate support means.
9. A walking support. according to Claim 8. in which one part of the elongate support means includes two tubular members, at least two braces extend between the two tubular members. and each of said braces is of adjustable length and is provided with releasable locking means for preventing unwanted variation in length of said brace.
10. A walking support. according to any preceeding claim. in which wheels are disposed adjacent the junctions of the leg members and the lower portions of the two side frames so as to engage a support surface at spaced points on an axis extending between the points of intersection of the axes of the leg members with the support surface. the wheels are provided with resilient mounting means so as to support the remainder of the walking support so that the forward ends of the lower portions of the side frames are clear of the support surface.

and brake means are provided for preventing rotation of the wheels when the walking frame is loaded so as to press the junctions of the leg members and the lower portions of the two side frames towards engagement with the support surface.
11. A walking support. according to Claim 10. in which the lower portion of each side frame is bent so that a first part of said lower portion. adjacent the free end of said lower portion. is engageable with the support whereas a second part of said lower portion. extending between said one part and the junction between said lower part and the leg member of said side frame is able to clear the support surface and the free end of said lower part is able to clear the support surface unless the walking support is tilted so as to relieve the loading on the wheels bv a predetermined amount.
12. A walking support. according to any preceeding claim. in which the two elongate upper support members are U''-shaped.

one end of each of the tiU''-shaped support members is provided with pivot means and the pivot means of the two iWU''-shaped upper support members respectively cooperate with two portions of the elongate support means.
13. A walking support. according to any preceeding claim. in which at least one flexible strap extends between the upper portions of the two side frames to form a truss for supporting a person standing within the walking support if that person's legs are unable to support him.
14. A walking support, for supporting a walking or standing persons who is unsteady on his feet, substantially as herebefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.