GB2136290A

GB2136290A - Aid for assisting a person to upstand from a sitting position

Info

Publication number: GB2136290A
Application number: GB08128666A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Asley John Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-09-22
Filing date: 1981-09-22
Publication date: 1984-09-19
Also published as: GB2136290B

Abstract

The aid comprises legs 4 pivoted to a tubular main body 1 and movable from the position shown to a collapsed position (Fig. 2) via a knob 9, and two pairs of handles 5, 5 and 6, 6. In use a person can upstand by first grasping the lower handles 5, 5 and then the upper handles 6, 6 and subsequently, if desired, by collapsing the legs, use the aid in the manner of a walking stick. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Aid for assisting a person to upstand from a sitting position This invention relates to aids for persons who find it difficult to rise from a seated position into an upright or standing position for the purposes of walking or the like.

Walking aids are known which incorporate a main handle or walking stick part having at the bottom end a group of three or more splayed apart short legs which provide a tripod or quadapod support or contact with the ground.

Whilst such arrangements serve a very useful purpose in relation to the purpose for which they are intended such known arrangements have been found in certain situations not to be able to provide an arrangement which sufficiently deals with the difficulties met by some persons in rising from a seat, chair or the like prior to standing or walking.

Broadly, according to the invention there is provided apparatus for facilitating a person to rise from a seated position, the apparatus including a foldabie arrangement which includes legs pivotally mounted to a main body for displacement between an open position and a closed position, at least two sets of support handles extending outwardly from the main body at levels one above the other, and control means for enabling the user to open the legs to provide a greater area of support to the main body, so that the weight of the user can be taken initially by engagement of the user's hands with the lower set of handles and thence subsequently taken by the upper pair of handles during the upstanding movements of the user, said control means also allowing the user to fold the legs to their closed position after having stood sufficiently to remove the weight from the apparatus whereby the apparatus may be used as a walking aid.

For a better understanding of the invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates the apparatus of the invention when in its legs open position; Figure 2 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 1 when in the legs folded position.

Referring to the drawings the apparatus includes a tubular main body 1 having at its lower end an annular collar 2 to which are pivoted the upper ends 3 of the legs 4 of the apparatus.

A lower pair of handles 5 project outwardly from the main body. A second pair of the handles 6 projects outwardly from the main body, this latter pair of handles 6 is located at the upper end of the main body 1 with the handles located one above each of the handles of the lower pair.

A ring like control member is apertured so as to be engageable with the legs in such manner that movement of the control member 7 in a downward direction of the legs swings the legs towards each other and displacement of the control member in the reverse direction swings the legs 4 outwardly. Figure 1 shows this particular position of the legs and Figure 2 shows the closed together position for the legs 4.

It will be understood that there will be a sliding clearance fit between the apertures in the control member 7 and the legs 4 and that these apertures will be so shaped and profiled to allow the swinging displacement of the legs as the control member is displaced in the axial direction of the main body 1.

The control member is connected with a rod, bar or the like 8 which is axially aligned with the main body. The rod may be arranged either externally or internally of the main body as thought most convenient. The upper end of the rod 8 is provided with a knob or the like 9 by which the rod 8 may be axially displaced with respect to the main body. If the rod 8 is internally located relative to the main body a guide slot is provided for the knob 9. If the rod is externally fitted suitable guide means are provided such as a sleeve slidable on the main body.

An arrangement (not shown) is provided for retaining the knob in either of its two rest posi tions, that is the positions indicative of the legs open and legs closed position.

The above described apparatus is used as follows; It will be assumed that the user is sitting in a chair, seat or the like and wishes to stand-up.

The user of the apparatus initially opens the legs by pulling the control member 7 upwardly by means of the rod and knob 8, 9 combination. The legs are locked in their open setting.

The user then places the apparatus immediately in front of his legs such that the main body 1 is centrally positioned relative to the legs.

The user then grasps the lower handles 5 and exerts pull or pressure thereupon so as to start to aid the displacement of the body to the upstanding position. As soon as the user rises to a suitable height the hands are successively transferred from the lower handles 5 to the upper handles 6. The relative positioning of the handles with respect to each other and the ground is such that when the user's hands are on the upper handles the user is substantially at the upstanding position.

Upon attaining the upstanding position the user closes the legs together by moving the control rod and thus the member downwardly. The apparatus may then be used as a walking stick.

When the user wishes to return to the sitting position the apparatus of the invention may be used in the reverse sense, that is by opening the legs, grasping the upper handles 5 initially and subsequently moving to the lower handles 6 during the lowering movement onto the seat.

Once sitting the user can fold the legs by means of the operating rod and kob combination 8, 9.

Conveniently the handle unit is arranged to be separable from the main body region adjacent to the collar 2 so that alternative handle constructions may be used.

For example, there may be more than two sets of handles provided.

Claims

CLAIM

The apparatus is for facilitating a person to rise from a seated position, the apparatus including a foldable arrangement which includes legs pivotally mounted to a main body for displacement between an open position and a closed position, at least two sets of support handles extending outwardly from the main body at levels one above the other, and control means for enabling the user to open the legs to provide a greater area of support to the main body, so that the weight of the user can be taken initially by engagement of the user's hands with the lower set of handles and thence subsequently taken by the upper pair of handles during the upstanding movements of the user, said control means also allowing the user to fold the legs to their closed position after having stood, whereby the apparatus may be used as a walking aid.