GB2163057A

GB2163057A - Walking aid

Info

Publication number: GB2163057A
Application number: GB08420898A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Inga Harland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-08-16
Filing date: 1984-08-16
Publication date: 1986-02-19
Also published as: GB8420898D0

Abstract

The aid comprises a frame 10 forming a support for an upright person, at least three rolling means upon which the support is mounted and means operable by the user for independently rendering each of at least two of the rolling means inoperative. In particular, each rolling means may be a double castor wheel 13, 14, 15 fitted with its own brake, each brake being normally "on", with a respective release cable leading to a separate button or lever mounted conveniently on the frame. Alternatively, the brakes of wheels 13 and 14 may be of the normally on type while that of wheel 15 is of the normally "off" type. Forward locomotion is by pivoting on one of the lateral castors while the second lateral and rear castors follow freely. A padded semi-circular frame member 12 may fit under the arms of the user. The frame may be size-adjustable, telescopic and/ or foldable. Cross members to strengthen the tripod may support a seat strap and shopping-bag and/or foot rest. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Walking Aid This invention relates to a walking aid for disabled persons.

According to the present invention, there is provided a walking aid comprising a support for an upright person, at least three rolling means upon which the support is mounted and means operable by the user for rendering each of at least two of the rolling means inoperative, said means being independently actuable by the user so that the support can be pivoted, about a wheel which has been rendered inoperative, by movement on the other wheels.

By the expression "rolling means" as used herein is meant a wheel, ball or the like, preferably a castor wheel.

Each user-operable means preferably comprises a brake acting, e.g. by a wedging action, against the respective rolling means. However, it is within the scope of the present invention for said useroperable means to comprise non-rolling member which is disposed adjacent the respective rolling means and which is movable towards and away from a ground-engaging position in which the weight of the support is taken from the associated wheel and borne by said non-rolling member. It is also within the scope of the invention to arrange for the rolling means to be tilted so that the support rests on a non-rolling part adjacent said rolling means.

Preferably, the support is in the form of a frame having preferably three legs at the lower ends of which the rolling means are provided. The frame preferably includes an upper padded member which is designed to support the person under the arms.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic perspective view of a walking aid according to the present invention.

In the drawing, the walking aid comprises a support in the form of a frame 10 having three tubular legs 11 extending downwardly from an aluminium semi-circularframe member 12 which is padded to fit snugly under the arms of the user. To the bottom of each leg 11 is fitted a respective double castor wheel 13, 14, 15. Each castor wheel 13,14, or 15 is fitted with its own brake for locking it against rotation. The brakes are not illustrated in the drawings, but in this embodiment each brake takes the form of a wedge-shaped pad which is slidable between the periphery of the wheel and a mounting upon which the wheel is rotatably carried. A spring resiliently urges the wedge-shaped pad into a position in which the wheel is locked against rotation.A respective brake release cable is operatively connected with each pad and leads to a separate button or iever mounted at a convenient location on the frame 10 for selective operation by the user. In such an embodiment, each brake is normally "on". In a preferred embodiment, however, each of the brakes associated with castor wheels 13 and 14 is of the normally "on" type and the brake associated with the castor wheel 15 is of the normally "off" type. As will be apparent from the following description, the castor wheel 15 is not locked during normal use but may be locked to assist control when negotiating steps for example.

Reinforcing bars 16 and 17 are permanently fixed to the legs 11 intermediate the ends thereof. A small bag 18 may be hung from one of the bars 16,17. The brake buttons or levers may be conveniently located adjacent the points of attachment of the bars 16, 17 to the legs 11 which are on the opposite sides of the open part of the semi-circular frame member 12.

If desired, the frame may be further reinforced by bars 19, 20 towards the bottoms of the legs 11 and can conveniently be used as a foot rest.

A detachable strap (not shown) may be secured at its opposite ends to the respective bars 16 and 17 to act as a seat-rest.

The'legs 11 may be arranged to be telescopic and securable at an appropriate length to suit the height of the user.

If desired, the legs 11 below the footrest bars 19 and 20 may be extended by about 3 inches to facilitate use of the walking aid on stairs.

The frame may be foldable for ease of storage and/or transport when not in use.

In operation, a person using the walking aid manoeuvers it under the arms so that the trunk and the legs are within the frame with the castor wheel 15 at the rear. Whilst the walking aid can be used with all the castor wheels 13 to 15 unlocked, it is designed to be used by alternately uniocking the castor wheels 13 and 14 with the castor wheel 15 remaining unlocked. Thus, with the wheel 13 locked and the wheels 14 and 15 unlocked,theframe 10 can be pivoted about the wheel 13 with the frame 10 rolling on the wheels 14and 15. Then, the wheel 14 is allowed to lock and the wheel 13 is unlocked thereby allowing the frame 10 to pivot about wheel 14 with the frame rolling on the wheels 13 and 15.

By repeating the above procedure continued forward movement of the walking aid is possible.

The swivelling of the frame can be effected by appropriate shoulder movement.

To stabilise the frame further, a bar 21 may be detachably fitted across the open part of the frame 10 at the level of the bars 16 and 17 when the user is in position in the frame. Likewise a bar 22 may be detachably fitted across the open part of 12 to prevent the user falling forward out of the frame.

1. A walking aid comprising a support for an upright person, at least three rolling means upon which the support is mounted and means operable by the user for rendering each of at least two of the rolling means inoperative, said means being independently actuable by the user so that the support can pivot about a rolling means which has been rendered inoperative, by movement on the other rolling means.

2. Awalking aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support is in the form of a frame designed to support the user under the arms.

3. Awalking aid as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Walking Aid This invention relates to a walking aid for disabled persons. According to the present invention, there is provided a walking aid comprising a support for an upright person, at least three rolling means upon which the support is mounted and means operable by the user for rendering each of at least two of the rolling means inoperative, said means being independently actuable by the user so that the support can be pivoted, about a wheel which has been rendered inoperative, by movement on the other wheels. By the expression "rolling means" as used herein is meant a wheel, ball or the like, preferably a castor wheel. Each user-operable means preferably comprises a brake acting, e.g. by a wedging action, against the respective rolling means. However, it is within the scope of the present invention for said useroperable means to comprise non-rolling member which is disposed adjacent the respective rolling means and which is movable towards and away from a ground-engaging position in which the weight of the support is taken from the associated wheel and borne by said non-rolling member. It is also within the scope of the invention to arrange for the rolling means to be tilted so that the support rests on a non-rolling part adjacent said rolling means. Preferably, the support is in the form of a frame having preferably three legs at the lower ends of which the rolling means are provided. The frame preferably includes an upper padded member which is designed to support the person under the arms. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic perspective view of a walking aid according to the present invention. In the drawing, the walking aid comprises a support in the form of a frame 10 having three tubular legs 11 extending downwardly from an aluminium semi-circularframe member 12 which is padded to fit snugly under the arms of the user. To the bottom of each leg 11 is fitted a respective double castor wheel 13, 14, 15. Each castor wheel 13,14, or 15 is fitted with its own brake for locking it against rotation. The brakes are not illustrated in the drawings, but in this embodiment each brake takes the form of a wedge-shaped pad which is slidable between the periphery of the wheel and a mounting upon which the wheel is rotatably carried. A spring resiliently urges the wedge-shaped pad into a position in which the wheel is locked against rotation.A respective brake release cable is operatively connected with each pad and leads to a separate button or iever mounted at a convenient location on the frame 10 for selective operation by the user. In such an embodiment, each brake is normally "on". In a preferred embodiment, however, each of the brakes associated with castor wheels 13 and 14 is of the normally "on" type and the brake associated with the castor wheel 15 is of the normally "off" type. As will be apparent from the following description, the castor wheel 15 is not locked during normal use but may be locked to assist control when negotiating steps for example. Reinforcing bars 16 and 17 are permanently fixed to the legs 11 intermediate the ends thereof. A small bag 18 may be hung from one of the bars 16,17. The brake buttons or levers may be conveniently located adjacent the points of attachment of the bars 16, 17 to the legs 11 which are on the opposite sides of the open part of the semi-circular frame member 12. If desired, the frame may be further reinforced by bars 19, 20 towards the bottoms of the legs 11 and can conveniently be used as a foot rest. A detachable strap (not shown) may be secured at its opposite ends to the respective bars 16 and 17 to act as a seat-rest. The'legs 11 may be arranged to be telescopic and securable at an appropriate length to suit the height of the user. If desired, the legs 11 below the footrest bars 19 and 20 may be extended by about 3 inches to facilitate use of the walking aid on stairs. The frame may be foldable for ease of storage and/or transport when not in use. In operation, a person using the walking aid manoeuvers it under the arms so that the trunk and the legs are within the frame with the castor wheel 15 at the rear. Whilst the walking aid can be used with all the castor wheels 13 to 15 unlocked, it is designed to be used by alternately uniocking the castor wheels 13 and 14 with the castor wheel 15 remaining unlocked. Thus, with the wheel 13 locked and the wheels 14 and 15 unlocked,theframe 10 can be pivoted about the wheel 13 with the frame 10 rolling on the wheels 14and 15. Then, the wheel 14 is allowed to lock and the wheel 13 is unlocked thereby allowing the frame 10 to pivot about wheel 14 with the frame rolling on the wheels 13 and 15. By repeating the above procedure continued forward movement of the walking aid is possible. The swivelling of the frame can be effected by appropriate shoulder movement. To stabilise the frame further, a bar 21 may be detachably fitted across the open part of the frame 10 at the level of the bars 16 and 17 when the user is in position in the frame. Likewise a bar 22 may be detachably fitted across the open part of 12 to prevent the user falling forward out of the frame. CLAIMS

3. Awalking aid as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the frame has three legs at the lower ends of which the rolling means are provided.

4. A walking aid as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the legs are connected at their upper ends by an upper padded member which is designed to supportthe person under the arms.

5. Awalking aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said user-operable means associated with two of the rolling means takes the form of a pair of brakes which are of the normally 'on' type.

6. Awalking aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing