GB2330778A

GB2330778A - Motorised mobility device

Info

Publication number: GB2330778A
Application number: GB9722820A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Rose
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-10-30
Filing date: 1997-10-30
Publication date: 1999-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-30
Also published as: GB9722820D0; GB2330778B

Abstract

A mobility device includes a wheeled metal frame 10 which is motor-driven and incorporates a wheeled foot-supporting shoe 12, a hand-supporting glove 14, a corset 22 supporting the body of the user. The invention allows hemiplegics to walk unaided.

Description

MOBILITY DEVICE This invention relates to a mobility device, particularly, but not limited to, a mobility device for hemiplegics.

The mobility of a hemiplegic, who is paralysed down one side of his body, has been limited to the use of a wheelchair, even though one side of his body functions normally. The use of a wheelchair by a hemiplegic, which is not, in any event, always possible, can have disadvantages in that the physical condition of the normally functioning side of his body can deteriorate because it receives very little exercise. Where he cannot use a wheelchair, lengthy periods in bed would result.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a mobility device comprises support means arranged to support part of a user's body in a chosen position, and drive means associated with the support means, whereby the drive means is actuable to drive the support means, and thus the or each supported part, in a chosen direction.

The mobility device is preferably arranged to aid the mobility of a hemiplegic.

The mobility device may be a walking device.

The support means may be arranged to support one side of a user's body. The support means may be arranged to support the back and limbs on one side of a user's body.

The support means may comprise leg support means which are arranged to hold a leg of the user in position. The leg support means may comprise a foot receiving portion.

The leg support means may comprise a leg brace portion.

The leg support means may form a projecting portion of the support means, preferably rearwardly from a main extent of the support means. The leg support means may comprise a platform arranged, in use, to receive a foot to be supported thereon.

The support means may include arm support means arranged, in use, to support an arm of the user. The arm support means may include a hand receiving portion. The arm support portion may be arranged to support the user's arm between the elbow and hand. The arm support portion may project rearwardly from a main extent of the support means.

The support means may include a torso support portion arranged, in use, to support the torso of the user. The torso support portion may have a shape corresponding to the user's back. The torso support portion may, in use, be secured to the user's back by attachment means passing around the front of the user's body. The torso support portion may be secured to a section of the support means which is arranged, in use, to be located behind the user.

The torso support portion may be connected to the leg brace portion of the leg support means.

The drive means may be associated with wheels, which may be located on a lower portion of the support means.

The drive means may be actuable to cause the wheels to turn. The drive means may be actuable to cause the wheels to turn a specified amount. One actuation of the drive means may result in the wheels being driven a specified amount. The drive means may be actuable by activation means, which may be a button.

The drive means may include a motor, which may be battery powered, for driving the mobility device.

The drive means may include steering means, for controlling the direction of movement of the mobility device. The steering means may include a direction control mechanism, which may be a lever, or may be a steering wheel. The direction control mechanism may be located close to the activation means of the drive means.

The support means may comprise a frame which may form a main extent of the support means, which may have the wheel disposed at a lower portion thereof. The frame may support the drive means. The frame may support the leg portion. The frame may support the arm support portion.

The frame may support the torso support portion.

The frame may provide space to allow movement of the user's unsupported leg.

Both the supported foot and the unsupported foot may be disposed, in use, at the same level. The level of the unsupported foot may be matched to that of the supported foot by means of a raised shoe.

In use, the mobility device may be operable to move the supported parts of the user by a specified amount; to allow the user to move his unsupported leg forward; and further actuation of the drive means being arranged to move the supported parts once more.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment mobility device in use; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the mobility device shown in figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a mobility device; and Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of mobility device.

A mobility device 10 for a hemiplegic comprises a foot support portion 12, a hand support portion 14, wheels 16, a motor 18 and a control button 20. The paralysed side of the hemiplegic is supported by the foot support portion 12 and the hand support portion 14 and a back support portion 22. The mobility device is used by the hemiplegic moving his good leg forward a small amount and then pressing the control button 20 to activate the motor and drive the mobility device 10 forward about 50cm, thus taking the paralysed side of the hemiplegic forward for that distance.

The mobility device 10 will now be described in more detail. The wheels 16 are secured on axles 24, which are secured to a frame 26. The frame 26 extends upwardly to approximately waist height. The frame 26 supports a lower shelf 28 on which is placed the motor 18. The frame 26 may be height adjustable by means of the upright sections being telescopically mounted.

The motor 18 may be driven by batteries also stored on the lower shelf 28.

The foot support portion 12 is formed integrally with the lower shelf 28 and forms a projection which extends rearwardly from the lower shelf 28. In figure 1, the foot support portion is shown as being suitable for a hemiplegic having a left hand side of his body paralysed, but it could equally be the case that the foot support portion 12 is arranged to support a paralysed right foot instead.

Beneath the foot support portion 12 there is a castor 30, which allows pressure to be placed on the foot support portion 12 without the mobility device tilting backwards.

The foot support portion 12 also comprises a supporting shoe 32, arranged to receive the paralysed foot of the hemiplegic and secure the foot therein. A leg support (not shown) may also be provided to prevent the hemiplegic's leg from flexing. The leg support may take the form of a splint.

The lower shelf has a triangular projection 17 at its front end. The apex of the triangular projection 17 is supported by a castor 21, which is controllable by a lever 19 on an upper shelf 34 to steer the mobility device 10.

The foot support portion 12 extends approximately 40cms to the rear of the lower shelf 28 and has a width of approximately 40cms.

In figure 2 the wheels 16 are shown as castors which are supported beneath the lower shelf 28 individually, with no need for axles running between two wheels.

The upper shelf 34 is supported on top of the frame 26 about the height of the hemiplegic's waist. The upper shelf 34 has the control button 20 mounted thereon, suitably located for operation by the good hand of the hemiplegic. The upper shelf 34 also includes a hand support portion 14 which further comprises a supporting glove 36 in which the paralysed hand of the hemiplegic can be held in position.

An arm 38 (see figure 2) extends laterally from the side of the upper shelf 34 and curves round to the rear of the hemiplegic (see figure 2). On the arm 38 there is secured the back support portion 22 which may take the form of a corset to secure around the upper body of the hemiplegic to hold him in position. The back support portion 22 may be connected to the leg support (not shown) of the foot support portion. This results in the whole paralysed part of the body being given support, since during movement it would tend to sag.

In use, the hemiplegic secures his foot to the foot support portion 12, his hand and arm to the arm support portion 14 and secures the back support portion 22 around his upper body. Starting with his feet together his good leg, which in the accompanying figures would be his right leg, is advanced by about 35cms, up to the rear edge of the lower shelf 28. He then presses the control button 20 which activates the motor 18 to drive the wheels 16 forward by about 35cms, thus taking the left side of the hemiplegic with it. In this way the hemiplegic has advanced approximately 35cms and his feet are now next to each other again. The cycle can be repeated by stepping forward with his good leg and activating the motor 18 to advance further.

The hemiplegic's feet must be at the same level in order to allow an even gait. The hemiplegic may wear a raised shoe to bring the unsupported foot to the level of the supported foot in the foot support portion 12.

The direction of the mobility device is controlled by movement of the lever 19. Movement of the lever 19 to the left results in the castor 21 being turned to the left also, so that when the device moves forwards it will be steered by the castor 21. Similar movement of the lever 19 to the right will result in a right turn.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the mobility device 10, in which like features are given the same reference numerals as figures 1 and 2. In the second embodiment the mobility device 10 differs in that the lower shelf 28 and the upper shelf 34 have a triangular shape with a single front wheel 42 at the forward apex of the triangle. The shape of the second embodiment makes it more compact and more easily controlled.

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of mobility device.

In this embodiment the device is steered by means of a steering wheel 50 located centrally on an upper portion of the frame 26. A steering column 52 connects the steering wheel 50 and front wheels 16.

The frame 26 extends around the body of the hemiplegic to provide greater support. A hinged bar 54 extends behind the hemiplegic to restrain rearward movement should he lose his balance. The hinged bar 54 also has the back support portion 22 mounted thereon. The upper shelf 34 of the first and second embodiments is not present, since the frame 26 now surrounds the hemiplegic. The lower shelf 28 is still present but has been disposed on the left hand side of the frame 26 to provide support for the hemiplegic's foot only. The motor 18 is located on a small shelf 56 on the lower right hand side of the frame 26.

The mobility device described herein has significant advantages for a hemiplegic because it allows him to have greater mobility than would otherwise be possible, because he can walk unaided by another person. The results of increased mobility are that the physical condition of the hemiplegic is improved, particularly the physical condition of his lungs, intestines, kidneys, legs and his general mental state. The patient is not aware of the movement of the paralysed leg during the operation of the device, he uses the other side of his body during walking and is aware of this.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. An electrically driven wheeled metal frame which includes support and drive means.

2. A frame,as in Claim l, where the support means include a wheeled foot-supporting shoe,a hand-supporting glove and a corset supporting the body of the user.

3. A frame,as in Claim l, where the drive means consist of a heavy duty rechargeable battery,electric circuit,gears, starter button, steering device and automatic start-stop control to enable the wheels of the frame to turn a specified amount.

4. A frame,as in Claim 1,the height of which is adjustable by means of hollow vertical tubes and screws.

5. As frame,as in Claim l, made of metal,plastic or combination of both.

6. A frame,as in Claim which has a lower platform for housing the battery,gears and foot-supporting shoe.

7. A lower platform,as in Claim 6,which is designed to offer space for the forward movement of the user's foot.

8. The support means,as in Claim 2,are situated on the right or left of the frame depending on the nature of the user's disability.

9. The support means,as in Claim 8 and accompanying drawing, is designed for a user whose left-hand side of the body is paralysed

10. The support means, as in Claim 2,are the mirror-image of that in Claim 9,for a user whose right-hand side of the body is paralysed.

11. A mobility device substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing(Fig. la)