NO20181237A1

NO20181237A1 - Brake handle system for a rollator with a brake wire inside a frame

Info

Publication number: NO20181237A1
Application number: NO20181237A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Jonas Berg; Martin Dahl; Josef Tangen
Original assignee: Topro Ind As
Priority date: 2018-09-24
Filing date: 2018-09-24
Publication date: 2020-03-25
Also published as: WO2020067903A1

Description

Title: Brake handle system for a rollator with a brake wire inside a frame

Field of invention

[0001] This invention relates to support materials for elderly or disabled persons, more specifically to a brake handle system with braking wires integrated inside the frame of the rollator.

Background

[0002] The number and percentage of people using walking aids is increasing in most parts of the world, and the quality of life for these users depends on various support materials. Rollators are one of the most important ones and enables the users to remain independent, and carry out everyday tasks like shopping and move around according to own free will.

[0003] As users become more numerous and the number of firms selling rollators increases issues like design and user friendliness becomes more important. Positioning the brake wires inside the frame of the rollator will provide a cleaner look and also prevent entanglement of the brake wire with objects or the user.

[0004] Having decided to keep the brake wire inside the frame it is a problem that brake systems available are not compact enough to fit inside an upper part of the rollator immediately below the rollator handlebars which preferably is kept fairly slim. The solution to this problem is presented in this application.

Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention relates to brake handle system for a rollator with a brake wire inside a frame comprising a user regulated state, and a locked active brake state. The system further comprises a handle element comprising a grip, an upper and a lower handle pivot point with a wire fastener for a brake wire there between and a handle locking formation. The system furthermore comprise a handle base comprising an upper and a lower pivot formation mating with the upper and lower handle pivot points of the handle, a base locking formation mating with the handle locking formation and a pre-tensioned brake wire integrated inside the frame, and connected to the brake handle, pulling the handle towards the handle base. The system further comprise a left and right vertical guiding means limiting horizontal movement of the handle element and upper and lower horizontal guiding means limiting vertical movement of the handle to remain within the desired brake action movement.

[0006] The system further comprise a wire roller, directing the brake wire coming from the wire fastener in a direction downward through the inside of the rollator frame

wherein the wire roller is positioned such that an upper tangent of the wire roller (16) points towards the wire fastener (7) of the handle element and the two pivot points of the handle base are configured in a line mainly parallel to a centerline of the frame or extendable rollator shaft, whichever is present.

Brief description of the drawings

[0007] For better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Like numerals on different drawings describe the same feature.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the rollator in an unfolded state.

Fig. 2a shows a side view of the brake handle system not activated.

Fig 2b is the same view as 2a with the roller removed to reveal the lower pivot point.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the brake handle system in the user operated state.

Fig 4a shows a side view of the brake handle system in the locked state.

Fig 4b is the same view as 4a with the roller and wire removed to reveal the lower pivot point.

Fig. 5a shows a height adjustable rollator with extendable shaft in a low position.

Fig. 5b shows a height adjustable rollator with extendable shaft in a high position

Detailed description

[0008] When using words like upward, downward, front, back, etc. it is always with respect to an unfolded upright rollator 1 in normal use on a floor as seen in figure 1. The frame of the rollator might be adjustable in height by means of an extendable rollator shaft 19. The rollator shaft should be considered a part of the frame.

[0009] We will now describe a brake handle system for a rollator with a brake wire 8 inside a frame 2. The brake handle system have two states: a user operated state, and a locked active brake state, which may be called a parking brake. The user operates the brakes by means of a handle element 3 comprising a grip 4 for the hand. The handle element also comprises an upper and a lower handle pivot point 5, 6 with a wire fastener 7 for a brake wire 8 positioned there between. In order to produce a locked active brake state a handle locking formation 9 is provided.

[0010] The system further comprise a handle base 10, fixed to or integrated into the upper part of the frame, comprising an upper 11 and a lower 12 pivot formation mating with the upper and lower handle pivot points 5, 6 respectively. Also provided on the handle base is a base locking formation 13 mating with the handle locking formation 9. A pretensioned brake wire 8 integrated inside the frame is provided. Usually the pre-tension is provided by springs in the brake system near the wheel. The brake wire is connected to the brake handle, pulling the handle towards the handle base. Figure 2a and b shows the brake handle system in a neutral position. Figure 3 shows the brake handle system in a user operated / regulated state and figure 4a and b shows the brake handle system in a locked activated state.

[0011] In order to stabilize the handle element left vertical guiding means 14 and right vertical guiding means (not shown) is provided. The vertical guiding means limits the horizontal movements of the handle and in one embodiment the guiding means are left and right vertical surfaces against which the handle slides when operated. Furthermore upper 16 and lower 17 horizontal guiding means limits vertical movement of the handle to remain within the desired brake action movement. In one embodiment the vertical and horizontal guiding means together form a rectangle in which the brake handle moves.

[0012] In one embodiment the upper handle pivot point 5 and the handle locking formation 9 is the same and the base locking formation 13 is an indent 13 in the upper horizontal guiding means. Advantageously the edge of the indent 13, over which the upper handle pivot point 5 passes, is made of a more wear resistant material. In another embodiment the handle locking formation 9 is shaped as an indent and the base locking formation 13 is a locking pin (not shown) protruding from the handle base.

[0013] The brake handle system comprise a wire roller 18, wherein the wire roller is positioned such that an upper tangent of the wire roller 18 points towards the wire fastener 7 of the handle and the two pivot points of the handle base and preferably also the wire roller are configured in a line mainly parallel to a centerline of the upper part of the frame.

[0014] In one embodiment the brake wire enters a brake wire casing 15 positioned inside the frame immediately after the wire roller. It is also conceivable that the brake force is mediated by an open wire without wire casing.

[0015] In one embodiment the rollator is adjustable in height by means of an extendable rollator shaft 19 extending from the top of the frame. The brake wire casing is looped up towards the top of the frame after exiting the interior of the extendable rollator shaft. This must be done to counter the fact that a brake wire casing becomes longer when bent, which is due to the spiral wire in the casing opens on the outer side of a turn while having the same length on the inner side of a turn. The length of the central line of the wire casing is proportional to the accumulated absolute value of the bend angle of the wire casing.

Inventory

1. Rollator

2. Frame

3. Handle element

4. Grip

5. Upper handle pivot point

6. Lower handle pivot point

7. Wire fastener

8. Brake wire

9. Handle locking formation

10. Handle base

11. Upper pivot formation

12. Lower pivot formation

13. Base locking formation

14. Left vertical guiding means 15. Wire casing

16. Upper horizontal guiding means 17. Lower horizontal guiding means 18. Wire roller

19. Extendable rollator shaft.

Claims

1. Brake handle system for a rollator (1) with a brake wire (8) inside a frame (2) comprising:

a user regulated state, and

a locked active brake state,

a handle element (3) comprising a grip (4), an upper (5) and a lower (6) handle pivot point with a wire fastener (7) for a brake wire (8) there between and a handle locking formation (9),

a handle base (10) comprising an upper (11) and a lower (12) pivot formation mating with the upper and lower handle pivot points (5, 6) of the handle, a base locking formation (13) mating with the handle locking formation (9), a pre-tensioned brake wire (8) integrated inside the frame, and connected to the handle element, pulling the handle element (3) towards the handle base (12), left (14) and right vertical guiding means limiting horizontal movement of the handle element,

upper (16) and lower (17) horizontal guiding means limiting vertical movement of the handle to remain within the desired brake action movement, and characterized by a wire roller (18), directing the brake wire coming from the wire fastener (7) in a direction downward through the inside of the rollator frame (2), and

wherein the wire roller is positioned such that an upper tangent of the wire roller (16) points towards the wire fastener (7) of the handle element and the two pivot points of the handle base are configured in a line mainly parallel to a centerline of the frame.

2. Brake handle system for a rollator according to claim 1 wherein the handle locking formation (9) is the upper pivot point (5).

3. Brake handle system for a rollator according to claim 1 wherein the base locking formation (13) is an indent in the upper horizontal guiding means.

4. Brake handle system for a rollator according to claim 1 wherein the brake wire enters a brake wire casing (15) positioned inside the frame after the wire roller.

5. Brake handle system for a rollator according to claim 1 wherein the handle locking formation (9) is shaped as an indent and the base locking formation (13) is a locking pin protruding from the handle base.

6. Brake handle system for a rollator according to claim 1 wherein the rollator is adjustable in height by means of an extendable rollator shaft (19) extending from the top of the frame.

7. Brake handle system for a rollator according to claim 6 wherein the brake wire casing is looped up towards the top of the frame after exiting the interior of the frame extension.