US20030094191A1

US20030094191A1 - Walk assistance device

Info

Publication number: US20030094191A1
Application number: US09/988,861
Authority: US
Inventors: Mei-Yu Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-21
Filing date: 2001-11-21
Publication date: 2003-05-22

Abstract

A walk assistance device includes a handle and a base connected to a lower end of the handle. Two brake members extend from two ends of the base and two frames are pivotally connected to the base. Each of the frames has two wheels connected thereto, a gap is defined between each of the brake members and the wheels. A spring is connected between each of the frames and the brake members when pushing the handle toward the wheels which are pushed upward by the ground to contact the brake members.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a walk assistance that has a brake member located above each of the wheels and the brake members are lowered to brake the wheel when pushing the handle downward.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional walk assistance device generally includes a handle and a base which is connected to a lower end of the handle. The base includes four legs so as to have a larger contact area with the ground when the user who is not convenient to walk normally uses the walk assistance device to walk. However, the user has to lift the device and put it to a new position whenever he/she makes a pace forward. This action is not convenient for the user because when the device is lifted, the feet bear the whole weight of the user and sometime it is a difficult task. Some manufacturers install wheels to the device so that the users do not have to lift the device from the ground and this saves a lot of efforts when walking forward. In order to operate the device safely, a brake mechanism is connected to the device and a brake lever is connected to a top end of the handle so that when the users press the handle, the brake lever has to be pulled to prevent the wheels from rolling. This is a complicated process for most of users who usually do not have enough muscle force on their hands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a walk assistance device which comprises a handle and a base connected to a lower end of the handle. Two brake members extend from the base. Two frames are pivotally connected to the base and two wheels are connected to each of the frames. A gap is defined between each of the brake members and the wheels. A spring is connected between each of the frames and the brake members so that the brake members contact the wheels when pushing the handle toward the wheels.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a walk assistance device which has wheels and the wheels are stopped when the user exerts force toward the wheels.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the walk assistance device of the present invention; [0006]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the underside of the walk assistance device of the present invention; [0007]
FIG. 3 is a side view to show the walk assistance device of the present invention; [0008]
FIG. 4 is a side view to show the walk assistance device of the present invention wherein the brake members brake the wheels when the handle is pushed downward; [0009]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view to show another type of the walk assistance device of the present invention; [0010]
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view to show the walk assistance device of the present invention as shown in FIG. 5; [0011]
FIG. 7 is a side view to show the walk assistance device of the present invention as shown in FIG. 5, and [0012]
FIG. 8 is a side view to show the walk assistance device of the present invention wherein the brake member brakes the wheel when a downward force is exerted on the device.[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. [0014] 1 to 3, the walk assistance device 1 of the present invention comprises a handle 10 which has a grip portion on the top and a height adjustable means 11 for adjusting the length of the handle 10. A base 12 is connected to a lower end of the handle 10. Two brake members 13 extend from two ends of the base 12.
Two [0015] frames 20 each include a shaft with two wheels 23 connected to two ends of the shaft, and two plates 22 extend from the shaft. The two plates 22 are pivotally connected to two flanges extending from two sides of the base 12 at the positions 21 which are the intermediate portion of the flanges. A gap is defined between each of the brake members 13 and the wheels 23. A spring 24 is connected between each of the frames 20 and the brake members 13.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the user exerts a downward force to the [0016] handle 10, the frames 20 are pivoted and the wheels 23 are pushed upward by the ground and contact the wheels 23. The wheels 23 are stopped when the user puts his/her whole weight onto the device 1 and no additional action is required. The user may move the device 1 by rolling it by the wheels 23 when shifting the device 1 forward.
FIGS. [0017] 5 to 7 show another type of the walk assistance device of the present invention wherein two U-shaped handles 30 are connected by two rods and each end of the U-shaped handles 30 has a base 31 connected thereto. Each of the bases 31 has a brake member 32 extending thereto and two frames 33 (only one is shown) are pivotally connected to each of the bases 31 at the position 35. A wheel 40 is connected between the two frames 33 and a spring 34 is connected between each of the brake members 32 and the frames 33. A gap is defined between each of the brake members 32 and the wheels 40 when no force is exerted on the handles 30 as shown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 8, when pushing the handles 30 toward the wheels 40, the wheels 40 are pushed upward by the ground to contact the brake members 32.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. [0018]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A walk assistance device comprising:

a handle and a base connected to a lower end of said handle, a brake member extending from said base, and

a frame pivotally connected to said base and a wheel connected to said frame, a gap defined between said brake member and said wheel, a spring connected between said frame and said brake member so that said brake member contacts said wheel when pushing said handle toward said wheel.

2. A walk assistance device comprising:

a handle and a base connected to a lower end of said handle, two brake members extending from said base, and

two frames pivotally connected to said base and two wheels connected to each of said frames, a gap defined between each of said brake members and said wheels, a spring connected between each of said frames and said brake members so that said brake members contact said wheels when pushing said handle toward said wheels.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said base has two flanges extending from two sides thereof and said two frames each have two plates which are respectively and pivotally connected to said two flanges.