US20080141911A1

US20080141911A1 - Tray for walker

Info

Publication number: US20080141911A1
Application number: US11/638,295
Authority: US
Inventors: James McKenna
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-14
Filing date: 2006-12-14
Publication date: 2008-06-19

Abstract

The present invention generally provides a removable tray suitable for use with a walker. The removable tray may have slots on each side for securing the tray around the legs of the walker. In addition, the removable tray may have a clamping portion on the bottom of the tray for further securing the tray onto the walker. A recessed area on the top of the walker may allow the user to safely and effectively transport items such as food, bags, books or other suitable items. The user may safely place both hands on the walker and use the walker for support while the tray is secured onto the walker. The removable tray may be removed from the walker when not needed or may be removed for travel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a removable tray suitable for use with a walker. The removable tray may have slots on each side for securing the tray around the legs of the walker. In addition, the removable tray may have a clamping portion on the bottom of the tray for further securing the tray onto the walker. A recessed area on the top of the walker may allow the user to safely and effectively transport items such as food, bags, books or other suitable items. The user may safely place both hands on the walker and use the walker for support while the tray is secured onto the walker. The removable tray may be removed from the walker when not needed or may be removed for travel.
It is known to provide walking devices to individuals who have difficulty walking. Such devices are often used by those recovering from an injury, surgery or those individuals who may be advanced in age. Typical walkers have two grasping handles and four legs. It is also common to provide wheels on two or four of the legs of the walker in order to allow the user to more easily push the walker. It is further known to provide a tray for use in conjunction with a walker.
The problem with many existing walker-tray combinations is that it is difficult for the individual to carry objects, such as a purse, bag, briefcase or the like, while using the walker. More specifically, because the user usually places his or her hands on the handle portion of the walker, the user's hands are not available to carry any objects. Attempts to correct this problem have resulted in some tray devices being used in conjunction with the walker. Some of these trays are removable from the walker and some of the trays are manufactured with the tray already secured onto the walker, although the tray must sometimes be rotated into a position for use by the individual.
However, previous walkers having trays are often difficult to use, difficult to secure and lack the advantages of the present invention. A need, therefore, exists for an improved removable tray for use with a walker. A still further need exists for a removable tray for use with a walker wherein the removable tray has slots for removably securing the tray onto the walker. Finally, a need exists for a removable tray for use in conjunction with a walker wherein the removable tray has a securing clamp for grasping the walker. Further, there is a need for a removable tray for a walker that may be placed on a walker at a suitable height for a variety of different functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a removable tray suitable for use with a walker. The removable tray may have slots on each side for securing the tray around the legs of the walker. In addition, the removable tray may have a clamping portion on the bottom of the tray for further securing the tray onto the walker. A recessed area on the top of the walker may allow the user to safely and effectively transport items such as food, bags, books or other suitable items. The user may safely place both hands on the walker and use the walker for support while the tray is secured onto the walker. The removable tray may be removed from the walker when not needed or may be removed for travel.
The slots of the tray are used to secure the tray onto the walker. More specifically, the legs of the walker may be secured within the slots of the removable tray. Depending on the size of the tray in relation to the walker, the sides of the removable tray may even extend beyond the legs and beyond the sides of the walker. As a result, the user may have more surface area on the tray for carrying objects.
The removable tray may further have clamp portions for securing the tray onto the walker. The clamping portions may be magnetic in order to better secure the tray onto the walker. Alternatively, the tray may also be secured to the walker by means of a hook and loop fastener system used in conjunction with the slots of the removable tray.
In the preferred embodiment, a tray for a support walker is provided having a generally rectangular rigid surface having a first side, a second side, a front, and a back forming a perimeter. Further, an opening is provided along the perimeter on the first side and an opening along the perimeter on the second side wherein the opening on the first side and the opening on the second side are at least partially occupied by a leg of the walker.
In an embodiment, the tray has a clamp located on a bottom of the generally rectangular rigid surface wherein the clamp receives a portion of the walker.
In yet another embodiment, the clamp of the tray is magnetic.
In still another embodiment, the tray has a recessed area on the top surface for safely and securely transporting items.
For a more complete understanding of the above listed features and advantages of the removable tray, reference should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and to the accompanying drawings. Further, additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of the removable tray of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom plan view of the removable tray of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of a walker and the removable tray of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side plan view of the removable tray of the present invention being inserted onto the walker.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of the removable tray of the present invention in place on a walker.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the removable tray clamped onto the walker.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the removable tray clamped onto the walker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention generally provides a removable tray suitable for use with a walker. The removable tray may have slots on each side for securing the tray around the legs of the walker. In addition, the removable tray may have a clamping portion on the bottom of the tray for further securing the tray onto the walker. A recessed area on the top of the walker may allow the user to safely and effectively transport items such as food, bags, books or other suitable items. The user may safely place both hands on the walker and use the walker for support while the tray is secured onto the walker. The removable tray may be removed from the walker when not needed or may be removed for travel.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts, FIG. 1 generally illustrates the removable tray 1. The removable tray 1 may have a first side 2, a second side 3, a top 4, a bottom 5, a front 6 and a back 7. The removable tray 1 may further have a plurality of slots 8. More specifically, the slots 8 of the removable tray 1 may be an openings along, for example, the perimeter of the removable tray 1. The slots 8 may be position at, for example, the first side 2 and/or the second side 3 of the removable tray 1. Preferably, the removable tray 1 has a total of four slots 8; two on the first side 2 and two on the second side 3. Each of the slots 8 may have a width 9. In the preferred embodiment, the widths 9 of all the slots 8 may be consistent.
The removable tray 1 may further have a recessed area 10 in which a user may place objects such as a bag, a book, food or any other object. The recessed area 10 may allow the user to place any object onto the top 4 of the removable tray 1 and reduce the chances of the object sliding or falling off the removable tray 1.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the removable tray 1 may be placed on a walker 100. More specifically, the removable tray 1 may be placed on, for example, two upper cross members 101 of the walker 100. The walker 100 may have at least one hand grip 102 located on a support bar portion 105 of the walker 100. The support bar portions 105 of the walker 100 may be connected to the leg portions 106 of the walker 100. A brace bar 103 may connect two or more of the leg portions 106 of the walker 100. Further, the brace bar 103 may fold to allow the walker 100 to be folded into a smaller space for storage. Typically, the walker 100 is symmetrical with respect to the upper cross members 101, hand grips 102, brace bars 103, support bars 105 and leg portions 106. Further, the removable tray 1 may be symmetrical with respect to the first side 2 and second side 3.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the bottom 5 of the removable tray 1 may have clamp portions 20. The clamp portions 20 of the removable tray 1 may essentially act as a claw gripping the walker 100. The clamp portions 20 of the removable tray 1 may be secured into, for example, the upper cross members 101 of the walker 100 (as visible in FIG. 6). In the embodiment of the removable tray 1 having the clamp portions 20 on the bottom 5, the distance between the clamp portions 20 at the first side 2 and the clamp portions 20 at the second side 3 should equal the distance between the cross members 101 of the walker 100. The clamp portions 20 may further aid the securing of the removable tray 1 onto the walker 100 and may prevent the removable tray 1 from accidentally sliding and/or falling off the walker 100. The removable tray 1 may be supported on the walker 100 by the upper cross members 101 of the walker 100.
The clamp portions 20 of the removable tray may be removable from the upper cross members 101 of the walker 100. More specifically, the clamp portions 20 of the removable tray 1 may, for example, removably snap onto the upper cross members 101 of the walker 100 or the clamp portions 20 of the removable tray 1 may be held onto the upper cross members 101 of the walker 100 by, for example, friction and/or gravity.
Referring now to FIG. 4, to place the removable tray 1 onto the walker 100, the removable tray 1 may be tilted so that the front 6 of the removable tray 1 is inserted into the space between the two support bars 105. The slots 8 of the first side 2 and/or second side 3 may be inserted around the leg portions 106 of the walker 100. In the preferred embodiment, the leg portions 106 of the walker 100 are completely located within the slots 8 of the removable tray 1. In an alternative embodiment, only a part of each of the leg portions 106 is inserted into the slots 8 of the removable tray 1. Placing the leg portions 106 of the walker 100 into the slots 8 of the removable tray 1 help secure the removable tray 1 onto the walker 100 and help prevent the removable tray 1 from falling off of or from sliding on top of the walker 100.
A user may tilt the removable tray 1, for example, so that one side of the removable tray 1 is lower then the other side in order to place the removable tray 1 onto the walker 100. While the removable tray 1 is tilted, the slots 8 of the first side 2 or second side 3 may slide around the corresponding leg portions 106 of one side of the walker 100. The user may then rotate the removable tray 1 into a substantially parallel position with the ground so that the slots 8 on the other side of the removable tray 1 at least partially surround the opposing leg portions 106 of the walker 100. In this second position, all the leg portions 106 of the walker 100 are at least partially within the slots 8 of the removable tray 1. To remove the tray 1 from the walker 100, the reverse process may be done. More specifically, the user may lift the one of the sides of the removable tray 1 and then slide the slots 8 away from the leg portions 106 of the walker 100. The removable tray 1 may then be totally removed from the walker 100 and stored or used in another manner. In order for the removable tray 1 to fit onto the walker 100, the width 9 of each slot 8 may be larger than each width 125 of the leg portion 106 of the walker 100.
In the embodiment having clamp portions 20, the clamp portions 20 should engage and be secured onto the upper cross members 101 of the walker 100. If the user of the tray is using an embodiment having the clamp portions 20, the user may need to apply some downward pressure to the top 4 of the removable tray 1 so as to lock the clamp portions 20 onto the upper cross members 101. To remove the tray from the walker 100, the user may need to exert some upward pressure on the bottom 5 of the removable tray 1 so as to disengage the clamp portions 20 from the upper cross members 101 of the walker 100.
Referring now to FIG. 6, while the removable tray 1 is in place on the walker 100, the slots 8 may be filled entirely or partly by the leg portions 106. (FIG. 6 illustrates a detailed sectional view of the line 6-6 in FIG. 5). Further, clamp portions 20 may clamp onto the support bars 105 of the walker 100. FIG. 5 illustrates the removable tray 1 resting on the support bars 105 wherein the removable tray 1 does not have clamp portions 20.
Referring now to FIG. 7, the first side 2 and/or the second side 3 of the removable tray 1 may be arched to receive, for example, an upper cross member 101. More specifically, the first side 2 and/or the second side 3 of the removable tray 1 may have a curved portion 1 10 which, for example, curves downward toward the bottom 5 of the removable tray 1. The interior space created by the curved portion 110 may receive the upper cross member 101 of the removable tray 1 to better secure the removable tray 1 onto the walker 100. The curved portion 110 of the removable tray 1 may act to hold the removable tray 1 onto the walker 100 by means of, for example, friction. Further, the curved portion 110 of the removable tray 1 may have a protruding rim 111 which may allow a user to easily remove the removable tray I from the walker 100 by providing a grasping mechanism.
Although embodiments of the present invention are shown and described therein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1) A tray for a support walker comprising:

a generally rectangular rigid surface having a first side, a second side, a front, and a back forming a perimeter;

an opening along the perimeter on the first side and an opening along the perimeter on the second side wherein the opening on the first side and the opening on the second side are at least partially occupied by a leg of the walker.

2) The tray of claim 1 further comprising:

a clamp located on a bottom of the generally rectangular rigid surface wherein the clamp receives a portion of the walker.

3) The tray of claim 1 further wherein the clamp is magnetic.

4) The tray of claim 1 further comprising:

a recessed area on a top of the tray.

5) The tray of claim 1 further comprising:

an arched portion on the first side and an arched portion of the second side wherein the arched portion of the first side and the arched portion of the second side receive a member of the walker.

6) The tray of claim 5 further comprising:

a flange located on a portion of the first side;

and a flange located on a portion of the second side.