US3165314A

US3165314A - Invalid walker and ambulatory aid

Info

Publication number: US3165314A
Application number: US208383A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jerome P Clearman; Bruce C Webster
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-07-09
Filing date: 1962-07-09
Publication date: 1965-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-12

Description

Jan. 12, 1965 J. P. CLEARMAN ETAL 3,165,314

INVALID WALKER AND AMBULATORY AID 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1962 INVENTOR. JERQME. P CLEARMAN, &

Erzuc: C.\NEBSTE.R

Jan. 12, 1965 J. P. CLEARMAN ETAL 3,165,314

INVALID WALKER AND AMBULATORY AID Filed July 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV NTOR. J'ERQME P CLEAZMAN,

Blzucs C.YWEE $TEIZ B flung A ATTORNEY Jan. 12, 1965 .1. P. CLEARMAN ETAL 3,165,314

INVALID WALKER AND AMBULATORY AID 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 9, 1962 INVENTORS JERQME CLEA2MAN BRUCE C'- WEE $TER BY M J-Zg ATTORNEY United States Patent 'Ofilice assists i atented Jan. 12, 1955 3,165,314 INVALID WALKER AND AMEULATGL'QY All? Jerome I. learrnan, 33 E. Lake Road, Honeoye, N312,

and Bruce (I. Webster, 2-69 Miilard Ave, North Tari ytown, NJY.

Fiied duty 9, 1962, No. 2 398383 2 Claims. (Qt. 272--7u.3)

This invention relates to an invalid walker, and more particularly to a device for permitting an individual who is incapable of supporting his or her own weight to raise himself or herself to a standing position and the present invention is adapted to be used for aiding such person in learning to walk.

The primary object of this invention it to provide an invalid walker for use by people who have diseases or conditions which cause disability such as disorders of the nervous system, disorders of the muscle, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, congenital anomalies, where by with the present invention invalids will be able to move fromplace to place as desired or required and wherein the present invention will be especially useful in helping such persons to walk or learn to walk.

A further object is to provide such an invalid walker and ambulatory aid which permits an individual incapable of lifting and/or supporting his or her own weight to raise himself or herself to a standing position and thus learn to walk, and wherein the present invention is constructed so that it will give the afiiicted operator maximum body support through a fitted chest piece which supports him or her in the chest and shoulder areas, so that the operator will be offered maximum support over extended periods of time while using the walker with a minimum of body fatigue, and wherein while the operators body is supported by the chest piece, his or her hands are free to operate the controls or to perform household or job tasks or duties, and wherein the present invention has its own self-contained power source, and wherein minimum effort on the part of the operator is required for raising, lowering or propelling himself.

Still another object is to provide such an invalid walker that is economical to manufacture and efficient in operation and which is rugged in structure and foolproof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the invalid Walker and ambulatory aid of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 1. I

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the wiring diagram and hydraulic mechanism.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1%) indicates the invalid walker and ambulatory aid of the present invention which is shown to comprise a horizontally disposed base 11 which includes a main body portion 12 that has integral angularly arranged side portions 13,

and the rear sections or ends of the side portions 13 are bifurcated as at 14, FIG. 3.

Side wheels 15 are journaled in the bifurcated portions 14 as at 16.

As shown in the drawings there is provided a rear caster assembly which is indicated generally by the numeral "17, and the rear caster assembly 17 includes a fitting or support member 18 which is connected to the main body portion 12 at the rear thereof by means of a pin or securing element 19, FIG. 2. The numeral 21 indicates a rear wheel which is connected to the member 18 by means of an axle or pin 2%, and the wheel '21 is adapted to have a rubber tire 22 thereon, FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 2 for example, there is also provided a-front caster assembly which is indicated generally by the numeral 23, and the front caster assembly 23 innumeral 26 indicates a wheel which is journaled in the plate 24 as at 27, and the wheel 26 is adapted to have a rubber tire 28 thereon. FIG. 1 shows the relative position of the Wheels including the front wheel 26.

There is further provided a hollow housing which is indicated generally by the numeral 2%, and the housing 29 provides or defines a cowling for a purpose to be later described. The numerals 3d and 31 indicate rear and front hydraulic lifts, and as shown in the drawings the lift 3% includes a lower stationary cylinder 32, a vertically disposed piston 33 which is telescopically or adjustably mounted in the cylinder 32, and there is provided an extension 34 which is adjustably or telescopically connected to the piston 33. The upper end of the extension 34 is hinge'dly connected as at 35 to a chest piece 36, FIG. 2, and the chest piece 36 has a yieldable pad 37 thereon which is adapted to be covered with a suitable covering 33. The chest piece 36 includes a main portion 3% as well as an upstanding flange or side portions 46, FIG. 1, and portions of the flanges 46 may be recessed or cut away as at 41. In FIG. 2 in broken lines the numeral 42 indicates an invalid or person using the walker of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, a guide pin 43 extends through the upper portion of the cylinder 32 and engages an elongated groove 44 in the piston 33, and there is also provided a guidepin 45 which extends through the upper end of the piston 33 and the pin 45 is adapted to engage an elongated groove 46 in the extension 34, and these interengaging pins and grooves provide a means for maintaining the parts in their proper aligned postion as'the lift is actuated.

The front lift 31 includes a lower cylinder 47 which is hingedly or pivotally connected to the base 11- as at 48, and there is further provided an adjustable piston 49 Which is adapted to telescope in the cylinder 47, and an extension 5% is adjustably or telescopicallyconnected to the piston 49. The numeral 51 indicates a pivotal connection between the upper end of the extension 59 and the chest piece 36. As shown in FIG. 2, a guide pin 52 extends throughthe upper end of the cylinder 47 for engaging an elongated groove 53 in the piston 49, and there is also provided a guide pin 54 which extends into the upper end of the piston 49 for engaging an elongated groove 55 in the extension 50, and these inter-engaging grooves and guide pins serve the same purpose as the previously described grooves and guide pins for the lift 36 that is they serve to maintain the parts in their proper aligned position as they are adjusted up or down.

The numeral 5% designates handle bars which have portions 57 pivotally connected to the housing 29, and the numeral 58 indicates a cross piece which is suitably affixed to the handle bars 55. Manually operable brake locks 59 are operatively connected to the ends of the cross piece 5%, and there is further provided manually operable brake handles d which are connected to the cross piece 53. Right and left selector switches 61 are justable, and the connector unit 62 is shown to comprise a bar 63 which has its upper end hingedly connected to the chest piece 36 as at 64. The numeral 65 indicates a ,fltting which is suitably aflixed to the cross piece 58, and

a rod 66 is affixed to the fitting 65, the rod 66 being adjustably connected to the bar 63. The numeral 67 indicates a lower tapered threaded portion on the bar 63, and portions of the lower end of the bar 63 may be split or slotted as at 68, and the numeral 69 indicates a manually operable roughened or knurled locking coupling or sleeve which is adapted to be threaded on the threaded portion 67 of the bar 63.

The numeral 70'indicates a suitable battery which is adapted to be arranged within the housing 29 above the base 11, and a recharging unit 71 of conventional coni struction is adapted to be used for selectively recharging f time, and the rewinding unit 73 n1ay be suitably supported by brackets or braces 75.

Also arranged within the hollow housing 29 is an electric motor'76 which is adapted to be electrically connected to the battery 70, and the motor 76 serves to operate or drive a pump 77, and the pump 77 is adapted to be used for pumping hydraulic fluid to or from the lifts and to and from a hydraulic reservoir tank 73, and the reservoir 78 is adapted to hold a suitable quantity of hydraulic fluid therein, as for example as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 7, a suitable on and off and reversing switch 79 is adapted to be electrically connected in the circuit, and the numeral 80 indicates a relief valve which is adapted to be used as a safety valve for use in the event the hydraulic pressure becomes excessive. The numerals 81 indicate solenoids in the electrical circuit, and the solenoids 81 serve to selectively actuate valves 82 which control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the lifts.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided an invalid walker or ambulatory aid, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, an invalid such as the invalid indicated in' broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 by-the numeral 42 is adapted to be arranged so that the chest piece 36 supports or engages the chest of the invalid 42, and the hands of the invalid are adapted to grip or engage the ends of the member or cross piece 58. Thus, this arrangement serves to insure that the major portion of the invalids weight will be supported by the chest piece so that the legs of the invalid can be moved in the usual manner inorder to move the device along from place to place as desired or required.

The chest piece 36 includes the side flanges 40 which helps insure that the invalid will not inadvertently or accidentally slip off of the chest piece, and the padding 37 which is adapted to be made of a suitable materal such as foam rubber or the like so as to insure that the invalid can be comfortably and safely and efiiciently supported. The padding 37 is adapted to be covered over with a suitable cover member such as the cover member 38 which can be made of a suitable fabric or the like.

There is also provided a means for adjusting the chest piece 36, and the means for adjusting the chest piece 36 consists of the front and

rear lifts

31 and 30 which are adapted to be hydraulically actuated as previously described. Thus, a pair of switches 61 are adapted to be suitably mounted on the cross piece 58, and these switches 61 are electrically connected to the solenoids 81, and the pair of solenoids 81 are provided for selectively moving or actuating the valves 82 which serve to control the flow of hydraulic fluid through conduits such as, the conduits or lines 83. Thus, with the main on and off switch 79 in on position, the motor 76 will be energized or actuated and the motor 76 is adapted to receivepower from the battery 76, and with the motor 76 actuated, the pump '77 will be actuated so as to pump hydraulic fluid from the reservoir 78 through aconduit such as the conduit 84, and by actuating both switches 61, both solenoids 81 will be actuated to thereby open both valves 82 so as to permit hydraulic fluid to flow through the lines or conduits 83 in order to actuate both lifts 30 and'31. Thus, if desired both lifts 3t) and 31 can besimultaneously actuated in order to raise or adjust, the chest piece 36 to the desired location or. position. Or, if desired, only one of the

lifts

36 or 31 can be actuated at a particular time and this is accomplished by manually actuating only one of the switches 61to thereby maintain one of the valves 82 open and one closed and this will permit hydraulic fluid to thereby be supplied to either of the lifts 313 or 31 as desired or required. This arrangement permits the chest piece 36'to be adjusted or moved to a plurality of different positions.

The lifts such as the lift 30' includes. the stationary lower cylinder 32 as well as the hollow piston 33 and the extension 34. Thus, by supplying hydraulic. fluid to the cylinder 32, the piston 33 will be caused to move upwardly, and as additional hydraulic fluid is supplied to the lift 30, the extension 34 will be raised. The pin 45 engages the groove 46 toinsure that the extension 34 will be maintained'in its proper aligned position as it moves up or down, and similarly the coacting pin 43 andgroove 44 serve to insure that the piston 33 and cylinder 32 will remain in their proper aligned position. v

Similarly the lift 31 includes the lower cylinder 47 which has the hollow piston 49 adjustably connected thereto so that as hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder 47, the piston 49 will be raised, and as additional hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder 47, this hydraulic fluid will be able to flow through the hollow piston 49 and then raise or lift the extension 50.. The upper end of the extension 56 is pivotally connected as at 51 to the chest piece 36, and thelower end of the cylinder 47 is pivotally connected as at 48 to the basell.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

' As shown in FIG. 1, the base 11 includes the main body portion 12 as well as the side portions 13, and this construction together with the construction'of the other parts including the housing 29 serves toinsure that the invalids legs or feet can be comfortably and properly positioned in'order to engage the ground or floor so that the device of the presentinvention can be properly used.

The rear caster 17 is arranged and constructed so that it Wlll coact with the other wheels such as the side wheels 15, and the front caster assembly 23 whereby the device can be readily moved from place to place as desired, and this construction serves to insure that the devicewill be properly stabilized during use thereof. Also, the construction and provision of the front and rear. caster as- 1 sembly serves to insure that the device can be easily turned or guided since these casters permit or facilitate turning movement thereof.

The brake handles 60are adapted to be manually ac- .tuated in order to actuate suitable brakes which are electric outlet or the like whereby the battery 70 may be Z3 recharged for subsequent use in energizing or driving the motor '76 which operates the pump 77. After the battery '70 has been recharged by means of the recharging unit 7 1.

which is of conventional construction, tension on the line or cord 72 can be released whereby the rewindunit 73 will serve to rewind or retract the cord 72 to a position such as that shown in FIG. 2.

The bars 56 have their portions 57 pivotally connected to the housing 29, and with the connector unit 62 connected as at 64 to the chest piece 36 and also connected as at as to the cross piece 58, it will be seen that the cross piece 58 will move or be adjusted to its proper positionas the chest piece 36 is adjusted or regulated.

As shown in FIG. 5, the connector unit 62 is adjustable, and this is accomplished by loosening the sleeve 69 whereby the relative position between the

members

66 and 63 can be changed and then the sleeve 69 can be tightened in order to maintain these parts stationary or immobile in their adjusted position.

The motor 76 may be of the reversible type so that by properly positioning or actuating the switch 7? the motor 76 can be used to drive the pump 77 in a forward or reverse direction in order to control the fiow of fluid from the reservoir 78 to either or both of the lifts an and 31, or else this arrangement can be used for returning or pumping the hydraulic fluid back from the lifts to the reservoir or tank 78.

With further reference to the front caster 23, it will be seen that the plate 24 which has the wheel 26 journaled therein, is rotatably supported by the ball bearings 25, and this construction permits the plate 24 to swivel so that turning or guiding movement of the walker of the present invention can be readily accomplished or brought about.

The flanges 4d are adapted to be recessed or cut away as at 41 so as to provide suficient clearance for the shoulders or arms of the invalid in order to insure that the device can be conveniently and properly used.

As shown in FIG. 2 the parts can be arranged in different positions, and for example the parts such as the chest piece can be arranged in the solid line position of FIG. 2 or else such parts can be arranged in the broken line position of FIG. 2. Thus, by initially arranging the parts in a position such as that shown in broken lines in FIG. 2,

the invalid can readily move or be moved so that the invalids chest engages the piece 36 when the piece 36 1S 7 in the lower position, and then switches such as the switches 61 can be manually actuated in order to actuate the lifts 3d and 31 whereby the chest piece as can be moved to a raised position as, for example, to a position such as that shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 whereby the legs and feet of the invalid can conveniently be used for propelling the device from place to place as desired, and when the device is being used, the chest piece as serves to support the major portion of the invalid so that walking can be accomplished with maximum ease or facility.

It will therefore be seen that according to the present invention there has been provided a new ambulatory aid to be used by invalids or disabled persons who may have had various types of diseases or disorders such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, disorders of the muscles such as myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, infectious diseases such as polio, metabolic disorders such as rickets or osteoporofis, or congenital anomalies such as spinabifida. The ambulatory aid of the present invention is a device which permits an individual incapable of supporting his or her own weight to raise himself or herself to a standing position and learn to walk.

In use, the parts may be initially arranged in the position such as that shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, and with the invalid or patient sitting in a chair, the patient can lean forward until his chest engages the piece 36, and then with the hands in position on the ends of the cross piece or bar 58, either or both of the switches 61 can be actuated by the fingers and this will cause either or both of the lifts 6 3t and 31 to be actuated so as to raise the chest piece 36 to the desired height so that the invalid willbe automatically raised to a standing. position whereby such persons can learn to walk with the present invention.

The chest support or chest piece as is padded as at 37, and the support 36 is adapted to be formed or shaped as shown in the drawings so that the patients body will be properly supported. The switches such as the switches 61 may be of a suitable construction and may be three-way switches. The numerals 60 and 59 indicate manual controls for the brakes for the wheels 15. The plug '74 is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy so that the recharging unit 71 can be used to recharge the battery 7t). The aluminum cowl 2 9 is adapted to enclose or cover various parts of the hydraulic and electrical mechanisms or units, and the base 11 is adapted to be made of aluminum. The outside wheels 15 have suitable brakes associated therewith, and in FIG. 2 the numeral'Zd indicates a pivot disk caster plate which forms part of the caster assembly 23.

Primarily the walker of the present invention permits an afflicted individual who is incapable of supporting his own weight to raise himself to a standing position and walk. An important feature or aspect of the present invention, insofar as its difference between existing ambulatory aids, is its ability to permit the aiilicted user to get into the device, raise himself and walk entirely without the assistance of a physical therapist or other person, and the walker of the present invention is constructed to aid individuals disabled by any of the Various diseases or disorders of the nervous system, muscles, or infectious dis eases, metabolic disorders or congenital anomalies.

The walker includes the cast aluminum base or frame which has the aluminum Wheels 15 connected thereto, and such wheels are adapted to be provided with rubber tires, and these outside wheels can be braked by the use of hand controls as which are located in a convenient position. The front and rear wheels are casters which permit the affiicted individual to turn the walker in any direction. Arranged above the base 11 are hydraulic and electrical components which actuate the hydraulic lifts, and this complete mechanism is covered with the aluminum cowling 29. The lifts are fastened to both the chest attachment plate 36 and the base 11. By adjusting the unit 67;, the handle member or cross piece 5? can be ad justed to fit individual requirements. By regulating the two hydraulic lifts either simultaneously or individually, the afflicted individual can raise himself from a sitting to a standing position, lower himself, or he can raise himself so that he assumes any desired position in between. Because of the construction of the walker, it can be easily manipulated over door sills, carpets and the like, and it also can be moved partially under beds, chairs, toilets and the like to facilitate mounting the walker. Its width ermits the user to navigate through narrow doorways. The present invention will be especially valuable in the medical field since it provides not only a training device for patients who would otherwise be confined to a bed or wheel chair, but it also can be used in the home or on the job to extend the abilities of the handicapped.

As shown in FIG. 4, the point at which the wheel 21 contacts the floor is not directly under the axis of rotation of the caster in order for the rear caster to track properly. Thus, the axle 2d of the wheel 21 isarranged oif center with respect to the pin 19 that is located in the frame portion 12 of the walker and the wheel 21 can rotate about an axis extending through thepin 19.

The front lift 31 is arranged so that it is free to swing forward and backward on its pivot pin 48 as the angle of the chest piece 36 changes. The valves 32 are adapted to be placed down in the base of the walker, one on either side of the point where the front lift is connected to the base.

Since the front lift must raise to a greater height than the rear, the lowest stage of the front lift must be longer than that of the rear lift, and as shown in the drawings lift can move in an are forward and backward as the chest piece changes its'angle relative to the horizontal.

The walker of the present invention is thus a new ambulatory aid or device which enables an individual in- I capable of lifting and/or supporting his own weight to raise himself to a standing position and learn to walk, and the present invention is designed to give the afiiicted operator maximum body support through a fitted chest piece which supports him in the chest and shoulder areas, and this method thus offers the operator maximum support over extended periods of time while he is using the walker with a minimum amount of body fatigue. In addition while the operators body is supported by the chest piece, his hands are free to operate the controls or to perform household or job tasks. Some of the unique features of the present invention are that it has its own selfcontained power source,;and that it requires minimum effort on the part of the operator to raise, lower or propel himself.

The coveringBS maybe of a suitable material such as suede or the like. The member 36 is adapted to be suitably recessed or slotted so as to provide clearance for the patients arms, and the piece 36 is also suitably curved or formed so that it will have the proper contour for the vice will enable the operator to keep the walker in a stationary position while he mounts the ambulatory device, and to stop the walker in a fixed position during any stage of operation. With further reference to the brake mechanism, when the operator pulls either one of the brake handles 66, a suitable cable is pulled and plate members which are contiguous to the wheels will be actuated by movement of the cable so that such plate members will move into contacting engagement with thewheels 15 to slow the rotary motion of the outside wheels 15,.and when the brake handles 68 are released, suitable spring members are adapted to release the brakes so as to permit the wheels 15 to turn. The locking members 59' can .be used as an emergency brake lock so as to hold the; wheels 15 in a fixed position and keep the walker in a stationary position, and either one or both brake handles can lock the brakes.

On the handle grips or members 58 are located two three-Way switches 61 which control the raising and lowering of the chest piece that supports the operator. The motor '76 which drives the pump '77 is reversible. One of these switches can be used to operate the motor 76 if desired, and determines whether the motor is to be off, pumping fluid into the lifts or drawing fluid out of the lifts and returning it to the reservoir, and this switch can also be used to open the solenoid valves which hold the hydraulic system in equilibrium and permit the fluid to flow Whenever the motor is activated, and the other switch can be used to determine whether the front, rear or both lifts are to receive or be emptied of fluid. Thus, it will be seen that if desired, through the simultaneous operation of theswitches, the operator can raise both lifts together, lower both lifts together, raise the front lift,

lower the front lift, raise the rear lift alone, lower the rear lift alone or lock the entire system in equilibrium. The switch '79 may be a dualcircuit three-way switch, and the switch 61 may be a three-way normal on switch.

' Pins such as the pins and 43 function as stop pins to limit movement of the extensible parts of'the lift, and

similarly the

pins

52 and 54 function as stop pins. As

shown in the drawings. the walker of the present invention includes front and rear three-stage lifts.

The present invention permits an individual to raise himself to astanding position and learn to walk. The handle bars can. pivot at the point Where they'are joined to the cowling so as to permit them to swing in an arc upward and downward as the front'of the chest piece is raised or lowered, and this keeps the hand grips andcontrols at a constant distance from the shoulder of the operator at all times.

Suitable rubber hand grips are adapted to be arranged on the ends of the members 58, and such rubber hand grips are indicated by the numerals 36 in FIG. '1. The brake lock 59 may be pressfitted into theends of the handle bar 58, and the numerals 66 indicate manually operable brake levers.

The unit 62 isadjustable so that the distance from'the chest piece to the handle bars can be regulated by loosening the locking collar 69 and then adjusting the parts to the desiredposition and then tightening the collar The slits 68 permit compression to take place so that 'with the locking collar 69 provided with the threaded tapered interior, by properly rotating'the collar 69, the

locking action can be readily accomplished.

The front caster 23 includes a wheel such as a 6-inch diameter wheel 26 that. is mounted off center perpendicular to an 8-inch diameter disk or plate 24, and the wheel 26 is adapted to rotate freely in the disk 24. The 24 is suspended in the base or frame of the walker on a race of ball bearings 25 and also rotates freely within the frame.

As the axle of the wheel 26 is mountedbehind the center point of the disk 24, a slight force in any direction other than that in which the wheel is rolling will cause the disk to rotate and piace the wheel in a direction coincidental to that of the force.

The rear caster 17 is of the cre'epertype, and the axle of this wheel is mounted at about 45 to'the horizontal so as to permit the use of a larger diameter Wheel than would normally be possible with limited vertical height necessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of deh tails coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired What is claimed is: V 1. In an invalid walker, a base includinga main body portion and angularly arranged side portions, said side portions having rcarwardly exposed bifurcated sections,

' side wheels journaled in said bifurcated sections, a rear caster including a fitting having a pin connected to said main body portion at the rear end thereof, an axle connected to said fitting, a rear wheel connected to said axle;

a front caster assembly comprising a horizontally disposed plate mounted in the front of said main body portion, bearing members contiguous to said plate, a front wheel journalcd in' said plate, a hollow housing on said 1 base providing a cowling; front and rear hydraulic lifts including cylinders having pistons adjustably connected thereto, extensions telescopically connected to said pistom, the lower end of said front lift being hingedly connected to said base, a chest support piece hingedly con- .nected to the upper ends of said extensions, and said chest piece having a covered yieldable pad thereon, handle bars pivotally connected to said housing,- a cross piece affixed to said handle bars, an adjustable connector unit including an upper bar hingedly connected to said chest piece, a fitting on said cross piece intermediate the ends thereof,v a rod having its lowerend affixed to said last -namedfitting and its upper end adjustably connected to journaled in the side portions of said base, a rear caster assembly connected to said main body portion at the rear end thereof, a front caster assembly in the front of the main body portion, a hollow housing on said base providing a cowling, front and rear lifts mounted above said base and having an adjustable chest support piece connected to the upper portions thereof, handle bars pivotally connected to said housing, a cross piece afiixed to said handle bars, an adjustable connector unit connecting said chest piece to said cross piece, and power means in said housing for selectively actuating said lifts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner. RICHARD c. PlNKHAM, Examiner.

Claims

2. IN AN INVALID WALKER, A BASE INCLUDING A MAIN BODY PORTION AND ANGULARLY ARRANGED SIDE PORTIONS, SIDE WHEELS JOURNALED IN THE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID BASE, A REAR CASTER ASSEMBLY CONNECTED TO SAID MAIN BODY PORTION AT THE REAR END THEREOF, A FRONT CASTER ASSEMBLY IN THE FRONT OF THE MAIN BODY PORTION, A HOLLOW HOUSING ON SAID BASE PROVIDING A COWLING, FRONT AND REAR LIFTS MOUNTED ABOVE SAID BASE AND HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE CHEST SUPPORT PIECE CONNECTED TO THE UPPER PORTIONS THEREOF, HANDLE BARS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID HOUSING, A CROSS PIECE AFFIXED TO SAID HANDLE BARS, AN ADJUSTABLE CONNECTOR UNIT CONNECTING