US3658079A

US3658079A - Folding walker

Info

Publication number: US3658079A
Application number: US73539A
Authority: US
Inventors: George P Block
Original assignee: CARSTENS HEALTH IND Inc
Current assignee: CARSTENS HEALTH IND Inc
Priority date: 1970-09-18
Filing date: 1970-09-18
Publication date: 1972-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-25

Abstract

A folding walker embodying a pair of side leg and handle frame units interconnected by brace means and which side leg and handle frame units may be manually moved into collapsed and generally parallel folded position in which they are latched by latching means embodied in one of the leg structures, and unlatched and returned to open walking position by applying manual pressure on the brace means to unlatch the side leg and handle frame units and then manually pivoting the said side leg and handle frame units inwardly toward each other and relative to the brace means and into inwardly folded or collapsed position, so that when both of the side leg and handle frame units are disposed in inwardly folded position they are latched in that position by latching means embodied in one of the leg structures. The folding walker may be readily carried by hand, transported in an automobile, or like vehicle, and stored in folded or collapsed condition when not in use, or used as a cane when folded into collapsed position. The new folding walker eliminates all parts, such as knobs, requiring pulling and twisting, and all push buttons, or similar parts, requiring hand manipulations which are difficult to operate and particularly for persons with arthritis in their hands or arms or persons suffering from strokes or similar disabilities.

Description

United States Patent Block 1 Apr. 25, 1972 [54] FOLDING WALKER [72] Inventor: George P. Block, Park Ridge, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Carstens Health lndustrles lnc., Norridge,

lll.

221 Filed: Sept. 18, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 73,539

[52] US. Cl. ..l35/45 A Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun Attorney-Charles B. Cannon ABSTRACT A folding walker embodying a pair of side leg and handle frame units interconnected by brace means and which side leg and handle frame units may be manually moved into collapsed and generally parallel folded position in which they are latched by latching means embodied in one of the leg structures, and unlatched and returned to open walking position by applying manual pressure on the brace means to unlatch the side leg and handle frame units and then manually pivoting the said side leg and handle frame units inwardly toward each other and relative to the brace means and into inwardly folded or collapsed position, so that when both of the side leg and handle frame units are disposed in inwardly folded position they are latched in that position by latching means embodied in one of the leg structures. The folding walker may be readily carried by hand, transported in an automobile, or like vehicle,

and stored in folded or collapsed condition when not in use, or used as a cane when folded into collapsed position. The new folding walker eliminates all parts, such as knobs, requiring pulling and twisting, and all push buttons, or similar parts, requiring hand manipulations which are difficult to operate and particularly for persons with arthritis in their hands or arms or persons suffering from strokes or similar disabilities.

1 Claim, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 3. 658 O79 saw 1 CF 5 l/VVEN7UR.

GEORGE f? BLOCK PATENTEIJAPR 25 I972 3. 658,079

SHEET 2 BF 3 l/VVE/VTOR. GEORGE F. BLOCK rowmo WALKER OBJECTS An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved folding walker embodying side leg and handle frame units which may be readily moved from open or extended position of use and into folded or collapsed position and from folded or collapsed position into open or extended position of use without manipulation of knobs, push buttons, or similar parts which require hand manipulations and which are difficult to operate and particularly by persons suffering from arthritis in their hands, arms, or fingers or other infirmities.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved folding walker embodying side leg and handle frame units and novel means for latching the side leg and handle frame units in open or extended position of use.

An additional object of the invention is to provide in'the new folding walker novel combination bracing, leg-latching and swivel mounting means for bracing the side leg and'handle frame units, latching the side leg and handle frame units so that they may be manually moved on the said swivel mounting means from open or extended position of use into folded or collapsed position and from folded or collapsed position into open or extended position ofuse.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the new folding walker novel bracing means for the side leg'and handle frame units and which bracing means serves not only as a bracing means for the side leg and handle frame units but also serves as manually operable unlatchingmeans for unlatching the latching means by which the side leg and handle frame units are latched in open or extended position of use and are held in folded or collapsed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the new folding walker novel auxiliary latching means for rigidly latching one ofthe side leg and handle frame units ininwardly folded or collapsed position while, at the same time, holding the other side leg and handle frame unit in inwardly folded or collapsed position.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the new folding walker in extended or open position of use;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the new folding walker as seen from the front in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view as seen from the right hand side in FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the new folding walker in collapsed or folded condition;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view on line 5-5 in FIG. 4 illustrating one of the latching structures embodied in one of the legs and one of the combination tubular swivel mounting sleeve and latching members which are embodied in the new folding walker and showing the manner in which the side leg and handle frame units are latched in inwardly folded or collapsed position by latching engagement of the latch structure embodied in one of the leg members with one of the combination tubular swivel mounting sleeve and latching members;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 6--6 in FIG. 4 illustrating the manner in which the latching means in the other leg structure is moved into and remains in unlatched position when the side leg and handle frame unit in which it is embodied is moved into inwardly folded position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the new folding walker illustrating the manner in which manual pressure is applied to the brace means at one side of the folding walker to enable the first side leg and handle frame unit to be moved into generally parallel folded and collapsed position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view illustrating the first side leg and handle frame unit moved into unlatched and folded position and showing manual pressure applied to the brace means to enable the other or second side leg and handle frame unit to be moved into inwardly folded position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating parts of the front leg structures of the side leg and handle frame units and showing the position of the latching means for the two side leg and handle frame units when the parts are in inwardly folded or collapsed position; 7

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the parts in open and rigidly latched position of use;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of parts of one of the combination tubular swivel mounting sleeve and latching members and the parts of the latching means associated therewith for latching one of the side legand handle frame units in open position of use and in inwardly folded or collapsed position;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary-exploded perspective view illustrating parts of the other combination tubular swivel mounting and latching sleeve members and the latching means associated therewith for latching the other side leg and handle frame unit in open position of use; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional plan view on line 13-13 in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE A preferred and typical embodiment of the new folding walker is shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, inclusive, of the drawings, wherein it is generally indicated at 15, and comprises a pair of generally U-shaped tubular metal side leg and handle frame units, generally indicated at 16'and 16a, and which are interconnected at the front of the folding walker by a combination brace means, leg-latching means, and swivel mounting means, generallyindicated at 17.

The combination brace means, leg-latching means, and swivel mounting means 17 includes a generally horizontally extending tubular brace member 18 which extends somewhat forwardly of the side leg and handle

frame units

16 and 16a and has outer rearwardly'

angled end portions

19 and 19a which are integrally attached to their outer end to vertically extending combination tubular leg-latching and swivel

mounting sleeve members

20 and 20a, respectively. The

sleeve members

20 and 20a provide a swivel mounting for the side leg and handle

frame units

16 and 16a, respectively, in addition to serving as a part ofthe brace means 17 and each ofthe

tubular sleeve members

20 and 200 also serves as a part of latching means for latching the side leg and handle frame units in latched and extended open position of use, as will be described more particularly hereinafter.

Each of the side leg and

handle frame units

16 and 16a includes generally U-shaped tubular metal leg structures, which are generally indicated at 21 and 21a, and which comprise tubular metal

front leg portions

22 and 22a, respectively, a tubular metal rear leg portion 23, and a generally horizontally extending upper handle portion 24 which extends between the front and

rear leg sections

22 and 22a and 23-23, respectively, at the upper ends of the latter, and has a hand grip 25 thereon.

Each of the side frame leg and handle units 16 and I6a also includes a tubular brace member 26 which interconnects the tubular front and

rear leg portions

22 and 22a and 23-23, respectively, of each of the side leg and handle

frame units

16 and 16a, below the tubular brace member 18.

The tubular bracing, leg-latching and swivel mounting sleeve member 20 has an upper peripheral end portion 27 which has a plurality of radially spaced latching elements in the form of two latching notches or recesses 28 formed therein. An annular latching member 29 is fixedly attached, as at 30, on the upper end portion of the corresponding one of the tubular metal front leg sections 22. The latching member 29 has a plurality of latching elements in the form of two depending latching tongue members 31 formed on the lower peripheral edge portion thereof, and these latching tongue members 31 are latchingly engageable in the latching notches or recesses 28 which are formed in the upper peripheral edge portion 27 of the tubular bracing, leg-latching and swivel mounting sleeve member 20. The upper peripheral edge portion of the tubular sleeve member 20 provides a cam surface 39, for a purpose which will be described hereinafter.

As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the other tubular sleeve member 20a has an upper end portion 27a which is provided with two latching notches or recesses 28a-28a, which correspond to the latching notches or recesses 28 in the tubular sleeve member 20 and, in addition, the upper end portion 27a of the tubular sleeve member 20a has a pair of auxiliary latching notches or recesses 40 formed therein and which extend axially downwardly from the upper peripheral edge portion or cam surface 41 of the tubular sleeve member 20a.

An annular latching member 290, which is similar to the annular latching member 29, is fixedly attached, as at 30a, on the upper end portion 270 of the tubular sleeve member 20a.

A generally cylindrical cup-like member 32 is mounted on the tubular front leg section 22, below the tubular sleeve member 20, and this cup-like member 32 has a lower end portion 33.0f reduced diameter which is fixedly attached to the tubular front leg section 22, as at 34 (FIG. 6).

The generally cylindrical cup-like member 32 has a coil spring 35 arranged therein and the cup-like member 32 has an open upper end portion 36. A disc-like washer member 37 is arranged on the tubular front leg section 22 on the upper end portion of the coil spring 35 and between the coil spring 35 and the lower end portion of the tubular metal combination bracing, latching and swivel mounting sleeve member 20 (FIG. 6).

Similarly, a generally cylindrical cup-like member 32a is mounted on the tubular front leg section 22a, below the tubular sleeve member 200, and this cup-like member 320 has a lower end portion 33a of reduced diameter which is fixedly attached to the tubular front leg section 22a, as at 34a, FIG. 5.

The generally cylindrical cup-like member 32a has a coil spring 35a therein and the cup-like member 350 has an open upper end 360. A disc-like washer member 370 is arranged on the tubular front leg section 220 on the upper end portion of the coil spring 350, and between the coil spring 350 and the lower end portion of the tubular metal combination bracing, latching and swivel mounting member 20a (FIG.

OPERATION When the new folding walker is in extended position of use, as in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, the side leg and

handle frame units

16 and 16a are disposed in generally parallel spaced relationship and are interconnected by the combination brace, leg-latching and swivel mounting means 17-l8-19-l9a-20- 2011 so that the user may employ the new folding walker by grasping the hand grips 25 on the handle members 24 and successively lifting and lowering the folding walker as the user moves forwardly in a walking motion, as is well understood in the art.

When the new folding walker I5 is in extended position of use, as in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, the side leg and handle

frame units

16 and 16a are maintained in latched and generally parallel position, and the side leg and handle

frame units

16 and 16a are prevented from collapsing inwardly toward each other, by the latching engagement of the latching tongue portions 31 of the latching member 29, on the tubular front leg section 22, in the latching notches or recesses 28 which are formed in the upper end portion 27 ofthe tubular bracing, leglatching and swivel mounting sleeve member 20, and by the latching engagement of the latching tongue members 31a on the latching member 29a in the latching notches or recesses 28a which are formed in the upper end portion 270 of the tubular sleeve member 294, as shown in.FlGS. 1, 2, 3 and 10. When the side leg and handle

frame units

16 and 16a are thus disposed in open or extended position of use, as in FIGS. 1, 2,.

3 and 10, the tubular metal bracing, leg-latching and swivel mounting sleeve members and 20a are urged upwardly into latching engagement with the

latching members

29 and 29a, respectively, by the coil springs 35 (FIGS. 5 and 6).

However, when the user desires to fold or collapse the new folding walker 15 into inwardly folded or collapsed position, as in FIG. 4, to facilitate manually carrying it or for placement in an automobile, or other vehicle, or for storing it when not in use, or for use as a cane, this may be readily accomplished by applying manual downward pressure with one hand on the tubular brace member 18, adjacent one end thereof, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 7 of the drawings. This downward manual pressure on the tubular metal brace member 18 acts, through the adjacent rearwardly angled outer end portion 19a thereof, to force the corresponding tubular metal combination brace, leg-latching and swivel mounting member 20a, downwardly on the tubular front leg section 220, against the action of the corresponding coil spring 35a, thereby moving the notching or latching recesses 28a in the upper end portion 27a of the tubular sleeve member 20a out oflatching engagement with the latching tongue members 31a on the latching member 29a, whereupon the first side leg and handle frame unit 16a may be moved or swung on the tubular sleeve member 20a into partially open position, as indicated in FIG. 8. During this operation the latching tongue members 31a on the latching member 290 ride up onto the upper peripheral edge portions or cam surface 41 of the tubular sleeve member 20a. 7

The-user may then apply downward manual pressure on the other outer end portion 19 of the front tubular brace member l8, as indicated by the arrows at the right in FIG. 8, whereupon the user may then grasp the handle grip 25 on the side leg and handle frame unit 16 and swing or pivot it on the tubular metal combination bracing, latching and swivel mounting sleeve member 20 into inwardly folded or collapsed position, inwardly of the other side leg and handle frame unit 16a, as shown in FIG. 4. During this operation the side leg and handle frame unit 16, and the tubular metal front leg section 22 thereof, swivel in and relative to the tubular metal bracing, latching and swivel mounting sleeve member 20 which forms an integral part of the tubular metal brace means 17 -18-19- l9a-20-20a. As the side leg and handle frame unit 16 is thus moved into inwardly folded or collapsed position, as in FIG. 4, the upper peripheral edge portion or cam surface 29 ofthe tubular sleeve member 20 and the latching tongue members 31 remain in this position that is, in engagement with the upper peripheral edge portion or cam surface 39 of the tubular sleeve member 20, while the side leg and handle frame unit 16 is in inwardly folded or collapsed position, as in FIG. 4.

The operation of collapsing or folding the new folding walker 15 may then be completed by grasping the hand grip member 25 on the side leg and handle frame unit 16a and swinging it into fully collapsed or inwardly folded position, against but outwardly ofthe side leg and handle frame unit 16, as shown in FIG. 4. During this operation the latching tongue members 31a on the latching member 290 come into registry with the auxiliary latching notches or recesses 40 in the upper end portion 27a of the tubular sleeve member 200 whereupon the then tensioned coil spring 250 urges the tubular sleeve member 20a upwardly in and relative to the front leg structure 220, thereby rigidly latching the side leg and handle frame unit 16a in inwardly folded or collapsed position, outwardly of the side leg and handle frame unit 16, and thus maintaining both of the side leg and handle

frame units

16 and 16a in inwardly folded and collapsed position, as in FIG. 4.

When the new folding walker 15 is thus collapsed into folded or collapsed position, as in FIG. 4, it may readily be carried by hand, or placed in an automobile, or like vehicle, or stored when not in use, or used as a cane.

In order to move the side leg and handle

frame units

16 and 16a from inwardly folded or collapsed position, as in FIG. 4, into extended or open position of use as in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, the user first grasps with one hand and applies downward manualpressure on the end portion 19a of the tubular metal brace means l7-l8-l9-l9a-20-20a, thereby forcing the tubular metal bracing, leg-latching and swivel mounting sleeve member 20a downwardly, against the action of the coil spring 35a, while, at the same time, with the other hand swinging the side leg and handle frame unit 16 outwardly on the tubular sleeve member 20a into open or extended position, as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. During this operation thev latching tongue members 31a on the latching member 290 move out of the auxiliary latching notches or recesses 40 in the upper end portion 27a of the tubular sleeve member 20 and onto the upper edge or cam surface 41 ofthe tubular sleeve member 20a, and as the side leg and handle frame unit 16 reaches its fully extended or open position, as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the then tensioned coil spring 35a urges the tubular sleeve member 20a upwardly, thereby causing the latching notches or recesses 28a therein to latchingly engage the latching tongue members 31a on the latching member 290 and thus latch the side leg and handle frame unit 16 in fully open or extended position of use, as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The other side leg and frame unit 16 may then be manually pivoted on the tubular sleeve member 20 from its inwardly folded or collapsed position, as in FIG. 4, into open or extended position of use, as in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive. During this operation the latching tongue members 31 on the latching member 29 on the upper peripheral edge or cam surface 39 of the tubular sleeve member 20and when the side leg and handle frame unit 16 comes into fully open or extended position, the latching tongue members 31 on the latching members 29 come into registry with the latching notches or recesses 28 in the upper end portion 27 of the tubular sleeve member 20, whereupon the then tensioned coil spring 35 urges the tubular sleeve member 20 upwardly, thereby latchingly engaging the latching notches or recesses in the tubular sleeve member 20 with the latching tongue members 31 on the latching member 29, and thus latching the side leg and handle frame unit 16in fully open or extended position of use, as in FIGS. 1,2 and 3.

As described hereinbefore, the construction of the new folding walker is such that the tubular metal sleeve members and 20a perform a number of functions, namely (1) they form a part of the tubular metal brace means 17-18-19- l9a-20-20a for bracing the side leg and handle frame units 16 and 16a in open or extended position of use as in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive; (2) they also serve, in cooperation with the latching members 29 and 29a, as latching means for latching the side leg and handle frame units 16 and 16a in open or extended position ofuse, as in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive; (3) they also serve as swivel mounting means for the side leg and handle frame units 16 and 16a and the tubular metal front leg sections 22 and 22a thereof which swivel in and relative to the tubular metal sleeve members 20 and 20a as and when the side leg and handle frame units 16 and 16a and their front leg sections 22 and 22a are pivoted or swung inwardly from extended or open position of use, as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, into folded or collapsed position, as in FIG. 4, and when the side leg and handle frame units 16 and 16a are manually swung outwardly from inwardly folded or collapsed position, as in FIG. 4, into open or extended position of use, as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; (4) and the tubular sleeve member 200 and the auxiliary latching notches or recesses 40 therein cooperate with the latching tongue members 310 on the latching member 29a to latch the side leg and handle frame unit 160 in inwardly folded or collapsed position, so as to retain both of the side leg and handle frame units 16 and 16a firmly in inwardly folded or collapsed position, as in FIG. 4; and (5) the bracing means l7-18l9-19a-2020a serves not only as a bracing means for the side leg and handle frame units 16 and 16a but also as a means for unlatching the main latching means 29-31-20-27-28 and 29a-3la-20a- 27a-28a which latch the side leg and handle frame units 16 and 16a in open or extended position of use, as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, but also serves as means for unlatching the auxiliary latching means 29a-3la-27a-20a-40 which latches the side leg and handle frame unit 160 in collapsed or folded position, as in FIG. 4.

It will be noted that the operation of moving the side leg and handle

frame units

16 and 16a from open position of use into inwardly folded or collapsed position, as in FIG. 4, and moving the side leg and handle

frame units

16 and 160 from collapsed or inwardly folded position, as in FIG. 4, into open or extended position of use, as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, may be readily accomplished in the use ofthe new folding walker 15 without the need for manipulating any screws, latching knobs, push buttons, or other devices which are difficult for many people to operate, such as persons suffering from arthritis in their hands, fingers or arms, or from strokes or other infirmities.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and improved folding walker having the desirable advantages and characteristics and accomplishing its intended objects including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

Iclaim:

1. A folding walker comprising:

a. a pair of spaced combination leg and handle frame units each including 1. a front leg structure, 2. a rear leg structure, and 3. handle means interconnecting each of said front leg structures with the corresponding one of said rear leg structures;

. brace means at the front of and interconnecting the said front leg structures of the said combination leg and handle frame units;

c. a pair of mounting means on said brace means for movably mounting each of the said combination leg and handle frame units for movement from their generally parallel position of use into inwardly folded or collapsed position and from their inwardly folded or collapsed position into generally parallel position of use;

d. a pair of latching means coacting with and under the control of the said mounting means and the said brace means for latching the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid latched relationship to the said brace means and to the said mounting means in generally parallel open position of use;

the said brace means including a transverse brace member extending between the said combination leg and handle frame units at the front thereof;

each of the saidfront leg structures including a front leg member;

. each of said mounting means including a tubular sleeve member slidably mounted on the corresponding one of the said front leg members and integrally attached to one of the outer end portions of the said transverse brace member and having the corresponding one of said front leg members swivelly mounted therein;

. each of said latching means including l. a latch member on each of the said front leg members above the corresponding one of the said tubular sleeve members;

. a latching element on the upper end of the corresponding one of the said tubular sleeve members and latchingly engageable with the corresponding one of the said latch members on the front leg members to latch the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid relationship with the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members, and 3. auxiliary latching means for latching the said one ofthe said combination leg and handle frame units in inwardly folded or collapsed position rearwardly of the said transverse brace member;

. resilient means carried by each of the said front leg members and normally urging the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members and the said latching elements thereon upwardly on and relative to the said front leg members so as to move the said latching elements into latching engagement with the said latch member; and

. a generally cylindrical cup-like member on each front leg member below the corresponding tubular sleeve member and having a lower end portion, said cup-like member being fixed on the front leg member and having an open upper end, said resilient means disposed within and conmanual pressure applied downwardly on the said transverse brace member, against the action of the said resilient means, so as to enable the said combination leg and handle frame units to be manually moved into collapsed or inwardly folded position relative to each other.

Claims

1. A folding walker comprising: a. a pair of spaced combination leg and handle frame units each including 1. a front leg structure, 2. a rear leg structure, and 3. handle means interconnecting each of said front leg structures with the corresponding one of said rear leg structures; b. brace means at the front of and interconnecting the said front leg structures of the said combination leg and handle frame units; c. a pair of mounting means on said brace means for movably mounting each of the said combination leg and handle frame units for movement from their generally parallel position of use into inwardly folded or collapsed position and from their inwardly folded or collapsed position into generally parallel position of use; d. a pair of latching means coacting with and under the control of the said mounting means and the said brace means for latching the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid latched relationship to the said brace means and to the said mounting means in generally parallel open position of use; e. the said brace means including a transverse brace member extending between the said combination leg and handle frame units at the front thereof; f. each of the said front leg structures including a front leg member; g. each of said mounting means including a tubular sleeve member slidably mounted on the corresponding one of the said front leg members and integrally attached to one of the outer end portions of the said transverse brace member and having the corresponding one of said front leg members swivelly mounted therein; h. each of said latching means including 1. a latch member on each of the said front leg members above the corresponding one of the said tubular sleeve members; 2. a latching element on the upper end of the corresponding one of the said tubular sleeve members and latchingly engageable with the corresponding one of the said latch members on the front leg members to latch the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid relationship with the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members, and 3. auxiliary latching means for latching the said one of the said combination leg and handle frame units in inwardly folded or collapsed position rearwardly of the said transverse brace member; i. resilient means carried by each of the said front leg members and normally urging the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members and the said latching elements thereon upwardly on and relative to the said front leg members so as to move the said latching elements into latching engagement with the said latch member; and j. a generally cylindrical cup-like member on each front leg member below the corresponding tubular sleeve member and having a lower end portion, said cup-like member being fixed on the front leg member and having an open upper end, said resilient means disposed within and confined in the cup-like member and engaged at one end with the lower end portion of the cup-like member and in engagement at its other end with the lower end of the tubular sleeve member; k. the said latching elements on the said tubular sleeve members being movable out of latching engagement with the said latch members on the said front leg members by manual pressure applied downwardly on the said transverse brace member, against the action of the said resilient means, so as to enable the said combination leg and handle frame units to be manually moved into collapsed or inwardly folded position relative to each other.

2. a rear leg structure, and

2. a latching element on the upper end of the corresponding one of the said tubular sleeve members and latchingly engageable with the corresponding one of the said latch members on the front leg members to latch the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid relationship with the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members, and

3. handle means interconnecting each of said front leg structures with the corresponding one of said rear leg structures; b. brace means at the front of and interconnecting the said front leg structures of the said combination leg and handle frame units; c. a pair of mounting means on said brace means for movably mounting each of the said combination leg and handle frame units for movement from their generally parallel position of use into inwardly folded or collapsed position and from their inwardly folded or collapsed position into generally parallel position of use; d. a pair of latching means coacting with and under the control of the said mounting means and the said brace means for latching the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid latched relationship to the said brace means and to the said mounting means in generally parallel open position of use; e. the said brace means including a transverse brace member extending between the said combination leg and handle frame units at the front thereof; f. each of the said front leg structures including a front leg member; g. each of said mounting means including a tubular sleeve member slidably mounted on the corresponding one of the said front leg members and integrally attached to one of the outer end portions of the said transverse brace member and having the corresponding one of said front leg members swivelly mounted therein; h. each of said latching means including

3. auxiliary latching means for latching the said one of the said combination leg and handle frame units in inwardly folded or collapsed position rearwardly of the said transverse brace member; i. resilient means carried by each of the said front leg members and normally urging the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members and the said latching elements thereon upwardly on and relative to the said front leg members so as to move the said latching elements into latching engagement with the said latch member; and j. a generally cylindrical cup-like member on each front leg member below the corresponding tubular sleeve member and having a lower end portion, said cup-like member being fixed on the front leg member and having an open upper end, said resilient means disposed within and confined in the cup-like member and engaged at one end with the lower end portion of the cup-like member and in engagement at its other end with the lower end of the tubular sleeve member; k. the said latching elements on the said tubular sleeve members being movable out of latching engagement with the said latch members on the said front leg members by manual pressure applied downwardly on the said transverse brace member, against the action of the said resilient means, so as to enable the said combination leg and handle frame units to be manually moved into collapsed or inwardly folded position relative to each other.