Manual walk-assist and accessories combo
AssigneeNorval N. Fagan
InventorNorval Nicholas Fagan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lower extremity wearable, that functions as a walk-aid, for those with a limited ability to walk, or those incapable of walking unassisted. The walk-aid also provides for other functions curtailed by paraplegia, and other health issues. The wearable is complemented with added utilities that_aid with the everyday use of the walk-aid. With low to average flexibility of legs, and the ability to stand for a period of time, the user will be able to simulate a walking motion with recurrent swings of a handle, regardless of disability. In contrast to other walk-aids currently available, the functions of the walk-aid are achieved without any motorization, computerization or outside power source.
Claims7
A lower-body wearable walk aid, made essentially of light weight material, that allows the user to move and walk primarily via recurrent swings with a handle connected to a planetary gear, placed in proximity and adapted to be configured to the user's hips, with said walk aid comprising:
- two interlocked elongated cylindrical gears placed at the rear of the user adapted to be configured in proximity to the user's waist and connected to the planetary gear, with each of the two interlocked elongated cylindrical gears attached to an arm extension, which is further attached to a pad adapted to be configured to the rear of user's upper leg;
- a holding belt, adapted to be configured around the user's waist, against which the planetary gear is secured;
- an arm extension attached to the planetary gear, with the arm extension further attached to the pad adapted to be configured at rear of user's upper legs;
- a swivel joint, or other jointed connection, on the inner side of the planetary gear, wherein for every turn of the swivel joint, or other jointed connection, initiated by a lateral turn of the handle, there is a corresponding movement of the wearable walk aid in the direction of where the user wants to go;
- a trio of arches, each of which is adapted to be configured to the user's hips, knees and ankles, wherein the trio of arches includes an upper arch moves around the planetary gear, a lower arch that circumvents a first rotary disc adapted to be connected to side of the user's knee, and a third arch, connected to the lower arch by a lower leg-length extension, circumventing a second rotary disc adapted to be configured to the user's ankle;
- a pair of elongated tubes between the upper and lower arches, including corrugated casings enclosing inner springs, and tipped off with magnetized metal surfaces that fit into metallic allocated spaces of the trio of arches;
- the handle includes a pair of pull handles attached to the elongated tubes, with which the elongated tubes can be retracted;
- a pair of lifts, outfitted to footwear of the user, designed to move a pair of cogs at both the front and rear of said footwear, a conveyance between the two cogs, and a tab controlling movement of the cog;
- a pair of cranks, each attached to the first rotary disc adapted to be configured to the user's ankle and side of user's knee, with a connecting rod between the two cranks, attached to an extension that is top-ended with a support adapted to be configured behind the user's upper leg;
- and
- a collection of straps, that hold together components of the lower-body wearable walk aid adapted to be configured against the user's leg.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.