US 10,588,815 B2Granted

Collapsible upright wheeled walker apparatus

AssigneeProtostar, Inc.

InventorsPeter James Fellingham, Yichuan Pan, David A Purcell, Nebojsa Sataric

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Abstract

A collapsible upright wheeled walker with adjustable armrests that support sufficient user upper-body weight to facilitate a natural upright gait and provide unassisted mobility for a wide range of mobility-impaired individuals. The apparatus may be easily and quickly folded (and unfolded) and may include bilateral stabilizing wheel suspensions to facilitate navigation over uneven terrain. The apparatus includes a frame-stiffening folder assembly and may also include mechanical brakes, an adjustable upper armrest assembly with removable padded forearm supports and two pairs of handles, at least one of which is disposed sufficiently forward to place the user within the polygonal footprint defined by the front and rear wheels to provide support without leaning, stooping, or risking falls.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An assistive mobility device comprising:

a first side wheel frame member having a front end and a rear end comprising:
a wheel assembly attached to the front end of the first side wheel frame member;
and
a wheel assembly attached to the rear end of the first side wheel frame member;
a second side wheel frame member positioned generally parallel to said first side wheel frame member, said second side wheel frame member having a front end and a rear end comprising:
a wheel assembly attached to the front end of the second side wheel frame member;
and
a wheel assembly attached to the rear end of the second side wheel frame member;
at least one first side support member coupled to and extending upwardly from the first side wheel frame member;
at least one second side support member coupled to and extending upwardly from the second side wheel frame member;
a first side adjustable upper support member adjustably coupled to and supported, at least in part, by said at least one first side support member;
a second side adjustable upper support member adjustably coupled to and supported, at least in part, by said at least one second side support member;
two forearm support members coupled to respective first and second side adjustable upper support members wherein each forearm support member includes a forward end, an opposing rearward end and a centerline extending from the forward end to the rearward end, wherein said centerline is disposed at an incline angle with respect to the walking surface;
two elongate upper hand grip members each coupled to respective upper support members, and positioned in front of the respective forearm support members wherein each upper hand grip has a centerline axis through the elongate member disposed at a forward angle relative to the respective forearm support centerlines and is further disposed at a transverse grip angle with respect to an axis generally perpendicular to the walking surface;
and
an X-folder apparatus comprising an elongate first member having first and second ends and an elongate second member having first and second ends, said first member and said second member rotatably coupled between respective first and second ends of the first and second elements.

13 more elements

An assistive mobility device comprising:

a first side wheel frame member having a front end and a rear end comprising:
a wheel assembly attached to the front end of the first side wheel frame member;
and
a wheel assembly attached to the rear end of the first side wheel frame member;
a second side wheel frame member positioned in spaced relation adjacent to said first side wheel frame member, said second side wheel frame member having a front end and a rear end comprising:
a wheel assembly attached to the front end of the second side wheel frame member;
and
a wheel assembly attached to the rear end of the second side wheel frame member;
at least one first side support member coupled to and extending upwardly from the first side wheel frame member;
at least one second side support member coupled to and extending upwardly from the second side wheel frame member;
a first side adjustable upper support member adjustably coupled to and supported, at least in part, by said at least one first side support member;
a second side adjustable upper support member adjustably coupled to and supported, at least in part, by said at least one second side support member;
two forearm support members coupled to respective first and second side adjustable upper support members wherein each forearm support member includes a forward end, an opposing rearward end and a centerline extending from the forward end to the rearward end wherein the centerline is disposed at an incline angle with respect to the walking surface;
two elongate upper hand grip members each coupled to respective upper support members, and positioned in front of the respective forearm support members wherein each upper hand grip member has a centerline axis through the elongate member disposed at a forward handle angle relative to the respective forearm support centerlines and is further disposed at a transverse grip angle with respect to an axis generally perpendicular to the walking surface;
and
an X-folder apparatus comprising an elongate first member having first and second ends and an elongate second member having first and second ends, said first member and said second member rotatably coupled between respective first and second ends of the first and second members.

13 more elements

An assistive mobility device comprising:

a first side wheel frame member having a front end and a rear end comprising:
a wheel assembly attached to the front end of the first side wheel frame member;
and
a wheel assembly attached to the rear end of the first side wheel frame member;
a second side wheel frame member positioned generally parallel to said first side wheel frame member, said second side wheel frame member having a front end and a rear end comprising:
a wheel assembly attached to the front end of the second side wheel frame member;
and
a wheel assembly attached to the rear end of the second side wheel frame member;
at least one first side support member coupled to and extending upwardly from the first side wheel frame member;
at least one second side support member coupled to and extending upwardly from the second side wheel frame member;
a first side adjustable upper support member adjustably coupled to and supported, at least in part, by said at least one first side support member;
a second side adjustable upper support member adjustably coupled to and supported, at least in part, by said at least one second side support member;
two forearm support members coupled to respective first and second side adjustable upper support members wherein each forearm support member includes a forward end, an opposing rearward end and a centerline extending from the forward end to the rearward end, wherein said centerline is disposable at an incline angle with respect to the walking surface;
two elongate upper hand grip members each coupled to respective upper support members, and positioned in front of the respective forearm support members wherein each upper hand grip has a centerline axis through the elongate member disposable at a forward angle relative to the respective forearm support centerlines and is further disposable at a transverse grip angle with respect to an axis generally perpendicular to the walking surface;
and
an X-folder apparatus comprising an elongate first element member having first and second ends and an elongate second member having first and second ends, said first member and said second member rotatably coupled between respective first and second ends of the first and second elements.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/397,897Filed 29 Apr 2019 · continuation
Priority: 16 May 2015
Published: US 2019/0254918 A122 Aug 2019
Granted: 17 Mar 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

A61H 3/04
Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about: wheeled walking aids for patients or disabled persons
A61H 2003/006
Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about: with forearm rests, i.e. for non-used arms
A61H 2003/046
Wheeled walking aids for patients or disabled persons: with braking means
A61H 2201/0161
Constructive details: size reducing arrangements when not in use, for stowing or transport

Family

Application62/162,706Us provisional application · filed 16 May 2015
Application62/215,656Us provisional application · filed 8 Sep 2015
Application15/148,993Parent of this continuation · filed 6 May 2016
Application15/415,769Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Jan 2017
US 9,585,807 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Mar 2017
Application16/114,821Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Aug 2018
US 10,085,909 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 2 Oct 2018
US 2019/0254918 A1Pre-grant publication · published 22 Aug 2019
US 10,322,056 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2016/0331626 A1Published application
US 2017/0319424 A1Published application
US 2018/0280226 A9Published application
US 2018/0360686 A1Published application
US 10,588,815 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.