# US 10,765,584 B2 · Foldable frame construction for mobility aids

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- Number: US 10,765,584 B2
- Document ID: US10765584B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/238,607
- Filed: 2019-01-03
- Published: 2020-07-09
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-03
- Applicants: Shanq-Ching Shieh
- Inventors: Shanq-Ching Shieh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765584B2

## CPC

- A61H 1/00: Apparatus for passive exercising (A61H5/00 takes precedence); Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
- A61H 3/00: Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about (apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04 {; applying electrical currents by contact electrodes for stimulating motor muscles, e.g. walking assistance A61N1/36003})
- A61G 5/085: {folding up and down, e.g. reducing or expanding the overall height of the wheelchair}
- A61G 5/0866: {folding down backrest, e.g. where the backrest folds down onto the seat support}
- A47C 1/026: by means of a peg-and-notch or pawl-and-ratchet mechanism
- A61H 2201/0161: Size reducing arrangements when not in use, for stowing or transport
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)
- A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS

## Abstract

A foldable frame construction for mobility aids has a mounting frame, a pivotal arm, and an operating element. The mounting frame has a fixed end, a limiting end, a limiting hole formed through the mounting frame adjacent to the limiting end, and a through hole formed through the mounting frame between the fixed end and the limiting hole. The pivotal arm is rotatably connected to the mounting frame and has a positioning hole formed through the pivotal arm and selectively aligning with the through hole. The operating element is connected to the pivotal arm and the mounting frame to limit a position of the pivotal arm relative to the mounting frame, and has a fixing ring base securely connected to the pivotal arm around the positioning hole, an engaging bolt movably mounted in the fixing ring base, and a pull button connected to the engaging bolt.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A foldable frame construction for mobility aids comprising:
a mounting frame having
a fixed end;
a limiting end being opposite to the fixed end of the mounting frame;
a limiting hole formed through the mounting frame adjacent to the limiting end of the mounting frame;
a through hole formed through the mounting frame between the fixed end and the limiting hole of the mounting frame;
two pivot holes formed through the mounting frame at a spaced interval to dispose the through hole between the two pivot holes; and
a pivot shaft connected to one of the two pivot holes that is disposed between the through hole and the fixed end of the mounting frame;
a pivotal arm rotatably connected to the mounting frame and having
a pivotal end disposed away from the fixed end of the mounting frame;
a pressing end being opposite to the pivotal end of the pivotal arm; and
a positioning hole formed through the pivotal arm and selectively aligning with the through hole of the mounting frame;
a pivotal hole formed through the pivotal arm adjacent to the positioning hole, and aligning with the pivot hole of the mounting frame that is disposed between the limiting hole and the through hole; and
a pivotal rod connected to the pivotal hole and the corresponding pivot hole to enable the pivotal arm to pivot relative to the mounting frame; and
an operating element connected to the pivotal arm and the mounting frame to limit a position of the pivotal arm relative to the mounting frame, and having
a fixing ring base securely connected to the pivotal arm around the positioning hole;
an engaging bolt movably mounted in the fixing ring base and having
an inserting end selectively extending into the through hole via the positioning hole; and
a connecting end extending out of the fixing ring base and being opposite to the mounting frame; and
a pull button connected to the connecting end of the engaging bolt;
wherein when the pivotal arm is pivoted relative to the mounting frame to make the positioning hole align with the limiting hole, the engaging bolt is mounted in the positioning hole via the limiting hole;
a reinforcing rib connected to the mounting frame and the pivotal arm, and the reinforcing rib having
a connecting end connected to the fixed end of the mounting frame to hold the pivotal arm between the mounting frame and the reinforcing rib;
a linking end being opposite to the connecting end of the reinforcing rib, and pivotally connected to the pivotal arm and the mounting frame;
a curved segment formed on the reinforcing rib between the connecting end and the linking end of the reinforcing rib and surrounding the fixing ring base; and
two communicating holes formed through the reinforcing rib respectively at the connecting end and the linking end of the reinforcing rib, the communicating hole that is disposed at the connecting end of the reinforcing rib aligning with the pivot hole that is disposed adjacent to the fixed end of the mounting frame, and the communicating hole that is disposed at the linking end of the reinforcing rib aligning with the pivotal hole of the pivotal arm and the pivot hole of the mounting frame that is disposed adjacent to the limiting hole;
wherein the pivot shaft extends through the communicating hole that is disposed at the connecting end of the reinforcing rib, and is connected to the corresponding pivot hole to connect the reinforcing rib with the mounting frame, and the pivotal rod is connected to the reinforcing rib, the pivotal arm, and the mounting frame via the corresponding communicating hole, the pivotal hole, and the corresponding pivot hole.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The foldable frame construction for mobility aids as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotal arm has a flange formed on and protruding from the pressing end of the pivotal arm and selectively abutting against the pivot shaft of the mounting frame.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The foldable frame construction for mobility aids as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the mounting frame has at least one guiding slice aslant formed on and protruding from a side edge of the mounting frame adjacent to the limiting hole or the through hole;
wherein the engaging bolt is moved with the pull button relative to the fixing ring base, the positioning hole and the through hole, is separated from the through hole and abuts against the at least one guiding slice when the pivotal arm is pivoted relative to the mounting frame.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The foldable frame construction for mobility aids as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotal arm has a flange formed on and protruding transversally from the pressing end of the pivotal arm and selectively abutting against the pivotal rod.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The foldable frame construction for mobility aids as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the mounting frame has two guiding slices, and one of the two guiding slices is disposed adjacent to the limiting hole, and another one of the two guiding slices is disposed adjacent to the through hole;
wherein the engaging bolt is moved with the pull button relative to the fixing ring base, the positioning hole and the through hole, is separated from the through hole and abuts against the two guiding slices when the pivotal arm is pivoted relative to the mounting frame.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The foldable frame construction for mobility aids as claimed in claim 4, wherein
the mounting frame has two guiding slices, and one of the two guiding slices is disposed adjacent to the limiting hole, and another one of the two guiding slices is disposed adjacent to the through hole;
wherein the engaging bolt is moved with the pull button relative to the fixing ring base, the positioning hole and the through hole, is separated from the through hole and abuts against the two guiding slices when the pivotal arm is pivoted relative to the mounting frame.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The foldable frame construction for mobility aids as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mounting frame has a connecting tab formed on and protruding from the fixed end of the mounting frame.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The foldable frame construction for mobility aids as claimed in claim 4, wherein
the mounting frame has at least one guiding slice aslant formed on and protruding from a side edge of the mounting frame adjacent to the limiting hole or the through hole;
wherein the engaging bolt is moved with the pull button relative to the fixing ring base, the positioning hole and the through hole, is separated from the through hole and abuts against the at least one guiding slice when the pivotal arm is pivoted relative to the mounting frame.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The foldable frame construction for mobility aids as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the mounting frame has at least one guiding slice aslant formed on and protruding from a side edge of the mounting frame adjacent to the limiting hole or the through hole;
wherein the engaging bolt is moved with the pull button relative to the fixing ring base, the positioning hole and the through hole, is separated from the through hole and abuts against the at least one guiding slice when the pivotal arm is pivoted relative to the mounting frame.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The foldable frame construction for mobility aids as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the mounting frame has two guiding slices, and one of the two guiding slices is disposed adjacent to the limiting hole, and another one of the two guiding slices is disposed adjacent to the through hole;
wherein the engaging bolt is moved with the pull button relative to the fixing ring base, the positioning hole and the through hole, is separated from the through hole and abuts against the two guiding slices when the pivotal arm is pivoted relative to the mounting frame.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The foldable frame construction for mobility aids as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting frame has a connecting tab formed on and protruding from the fixed end of the mounting frame.