# US 11,998,505 B2 · Anti-tipping apparatus for walkers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,505 B2 - Document ID: US11998505B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/988,872 - Filed: 2020-08-10 - Published: 2022-02-10 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-10 - Applicants: Avery Jordan Alperin; Vivian Nina Lorusso - Inventors: Avery Jordan Alperin; Vivian Nina Lorusso - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998505B2 ## CPC - 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}) - A45B 9/00: Details - A61H 2201/0184: by raising an alarm - A61H 2201/1664: linear - A61H 2201/1676: Pivoting - A61H 2201/5053: mechanically controlled - A61H 2201/5056: pneumatically controlled - A61H 2201/5069: Angle sensors - A61H 2201/5084: Acceleration sensors - 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) - A45B: WALKING STICKS (walking aids, e.g. sticks, for blind persons A61H3/06); UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS (cane or umbrella stands or holders A47G25/12) ## Abstract Systems and methods are disclosed for preventing tipping of a walking aid including a sensor configured to detect an angle of tilt in a forward direction of a walking aid, an actuator configured to determine whether the angle of tilt crosses a pre-set threshold, and a retractable support that prevents tipping of the walking aid, wherein the actuator causes the retractable support to extend from the walking aid in the forward direction to limit the tilt of the walking aid when the actuator determines that the angle of tilt crosses the pre-set threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a sensor configured to detect an angle of tilt in a forward direction of a walking aid; an actuator configured to determine whether the angle of tilt crosses a pre-set threshold; and a retractable support configured to prevent a tipping of the walking aid, wherein the actuator causes the retractable support to extend from the walking aid in the forward direction to limit the angle of tilt of the walking aid when the actuator determines that the angle of tilt crosses the pre-set threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the forward direction is measured in a horizontal plane along an axis aligned with a direction that a user of the walking aid is walking. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an electronic sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the electronic sensor comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a tilt sensor, or a gyroscope. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-set threshold is 80 degrees relative to a horizontal plane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises at least one of a mechanical actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or an electronic actuator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retractable support comprises at least two legs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least two legs are rotatably coupled to a frame of the walking aid to permit the at least two legs to pivot with respect to the frame of the walking aid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a retractor configured to retract the retractable support. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an alarm configured to indicate that a user of the walking aid requires assistance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the alarm produces at least one of an auditory signal or a visual signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the walking aid is a walker or a cane. ### Claim 13 A method configured to prevent a tipping of a walking aid, the method comprising: detecting with a sensor an angle of tilt of the walking aid in a forward direction; determining with an actuator whether the angle of tilt crosses a pre-set threshold; and automatically extending a retractable support in the forward direction upon determining that the angle of tilt crosses the pre-set threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the forward direction is measured in a horizontal plane along an axis aligned with a direction that a user of the walking aid is walking. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the pre-set threshold is 80 degrees relative to the horizontal plane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the retractable support comprises at least two legs. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein automatically extending the retractable support comprises causing the at least two legs to pivot with respect to a frame of the walking aid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein automatically extending the retractable support prevents a user of the walking aid from falling forward while using the walking aid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising retracting the retractable support after the retractable support is released. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising indicating that a user of the walking aid requires assistance. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein indicating that the user of the walking aid requires assistance comprises producing at least one of an auditory signal or a visual signal. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the walking aid is a walker or a cane.