Mobility-aid apparatus and method with cores having negative draft

A device for enhancing mobility of a physically-impaired person, the device comprising:

• a first member that comprises an elongated portion;
• and
• a second member that is configured to slidably receive the elongated portion of the first member and to have negative draft relative to the elongated portion of the first member;
• wherein extent of slidably receiving of the elongated portion of the first member by the second member helps determine at least two usable heights of the device for enhancing mobility, the device helping support weight of a person, including support in a direction of the slideably receiving;
• wherein the second member comprises plastic as a basis;
• wherein the second member defines a cavity that slidably receives the elongated portion of the first member along an axis of sliding, the cavity including an opening that receives the elongated portion of the first member, wherein internal diameter of the cavity becomes progressively greater with increasing depth along a segment of the cavity along the axis of sliding;
• wherein:
• the cavity is hereinafter referred to as first cavity;
• the axis of sliding is hereinafter referred to as first axis of sliding;
• the device further comprises a third member having an elongated portion;
• and
• the second member further defines a second cavity that slidably receives the elongated portion of the third member along a second axis of sliding and has negative draft relative to the elongated portion of the third member.

A device for enhancing mobility of a physically-impaired person, the device comprising:

• a first member that comprises an elongated portion;
• and
• a second member that is configured to slidably receive the elongated portion of the first member and to have negative draft relative to the elongated portion of the first member;
• wherein the elongated portion includes a spring support that presses against the second member to resist play by the first member relative to the second member, despite the negative draft, even when slideably receiving of the elongated portion of the first member by the second member is at more than a minimum extent;
• wherein:
• the second member comprises plastic as a basis;
• the second member defines a cavity that slidably receives the elongated portion of the first member along an axis of sliding, the cavity including an opening that receives the elongated portion of the first member, wherein internal diameter of the cavity becomes progressively greater with increasing depth along a segment of the cavity along the axis of sliding;
• the cavity is hereinafter referred to as first cavity;
• the axis of sliding is hereinafter referred to as first axis of sliding;
• the device further comprises a third member having an elongated portion;
• the second member further defines a second cavity that slidably receives the elongated portion of the third member along a second axis of sliding and has negative draft relative to the elongated portion of the third member;
• and
• the spring support is hereinafter referred to as first spring support;
• the elongated portion of the third member includes a second spring support that presses against the second member to resist play by the third member relative to the second member despite negative draft, even when slideably receiving of the elongated portion of the third member by the second member is at more than a minimum extent.

A device for enhancing mobility of a physically-impaired person, the device comprising:

• a first member that comprises an elongated portion;
• and
• a second member that is configured to slidably receive the elongated portion of the first member and to have negative draft relative to the elongated portion of the first member;
• wherein extent of slidably receiving of the elongated portion of the first member by the second member helps determine at least two usable heights of the device for enhancing mobility, the device helping support weight of a person, including support in a direction of the slideably receiving;
• wherein the second member comprises plastic as a basis;
• wherein the second member defines a cavity that slidably receives the elongated portion of the first member along an axis of sliding, the cavity including an opening that receives the elongated portion of the first member, wherein internal diameter of the cavity becomes progressively greater with increasing depth along a segment of the cavity along the axis of sliding;
• wherein:
• the cavity is hereinafter referred to as first cavity;
• the elongated portion of the first member is hereinafter referred to as first elongated portion;
• the second member is configured to slidably receive the elongated portion of the first member along an axis of sliding;
• the first member further comprises a second elongated portion;
• and
• the second member is further configured to slidably receive the second elongated portion of the first member along the axis of sliding and to have negative draft relative to the second elongated portion of the first member.

A device for enhancing mobility of a physically-impaired person, the device comprising:

• a first member that comprises an elongated portion;
• and
• a second member that is configured to slidably receive the elongated portion of the first member and to have negative draft relative to the elongated portion of the first member;
• wherein extent of slidably receiving of the elongated portion of the first member by the second member helps determine at least two usable heights of the device for enhancing mobility, the device helping support weight of a person, including support in a direction of the slideably receiving;
• and
• wherein the device further comprises a third member having an elongated portion, and the second member is further configured to slidably receive the elongated portion of the third member and to have negative draft relative to the elongated portion of the third member.

A method for producing an apparatus for assisting in ambulation, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first member that comprises an elongated portion;
• and
• providing a second member, including:
• forming a recess in the second member for slidably receiving the elongated portion of the first member;
• and
• tapering the recess to have negative draft relative to the elongated portion of the first member;
• wherein the first and second members are configured for extent of slidably receiving of the elongated portion of the first member by the second member to help determine at least two usable heights of the apparatus for assisting in ambulation for enhancing mobility, the apparatus helping to support weight of a person, including support in a direction of the slideably receiving;
• wherein the step of providing a second member comprises molding the second member of a plastic-based material;
• wherein the recess includes a cavity that slidably receives the elongated portion of the first member along an axis of sliding, the cavity including an opening that receives the elongated portion of the first member, wherein internal diameter of the cavity becomes progressively greater with increasing depth along a segment of the cavity along the axis of sliding;
• wherein:
• the cavity is hereinafter referred to as first cavity;
• the axis of sliding is hereinafter referred to as first axis of sliding;
• the method further comprises providing a third member having an elongated portion;
• and
• the step of providing the second member further comprises forming a second cavity in the second member that slidably receives the elongated portion of the third member along a second axis of sliding and has negative draft relative to the elongated portion of the third member.