US3442276A - Foldable swingable walker - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1969 W, EDW ET AL 3,442,276

FOLD ABLE SW INGABLE WALKER Filed NOV. 29, 1.967

ATTORNEY United States Patent roe, N.Y. 10950 Filed Nov. 29, 1967, Ser. No. 695,537 Int. Cl. A45b 1/00; A61h 3/00 U.S. Cl. 135-45 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A foldable swingable walker is shown having a pair of opposed pivotably movable supports each of which includes a pair of opposed depending legs. Adjoining the top portions of the leg members of each support to one another is a first connecting member. A first transverse bar having a pair of end portions embraceably retaining adjacent leg portions therewithin extends across the walker from one of the supports to the other of the supports. The intermediate portion of the transverse bar extends outwardly.

Connecting the upper intermediate portions of each of the leg members of each support to one another is a second connecting member. A transverse bar having stop members at the end portions thereof is pivotally connected to each second connecting member.

6 Claims This invention relates to a foldable swingable walker having a number of important advantages.

In the conventional walking device utilized by an invalid it is preferable for the walker to swing a predetermined distance as the walker is utilized. The swing cannot exceed the predetermined distance since otherwise the user of the device would no longer have the necessary support. Also, in devices of this character, the walker should be capable of folding into a small package when not in use.

It has been very difficult heretofore to manufacture such a device. Conventional devices have been bulky, hard to handle, expensive, and subject to failure.

The walker of this invention avoids the disadvantages of prior constructions.

The above constitutes a brief description of this invention and some of the objects and advantages thereof. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The invention will be further described by reference to the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this specification.

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a foldable swingable walker made in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with the transverse bar controlling the swinging action in intermediate position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the transverse bar in one extreme position with one of the stop members engaged.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3 but showing the transverse bar in the opposite extreme position with the opposite stop member engaged.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the walker of this invention with the parts in folded position.

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view of the structure used to fold the transverse controlling bar taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 2.

The invention will now be further described by reference to the specific form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings. In this connection, however, the reader is cautioned to note that the specific form of this invention shown herein is for illustrative purposes and for purposes 3,442,276 Patented May 6, 1969 2 of example only. Various changes and modifications could be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Now referring to the specific form of this invention shown in the drawings for a detailed description thereof the walker 11 of this invention is formed with a pair of supports 12 and 13. Support 12 includes a pair of opposed depending legs 14 and 15 and support 13 includes a pair of opposed depending legs 16 and 17. Secured to legs 14 and 16 are feet 18 and 19 respectively and secured to legs 15 and 17 are feet 20 and 21. Feet 20 and 21 include longitudinal recesses 22 and 23 respectively and respective holes 24 and 25. An outwardly movable pin (not shown) is adapted to fit within holes 24 and '25 and is carried by the adjacent portion of legs 15 and 17 so that feet 20 and 21 may be selectably positioned at spaced points on legs 15 and 17.

Secured to the two intermediate portions of legs '16 and 17 is a securing member 25 which bears a pair of downwardly depending end portions 26 and 27. Portions 26 and 27 are secured to leg members 16 and 17 by rivets 29 and 28 respectively. Similarly a securing member 30 is provided having end portions 31 and 32 with rivets 33 and 34 securing said portions to legs 14 and 15. An outwardly projecting transverse bar 35 is provided which bears a bar of supports 36 and 37 at opposite end portions thereof. Supports 36 and 37 are provided with longitudinal recesses 38 and 39 respectively which are adapted to embraceably retain adjacent intermediate portions of legs 14 and 16.

A member 40 is secured across legs 16 and 17 and an additional member 41 adjoins legs 14 and 15. A member 42 adjoins the top portions of legs 16- and 17 to one another and a member 43 joins the top portions of legs 14 and 15 to one another. Member 42 is integral with legs 16 and 17 and member 43 is integral with legs 14 and 15. A handle 44 is provided upon member 42 and a handle 45 is provided on member 43.

A controlling transverse bar 46 is formed of a pair of telescoping sections 47 and 48 with section 47 telescoping within section 48. Section 47 bears an oflset end portion 49 and a pin 50 pivotally secures section 49 to member 40. Spaced from pin 50 at the junction between intermediate portion 9 and the remainder of section 47 is a downwardly depending stop member 51. Member 48 has an offset end portion 52 thereupon and a pin member 53 secures portion 52 to member 41. Downwardly depending stop member 54 is located at the junction of portion 52 and the remainder of portion 48. In order to secure portions 47 and 48 in extended relationship a pin 55 is disposed within a recess 56 located within member 48. Behind pin 55 is a spring 57 normally biasing pin 55 outwardly.

With the foregoing specific description the operation of this invention will not be explained.

Assuming that the walker is in the folded position shown in FIG. 5 all that need be done is to move supports 12 and 13 in a direction opposite to that shown by the arrow in FIG. 5. As the walker reaches the proper unfolded position pin 55 will snap into recess 56 and retain members 47 and 48 in unfolded relationship. Also, in order to adjust the height of the walker feet members 21 and 20 can be adjusted in a similar manner.

The walker can now be utilized by a patient who simply would grip handles 44 and 45 and walk with the device. As he moves along with the device members 12 and 13 will swing as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the amplitude of the swing in each direction controlled by impingement of stop members 51 and 54 against members 40 and 41 respectively.

Because of the fact that members 40 and 41 are downwardly spaced from members 42 and 43 respectively by a distance greater than the normal length of an individuals fingers the possibility of the user of the device having his fingers pinched between the operative parts while the walker is pivoting is avoided.

When the walker of this invention is to be folded pin 55 is depressed so asto clear recess 56. This permits members 47 and 48 to be sealed into one another and permits members 12 .and 13 to be moved inwardly thereby placing the walker in the position shown in FIG. 5.

The foregoing sets forth the manner in which the objects of this invention are achieved.

We claim:

1. A foldable swingable walker comprising a pair of spaced pivotally movable supports, including a pair of leg members, the leg members of each of said supports being inwardly spaced from one another and including top portions, upper intermediate portions, and lower portions; a first joining member connecting the top portions of the leg support to one another, and a third joining member connecting the upper intermediate portions of each of the leg members of each support to one another, a transversely disposed bar having a pair of embracable members at each end thereof pivotally joining said supports to one another, means for preventing said supports from each of said supports 1 bar adapted to sequentially abut said third joining members.

2. A foldable swingable walker as described in claim 1 said second transverse bar including a pair of telescoping portions and means for selectively maintaining said telescoping portions in extended relationship.

3. A foldable swingable walker as described in claim 2 said stop means upon said second transverse bar including a downwardly depending projecting portion.

4. A foldable swingable walker as described in claim 3 said first transverse bar having an outwardly extending intermediate portion.

5. A foldable swingable walker as described in claim 4 one of the leg members upon each of said supports having a foot portion telescopingly secured to the corresponding leg portion, and means for selectively retaining each of said foot portions in spaced positions.

6. A foldable swingable walker as described in claim 5 including an additional foot portion retainedin fixed position upon the opposite leg member of each of said supports.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,708,473 5/1955 Gable et al.

2,960,148 11/1960 Murcott.

3,098,651 7/1963 Murcott.

FOREIGN PATENTS 858,163 1/ 1961 Great Britain.

PETER M. CAUN, Primary Examiner.

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