CA2719484A1 - Walker apparatus and wheel fork mounting assembly - Google Patents

Walker apparatus and wheel fork mounting assembly Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2719484A1
CA2719484A1 CA 2719484 CA2719484A CA2719484A1 CA 2719484 A1 CA2719484 A1 CA 2719484A1 CA 2719484 CA2719484 CA 2719484 CA 2719484 A CA2719484 A CA 2719484A CA 2719484 A1 CA2719484 A1 CA 2719484A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
bore
wheel fork
members
disposed
apart
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CA 2719484
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2719484C (en
Inventor
Julian Liu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Evolution Technologies Inc
Original Assignee
Evolution Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Evolution Technologies Inc filed Critical Evolution Technologies Inc
Priority to CA2719484A priority Critical patent/CA2719484C/en
Priority to CA2777683A priority patent/CA2777683C/en
Publication of CA2719484A1 publication Critical patent/CA2719484A1/en
Priority to CA2756604A priority patent/CA2756604C/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2719484C publication Critical patent/CA2719484C/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61HPHYSICAL 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
    • A61H3/00Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
    • A61H3/04Wheeled walking aids for patients or disabled persons
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61HPHYSICAL 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
    • A61H3/00Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
    • A61H3/04Wheeled walking aids for patients or disabled persons
    • A61H2003/046Wheeled walking aids for patients or disabled persons with braking means
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61HPHYSICAL 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
    • A61H2201/00Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
    • A61H2201/01Constructive details
    • A61H2201/0161Size reducing arrangements when not in use, for stowing or transport
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61HPHYSICAL 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
    • A61H2201/00Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
    • A61H2201/16Physical interface with patient
    • A61H2201/1602Physical interface with patient kind of interface, e.g. head rest, knee support or lumbar support
    • A61H2201/1628Pelvis
    • A61H2201/1633Seat

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wheel mounting assembly for a walker apparatus. The assembly has a pivotable wheel fork and a frame portion. A shaft is coupled to a first one of the wheel fork and the frame portion and is rotatably connected to a second one of the wheel fork and the frame portion. A bearing is interposed between the second one of the wheel fork and the frame portion and the shaft. The assembly has an alignment member with a first portion shaped to extend around and abut with the shaft. The alignment member has a resilient second portion configured to slidably engage with the second one of the wheel fork and the frame portion. The second portion of the alignment member is spaced-apart from the bearing. The alignment member thereby rotatably aligns and further supports pivoting of the wheel fork about the shaft.

Claims (32)

1. A walker apparatus comprising:
a pivotable wheel fork;

a frame portion having a first end facing the wheel fork, a second end opposite the first end, a first bore extending from the first end towards the second end, an exterior disposed between the first end and the second end and a second bore disposed between the first end and the second end, the second bore extending from the exterior of the frame portion to the first bore in a direction generally perpendicular to the first bore;

a shaft assembly partially disposed within the first bore so as to be coupled to the frame portion, the shaft assembly including a shaft having a recess positioned to face the second bore;

a bearing having an outer race coupled to the wheel fork and an inner race coupled to the shaft; and a securing member at least partially disposed within and extending through the second bore so as to be coupled to the frame portion, the securing member also being disposed to engage with the shaft, the shaft assembly being fixedly mounted to the frame portion thereby.
2. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wheel fork has an interior and an annular groove disposed within the interior, and wherein the outer race of the bearing is at least partially disposed within the annular groove of the wheel fork and is coupled to the wheel fork.
3. The walker apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the shaft assembly has a pair of spaced-apart annular shoulders and an annular recess disposed between the pair of spaced-apart annular shoulders, and wherein the inner race is at least partially disposed within the annular recess of the shaft assembly and abuts the pair of annular shoulders.
4. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the shaft assembly includes at least one from the group consisting of a nut threadably engageable with the shaft and a bolt with a bolt head, and wherein one of the pair of annular shoulders is formed by one of the nut and the bolt head, the one of the bolt head and the nut abutting the inner race of the bearing.
5. The walker apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the securing member is one from the group consisting of: a split tube press fit through the second bore and with portions of the frame portion surrounding the second bore; and a pin press fit through the second bore and with portions of the frame portion surrounding the second bore.
6. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second bore is at least partially threaded and wherein the securing member is a set screw.
7. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel fork has an interior and wherein the apparatus further includes a ground-engaging wheel rotatably mounted to the wheel fork and a protective cap being disposed within the interior of the wheel fork between the shaft and the wheel, the protective cap being shaped to inhibit debris from the wheel from reaching the shaft assembly, the bearing and the first bore and the second bore of the frame portion.
8. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wheel fork includes a bore facing the wheel and wherein a cap is disposed within the bore of the wheel fork so as to be removably coupled to the wheel fork.
9. A walker apparatus comprising:
a pair of pivotable wheel forks;

a pair of ground-engaging front wheels, each rotatably mounted to a respective one of the wheel forks; and a pair of mounting assemblies for fixedly mounting the pivotable wheel forks to the walker apparatus, each said mounting assembly having:

a frame portion having a first end facing its respective wheel fork, a second end opposite the first end, a first bore extending from the first end towards the second end, an exterior disposed between the first end and the second end and a second bore disposed between the first end and the second end, the second bore extending from the exterior of the frame portion to the first bore in a direction generally perpendicular to the first bore;

a shaft assembly partially disposed within the first bore so as to be coupled to the frame portion, the shaft assembly including a shaft having a recess positioned to face the second bore;

a bearing having an outer race coupled to the wheel fork and an inner race coupled to the shaft; and a securing member at least partially disposed within and extending through the second bore so as to be coupled to the frame portion, the securing member also being disposed to engage with the shaft, the shaft assembly being fixedly mounted to the frame portion thereby.
10. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 9, the walker apparatus further including:

a pair of spaced-apart outer frame members, each having an upper end for placing a user's hand and a lower end spaced-apart from the upper end, the frame portions being disposed by the lower ends and being part of the respective outer frame members:

a pair of spaced-apart inner frame members interposed between and pivotally connecting to the outer frame members, each of the inner frame members including a first part and a second part hingedly connected together, one of said inner frame members having a seat handle outwardly extending therefrom; and a pair of link members diagonally extending between and pivotally connecting to inner frame members for operatively connecting together the inner frame members, each of the link members having a bend extending outwardly towards an adjacent one of said outer frame members, the link members having an extended mode for opening the inner frame members outward and thereby spacing-apart the outer frame members, and a folded mode actuated via the seat handle for bringing the inner frame members together and thereby bringing together the outer frame members to collapse the walker apparatus.
11. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 9, the walker apparatus further including:

a pair of upright, spaced-apart elongate members, each having an upper end for placing a user's hands and a lower end spaced-apart from the upper end, the frame portions being disposed by the lower ends and being part of the respective elongate members:

a pair of support members, the support members being spaced-apart, being arc-shaped and aligning respectively with and extending from said elongate members to distal ends of the support members, the support members having apexes extending towards the upper end of the elongate members; and a seat for resting connecting to the apexes of the support members, the support members thereby supporting the seat.
12. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 9, the walker apparatus further including:

a pair of spaced-apart, operatively interconnected frame members, the frame members each having an upper end for placing a user's hand and a lower end spaced-apart from the upper end, the frame portions being disposed by the lower ends and being part of the respective frame members;

means for bringing together the frame members for folding the walker; and a collapsible basket, the collapsible basket including a pair of spaced-apart end members, each having a rigid peripheral portion and being connectable with a respective one of said frame members, and the collapsible basket including a basket member, the basket member being made of flexible fabric, the basket member extending between and being supported by the rigid peripheral portions of said end members, the end members being moveable towards each other, the basket member thereby folding to collapse the basket when folding the walker.
13. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 9, the walker apparatus further including:

a pair of spaced-apart, operatively interconnected frame members each having an upper end and a lower end spaced-apart from the upper end, the frame portion being disposed adjacent to one of the lower ends and being part of one of the frame members;

a handle bar assembly extending from the upper end of each frame member and having a means for engaging a brake pad mechanism; and a brake pad assembly including a brake housing connected to said one of the frame members to partially cover at least one of the wheels and the brake pad assembly including a brake pad mechanism, the brake pad mechanism including a brake pad lever pivotally mounted to the brake housing, the brake pad lever having a first end operatively connecting to the means for actuating the brake pad mechanism, a second end opposite the first end, and a slot adjacent to the second end, the brake pad mechanism including a brake pad slidably insertable within the slot and extending outwards therefrom towards said at least one of the wheels, the brake pad lever being spring-biased to position the brake pad in a position spaced-apart from and adjacent to said at least one of the wheels, and the brake pad mechanism including a means for connecting the brake pad within the slot and for adjusting the position of the brake pad relative to the at least one of the wheels, the brake housing extending around the brake pad mechanism, including the means for connecting and adjusting, to at least the outer periphery of the at least one of the wheels for fully protecting the brake pad mechanism thereby, whereby upon actuation of the means for engaging the brake pad mechanism, the brake pad lever causes the brake pad to engage the at least one of the wheels for inhibiting rotation of the at least one of the wheels.
14. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 9, the walker apparatus further including:

a pair of spaced-apart, operatively interconnected frame members, the frame members each having an upper end and a lower end spaced-apart from the upper end, the frame members each including telescoping tubes having an adjustment range for adjusting the height of the upper end and a means for locking the telescoping tubes together, the frame portion being disposed by one of the lower ends and being part of one of the frame members;

a handle bar assembly at the upper end of the frame members including a gripping handle for squeezing with one's hand, a connection member being operatively connected to the gripping handle, and an actuation means for actuating the connection member when the gripping handle is squeezed;

a brake pad means for braking at least one of the wheels, the brake pad means being operatively connected to the lower end of the one of the frame members; and a self-adjusting brake rod assembly disposed within the one of the frame members, the brake rod assembly including a brake rod operatively connected to the brake pad means and a gripping member operatively connected to the connection member, the gripping member remaining adjacent to the brake rod throughout the adjustment range of the telescoping tubes, the gripping member being spring-biased to remain free of the brake rod in a non-actuated mode and, when the gripping handle of the walker is squeezed to actuate the connection member, the gripping member is thereby actuated to engage and thereby actuate the brake rod, the brake pad means braking the at least one of the wheels upon actuation of the brake rod.
15. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 9, the walker apparatus further including:

a pair of spaced-apart frame members, the frame portion being part of one of the frame members;

a collapsible basket, the collapsible basket including a pair of spaced-apart end members each having a rigid portion and being connectable with a respective one of said frame members, and the collapsible basket including a basket member made of flexible fabric that extends between and is supported by the end members, whereby when the walker is folded, the flexible fabric folds, allowing the end members to move towards each other and the basket to collapse.
16. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the end members are flat and each of the rigid portions includes a wire loop.
17. The walker apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 and 16, wherein the collapsible basket has a top facing upper ends of the frame members, an opening thereon for inserting objects into the collapsible basket, a bottom opposite the top that extends between the end members, and two spaced-apart sides extending respectively from both the top and bottom and between the end members, the sides includes netting.
18. A mounting assembly for fixedly mounting a pivotable wheel fork to a walker apparatus, the assembly comprising:

a frame portion of the walker apparatus having a first end facing the wheel fork, a second end opposite the first end, a first bore extending from the first end towards the second end, an exterior disposed between the first end and the second end and a second bore disposed between the first end and the second end, the second bore extending from the exterior of the frame portion to the first bore in a direction generally perpendicular to the first bore;

a bolt coupled to portions of the frame portion surrounding the first bore and extending outwards therefrom so as to at least partially extend between the wheel fork, the bolt including a recess positioned to face the second bore;

a bearing having an outer race coupled to the wheel fork and an inner race coupled to the bolt; and a split tube press fitted to portions of the frame portion surrounding the second bore so as to engage with the recess of the bolt, the bolt being fixedly mounted to the frame portion thereby.
19. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 18, the bolt having a head and threads, the assembly further including a nut that engages the threads of the bolt and wherein the bearing is disposed between the head of the bolt and the nut and is configured to be adjacent to one of the head of the bolt and the nut.
20. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein the nut is a locknut.
21. A walker apparatus comprising:

a pivotable wheel fork having a first end configured to pivotally engage with a ground-engaging wheel, a second end opposite the first end, and a bore extending from the second end towards to the first end;

a frame portion having a first end facing the wheel fork, a second end opposite the first end, and a bore extending from the first end towards the second end;

a shaft partially disposed within the bore of the frame portion so as to be coupled to the frame portion and partially disposed within the bore of the wheel fork;

a bearing disposed within the bore of the wheel fork and having an outer race coupled to the wheel fork and an inner race coupled to the shaft, the bearing thereby rotatably supporting and enabling pivoting of the wheel fork about the shaft; and an alignment member at least partially disposed within the bore of the wheel fork and having a first portion shaped to extend around and abut with the shaft and a resilient second portion configured to abut against portions of the wheel fork surrounding the bore, the alignment member thereby rotatably aligning and further supporting pivoting of the wheel fork about the shaft.
22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the shaft has a rotational axis and wherein the alignment member is so configured as to promote a consistent alignment of the wheel fork with the rotational axis.
23. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 and 22, wherein the second portion of the alignment member includes a plurality of spaced-apart resilient projections for pressing against the bore of the wheel fork, the projections being positioned in an annular arrangement.
24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein the projections are plastic blades.
25. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the second portion of the alignment member is configured to slidably engage with the bore of the wheel fork.
26. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 25, further including a resilient member disposed within the bore of the wheel fork and disposed adjacent to the second portion of the alignment member, the resilient member being configured to bias the second portion of the alignment member against the wheel fork.
27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein the resilient member is an annular wire spring.
28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the alignment member includes a top that couples the first portion and the second portion of the alignment member together, wherein the second portion of the alignment member includes a plurality of spaced-apart resilient projections configured to press against the bore of the wheel fork, wherein the apparatus further includes a resilient member disposed within the bore of the wheel fork and disposed adjacent to the second portion of the alignment member, the resilient member being configured to bias the second portion of the alignment member against the wheel fork, and wherein the apparatus further includes a spring lock ring configured to extend around and abut with the first portion of the alignment member, the spring lock ring biasing the resilient member towards the top of the alignment member.
29. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 28, wherein the first portion of the alignment member is adjacent to and abuts with the inner race of the bearing, and wherein the alignment member has a generally mushroom-like shape.
30. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 29, wherein the first portion of the alignment member and the second portion of the alignment member have generally cylindrical shapes.
31. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 30, wherein the second portion of the alignment member is spaced-apart from the bearings.
32. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 31, wherein the alignment member abuts with the second end of the wheel fork and wherein the alignment member abuts with the first end of the frame portion.
CA2719484A 2010-10-29 2010-10-29 Walker apparatus and wheel fork mounting assembly Active CA2719484C (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2719484A CA2719484C (en) 2010-10-29 2010-10-29 Walker apparatus and wheel fork mounting assembly
CA2777683A CA2777683C (en) 2010-10-29 2010-10-29 Walker apparatus and wheel fork mounting assembly
CA2756604A CA2756604C (en) 2010-10-29 2011-10-28 Foldable walker apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2719484A CA2719484C (en) 2010-10-29 2010-10-29 Walker apparatus and wheel fork mounting assembly

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2777683A Division CA2777683C (en) 2010-10-29 2010-10-29 Walker apparatus and wheel fork mounting assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2719484A1 true CA2719484A1 (en) 2011-04-25
CA2719484C CA2719484C (en) 2012-07-24

Family

ID=43923156

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2777683A Active CA2777683C (en) 2010-10-29 2010-10-29 Walker apparatus and wheel fork mounting assembly
CA2719484A Active CA2719484C (en) 2010-10-29 2010-10-29 Walker apparatus and wheel fork mounting assembly
CA2756604A Active CA2756604C (en) 2010-10-29 2011-10-28 Foldable walker apparatus

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2777683A Active CA2777683C (en) 2010-10-29 2010-10-29 Walker apparatus and wheel fork mounting assembly

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2756604A Active CA2756604C (en) 2010-10-29 2011-10-28 Foldable walker apparatus

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (3) CA2777683C (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9877889B2 (en) 2013-12-23 2018-01-30 Bdark Holdings Ltd. Walkers and methods of use

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TWI671066B (en) * 2018-01-24 2019-09-11 緯創資通股份有限公司 Mobile carrier

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9877889B2 (en) 2013-12-23 2018-01-30 Bdark Holdings Ltd. Walkers and methods of use

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2719484C (en) 2012-07-24
CA2756604A1 (en) 2012-04-29
CA2777683A1 (en) 2011-04-25
CA2756604C (en) 2014-04-22
CA2777683C (en) 2014-03-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8573613B2 (en) Foldable walker apparatus
US9415635B2 (en) Foldable walker apparatus
US8505936B2 (en) Foldable walker apparatus
US8083239B2 (en) Foldable walker apparatus
US8827284B2 (en) Knee walker
US8602424B2 (en) Foldable walker apparatus
CA2807173C (en) Knee walker
EA025643B1 (en) Dual steerable vehicle
US20120299272A1 (en) Foldable walker apparatus
US20110074125A1 (en) Children's Ride-On Vehicle With Parent Steering Assist Handle And Stationary Canopy
CA2820031C (en) Knee walker
CA2719484A1 (en) Walker apparatus and wheel fork mounting assembly
KR101286225B1 (en) Multi-transformation folding bicycle
WO2016072931A1 (en) A personal transport vehicle
CN106394759A (en) Suspension scooter
CN219595148U (en) Walking-aid handcart
CN103158820A (en) Dynamic disassembly mechanism and portable bicycle
FR3056388A1 (en) DEVICE FOR AIDING THE MARKET

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request