EP4059486B1 - Sliding device for use as walking aid or for transporting a load - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a pushing device for use as a walking aid or for transporting a load. In practice, pushing devices used as walking aids are often also referred to as rollators. In the following, the pushing device is also generally considered to be a vehicle, with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle being referred to as the x-direction, the transverse direction of the vehicle being referred to as the y-direction and the vertical direction of the vehicle oriented in the direction of gravity g being referred to as the z-direction in relation to the main direction of travel F.

Pushing devices are usually used to support older people who are still mobile but need a stabilizing walking aid. In addition to the supporting effect for the actual movement, many pushing devices and rollators also provide the option of sitting on a seat and resting there. It is also known to transport objects and other loads, such as shopping, using baskets, nets or other containers without placing any significant additional strain on the body of the person (user) using the pushing device. In particular, the strain on the user's arms and joints is relieved.

Commercially available rollators usually consist of a frame with four wheels: two front wheels and two rear wheels. The front wheels are often freely rotatable around a vertical axis and can therefore be steered, while the rear wheels are not steerable and can only rotate around a horizontal axis.

Another common feature in practice is that the front wheels are slightly larger than the rear wheels. The larger the radius of the front wheels, the easier it is to overcome small obstacles such as door thresholds, curbs or kerbs. Since curbs are often 10 cm to 15 cm high (high curb), the radius of the front wheels is usually smaller than these curb heights. This means that most rollators known from practice have to be manually tilted in order to overcome the curb. When tilted, the user cannot bear vertical loads or can only do so with a considerable risk of falling because the push device has to be balanced.

In particular, if a front section of the pusher is weighted down by objects with additional weight, such as shopping, a user must apply large forces or a high torque to tip it, because the lever arm up to the additional weight is long and thus the force or torque to be applied is large.

The basic idea of the invention is to make it easier for a person using a pushing device (i.e. a user) to overcome obstacles by enabling the lifting of the front wheels intuitively and with little effort. Preferably, the user should be able to be stabilized by the pushing device - even during lifting.

A push device with a drive mechanism, known as a walker, is in EN 10 2016 201 792 A1 This pushing device has a device for using the drive device in such a way that by controlling the speed of the rear wheels a tilting angle can be generated in order to overcome steps or other obstacles.

Out of EN 10 2017 100 007 A1 A tipping aid for rollators is known which has at least one lifting arm with an end that can be attached to the rollator and a ground contact end, wherein the lifting arm is dimensioned such that its ground contact end can be pivoted and/or moved between at least one rest position and a working position when the tipping aid is properly mounted on a rollator, wherein the ground contact end in the working position touches the ground in front of or below the front wheels of the rollator and the lifting arm lifts the front wheels off the ground.

Out of EN 10 2009 024 051 A1 is a gas damper lifting system for rollators or strollers that is attached behind the front wheels of the rollator or stroller. The gas damper lifting system makes it possible to lift the front wheels to overcome a step or other obstacle and to move the rollator or stroller further by pivoting the gas damper system around a joint until the front wheels touch the higher step level and the rollator or stroller can roll further over the front wheels.

Out of DE 101 53 214 A1 A rollator with a pivoting front frame is known, the front wheels of which lock when an obstacle, such as a step, is reached, causing the front frame to pivot against the direction of travel towards the rear frame. One or more spring elements are compressed in the process. The energy stored in the spring elements then counteracts the pivoting and pushes the front frame back in the direction of travel when the walker is pulled back by the handle and the front wheels are released over the obstacle.

Out of EP 2 116 218 A1 A walking aid is known with a wheel arrangement formed in the area of the front wheels, consisting of a large rear wheel and a small front wheel. The small front wheel is arranged at a higher height level in such a way that it is directly on a step and roll off it when the large rear wheel encounters an obstacle in the form of a step edge.

Out of CN104146852A is a walker for rehabilitation training of people with walking disabilities. The walker has a frame, two front self-locking universal wheels, two rear self-locking universal wheels, two motors, two hydraulic cylinders, two height-adjustable rods and a support plate. The front self-locking universal wheels are arranged on the frame so that they can be lifted and can be raised using the two motors and rods. This should make it suitable for climbing stairs.

Out of US$5,964,473 A wheelchair and a walking aid are known, each comprising a chassis with a support for a user. The chassis consists of two parts which are connected to one another in a transverse axis via a joint. The first chassis part is equipped with two main wheels, the common axis of which is close to the line of action of the user's weight, and at least one front or rear contact wheel. The second chassis part is supported by the first chassis part and the ground and is equipped with at least one rear trailing wheel which is arranged behind the main axis and mounted on an arm. The two chassis parts are connected by means of an energy storage device, for example a spring device which stores and releases energy when overcoming obstacles.

The sliding devices known from the state of the art sometimes require a costly motor drive associated with additional weight, sometimes are not intuitive to use, sometimes involve the risk of becoming unstable when overcoming a step, require increased technical effort and/or require a high level of force from the user when lifting to overcome an obstacle

The invention is based on the object of providing a pushing device for use as a walking aid or for transporting a load, which has an easy-to-use and particularly safe function for a user to overcome an obstacle.

The object is achieved according to the invention with the features of claim 1. Further practical embodiments and advantages of the invention are described in connection with the dependent claims.

A pushing device according to the invention comprises a frame, at least one front wheel connected to the frame, at least one rear wheel connected to the frame and at least one handle functionally connected to the frame for holding and grasping a user. The frame has at least one longitudinal support that extends in the longitudinal direction between the rear wheel and the front wheel. The longitudinal support has a front support and a rear support that are connected to one another in a relatively movable manner such that the front support with the front wheel connected to it can be raised as required by relative movement of the front support with respect to the rear support. This design provides the pushing device according to the invention with an easy-to-use function for overcoming obstacles, which is explained in more detail below in connection with various structural designs. Regardless of the detailed design, the solution according to the invention has the advantage that, due to the design of the longitudinal beam with a front beam and a rear beam, which are connected to one another in a relatively movable manner, only a front part of a sliding device has to be lifted in order to lift a front wheel or two or more front wheels and bring them to the level of an obstacle, such as a step, to overcome it. This reduces both the force or the moment to be applied by a user, This makes it easier to use, especially for physically impaired people.

At least one support wheel is also arranged on the frame, which can be lowered as required and thus only has contact with the ground when it is needed for a specific use of the pushing device or is associated with additional advantages. One application for lowering a support wheel as required is overcoming an obstacle, such as a step. If a user with a pushing device according to the invention is located directly in front of a step to the height of which the front running wheel or the front running wheels of a pushing device must first be raised, it is advantageous if the at least one support wheel is first lowered to the ground and only then is the at least one front running wheel raised from the ground to the height of the obstacle to be overcome. This means that a user of the pushing device according to the invention is also supported at the moment the front running wheel or the front running wheels are raised, in that the pushing device has contact with the ground at this moment through the at least one rear running wheel and the at least one support wheel. Preferably, two such wheels are provided in each case, so that the pushing device according to the invention has contact with the ground at the moment of lifting two front wheels with two rear wheels and two support wheels.

In a further practical embodiment of a pushing device according to the invention, a functional unit with at least one functionally connected operating element is provided for raising the front carrier as required and/or for lowering the at least one support wheel as required. Such an operating element is preferably arranged in the area of the at least one handle in such a way that it can be operated by a user who is holding onto the handle while holding on. The operating element is preferably functionally connected to the Functional unit connected such that by operating the control element a function of the functional unit can be activated in order to enable, support or even directly cause the front carrier with the front wheel connected to it to be raised as required by relative movement of the front carrier with respect to the rear carrier. Such a functional unit should therefore be understood as a locking element that enables a relative movement between the front carrier and the rear carrier by releasing it. Furthermore, such a functional unit should also be understood as drive elements that actively cause the front carrier to be raised as required, for example by operating a drive motor.

In particular, reference is made to a functional unit designed as a length adjustment unit, which in practice can be implemented using a variety of standard components. In this regard, reference is made in particular to a gas pressure spring or to pneumatic, hydraulic and/or electric drive units, for example linear motors.

In connection with a gas pressure spring, it is particularly pointed out that it can be operated without additional energy supply and is available on the market as a standard component at a relatively low cost. In connection with a gas pressure spring, it is particularly advantageous that it can cause or allow a change in length by simply operating it, for example by means of a Bowden cable that leads from a handle to the gas pressure spring, by allowing the gas pressure spring to compress.

Preferably, the functional unit is designed and arranged in such a way that it enables both a required lowering of the at least one support wheel and a required raising of the front carrier. This is further preferably implemented in such a way that firstly a lowering of the at least one support wheel takes place until the support wheel is in contact with the ground and only then a required Lifting of the front carrier is possible. This ensures that when the front carrier is being lifted with the front wheel attached to it, there is already contact between at least one support wheel and the ground, thus protecting a user using the push device from tipping over and thus supporting the user.

In a further practical embodiment of a sliding device according to the invention, the functional unit is a connecting element between a vertical strut and the rear support or an element connected to the rear support. For example, the functional unit can be a connecting element between a support support and a vertical strut, the support support being an element firmly connected to the rear support. In this case, a sliding device with a relatively simple design is obtained that can be manufactured inexpensively.

If, in a pushing device according to the invention, a brake actuating element and/or the operating element for the functional unit is arranged in the area of at least one handle, a user of the pushing device can simultaneously hold on to the handle and actuate the brake actuating element and/or the operating element for the functional unit. The user can thus use a pushing device according to the invention as usual even when overcoming an obstacle and can hold on to the handles even when switching between different functional states of the pushing device.

Particularly suitable as a control element are those elements that can be operated while a user is holding on to a handle, in particular while he or she is enclosing the handle on one side with the thumb and on the other side with the other fingers. An example of such a control element is a rotary handle that acts as a trigger. or can be designed as a dosing element for the functional unit. A push button or lever can also be arranged in such a way that it can be operated with one finger without the user having to significantly change the position of their hand on the handle. In this case, the user can continue to hold on securely while using the control element.

In the function of a trigger, for example, it may be necessary to turn the rotary handle by a certain angle in order to actuate a trigger element on a gas pressure spring and to use energy from the gas pressure spring to cause a relative movement between the rear carrier and the front carrier or to raise and/or lower the front wheels.

In the function of a dosing element, a rotary handle can also be used - for example via a Bowden cable with two front supports and the front wheels attached to them - to pull the front supports up via the Bowden cable by turning the handle as required so that an obstacle, for example a step, is overcome with the front wheels by raising them to the height level of the step.

In a structurally simple design of a sliding device according to the invention, the front support and the rear support are connected to one another via a swivel joint, a flexible element and/or a gear. Connections using a swivel joint are particularly easy to implement. These have the additional advantage that the movement between the front support and the rear support is precisely guided, so that a user can easily get used to using a sliding device according to the invention.

The invention was made especially for such sliding devices in which the frame has two longitudinal beams, whereby each longitudinal beam has a front beam and a rear beam, and each front beam is connected to a handle via a vertical strut. This corresponds to the basic concept of push devices or rollators known from practice.

In the last-described case, when the frame has two longitudinal beams, which are usually arranged parallel to one another on the outside, a support wheel is preferably provided between a front running wheel and a rear running wheel when viewed in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the effective length of a device according to the invention is not increased, and the additional expenditure in terms of material and weight of a pushing device is also only slightly increased.

If the support wheel of a sliding device according to the invention is raised in a first functional state relative to the level of the running wheels by a height h _s that is smaller than the radius of the rear running wheel, this makes it easier to overcome an obstacle because the lifting of the rear part of the sliding device is possible with the help of the support wheel by simply pushing the sliding device forwards. The support wheel then rests on the edge of an obstacle and pushes the rear supports with the rear running wheels of a sliding device according to the invention upwards.

In a further practical embodiment of a pushing device according to the invention, a drive element is provided by means of which the at least one front wheel can be lifted independently of the muscle power of a user. Such a design is particularly advantageous if the pushing device is intended for users who have very little muscle power or whose motor skills no longer function properly. In this context, reference is also made to the possibility of providing a control that partially or completely supports a user in overcoming obstacles. by lifting at least one front wheel or two front wheels arranged parallel to each other by means of the drive element so that obstacles can be overcome by simply pushing the pushing device further.

If a sliding device according to the invention is provided with a locking element which must be released in order to lift the front carrier with the front wheel connected to it by relative movement relative to the rear carrier, the locking element ensures that if a user applies uncontrolled and possibly undesirable force to the handles of a sliding device, the front carrier with the wheels connected to it cannot be accidentally lifted, for example because the user suddenly brakes the sliding device by pulling the sliding device backwards. A gas pressure spring as described above can serve as such a locking element. However, simple locking elements are also conceivable, such as a locking bolt which engages in a recess and which must be released in order to enable relative movement between the front carrier and the rear carrier. For the sake of completeness, reference is also made to locking elements which can be released by applying a sufficiently large torque, for example locking balls which engage in complementary recesses. Such locking elements can also be provided in order to be able to lift the front carrier with the front wheel connected to it by relative movement with respect to the rear carrier. Then only a sufficiently large moment has to be applied to cause the front carrier to be lifted.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Schiebevorrichtung mit einer diese nutzenden Person (Nutzer) in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2

die Schiebevorrichtung und den Nutzer in einer isometrischen Ansicht von schräg vorne,

Fig. 3

die Schiebevorrichtung und den Nutzer in einer isometrischen Ansicht von schräg hinten,

Fig. 4

die Schiebevorrichtung und den Nutzer in einer Ansicht von vorne,

Fig. 5

einen Ausschnitt der Schiebvorrichtung aus den Figuren 1-5 mit einer Hand des Nutzers und einem Schiebegriff in einer Ansicht von oben,

Fig. 6-8

drei verschiedene Funktionszustände der Schiebevorrichtung aus den Figuren 1-5 während der Annäherung an ein zu überwindendes Hindernis in Form einer Stufe in einer Seitenansicht und

Fig. 9-12

vier weitere verschiedene Funktionszustände der Schiebvorrichtungen während des Überwindens der Stufe in einer Seitenansicht.

Further practical embodiments and advantages of the invention are described below in conjunction with the drawings. They show:

Fig.1

a sliding device according to the invention with a person (user) using it in a side view,

Fig. 2

the sliding device and the user in an isometric view from the front,

Fig.3

the pusher and the user in an isometric view from behind,

Fig.4

the sliding device and the user in a front view,

Fig.5

a section of the sliding device from the Figures 1-5 with one hand of the user and a push handle in a view from above,

Fig.6-8

three different functional states of the sliding device from the Figures 1-5 while approaching an obstacle to be overcome in the form of a step in a side view and

Fig. 9-12

four further different functional states of the sliding devices while overcoming the step in a side view.

As in the Figures 1 to 4 As can be clearly seen, the sliding device 1 has a frame 7 which is essentially symmetrical in relation to the central longitudinal axis.

In the embodiment shown, the frame 7 has two longitudinal members 5, namely a left and a right longitudinal member, each of which comprises a front member 2 and a rear member 10.

The rear supports 10 can also be referred to as swing arms in the embodiment described below.

The longitudinal beams 5 are connected to one another via at least one transverse connecting element extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle (y-direction). In the embodiment shown, a scissor linkage 24 with two x-shaped rods and a joint arranged centrally at the intersection point of the rods is provided as a transverse connecting element. This scissor linkage 24 makes it possible to bring the sliding device 1 into a compact transport or stowage configuration (not shown), in which the respective longitudinal beams 5 are brought into an arrangement immediately adjacent to one another.

For the sake of completeness, it is pointed out that instead of such a movable cross-connecting element, in a simpler design variant, one or more rigid cross-connecting elements can also be provided if the sliding device 1 is not intended or required to be foldable.

In the Figures 1 to 4 It is also clearly visible that in the shown usage configuration of the sliding device 1, a seat 30 is provided between vertical struts 6 that are firmly connected to the longitudinal beams 5. The seat 30 is mounted at seat height and serves as a temporary resting option for a user 40. The seat 30 can be designed to be foldable and/or removable and is an optional feature.

In the embodiment shown, the vertical struts 6 are designed to be length-adjustable - here telescopic. At the upper end of each vertical strut 6, a handle 21 is provided for a person (user 40) using the pushing device 1. The height adjustability of the vertical struts 6 makes it possible to adjust the height of the handles 21 depending on the height of a user 40.

Front wheels 3 are connected to the respective front carrier 2. In the embodiment shown, the front wheels 3 are each mounted so that they can rotate about a vertical axis 4 and are thus steerable. Furthermore, the front wheels 3 are mounted so that they can rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation (not shown).

Rear wheels 12 are connected to the respective rear support 10. In the embodiment shown, the rear wheels 12 are only mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation (not shown) and are therefore not steerable.

The respective rear support 10 is arranged so as to be relatively movable relative to the associated front support 2. In the embodiment shown, this is achieved by providing a swivel joint 11 as a connecting member, which makes it possible to pivot the respective front support 2 about the swivel joint 11 relative to the rear support 10.

In the embodiment shown, the right front support 2 can be pivoted separately relative to the right rear support 10 and the left front support 2 relative to the left rear support 10 - either within the scope of the torsional elasticity or by technically realizing a possibility of twisting the longitudinal supports relative to each other about a horizontal axis in the transverse direction. The more common and more important application in practice, however, is that the front supports 2 are pivoted parallel relative to the rear supports 10. In this case, parallel pivoting means a joint and simultaneous pivoting. This is explained below using the Figures 6-12 still shown and described in detail.

As in the Figures 1 to 3 As can be clearly seen, a support wheel 13 is connected to each of the rear supports 10. The respective support wheel 13 is also mounted so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation (not shown). In the embodiment shown, the A support bracket 14 is provided for each support wheel 13. The respective support bracket 14 is fixed rigidly relative to the associated rear bracket 10. Alternatively, the support bracket 14 can also be mounted so as to be pivotable relative to the rear bracket 10 about a horizontal axis of rotation (not shown).

The respective support wheel 13 is arranged - viewed in the longitudinal direction of the pushing device 1 - between the front running wheel 2 and the rear running wheel 12.

In the in the Figures 1-6 and Figure 12 In the basic position of the support wheels 13 shown, the support wheels 13 in the embodiment shown are designed such that they have no contact with the ground when the vehicle is on a level surface.

As in the Figures 1-4 can be clearly seen, a functional unit 20 is also provided. The functional unit 20 is designed in particular such that it enables the front wheel 2 to be raised as required by relative movement of the front carrier 2 with respect to the rear carrier 10. In the embodiment shown, the functional unit comprises a length adjustment unit 25. In the embodiment shown, a gas pressure spring is provided as the length adjustment unit 25, which is extended and pre-tensioned in the non-actuated state. In this state, the length of the length adjustment unit 25 is large, which means that the support wheel 13 has no contact with the ground and the pushing aid can be operated in standard use. The angle between the respective front longitudinal carrier 2 and the associated rear carrier 10 is essentially constant in this functional state, with the elasticity of the gas pressure spring developing a springy and dampening effect and allowing a certain degree of flexibility within limits. This leads to increased comfort for the user because unevenness in the floor is either completely absorbed by the damping or at least only partially transferred to the handles 21.

The length adjustment unit 25 is connected to an operating element 22 designed as a push button in such a way that the gas pressure spring can be relaxed by pressing the push button. If the push button is operated, the gas pressure spring relaxes by shortening its effective length. This causes the support wheels 13 to pivot about a pivot point (not shown) on the rear support 10 and to come into contact with the ground due to gravity. Furthermore, the front longitudinal supports 2 with the front wheels 3 can be pivoted upwards relative to the rear supports 10 by a user 40 pulling the handles 21 backwards against the direction of travel F and simultaneously pressing them downwards in order to further shorten the effective length of the gas pressure spring.

The handles 21 serve as an interface to the user 40. In the embodiment shown, an operating element 22 for the functional unit 20 and a brake actuating element 23 for the rear wheels 12 are arranged in the area of each handle 21. The connection of the operating elements 22 and the brake actuating elements 23 is preferably selected such that a user 40 can simultaneously hold on to the handles 21 with his hands and simultaneously actuate the at least one operating element 22 for the functional unit 20 and/or the brake actuating element 23.

Preferably, each of the operating elements 22 is functionally connected to the functional unit 20 in such a way that by actuating an operating element 22 on a handle 21, both length adjustment units 25 and thus also both support wheels 13 can be operated (i.e. lowered) in parallel.

For the sake of completeness, it is pointed out that other interconnections are also possible, in particular such that the left control element 22 is only connected to the left functional unit 20 and the right control element 22 is only connected to the right functional unit 20.

The above also applies analogously to the brake actuation elements 23, i.e. these are also preferably connected in such a way that by actuating a brake actuation element 23, a brake acting on the left and right rear wheels 12 is actuated. Individual switching of the sides is also possible as an alternative.

The sliding device 1 according to the invention also enables use in particular for easier overcoming of obstacles, such as steps, wherein a particular advantage is that the sliding device 1 remains inherently stable during the entire process of overcoming obstacles.

In the following, the various functional states and phases of overcoming a step 50 with a sliding device 1 according to the invention are described with reference to the Figures 6-12 described.

In the Figure 6 In the first functional state shown (standard use), the pushing device 1 is used in a commercially usual manner. It supports the user 40 and can be pushed manually.

In a second functional state (overcoming obstacles), which gradually leads to the Figures 7-12 As is visualized, after actuating one of the control elements 22, the support wheels 13 are lowered so that they are in contact with the ground and run along the ground. This results in increased tracking accuracy and also in greater tipping stability of the pushing device 1.

As from Figure 8 As shown, this functional state also makes it possible to pivot the front part of the frame 7 backwards by shortening the effective length of the length adjustment unit 25, so that the pushing device 1 only has contact with the ground via the rear wheels 12 and the support wheels 13. In this functional state, the pushing device 1 is nevertheless inherently stable and, despite the tilted position of the front longitudinal members 2 with the front wheels 3, can safely support the user 40 via the four wheels 12, 13 resting on the ground.

In an alternative embodiment, the operating element 22 and the functional unit 20 can also be designed in such a way that a continuous shortening of the length adjustment unit 25 is possible depending on the actuation path of the operating element 22, for example by providing a lever, wherein the effective length of the length adjustment unit 25 is shortened as the actuation path of the lever increases. In such a case, the support wheels 13 are first lowered to the ground in a first actuation path section in order to then be able to continuously raise the front wheels 3 as far from the ground as is necessary in a second actuation path section. The raising of the front wheels 3 can thus be continuously adjusted via the operating element 22 to the height of an obstacle to be overcome, in particular a step 50.

To overcome obstacles, such as a Figures 6-12 shown level 50, the sliding device 1 is moved by operating and holding the control element 22 in the position shown in Fig.9 shown functional state and driven close to the obstacle until the front wheels 3 can roll at the same height as the obstacle.

Then the front wheels 3 are set down at the height level of the obstacle by releasing the control element 22, and at the same time the length adjustment unit 25 is extended as far as possible, which in the embodiment shown is done by the gas pressure spring rebounding. The support wheels 13 are thus already partially raised again. The support wheels 13 can thus support a further lifting of the rear carrier 10, in particular if the height difference of the support wheel before reaching the height level of the obstacle, in particular a step 50, is less than the respective radius of the corresponding Support wheel 13. The user can then simply push or roll the pusher 1 up to the height level of the obstacle or step 50 by pushing it further over the support wheels 13, as can be seen from a summary of the Figures 10 and 11 is evident.

The height difference between the respective support wheel 13 in the extended state of the length adjustment unit 25 and the associated rear running wheel 12 is preferably selected so that it is smaller than the radius of the rear running wheels 12. This is because the above applies analogously to further pushing of the pushing device 1, ie the pushing device 1 can be rolled up to the height level of the obstacle by simply "pushing forward" (pushing) with the rear running wheels 12 and thus raised by rolling. This is clear from a summary of the Figures 11 and 12 visible.

Even in this final phase of overcoming a step 50 or another obstacle, the user 40 simply pushes the pushing device 1 further and is stably supported by the pushing device 1 (cf. Fig. 11 and 12 ).

The features of the invention disclosed in the present description, in the drawings and in the claims can be essential for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments both individually and in any combination. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described. It can be varied within the scope of the claims and taking into account the knowledge of the competent person skilled in the art.

List of reference symbols

1

Pushing device / rollator

2

front carrier

3

front wheel

4

vertical axis

5

Longitudinal beam

6

Vertical brace

7

Frame

10

rear carrier / swing arm

11

Swivel joint

12

rear wheel

13

Support wheel

14

Support beam

20

Functional unit

21

Handle

22

Control element

23

Brake actuator

24

Rods

25

Length adjustment unit

30

Seat

40

Person (user)

50

Obstacle / Level

Claims (13)

1. Pushing device for use as a walking aid or for transporting a load, having a frame (7), at least one front running wheel (3) tethered to the frame (7), at least one rear running wheel (12) tethered to the frame (7) and at least one handle (21), functionally connected to the frame (7), for a user (40) to hold on to and grip, wherein the frame (7) has at least one side member (5) extending in the longitudinal direction between the rear running wheel (12) and the front running wheel (3), wherein the side member (5) has a front beam (2) and a rear beam (10) which are connected with each other so as to be movable relative to each other such that, if required, the front beam (2) with the front running wheel (3) tethered to it can be lifted by a movement of the front beam (2) relative to the rear beam (10),
   characterized in that
   on the frame (7) at least one support wheel (13) is arranged which can be lowered if required.
2. Pushing device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that for lifting the front beam if required and/or for lowering the at least one support wheel (13) if required a functional unit (20) having at least one operating element (22) functionally connected to it is provided.
3. Pushing device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a length adjustment unit (25) is provided as functional unit (20).
4. Pushing device according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that a gas compression spring and/or a pneumatic, hydraulic and/or electric drive unit is provided as functional unit (20).
5. Pushing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional unit is configured and arranged such that it enables both lowering of the at least one support wheel if required and lifting of the front beam if required.
6. Pushing device according to one of the four preceding claims, characterized in that the functional unit is a connecting element between a vertical strut (6) and the rear beam (10) or an element connected to the rear beam (10).
7. Pushing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a brake operating element (23) and/or the operating element for the functional unit (20) is arranged in the vicinity of the at least one handle (21).
8. Pushing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front beam (2) and the rear beam (10) are connected to each other by a pivot joint, a flexible element and/or a gearing mechanism.
9. Pushing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (7) has two side members (5), wherein each side member (5) has a front beam (2) and a rear beam (10) and wherein each front beam (2) is connected to a handle (21) by a vertical strut (6).
10. Pushing device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, viewed in the longitudinal direction, a support wheel (13) each is provided between a front running wheel (3) and a rear running wheel (12).
11. Pushing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a first functional state, the support wheel (13) is raised with respect to the level of the running wheels (3, 12) by a height hs which is smaller than the radius of the rear running wheel (12).
12. Pushing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a drive element is provided by means of which the at least one front running wheel (3) can be lifted independently of a user's (40) muscular power.
13. Pushing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a locking element is provided which has to be released in order to lift the front beam (2) with the front running wheel (3) tethered to it by a movement relative to the rear beam (10).

Images