WO2018039714A1

WO2018039714A1 - A walking aid

Info

Publication number: WO2018039714A1
Application number: PCT/AU2017/050920
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dennis Givney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-08-29
Filing date: 2017-08-29
Publication date: 2018-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-28

Abstract

A walking aid comprising: a frame having a side opening for allowing a person into an interior of the frame; wheels attached to the base of the frame to allow the frame to move; and a seat for supporting the person within the frame; wherein the seat is enclosed within the frame. The walking aid of the present invention provides improved stability for the person and an improved ability to aid in motor skills development of the person.

Description

A WALKING AID

STATEMENT OF CORRESPONDING APPLICATIONS

The present invention is based on the provisional specification file in relation to Australian Patent Application Number 2016903431.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a walking aid and, more particularly, to a walking aid for hands free operation.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The best way to speed recovery of the person who is suffering from a disability (such as cerebral palsy, developmental problems, congenital hip dislocation, Perthes' disease, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, spinal problems, strokes, brain injury) or is recovering from an operation which affects the person balance is to get the person active. This is needed in the interests of the person to prevent other health issues developing due to inactivity for a long period of time. In addition, early activity can improve the confidence of the person. Another benefit to early activity of persons is providing efficient turn around of hospital beds and decrease the need for skilled supervision of the person.

[0003] Walking aids are available to stop disabled and elderly people from falling over when walking. However, people still fall over whilst using currently available walking aids and are therefore unsafe to the person in certain situations. Many walking aids such as walking frames and walking sticks have no means of stopping the person from falling over backwards or sideways. In addition for known wheeled walking aids, if too much weight is put on the front of those walking aids, the front wheels tip up, which causes the person to fall forwards. Further, many walking aids are not configured to support people when they lose their balance.

[0004] Another disadvantage with many currently available walking aids is that they are not configured to go over rough terrain. Neither are they configured to move over cracks in pavements or objects which would otherwise prevent the horizontal movement of the walking aids. People who rely on walking aids do not always have the strength to lift the walking aids. If the person is required to lift the front wheels of a walking aid in order to overcome an obstacle, then the back wheels can run away from the person causing them to fall over.

[0005] It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of the present invention is to overcome or at least substantially ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages or at least to provide the public with a useful commercial choice in walking aids.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a walking aid for improving the mobility of a person who has use of their arms but is suffering from a disability which affects their balance or is without the normal use of one or both legs (such as a person who has had an operation) to aid in their rehabilitation. The stability of the walking aid is improved over known walking aids. The present invention supports the weight of the person's body to reduce blistering and allows the person easy access into and out of the frame. In this way, the present invention provides for greater freedom of movement for the person (for example in accessing shower and toilet) and reduces the need for skilled supervision.

[0008] With the foregoing in view, the present invention in one form, resides broadly in a walking aid comprising:

(a) a frame having a side opening for allowing a person into an interior of the frame;

(b) wheels attached to the base of the frame to allow the frame to move; and

(c) a seat for supporting a person within the frame; wherein the seat is enclosed within the frame.

[0009] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word 'comprising' and its derivatives including 'comprises' and 'comprise' include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0010] Preferably, the seat is enclosed within the frame by means of a gate. The gate is configured to slide open and shut on the frame in preferred forms of the invention. Alternatively, the gate may be configured to swing open and shut on the frame.

[0011] More preferably, the seat has a strap configured to pass through the legs of the person and removably connect to the frame using a connector, so as to the support the person in the seat on the frame. Preferably, the connector is buckle, but it may also be hook or latch. The seat is preferably a sling.

[0012] Preferably, the wheels are configured to only move in the forward direction. In preferred forms of the invention the wheels have a brake which is configured to be applied when the person sits in the seat on the frame. In addition, it is preferred that the walking aid has at least one brake handle configured to be manually applied by the person using the walking aid so as to prevent the forward motion of the walking aid. The walking aid may have a brake tensioning mechanism configured to control the speed at which the wheels move.

[0013] In preferred forms of the invention, the base of the frame is wider than the top of the frame so as to reduce the height of the centre of gravity of the walking aid and thereby make it more stable.

[0014] The frame may include arms configured to swing from the frame in the event that the frame is tilted, so as to make contact with the ground and thereby prevent the frame from tipping over. The frame also preferably includes handles configured to allow the person to take the weight off their legs when standing up. The height of the handles is adjustable in preferred forms of the invention. The handles are preferably located on the sides of the frame so that the weight of the frame is evenly distributed across the handles in order to facilitate the picking up of the frame by the person.

[0015] The frame may include legs configured to support the weight of the frame on the ground. Preferably, the wheels on the frame are unidirectional.

[0016] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[0018] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a walking aid, with its gate open.

[0019] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the walking aid of figure 1, with the gate is closed.

[0020] Figure 3 is a top view of the walking aid of figure 1.

[0021] Figure 4 is a side view of the walking aid of figure 1.

[0022] Figure 5 is a rear view of the walking aid of figure 1.

[0023] Figure 6 is a cross sectional rear view of the walking aid of figure 1.

[0024] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the gate of the walking aid of figure 1. [0025] Figure 8 is a perspective view the frame of the walking aid of figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] A walking aid 10 for a person is shown in figures 1 to 8. The walking aid 10 features a circular shaped frame 12 which supports a seat in the form of a sling 14. Other shapes of frame, such as a square or rectangle are within the scope and ambit of the present invention. The frame dimensions are such that it easily fit through a standard doorway. The sling 14 faces the direction in which the person is walking. The sling 14 supports the weight of the person evenly over the contact area of the persons body in the event that the person needs to rest after walking within the frame 12, or if the person loses their balance. The sling 14 has a strap 16 which defines holes for both of the persons legs connects to the frame 12 using a connector 18 in the form of a detachable buckle. In this way, the sling 14 provides a stable seat for the person and reduces the likelihood of blistering on the contact area of the persons body.

[0027] The circumference of the base of the frame 12 is wider than the circumference of the top of the frame so as to reduce the height of the centre of gravity of the walking aid 10 and thereby make it more stable.

[0028] The frame 12 also has a gate 20 which is configured to slide around the circumference of the frame 12 and enclose the sling 14 within the frame (as shown in figure 2). Alternatively, the gate 20 could be configured to swing open and shut with respect to the frame 12. The gate 20 prevents the person from falling out of the frame 12 during use. A representation of the gate 20 is shown separately from the frame 12 in figure 7. The gate 20 has guides in the form of wheels 21, which enable it to slide on a pair of circumferential support bars 12A. A handle 20A facilitates easy movement of the gate relative to the frame 12.

[0029] The frame 12 rests on wheels 22, which are connected to the frame 12 by a suspension system, in the form of coil springs 24. When the person is in a standing position the wheels 22 are configured to move in any direction. However, when the person sits on the sling 14, the suspension coil springs 24 lowers, which depresses legs 26 onto the ground to act as a brake for the walking aid 10.

[0030] The walking aid 10 has handles 28, which enable the frame 12 to be lifted by the person. The handles 28 also allow the person to take the weight off their legs when standing up. The height of the handles 28 can be adjusted using a row of holes 30 through which the handles 28 can be fixed (refer to figure 6).

[0031] The handles 28 also feature brakes 32 comprising lever 32A and rim brake 32B, which can be manually applied by the person via the lever 32A to stop the wheels 22 at any point. The brakes 32 have a tensioning mechanism in the form of a grub screw (not shown) which contacts a rim of the wheels 22 to adjust the speed at which the wheels 22 move. This prevents the walking aid 10 from moving too fast for a particularly old or disabled person.

[0032] The handles 28 also feature a park brake 33 (see figures 4 and 5) which can be applied in order to stop the walking aid 10 from moving as the person is getting into and out of the walker.

[0033] Preferred forms of the walking aid 10 also feature arms in the form of metal polls with rubber stops (which are not shown in the figures) which are configured to swing from the frame in the event that the frame is tilted, so as to make contact with the ground and thereby prevent the frame from tipping over.

[0034] The walking aid 10 may optionally feature a safety belt which is configured to wrap around the person. For example, the safety belt could wrap around the waist of the person. The purpose of the safety belt is to resist sudden forward movements and prevent the person from falling out of the sling 14.

[0035] In some forms of the invention, the sling 14 features a commode. All such variations fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0036] In use, providing the walking aid 10 is: a. provided to a person; b. the person is positioned, or positions themselves, through the opening and in the seat 14 so that the legs of the person contact the ground; and c. the height of the handles 28 are then adjusted to an appropriate height to support the body weight of the person when the person is standing on a support surface.

[0037] Thus preferred embodiments have a number of advantages over the prior art such as:

• Improved ease of access into the interior of the frame;

• Improved mobility of a person without the normal use of one or both legs to aid in their

rehabilitation;

• Improved stability (front and back and sideways) of the walking aid during use; and

• Improved comfort for the person during rehabilitation.

[0038] Reference throughout this specification to One embodiment' or 'an embodiment' means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases 'in one embodiment' or 'in an embodiment' in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations. [0039] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A walking aid comprising:

(b) wheels attached to the base of the frame to allow the frame to move; and

2. The walking aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the frame is curved and configured to substantially surround the person.

3. The walking aid of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the seat is enclosed within the frame by means of a gate configured to open and shut the opening with respect to the frame.

4. The walking aid of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat has a strap configured to pass through the legs of the person and removably connect to the frame using a connector, so as to support the person in the seat on the frame.

5. The walking aid of claim 4, wherein the connector is a selected from the group consisting of: a

buckle, a hook or a latch.

6. The walking aid of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat is a sling.

7. The walking aid of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wheels are configured to only move in a forward direction.

8. The walking aid of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame includes legs connected around the circumference of the base of the frame and configured to support the frame on a support surface.

9. The walking aid of claim 8 wherein, the walking aid also comprises at least one spring configured to lower when the person is supported in the seat and cause the legs to contact the support surface to stop movement of the wheels.

10. The walking aid of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the walking aid has at least one brake configured to be manually applied by the person using the walking aid so as to prevent the forward motion of the walking aid.

11. The walking aid of claim 11 , wherein the walking aid has a brake tensioning mechanism configured to control the speed at which the wheels move.

12. The walking aid of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base of the frame is wider than the top of the frame so as to reduce the height of the center of gravity of the walking aid and thereby make it more stable.

13. The walking aid of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame includes arms configured to swing from the frame in the event that the frame is tilted, so as to make contact with the ground and thereby prevent the frame from tipping over.

14. The walking aid of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame includes handles configured to allow the person to support their body weight when standing up to take weight off the legs of the person.

15. The walking aid of claim 14, wherein the height of the handles is adjustable in relation to the frame.

16. The walking aid of claim 14, wherein the handles are located on each side of the frame so that the weight of the person is evenly distributed on the frame when the persons legs are contacting the support surface and the person is inside the frame.

17. A method of assisting motor skills development of a person, the method comprising the steps: a. providing a walking aid comprising:

• a frame having a side opening for allowing a person into an interior of the frame;

• wheels attached to the base of the frame to allow the frame to move;

• a seat enclosed by the frame for supporting a person within the frame;

• handles configured to allow the person to support their body weight when standing up to take weight off the legs of the person. b. positioning the person through the opening and in the seat so that the legs of the person contact the ground; and c. adjusting the height of the handles to an appropriate height to support the body weight of the person when the person is standing on a support surface.