U.S. patent application number 09/988861 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-22 for walk assistance device.
Invention is credited to Lin, Mei-Yu.
Application Number | 20030094191 09/988861 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25534551 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030094191 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin, Mei-Yu |
May 22, 2003 |
Walk assistance device
Abstract
A walk assistance device includes a handle and a base connected
to a lower end of the handle. Two brake members extend from two
ends of the base and two frames are pivotally connected to the
base. Each of the frames has two wheels connected thereto, a gap is
defined between each of the brake members and the wheels. A spring
is connected between each of the frames and the brake members when
pushing the handle toward the wheels which are pushed upward by the
ground to contact the brake members.
Inventors: |
Lin, Mei-Yu; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
25534551 |
Appl. No.: |
09/988861 |
Filed: |
November 21, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/65 ; 135/84;
135/85 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H 3/04 20130101; A61H
2003/046 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/65 ; 135/85;
135/84 |
International
Class: |
A45B 001/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A walk assistance device comprising: a handle and a base
connected to a lower end of said handle, a brake member extending
from said base, and a frame pivotally connected to said base and a
wheel connected to said frame, a gap defined between said brake
member and said wheel, a spring connected between said frame and
said brake member so that said brake member contacts said wheel
when pushing said handle toward said wheel.
2. A walk assistance device comprising: a handle and a base
connected to a lower end of said handle, two brake members
extending from said base, and two frames pivotally connected to
said base and two wheels connected to each of said frames, a gap
defined between each of said brake members and said wheels, a
spring connected between each of said frames and said brake members
so that said brake members contact said wheels when pushing said
handle toward said wheels.
3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said base has two
flanges extending from two sides thereof and said two frames each
have two plates which are respectively and pivotally connected to
said two flanges.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a walk assistance that has
a brake member located above each of the wheels and the brake
members are lowered to brake the wheel when pushing the handle
downward.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A conventional walk assistance device generally includes a
handle and a base which is connected to a lower end of the handle.
The base includes four legs so as to have a larger contact area
with the ground when the user who is not convenient to walk
normally uses the walk assistance device to walk. However, the user
has to lift the device and put it to a new position whenever he/she
makes a pace forward. This action is not convenient for the user
because when the device is lifted, the feet bear the whole weight
of the user and sometime it is a difficult task. Some manufacturers
install wheels to the device so that the users do not have to lift
the device from the ground and this saves a lot of efforts when
walking forward. In order to operate the device safely, a brake
mechanism is connected to the device and a brake lever is connected
to a top end of the handle so that when the users press the handle,
the brake lever has to be pulled to prevent the wheels from
rolling. This is a complicated process for most of users who
usually do not have enough muscle force on their hands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a walk assistance device which comprises a handle
and a base connected to a lower end of the handle. Two brake
members extend from the base. Two frames are pivotally connected to
the base and two wheels are connected to each of the frames. A gap
is defined between each of the brake members and the wheels. A
spring is connected between each of the frames and the brake
members so that the brake members contact the wheels when pushing
the handle toward the wheels.
[0004] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a
walk assistance device which has wheels and the wheels are stopped
when the user exerts force toward the wheels.
[0005] The present invention will become more obvious from the
following description when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration
only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the walk assistance
device of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the underside of the
walk assistance device of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a side view to show the walk assistance device of
the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side view to show the walk assistance device of
the present invention wherein the brake members brake the wheels
when the handle is pushed downward;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view to show another type of the
walk assistance device of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view to show the walk assistance
device of the present invention as shown in FIG. 5;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a side view to show the walk assistance device of
the present invention as shown in FIG. 5, and
[0013] FIG. 8 is a side view to show the walk assistance device of
the present invention wherein the brake member brakes the wheel
when a downward force is exerted on the device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the walk assistance device 1 of
the present invention comprises a handle 10 which has a grip
portion on the top and a height adjustable means 11 for adjusting
the length of the handle 10. A base 12 is connected to a lower end
of the handle 10. Two brake members 13 extend from two ends of the
base 12.
[0015] Two frames 20 each include a shaft with two wheels 23
connected to two ends of the shaft, and two plates 22 extend from
the shaft. The two plates 22 are pivotally connected to two flanges
extending from two sides of the base 12 at the positions 21 which
are the intermediate portion of the flanges. A gap is defined
between each of the brake members 13 and the wheels 23. A spring 24
is connected between each of the frames 20 and the brake members
13.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 4, when the user exerts a downward force to
the handle 10, the frames 20 are pivoted and the wheels 23 are
pushed upward by the ground and contact the wheels 23. The wheels
23 are stopped when the user puts his/her whole weight onto the
device 1 and no additional action is required. The user may move
the device 1 by rolling it by the wheels 23 when shifting the
device 1 forward.
[0017] FIGS. 5 to 7 show another type of the walk assistance device
of the present invention wherein two U-shaped handles 30 are
connected by two rods and each end of the U-shaped handles 30 has a
base 31 connected thereto. Each of the bases 31 has a brake member
32 extending thereto and two frames 33 (only one is shown) are
pivotally connected to each of the bases 31 at the position 35. A
wheel 40 is connected between the two frames 33 and a spring 34 is
connected between each of the brake members 32 and the frames 33. A
gap is defined between each of the brake members 32 and the wheels
40 when no force is exerted on the handles 30 as shown in FIG. 7.
As shown in FIG. 8, when pushing the handles 30 toward the wheels
40, the wheels 40 are pushed upward by the ground to contact the
brake members 32.
[0018] While we have shown and described the embodiment in
accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those
skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
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