Foldable Article And Latch Mechanism Therefor

Abstract

A latch and release assembly for a foldable article such as a walker wherein the side frame sections may be folded inwardly in overlapping relationship against a front cross-brace section. The cross-brace section includes a pair of vertical end sleeves through which the front legs of the side frames extend. The latching assembly includes a locking means which locks the legs within the sleeves in an unfolded set position when the walker is to be used. An easily actuated lever is provided for quickly releasing the locking means and thereby permitting the walker to be folded.

Description

This invention relates generally to a foldable article such as a walker, and more particularly to a novel latch and release assembly for relatively rotatable inner and outer tubes, the inner of which is rotatable from a first locked position to a second unlocked position. As applied to an article such as a walker, the latch and release assembly very conveniently locks the side frame sections to a front cross-brace section in open positions for use by an invalid. Through the use of a conveniently accessible lever, the assembly enables the invalid to quickly and easily fold the side frame sections when the walker is to be stored. The novel latch and release assembly of the invention represents a significant improvement over prior known systems such as that illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,996,070.

While the latch assembly will be described with particular application to a foldable walker, it is to be understood that the latch assembly itself has a more general utility and is applicable to any type of foldable article or arrangement which requires a quickly releasable locking mechanism.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a novel latch and release assembly particularly useful in foldable articles, such as a walker, or the like.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a novel latch and release assembly for two tubular elements, one of which is mounted within the other for rotation relative thereto. The assembly includes a locking mechanism which locks the elements in one position and a release lever arrangement which is easily actuated to unlock the locking mechanism and thereby permit rotation of one of the tubular elements to another position.

Still another object resides in the provision of a novel latch and release assembly as described above wherein the assembly includes a locking pin which extends transversely through the inner and outer tubular elements and is spring loaded to a locking position. A lever is pivotally mounted on the inner element and has a lock releasing end connected to the pin so that upon actuation of the lever, the pin is moved to its unlocking position and the tubular elements may be rotated relative to each other.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from reading the following detailed description of the invention wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are indicated by like numerals throughout.

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a foldable walker of the type in which the latch and release assembly of the invention may be employed;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary partially sectioned side elevation view illustrating the manner in which the left side frame section of the walker is connected to the front brace section by the novel latch and release assembly of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevation view of the latch and release assembly taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2 but with the large end of the actuator knob removed; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the walker of FIG. 1 in its folded condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, the walker 10 includes side frame sections 12 and 14 and a front brace section 16. The left side section 12 includes a top horizontal support arm 18 joined by a vertical front and rear tubular legs 20 and 22, respectively. Similarly, right side section 14 includes a top horizontal support arm 24 joined by vertical front and rear tubular legs 26 and 28, respectively.

Cross-brace section 16 has a cross bar 30 connected to vertical tubular end sleeves 32 and 34 which snugly embrace and surround intermediate portions of the front legs 20 and 26, respectively, of side frame sections 12 and 14.

For convenience of handling and storage, it is desirable that the side frame sections 12 and 14 be foldable inwardly relative to brace section 16 to the position shown in FIG. 5. Yet, in order that the walker be stable during use, it is necessary that the side legs 20 and 26 be locked to sleeves 32 and 34 against rotation when in the operative open position shown in FIG. 1.

Accordingly, a novel latch and release assembly 36 co-operates with each of the legs 20 and 26 and its associated sleeve 32 and 34 to lock the walker in its operative position of FIG. 1, or to enable the walker to be folded as shown in FIG. 5. Assembly 36 will only be described with respect to side frame section 12 and sleeve 32. However, it is understood that an identical assembly 36 is provided for side frame 14 and sleeve 34.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, the novel latch and release assembly 36 comprises a shaft or pin 38 which extends transversely through tubes 20 and 32. One actuator end of pin 38 projects outwardly through an opening 40 on one side of leg 20 and aligned slot 42 extending around sleeve 32 through an angle of about 90.degree.. A knob 44 is fixed on the actuator end externally of the sleeve 32.

The other end of pin 38 has an enlarged pawl section 46 which is adapted to extend through aligned openings 48 and 50 in leg 20 and sleeve 32, respectively, to lock leg 20 and sleeve 32 together and retain the walker in its operative open position of FIG. 1. A biasing spring 52 surrounds pin 38 within leg 20 and normally urges pawl 34 into openings 48 and 50 when they are aligned as in FIGS. 2 and 3.

To unlock leg 20 from sleeve 32, pin 38 must be pulled rearwardly so that pawl 46 is completely withdrawn from opening 50 and the end of the pawl clears sleeve 32. Although this could be accomplished by pulling on knob 44, it has been found to be very awkward, inconvenient, and difficult to an invalid using the walker.

Accordingly, to facilitate the retraction of pin 38 and the folding of side frame 12, a release lever 54 is pivotally connected at a point 56 intermediate its ends to a bracket 58, which is fastened around leg 20 at a location just above the upper end of sleeve 32. The lower lock-releasing end 60 of lever 54 is forked to fit around pin 38 in abutment with the inside face of knob 44. The upper force applying handle end 62 of lever 54 is curved away from leg 22 and generally underlies the horizontal support arm 18 where it may be grasped by the invalid.

Thus, to unlock leg 20 from sleeve 32, handle 62 is pulled upwardly and inwardly, causing forked end 60 to pivot outwardly and pull pin 38 rearwardly until pawl 46 clears opening 50. Leg 20 may then be rotated inwardly to fold frame section 12, since the inner actuator end of pin 38 will merely ride in slot 42.

As mentioned previously, the latch and release assembly 36 associated with leg 26 and sleeve 34 is identically actuated to permit folding of side frame section 14 to the position shown in FIG. 5.

Because of levers 54, it is very easy and convenient for an invalid to release the pawls 46 and fold the side frame sections 12 and 14 from their open locked positions of FIG. 1 to their folded storage positions of FIG. 5. Only a minimum amount of force need be applied to the handle sections 62 of levers 54 to unlock the side frame sections from the front cross-brace section, and thus enable them to be folded.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefor intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with an inner element positioned within an outer tubular element, wherein one of said elements is rotatable with respect to the other of said elements for rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position, a latch and release assembly comprising a locking means for locking said one element to said other element in said locked position, said locking means including a pin extending through said elements transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of said elements and being movable between a first position in which said elements are locked together and a second position in which said elements are unlocked, and release lever means for moving said pin from its first position to its second position to permit rotation of said one element with respect to said other element, said release lever means including bracket means connected to said one element, a lever having a force applying handle end and a lock releasing end which extends longitudinally along said one element and is operatively connected to one actuator end of said pin, said lever being pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to said bracket means so that, when a force is applied to the handle end of said lever, said pin is moved to its second position and said one element may be moved from its locked position to its unlocked position.

2. The combination of claim 1, said locking means comprising spring means for normally biasing said pin toward said first position.

3. The combination of claim 1, comprising abutment means fixed on the actuator end of said pin, said lock releasing end of said lever being forked to fit around said pin in engagement with said abutment means.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said outer element includes a circumferential slot through which the actuator end of said pin extends as said inner element is rotated within said outer element.

5. A foldable walker comprising a pair of side frame sections each having a vertical front leg, a cross brace section having a pair of vertical end sleeves each of which surrounds and embraces a portion of the front leg of one of said side frame sections, said legs being rotatable within said sleeves between a first locked open position and a second unlocked folded position, a latch and release assembly associated with each corresponding leg and sleeve, said assembly comprising locking means for locking said leg to said sleeve in said first locked position, said locking means including a pin extending through said sleeve and said leg transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve and said leg, said pin being movable between a first position in which said sleeve and leg are locked together and a second position in which said leg may be rotated in said sleeve, and release lever means for moving said pin from its first position to its second position to permit rotation of said leg with respect to said sleeve, said release lever means including bracket means connected to said leg, a lever having a force applying handle end and a lock releasing end which extends longitudinally along said leg and is operatively connected to one actuator end of said pin, said lever being pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to said bracket so that, when a force is applied to the handle end of said lever, said pin is moved to its second position and said leg is then rotatable from its open locked position to its folded unlocked position.

6. A foldable walker as described in claim 5, said locking means comprising spring means for normally biasing said pin toward said first position.

7. A foldable walker as described in claim 5, comprising abutment means fixed on the actuator end of said pin, said lock releasing end of said lever being forked to fit around said pin in engagement with said abutment means.

8. A foldable walker as defined in claim 5, wherein said sleeve includes a circumferential slot through which the actuator end of said pin extends as said leg is rotated within said sleeve.