Vertical lift walker for sit to stand transition assistance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9351898-B2
Application number	US-201313740349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2013
Priority date	Jan 18, 2012
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

This invention relates to a lift to assist in standing and/or walking for persons who have insufficient strength or movement in their legs. The inventive lift walker includes a frame assembly having a lower an upper and lower portion that wheels are provided beneath the lower frame so as to enable the lift to be propelled and maneuvered. A bracing assembly is provided at the upper portion and comprises a supporting platform which is adapted to fit under the forearms of a person, and optional handles for gripping by the user's left and right hands. An elevator assembly is provided which includes lift and stabilization tracks for raising and lowering the supporting assembly in a coordinated, purely vertical fashion, and further includes gas lift means for effectuating the same via use of a remotely switched activation mechanism. There are also anti-tip means for maintaining the stability of the device when contacting uneven ground surface during movement.

First claim

We claim:

1. A lift walker comprising:
a frame assembly having:
a lower frame assembly adapted to contact the ground;
an upper frame assembly vertically affixed to said lower frame assembly;
said upper frame assembly comprising a plurality of uprights mounted to the lower frame assembly, the plurality of uprights comprising at least one left upright structure and at least one right upright structure;

an elevator assembly mounted via lift brackets and via stabilization brackets to said plurality of uprights of said upper frame assembly, said elevator assembly comprising a left lift and stabilization track and a right lift and stabilization track;
said left lift and stabilization track being affixed to said left upright structure via at least one left lift bracket and via at least one left stabilization bracket, said left lift and stabilization track including:
a left stabilization rod for vertical sliding engagement with at least one said stabilization bracket through a vertical longitudinal guide hole provided within said at least one left stabilization bracket, said left stabilization rod being further provided with a left stabilization rod top end connector;
said left lift and stabilization track further including a left lift rod cooperatively engaged in a vertical orientation with a left gas spring for elevation and lowering of the left lift rod by said left gas spring, said left gas spring being vertically affixed to said at least one left lift bracket, said left lift rod being further provided with a left lift rod top end connector;

said right lift and stabilization track being affixed to said right upright structure via at least one right lift bracket and via at least one right stabilization bracket, said right lift and stabilization track including:
a right stabilization rod for vertical sliding engagement with at least one said stabilization bracket through a vertical longitudinal guide hole provided within said at least one right stabilization bracket, said right stabilization rod being further provided with a right stabilization rod top end connector;
said right lift and stabilization track further including a right lift rod cooperatively engaged in a vertical orientation with a right gas spring for elevation and lowering of said right lift rod by said right gas spring, said right gas spring being vertically affixed to at least one said right lift bracket, said right lift rod being further provided with a right lift rod top end connector;

a bracing assembly, said bracing assembly being horizontally situated and affixed on a left side to said left stabilization rod top end connector and to said left lift rod top end connector, said bracing assembly further being horizontally situated and affixed on a right side to said right stabilization rod top end connector and to said right lift rod top end connector;
said bracing assembly including two handles mounted thereto, said two handles positioned for assisting a user when walking and for assisting the user in rising from a seated position; and

a non-electric powered activation mechanism for simultaneously controlling said elevation and said lowering of both of said left lift rod and said right lift rod in a synchronized fashion, thereby effectuating a horizontally aligned elevating and lowering of said bracing assembly via a coordinated activation of said left gas spring and said right gas spring, wherein said left gas spring and said right gas spring include angle adjustment custom configuration of lifting support.

2. The walker as recited in claim 1 , wherein self-aligning linear bearing sleeves are contained within said vertical longitudinal guide hole of said at least one stabilization bracket in said left lift and stabilization track and said vertical longitudinal guide hole of said at least one stabilization bracket in right lift and stabilization track.

3. The walker as recited in claim 2 , wherein said activation mechanism is capable of controlling said elevation and said lowering of both of said left lift rod, said right lift rod, and said bracing assembly at variable heights relative to said lower frame assembly.

4. The walker as recited in claim 3 , wherein said left gas spring and said right gas spring can be adjusted through an adjustment facilitator.

5. The walker as recited in claim 3 , wherein said left gas spring is affixed to said at least one left lift bracket with a variable point mechanism, and wherein said right gas spring is affixed to said at least one right lift bracket with a separate a variable point mechanism.

6. A lift walker comprising:
a frame assembly having:
a lower frame assembly adapted to contact the ground;
an upper frame assembly vertically affixed to said lower frame assembly;
said upper frame assembly comprising a plurality of uprights mounted to the lower frame assembly, the plurality of uprights comprising at least one centralized upright structure;

an elevator assembly mounted via central lift and central stabilization brackets to said plurality of uprights of said upper frame assembly, said elevator assembly comprising a central lift and stabilization track;
said central lift and stabilization track including:
at least one central stabilization rod for vertical sliding engagement with at least one said central stabilization bracket through a vertical longitudinal guide hole provided within said at least one central stabilization bracket, said central stabilization rod being further provided with a central stabilization rod top end connector;
said central lift and stabilization track further including at least one central lift rod cooperatively engaged in a vertical orientation with at least one central gas spring for elevation and lowering of the central lift rod by said at least one central gas spring, said at least one central gas spring being vertically affixed to said at least one central lift bracket, said central lift rod being further provided with at least one central lift rod top end connector;

a bracing assembly, said bracing assembly being horizontally situated and affixed to said central stabilization rod top end connector and to said central lift rod top end connector;
said bracing assembly including two handles mounted thereto, said two handles positioned for assisting a user when walking and for assisting the user in rising from a seated position; and

a non-electric powered activation mechanism for simultaneously controlling said elevation and said lowering of said at least one central lift rod in a consistent fashion, thereby effectuating a horizontally aligned elevating and lowering of said bracing assembly, wherein said at least one central gas spring includes angle adjustment custom configuration of lifting support.

7. The walker as recited in claim 6 , wherein self-aligning linear bearing sleeves are contained within said vertical longitudinal guide hole of said at least one stabilization bracket in said central lift.

8. The walker as recited in claim 7 , wherein said activation mechanism is capable of controlling said elevation and said lowering of said at least central lift rod and said bracing assembly at variable heights relative to said lower frame assembly.

9. The walker as recited in claim 8 , wherein said at least one central gas spring can be adjusted through an adjustment facilitator.

10. The walker as recited in claim 9 , wherein said at least one central gas spring is affixed to said at least one central lift bracket with a variable point mechanism.

Assignees

• Us Of America As Represented By The Dept Of Veterans Affairs
• Us Of America As Represnted By The Dept Of Veterans Affairs
• Univ Case Western Reserve

Inventors

• Triolo Ronald J
• Bulea Thomas C

Classifications

• A61G7/1019

  Vertical extending columns or mechanisms · CPC title

• A61G7/1094

  Hand or wrist · CPC title

• A61G7/1092

  the arms · CPC title

• A61H3/04 Primary

  Wheeled walking aids for patients or disabled persons · CPC title

• A61G5/14

  Standing-up or sitting-down aids · CPC title