SEATED WALKER

Abstract

A rehabilitation mechanism or seated walker includes a supporting base having a seat member, a frame member is mounted on the supporting base and includes two protrusions each having a pivot shaft, two foot supports each include an upper portion pivotally engaged onto the pivot shaft and pivotal relative to the supporting base, and an extension slidably attached to each foot support, and the extensions each include a foot pedal for being stepped by the user to rotate the foot support relative to the supporting base and to move the extension away from the foot support. The foot supports each include two flaps having an aperture for engaging with the pivot shaft and for pivotally attaching the foot support to the pivot shaft.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rehabilitation exercising mechanism or seated walker, and more particularly to a rehabilitation exercising mechanism or seated walker including an adjustable structure or configuration for allowing the user or patient to selectively train or exercise the legs and/or the hands of the user or patient, and including an improved or simplified structure or configuration that may be made or manufactured with a simplified making or manufacturing procedure and with a greatly decreased or reduced manufacturing cost.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various kinds of typical rehabilitation exercising mechanisms have been developed and provided for conducting or operating various rehabilitation exercises for actuating or operating the legs and/or the hands of the user, or the lower muscle groups and/or the upper muscle groups of the user, and normally comprise a rather complicated structure or configuration that may not be easily and quickly made or manufactured and that may include a complicated making or manufacturing procedure and that may include a greatly increased manufacturing cost.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,910 to Krukowski, U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,694 to Boyd et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,315 to Krukowski, U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,223 to McGorry et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,773 to Blanchard et al. discloses several of the typical rehabilitation exercising mechanisms provided for training and/or exercising the legs and/or the lower muscle groups of the user.

However, the typical rehabilitation exercising mechanisms for the hands and/or the upper muscle groups of the user comprise a rather complicated structure or configuration that may not be easily and quickly made or manufactured and that may include a complicated making or manufacturing procedure and that may include a greatly increased manufacturing cost, and that the typical rehabilitation exercising mechanisms may be used for training and/or exercising the legs and/or the lower muscle groups of the user, but may not be used for training and/or exercising the hands and/or the upper muscle groups of the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,797 to Gezari et al. discloses another typical rehabilitation exercising mechanism including a structure or configuration provided for training and/or exercising the hands and/or the upper muscle groups of the user only, but may not be used for training and/or exercising the legs and/or the lower muscle groups of the user.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional rehabilitation exercising mechanisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a rehabilitation exercising mechanism or seated walker including an adjustable structure or configuration for allowing the user or patient to selectively train or exercise the legs and/or the hands of the user or patient, and including an improved or simplified structure or configuration that may be made or manufactured with a simplified making or manufacturing procedure and with a greatly decreased or reduced manufacturing cost.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a seated walker comprising a supporting base including a seat member provided thereon for supporting a user thereon, and including a frame member mounted on the supporting base, and the frame member including two protrusions extended therefrom and including a pivot shaft extended from each of the protrusions, two foot supports each including an upper portion pivotally engaged onto the pivot shaft and pivotal relative to the pivot shaft and the supporting base, and an extension slidably attached to each of the foot support, and the extension including a foot pedal for being stepped to rotate the foot support relative to the supporting base and to move the extension away from the foot support.

The foot supports each include two flaps extended from the upper portion of the foot support and having an aperture formed in the flaps for engaging with the pivot shaft and for pivotally attaching the upper portion of the foot support to the pivot shaft. The foot supports each includes a space formed between the flaps, and two hand grips each include a block engaged in the space that is formed between the flaps of the foot support, and the blocks each include an orifice formed therein for receiving and engaging with the pivot shaft and for allowing the hand grips to be rotated relative to the protrusions of the frame member respectively.

The foot supports each include a lock member attached to the pivot shaft and engaged with the block for locking the hand grip to the foot support.

The blocks of the hand grips each include a first hole and at least one second hole formed therein, and the lock members each include a latch pin extended therefrom and engageable with either the first or the second hole of the block for adjustably securing the hand grip to the foot support at different angular position.

The supporting base includes a spring biasing member attached to each of the foot supports for applying a spring biasing force to resist a pivotal movement of the foot support relative to the supporting base.

The foot supports each include a spring biasing member coupled between the foot support and the extension for applying a spring biasing force to resist a sliding movement of the extension relative to the foot support.

The supporting base includes a handle member for being held by a user. The handle member includes an intermediate portion attached to the supporting base with a flexible member. The handle member includes two arms, and two hand grip elements attached to the arms respectively. The hand grip elements are attached to the arms with fasteners and spring biasing members respectively.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rehabilitation mechanism or seated walker in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 are partial exploded views of the rehabilitation mechanism or seated walker;

FIG. 5 is a side plan schematic view of the rehabilitation mechanism or seated walker;

FIG. 6 is another side plan schematic view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the operation of the rehabilitation mechanism or seated walker;

FIG. 7 is a front plan schematic view of the rehabilitation mechanism or seated walker; and

FIG. 8 is another front plan schematic view similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the operation of the rehabilitation mechanism or seated walker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a rehabilitation exercising mechanism or seated walker in accordance with the present invention comprises a supporting base 10 which may include either a one-integral piece structure or configuration or a foldable structure or configuration, however, either the one-integral piece structure or the foldable structure of the supporting base 10 is not related to the present invention and will not be described in further details. The supporting base 10 includes a seat cushion or seat member 11 formed or provided thereon for stably and safely and comfortably supporting or seating a user or patient thereon, and includes a seat back member 12 formed or provided thereon for stably and safely and comfortably supporting the back portion of the user or patient, and for preventing the user or patient from falling down from the seat member 11.

The supporting base 10 further includes a supporting frame member 13, such as a U-shaped frame member 13 formed or provided thereon and disposed or attached or mounted or secured or extended or located at the front portion of the supporting base 10, and/or at the front portion of the seat member 11, best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and the frame member 13 includes two arms or limbs or extensions or protrusions 14 extended forwardly and upwardly therefrom, and includes an axle or pivot shaft 15 extended laterally and outwardly from the free end portion of each protrusion 14, and preferably, but not necessary that the pivot shaft 15 is perpendicular to the respective protrusion 14 of the frame member 13 of the supporting base 10.

Two shafts or shanks or pendulums or levers or foot supports 30 each include an upper portion 31 pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or secured or engaged onto the pivot shaft 15 and pivotal or rotatable relative to the frame member 13 of the supporting base 10 and the pivot shaft 15, as shown in FIG. 6. For example, the foot supports 30 each include two ears or projections or flaps 32 extended from the top or upper portion 31 of the foot support 30 and having an aperture 33 formed in the flap 32 (FIG. 4) for selectively engaging with the pivot shaft 15 and for pivotally or rotatably attaching or mounting or securing or coupling the upper portion 31 of the foot support 30 to the respective protrusion 14 of the frame member 13. The foot supports 30 each include a chamber or compartment or space 34 formed therein and formed or defined between the flaps 32.

The foot supports 30 each further include a sliding member or extension 35 slidably attached or mounted or engaged into the lower or bottom portion 36 of the foot support 30 and having a foot member or foot pedal 37 formed or provided at one end or lower or bottom portion of the extension 35 for selectively engaging with or supporting the foot of the user or patient and for allowing the user or patient to pivot or rotate the foot support 30 relative to the frame member 13 and the supporting base 10 with the foot pedal 37 of the extension 35 (FIGS. 5, 6) and/or to move or step the extension 35 downwardly and outwardly of the foot support 30 with the foot pedal 37 of the extension 35 (FIG. 6) and for conducting or operating various rehabilitation movements or exercises to selectively actuate or operate or train or exercise the legs and/or the lower muscle groups of the user.

The foot supports 30 each may further include a resilient cord or rope or wire or belt or cable or spring biasing member 38 attached or mounted or secured or provided or engaged with or between the foot supports 30 and the respective protrusion 14 of the frame member 13 and/or the supporting base 10 for applying a spring biasing force between the foot supports 30 and the frame member 13 and/or the supporting base 10 and for resisting the pivotal or rotational movement of the foot supports 30 relative to the frame member 13 and/or the supporting base 10, and thus for allowing the user or patient to selectively train or exercise the legs or the lower muscle groups of the user or patient to pivot or rotate the foot supports 30 relative to the frame member 13 and/or the supporting base 10.

Another resilient cord or rope or wire or belt or cable or spring biasing member 39 may further be provided and attached or mounted or secured or coupled or engaged with or between the foot supports 30 and the extension 35 and the foot pedal 37 for applying a spring biasing force between the foot supports 30 and the extension 35 and the foot pedal 37 and for resisting the sliding movement of the extension 35 and the foot pedal 37 relative to the foot support 30 and thus for allowing the user or patient to further selectively train or exercise the legs or the lower muscle groups of the user or patient to overcome the spring biasing force of the spring biasing member 39 in order to move or step the extension 35 and the foot pedal 37 relative to or away from the foot supports 30 and/or the supporting base 10.

The rehabilitation exercising mechanism or seated walker further includes two hand grips 40 each having a ring or sleeve or barrel or block 41 formed or provided at one end or lower or bottom portion 42 thereof and pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or secured or engaged onto the pivot shaft 15 and pivotal or rotatable relative to the pivot shaft 15, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and the blocks 41 of the hand grips 40 are engaged in the space 34 that is formed or defined between the flaps 32 of the foot supports 30, and the blocks 41 each include an aperture or orifice 43 formed therein for receiving or engaging with the pivot shaft 15 and for allowing the hand grips 40 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the protrusions 14 of the frame member 13 and the supporting base 10 and also to be pivoted or rotated relative to the foot supports 30 respectively.

The hand grips 40 each include one or more (such as two or two pairs of) orifices or apertures or holes 44, 45 formed therein (FIGS. 3, 4), such as formed in the block 41, and a button or knob or lock member 46 is attached or mounted or secured to the respective pivot shaft 15 and each include one or more (such as two) extensions or protrusions or projections or latch pins 47 (FIG. 2) extended therefrom and engageable into or through one of the flaps 32 and engageable with either pair of the holes 44, 45 of the block 41 of the hand grip 40 for adjustably attaching or mounting or securing or latching or locking the hand grip 40 to the respective foot support 30 at different angular position (FIG. 5) and for allowing the hand grips 40 and the foot supports 30 to be selectively pivoted or rotated relative to the frame member 13 and the supporting base 10 altogether, and for selectively actuating or operating or training or exercising the hands and/or the upper muscle groups of the user when the hand grip 40 is selectively locked or latched to the foot support 30.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 6, the user or patient may be stably and safely and comfortably seated and supported on the seat member 11, and the feet of the user or patient may step on and engage with the foot member or foot pedal 37 of the foot support 30 and may move or pivot or rotate the foot support 30 relative to the frame member 13 and the supporting base 10, and may also step and move the extension 35 and the foot pedal 37 relative to or along or toward or away from the foot support 30 in order to conduct or operate various rehabilitation exercises to selectively actuate or operate or train or exercise the legs and/or the lower muscle groups of the user. It is to be noted that the user or patient not only may move or pivot or rotate the foot support 30 forwardly and rearwardly relative to the supporting base 10, but also may step and move the extension 35 and the foot pedal 37 relative to or along or toward or away from the foot support 30.

The spring biasing member 38 may apply the spring biasing force to resist the pivoting or rotating movement of the foot supports 30 relative to the supporting base 10 respectively, and the other spring biasing member 39 may apply the spring biasing force to resist the sliding movement of the extensions 35 and the foot pedals 37 relative to the foot supports 30 respectively. When the hand grip 40 is selectively locked or latched to the foot support 30, the user may hold or grip or grasp the hand grips 40 to pivot or rotate the foot support 30 relative to the frame member 13 and the supporting base 10 in order to conduct or operate various rehabilitation exercises to selectively actuate or operate or train or exercise the hands and/or the upper muscle groups of the user.

The hand grip 40 may be selectively locked or latched to the foot support 30 at different angular position (FIG. 5) for allowing the hand grips 40 to be selectively and suitably and comfortably held or gripped or grasped by the user to pivot or rotate the foot support 30 relative to the frame member 13 and the supporting base 10 and for selectively actuating or operating or training or exercising the hands and/or the upper muscle groups of the user. As shown in FIGS. 1-8, the rehabilitation mechanism or seated walker may further include an inverted U-shaped frame member or handle member 50 having a middle or intermediate portion 51 attached or mounted or secured or coupled to the seat back member 12 or the supporting base 10 with a resilient or spring biasing member or flexible member 52 for allowing the handle member 50 to be tilted or inclined or pivoted or rotated relative to the seat back member 12 or the supporting base 10 (FIGS. 7, 8).

The handle member 50 includes two limbs or extensions or protrusions or arms 53 extended downwardly therefrom, and two hand grip elements 54 slidably and movably and resiliently attached or mounted or secured or coupled to the arms 53 with fasteners 55 and spring biasing members 56 respectively (FIGS. 2, 3, 8) for allowing the hand grip elements 54 to be selectively pulled away from the arms 53 respectively (FIG. 8) in order to further conduct or operate various rehabilitation exercises to selectively actuate or operate or train or exercise the hands and/or the upper muscle groups of the user.

Accordingly, the rehabilitation mechanism in accordance with the present invention includes an adjustable structure or configuration for allowing the user or patient to selectively train or exercise the legs and/or the hands of the user or patient, and including an improved or simplified structure or configuration that may be made or manufactured with a simplified making or manufacturing procedure and with a greatly decreased or reduced manufacturing cost.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A seated walker comprising:

a supporting base including a seat member provided thereon for supporting a user thereon, and including a frame member mounted on said supporting base, and said frame member including two protrusions extended therefrom and including a pivot shaft extended from each of said protrusions,

two foot supports each including an upper portion pivotally engaged onto said pivot shaft and pivotal relative to said pivot shaft and said supporting base, and

an extension slidably attached to each of said foot support, and said extension including a foot pedal for being stepped to rotate said foot support relative to said supporting base and to move said extension away from said foot support.

2. The seated walker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foot supports each include two flaps extended from said upper portion of said foot support and having an aperture formed in said flaps for engaging with said pivot shaft and for pivotally attaching said upper portion of said foot support to said pivot shaft.

3. The seated walker as claimed in claim 2, wherein said foot supports each includes a space formed between said flaps, and two hand grips each include a block engaged in said space that is formed between said flaps of said foot support, and said blocks each include an orifice formed therein for receiving and engaging with said pivot shaft and for allowing said hand grips to be rotated relative to said protrusions of said frame member respectively.

4. The seated walker as claimed in claim 3, wherein said foot supports each include a lock member attached to said pivot shaft and engaged with said block for locking said hand grip to said foot support.

5. The seated walker as claimed in claim 4, wherein said blocks of said hand grips each include a first hole and at least one second hole formed therein, and said lock members each include a latch pin extended therefrom and engageable with either said first or said at least one second hole of said block for adjustably securing said hand grip to said foot support at different angular position.

6. The seated walker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting base includes a spring biasing member attached to each of said foot supports for applying a spring biasing force to resist a pivotal movement of said foot support relative to said supporting base.

7. The seated walker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foot supports each include a spring biasing member coupled between said foot support and said extension for applying a spring biasing force to resist a sliding movement of said extension relative to said foot support.

8. The seated walker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting base includes a handle member for being held by a user.

9. The seated walker as claimed in claim 8, wherein said handle member includes an intermediate portion attached to said supporting base with a flexible member.

10. The seated walker as claimed in claim 8, wherein said handle member includes two arms, and two hand grip elements attached to said arms respectively.