Mobile support frame

Abstract

A lightweight frame for individual use, to promote safe locomotion, has a frame with two elongated, laterally spaced handles of adjustable height, for gripping by the user, and an arched support frame, providing unobstructed access between the handles, with a clear space for the user to safely prostrate themselves within the readily movable frame. The two frame lower portions extend laterally outward for enhanced lateral stability of the frame against tipping, and can serve as runners on ice, or be fitted with wheels or castors. The frame lower portions may be longer than the handles for greater stability. The frame is disassemblable, to facilitate packaging and transportation, and may have opposed matching portions of different length, to facilitate nesting together when packaged. Metal tubing, including sleeve couplings with set screws, may be used.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention is directed to a support frame, and in particular to a mobile, personal use support frame to provide stabilizing physical support for a user, particularly when moving in a potentially hazardous fashion or in a difficult or unusual medium.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Support frames such as walkers are widely used by handicapped or elderly people, who benefit from the assurance of support against falling. Some of these consist of a waist high, U-shaped frame which the user can stand within, pick up, relocate an arms-reach away, and then lean upon to assist themselves in moving in that selected direction.

[0005] Other walkers are mounted upon wheels, for use by more mobile handicapped people. In similar fashion, a child's walker, having an encompassing frame within which the child is lifted, also is equipped with wheels, being used to promote walking by a toddler.

[0006] A frame-like walker device for use on ice, similar to the first-mentioned walker-frame, above, has a planar, U-shaped foot portion which substantially parallels the U-shaped planform of the upper portion of the device, which a user occupies. This foot portion rests upon, and can slide in stably supported relation along the surface of the ice, in supporting relation with the user. In the case of an ice rink, it is also well known to use a plain (kitchen ) chair, in similar fashion as a support on the ice, the user gripping the back of the chair and pushing the chair in front of them. In Canadian Patent No 2,141,957 there is shown a child's “slider” for use on ice, having an encompassing circular frame within which the child is located. A larger, concentric frame serves as the slider-foot, upon which the frame can be moved over the ice surface.

[0007] All the foregoing described devices have the severe disadvantage that in case of a forward fall by the user, there is an immediate possibility of striking their head upon the supporting device. Furthermore, in the case of the encompassing children's device, there is a requirement to lift the child into the device, while there are adverse physical and psychological effects, with the diminished range of movement and of personal restriction, induced by the surrounding enclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a unitary moveable, lightweight frame for use by an individual, to promote safe locomotion by that individual, the frame having a pair of handles at a predetermined elevation, in laterally spaced, mutually opposed relation for ready gripping by the individual in self-supporting relation, and a support frame portion, providing substantially unobstructed access to the handles by the user, whereby there is provided a clear space to enable the user to safely prostrate themselves forwardly or rearwardly within the frame; the frame being readily movable by the user, to provide safe support in order to maintain their footing, while moving in a selected direction.

[0009] The subject frame support portion includes lower members connected in supporting relation with the handles, being substantially parallel therewith and having mutual lateral separation greater than that of the above-mentioned handles, to promote enhanced lateral stability of the frame against tipping and overturning.

[0010] The lower portion of the frame may include runner-like support portions for use on ice. Upper portions of the frame include at least one over-arching portion uniting the mutually opposed side portions, while providing substantially unrestricted “walk-in” access to the handles. In addition to having a “wide stance” to promote lateral stability, the frame lower portions may have an extended length, relative to the handles to provide greater longitudinal stability. The above-described handles may be of extended length, to provide a wide range of self-positioning of a user within the relative confines of the frame.

[0011] The handles may be adjustable in height, to enable selective use of the frame by individuals of differing stature.

[0012] The frame may consist of a number of disassemblable elements, to facilitate packaging by the manufacturer, and transportation by a user. In some instances, a unitary frame may be preferred. Respective matching portions of the frame may be of different length, to facilitate nesting of one portion within another, when packaged. The extent of asymmetry involved may be visually unobvious in an assembled frame.

[0013] The frame may consist of tubular elements, and may include sleeve couplings, for rapid erection and disassembly. The component parts of the subject frame may have a wide variety of shapes and sizes, to meet packaging and assembly requirements. Thus, reducing the frame to a large number of component parts with associated coupling means can simplify and minimize packaging requirements, whereas by disregarding constraints such as packaging considerations, and adopting a minimum number of parts, the assembly of a subject frame can be simplified. For example, by combining the “overhead” hoop portions with extensive portions of the legs, a four joint assembly requiring only four connectors can be achieved.

[0014] The adoption of eight to twelve joints can achieve a substantially planar collection of parts, with associated simplified packaging requirements.

[0015] A coupling sleeve incorporating a pair of set screws, commonly used with electrical conduit, may be used to secure adjoining tubular portions of the frame

[0016] An alternative coupling arrangement may consist of spring-loaded detent couplings.

[0017] In such a coupling, one tube end portion is telescoped within the end portion of an adjoining tube. The smaller diameter tube contains a detent that is supported by a spring such that the head of the detent protrudes through a first hole in the tube wall. When the smaller tube is slid in aligned relation within the adjoining larger tube, the first hole comes into alignment with a second hole, located in the wall of the larger tube. The detent, which is initially depressed inwardly by contact with the larger tube, is then free to enter the second hole and engage its edges, thereby locking the two tubes in coupled relation. Inward depression of the head of the detent to move it radially inwardly to unlock the outer tube then permits disassembly of the coupling.

[0018] Another alternative telescope coupling arrangement using an internal plastic sleeve located within the larger tube, may be used, wherein rotation of the sleeve frictionally locks the two tubes. Selection of such alternative frame couplings is primarily based upon a compromise between cost and user convenience.

[0019] The subject frame may be used on ice; it may also be equipped with wheels or castors for use when roller-blading with in-line skates, or even as a walker, for rehabilitation purposes.

[0020] The slight negative buoyancy and minimal cross-section displacement of the frame may well suit a version of it for use by the handicapped in a hot bath.

[0021] A wide variety of tubing may be utilized in fabricating the frame, including aluminum tubing, seamless metal electrical conduit and other available forms. Nominal ½ inch or ¾ inch light-weight metal tubing is very useful, with adequate strength, and reasonable forming properties. The adoption of radiused bends provides a strong, stiff structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Certain embodiments of the invention are described by way of illustration, without limitation thereto other than as set forth in the accompanying claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a line drawing, as a side/end perspective view from above, of a first embodiment space frame in accordance with the present invention,;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a similar view of a second frame embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a line drawing of a third embodiment, taken in a side perspective;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a general view of representative elements of the FIG. 1 embodiment in disassembled relation;

[0027] FIG. 5 shows an ancillary seat for use with the respective frames;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a front elevation of a fourth frame embodiment, to a markedly smaller scale; and,

[0029] FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the FIG. 6 frame embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a mobile support frame 20, with a left half and a right half; has a left foot member 22, and a right foot member 23, each having upwardly extending heel portions 24. The heel portions 24 are connected to leg portions 26, 26 by way of connector bushings 28. Hoop portions 30 span between the left and the right halves, being connected to leg portions 26 by way of bushings 28, each fitted with a pair of set-screws, that grip the respective tube ends. Hand rails 32, 33 extend substantially parallel with the respective foot members 22, 23, being of corresponding length. Fastening bolts 34 and wingnuts 35, used in conjunction with the apertures 36 of leg portions 26, enable the height of the handrails 32, 33 to be adjusted to individual requirements.

[0031] It will be apparent from FIG. 4 that the left and right side components 22, 23, 32, 33 are illustrated as being differently sized, lengthwise, to enable their packaging in mutually nested relation.

[0032] In a frame 20 having a length as much as four feet, this nesting difference of perhaps as much as two inches is scarcely perceptible in the assembled frame 20.

[0033] Turning to FIG. 2, a frame 40 has downwardly divergent leg portions 46, 46 that position the foot members 42 in mutually spaced relation exceeding the lateral spacing of the hand rails 44. In the FIG. 3 embodiment, the frame 50 has foot members 52 that exceed in length the handrails 53, with the leg portions 56 being correspondingly angled, both laterally and lengthwise.

[0034] Removable wheels or castors 58, are illustrated, enabling use of the frame 50 by an in-line skater. Referring to FIG. 5, an ancillary seat 60 has a pair of loops 62 through which one of the hand rails is passed. The hooks 64 on the opposite side of the seat engage the opposite hand rail. The loops 62 permit the seat 60 to hang vertically suspended from the hand rail, or to be swung over into an active, horizontal position, supported by the opposite hand rail and the hooks 64. This is of great convenience for a parent in putting on or removing the skates of the user, or for an adult user in dealing with their own skates or shoes.

[0035] The hoop portions 30 of an assembled frame 20, 40 or 50 may be 48 inches or more above the supporting surface, thus enabling a child to enter within the archway thus formed, without banging their head against the hoop portions 30. The capacious aisle thus provided by a respective space frame gives ample room for unrestricted movement, while the handrails 32, 33, 44, 53 can be set at a desired height to afford excellent support, to enable the user to maintain themselves upright, while in the unlikely event of a fall, collision with the frame elements is improbable.

[0036] It will be understood that larger frames, including frames of greater elevation may be provided for larger users.

[0037] In the case of the FIGS. 6 and 7 fourth embodiment, frame 60, this has left hand and right hand halves 62, 64, connected by hoop portions 66, with hand rails 68 and runners 70, and has similar characteristics to the other embodiments. Due to the wide range of alternative locations for the frame connectors, these have been omitted from FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0038] Thus, a specific model made up of light-weight ½-inch seamless steel conduit, for use by a young small child was provided with 45 inch long runners; 30 inch long handrails, with 48 inch clearance at the spacer bridge “overhead” archway; with the handrails spaced 17 inches apart, and the runners 34 inches apart. The frame weighed less than 20 pounds.

[0039] With separable hand-rails, and as few as four frame bushing joints (with set screws), located below the handrail apertures, minimal time and skill is required, to assemble and dis-assemble the frame.

[0040] It is an undisputed fact that confidence breeds success, particularly in learning physical skills. It has been found that the confidence inspired in a user by the frame can lead to extremely rapid progress in learning to skate. In one instance, a three year-old child was standing erect upon his skates and maintaining his footing and actually skating, unsupported, after having had two short periods of coaching while supporting himself within a frame in accordance with the invention. One possible beneficial aspect of such use is the independence from adult support that the frame confers, which appears to breed self-confidence.

[0041] It is contemplated that in some instances frames may be provided having divergent handrails, enabling use by a wider range of users. Also, sloping of the handrails may be achieved by the provision of longer securing bolts, enabling their assembly in a misaligned condition, to meet individual idiosyncracies or physical impairments.

Claims

1. A mobile support frame for individual use, having a pair of hand rails in mutual, substantially horizontal, parallel relation; hand rail support means connected with the hand rails, and at least one spacer bridge securing said handrails in spaced relation, to provide substantially unrestricted access between the hand rails, the frame being readily movable by the user in a selected direction.

2. The mobile support frame as set forth in claim 1, said hand rail support means including mutually laterally spaced ground-contact portions, the spacing therebetween being greater than the lateral spacing between said hand rails, to promote enhanced lateral stability of the frame against tipping and overturning.

3. The mobile support frame as set forth in claim 1, said hand rails being adjustably connected to said frame, to permit selective adjustment of the height of the hand rails above the ground, to enable selective use of the frame by individuals of differing stature.

4. The mobile support frame as set forth in claim 1, the lower portion of the frame including two runner-like support portions for use on ice.

5. The mobile support frame as set forth in claim 1, the frame lower portions being longer than said hand rails, to promote longitudinal stability of the frame, when in use.

6. The mobile support frame as set forth in claim 1, said frame consisting of a number of disassemblable elements, to facilitate packaging and transportation.

7. The mobile support frame as set forth in claim 6, wherein respective corresponding portions of the frame may be of different length, to facilitate nesting of one portion within another.

8. The mobile support frame as set forth in claim 6, wherein said frame consists of tubular elements, with coupling means connecting adjoining frame elements in disassemblable relation.

9. The mobile support frame as set forth in claim 8, wherein said coupling means consist of muff couplings incorporating set screws.

10. The mobile support frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hand rails include fastener means removably engagable with said hand rail support means.

11. The mobile support frame as set forth in claim 1, having rotatable support means, to facilitate movement of the frame over a supporting surface.

12. The mobile support frame as set forth in claim 4, wherein said two runner like-portions each have curved ends, for attachment to leg portions of said frame, and wherein one said runner-like portion is shorter than the other said runner like portion, to permit close packing of said two portions in mutually nested relation.