Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ROLLING WALKER AND HANDLE GRIPS THEREOF
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an ambulatory aid
such as a rolling walker, whe(~!lchair, stroller and the
like, and more particularly to handle grips for the
ambulatory aid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Ambulatory aid appliances such as rolling walkers,
wheelchairs, strollers and the like, may be used in
different applications. However, these ambulatory aid
appliances all have common features as known in the art.
Generally, a rolling walker, wheelchair, stroller and the
like includes a frame assembly, a plurality of wheels or
rollers rotatably mounted to the frame assembly for
moveably supporting the frame assembly on a ground surface,
and a pair of handles extending rearwardly from the frame
assembly to be gripped by a person walking behind the frame
assembly who may be an individual needing assistance for
mobility or a caregiver of a care recipient sitting on a
seat attached to the frame assembly. Efforts have been
made to improve such ambulatory aid appliances in many
different aspects thereof, particularly with respect to the
configuration and composition of the frame assemblies.
However, less attention has been directed to improvement of
the handles which need to be comfortably and securely
gripped and held by the hands of a user, particularly an
individual who needs assistance for mobility.
[0003] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a pair of
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handle grips to the handles of an ambulatory aid which
provide more reliability and comfort to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a handle grip for an
ambulatory aid, the ambulatory aid including a frame
assembly, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to the
frame assembly for moveably supporting the frame assembly
on a support surface, a pair of handles each having the
handle grip, extending rearwardly from the frame assembly
to be gripped by a person walking behind the frame
assembly, the handle grip comprising: a substantially rigid
body portion defining a low surface of the handle grip and
a hole to receive one of the handles; and a top portion
attached to the body portion, the top portion being of soft
and resilient material with respect to the body portion.
[0005] In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a rolling walker for assisting
an individual with mobility which comprises a frame
assembly having a pair of handles extending rearwardly from
the frame assembly; means attached to the frame assembly
for rolling movement of the rolling walker along a support
surface; and wherein each of the handles includes a handle
grip having an increasing width from a front section of the
handle grip towards a rear end of the handle grip in a top
view thereof, and defining a projection symmetric about a
central axis of the handle grip in a transverse cross-
sectional view thereof, the central axis extending in a
direction at an angle of 25-55 degrees with respect to a
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vertical direction such that the projections of the
respective handle grips extend away from each other.
[0006] Other aspects and features of the present invention
will be better understood with reference to embodiments of
the present invention described hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings showing by way of illustration the embodiments
thereof, in which:
[0008] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a walker device
for assisting an individual with mobility according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] Figure 2 is an isometric view of the walker device
of Figure 1 converted to a wheeled transportation chair;
[0010] Figure 3A is a side elevational view of a handle
grip which may be used with the walker device of Figure 1,
showing a two-piece configuration of the handle grip
including a soft and resilient top portion attached to a
rigid body portion thereof;
[0011] Figure 3B is a top plane view of the handle grip of
Figure 3A, showing the profile of the handle grip;
[0012] Figure 4A is a side elevational view of the rigid
body portion of the handle grip of Figure 3A;
[0013] Figure 4B is a top plane view of the rigid body
portion shown in Figure 4A;
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[0014] Figure 5A is a side elevational view of the soft
and resilient top portion of the handle grip of Figure 3A;
[0015] Figure 5B is a top plane view of the top portion of
Figure 5A;
[0016] Figure 6A is a rear elevational view of a handle
grip attached to a left-handed handle of the walker device
according to another embodiment;
[0017] Figure 6B is a rear elevational view of a handle
grip attached to a right-handed handle of the walker device
according to said other embodiment;
[0018] Figure 7A is a transverse cross-sectional view of
the handle grip of Figure 6A;
[0019] Figure 7B is a transverse cross-sectional view of
the handle grip of Figure 6B; and
[0020] Figure 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an
upper end of a right-handed handle of the walker device of
Figure 1, showing the positioning device for angularly
positioning the handle grip to be attached thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a walker device
generally indicated by numeral 10 which is normally used as
a rolling walker for assisting an individual with mobility,
as shown in Figure 1, can be temporarily converted into a
wheeled transportation chair, as shown in Figure 2. A
similar walker device is described in Applicant's co-
pending US Patent Application Serial No. 11/522,177 (filed
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October 26, 2006). The walker device 10 generally includes
a frame assembly 12 which has two sides symmetric about a
central vertical plane (not shown). For clarity and
convenience of illustration, components which are identical
on the respective sides of the walker device will be
indicated only on one of the sides.
[0022] The frame assembly 12 includes two front legs 14
disposed in a substantially parallel relationship on the
respective sides, each having an upper end 16 and a lower
end 18 thereof. The front legs 14 are disposed in a
slanted orientation with the lower end 18 thereof
preferably slightly bent in a vertical direction.
[0023] The frame assembly 12 further includes two rear
legs 20 in a substantially parallel relationship, each
having an upper end 22 and a lower end 24 thereof. The
rear legs 20 are connected at-the upper end 22, preferably
through a hinge device (not indicated), to the upper end 16
of the respective front legs 14.
[0024] An interconnecting frame, preferably a folding
frame assembly, is provided with two foldable rods 26 which
are pivotably fastened to the front legs 14 and the rear
legs 20 at the respective sides of the frame assembly 12.
The foldable rods 26 are provided about a bracing rod 28
which extends transversely across the frame assembly 12 and
is pivotably connected to the respective foldable rods 26.
Therefore, the frame assembly 12 preferably presents an A-
shaped configuration in a side view thereof. However, due
to the foldability, the frame assembly 12 can be collapsed
into a packing condition for storage and/or transportation.
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[0025] Rollers, castors and/or small wheels 30 are
rotatably mounted to the lower ends 18, 24 of the
respective front and rear legs 14, 20 for rolling the
walker device 10 along a support surface, for example, a
ground surface. The two small wheels 30 attached to the
front legs 18 are preferably pivotably fastened to the
vertical lower ends 18 such that the two small front
wheels 30 are capable of a 360 rotation, which is well
known in the industry and will not be further described
herein.
[0026] The frame assembly 12 is reinforced by cross
members 32, 34 and 36, which extend transversely across the
frame assembly 12 to interconnect the two sides of the
frame structure. The cross members 34, 36 may be made in a
U-shape, affixed to the respective front and rear
legs 14, 20.
[0027] A seat 42 is provided with the frame assembly 12 to
extend between the front legs 14 and between the rear
legs 20, and is supported on the cross members 34, 36. It
is preferable to pivotably attach the seat 42 to one of the
cross members 34, 36 (such as to the front cross member 34)
and detachably rest the seat 42 on the other (such as the
rear cross member 36) such that the seat 32 can be pivoted
about one of the cross members 34, 36 to allow the rear
legs 20 to pivot towards the front legs 14 when the frame
structure 12 must be collapsed. A cloth bag 43 is
optionally provided under the seat, for example by being
tied to the respective cross members 34, 36
[0028] A pair of handles 44 are provided to the frame
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assembly 12. Each of the handles 44 may be made of a metal
tube which can be slidably received in the upper end 16 of
the tubular front legs 14 such that the height of the
handles 44 can be adjusted relative to the support surface
in accordance with the user's requirements. The handles 44
can be locked in a desired position by a variety of locking
means (not indicated) which are well known in the industry
and will not therefore be described herein. Each of the
handles 44 includes an upper end 46 which is bent at an
angle relative to the slanted orientation of the front
legs 14 and which extends rearwardly from the frame
assembly 12 in order to be gripped by the user. A pair of
handle grips 54 are attached to the respective upper
ends 46 to allow the user to comfortably and securely grasp
the handles 44. A lever assembly 48 may be attached to
each of the upper ends 46 for activating a brake 50 mounted
to the lower end 24 of the respective rear legs 20 through
a cable (not indicated). The lever assembly 48 and the
bracket 50 are conventional and will not be further
described in detail.
[0029] A backrest 52 is detachably and selectively mounted
to the frame assembly 12 in brackets 38 for a front
position, as shown in Figure 1, or in brackets 40 for a
rear position as shown in Figure 2, depending on a user's
preference for a rear or forward sitting position.
[0030] A foldable footrest assembly 56 may be attached to
the frame assembly 12 and may pivot about first and second
pivoting axes 58, 60 (see Figure 2), between a folded
position as shown in Figure 1 and an unfolded position as
shown in Figure 2.
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[0031] Referring to Figures 3A-5B, each of the handle
grips 54 of Figures 1-2 includes a substantially rigid body
portion 62 and top portion 64 attached to the body
portion 62. The rigid body portion 62 which defines a low
surface of the handle grip 54, may be made of a plastic
material in a molding process. The top portion 64 is soft
and resilient with respect to the rigid body portion 62 and
may be made of a suitable resilient and deformable plastic
or elastomer in a molding process. However, the top and
body portions 64, 62 may also be made in a double injection
molding process in which two different molding materials
are injected into different cavities of a mold of the
handle in different injection steps.
[0032] The top and body portions 64, 62 of the handle
grip 54 in combination, define a profile of the handle
grip 54. An upward projection 66 extends from the top
portion 64 in a middle location thereof. The handle
grip 54 increases in width from a front section 68 thereof
towards a rear end 70 in a top plane view of the handle
grip 54, as shown in Figure 3E. It should be note that the
top plane view of the handle grip 54 may present a profile
thereof different from a profile of the handle grip 54
attached to the handle 44 of the walker device 10, as
viewed in a direction from a top of the walker device 10
(not shown) because the handle grip 54 may be angularly
positioned on the handle 44, which will be further
described hereinafter.
[0033] The rear end 70 projects rearwardly to form a
convex shape. The handle grip 54 includes a shoulder 72 at
the convex rear end 70 extending upwardly from the top
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portion 64, and a heel 74 of the convex rear end 70
extending downwardly from the body portion 62. A curved
transitional surface 76 extends around the handle grip 54
at the rear end 70 thereof to smoothly connect both the
upward shoulder 72 and the downward heel 74 to the
respective top portion 64 and body portion 52.
[0034] The handle grip 54 further includes a front end 78
formed by a front end section of the rigid body portion 62,
thereby forming a radially protruding annular ridge 80. A
curved transitional surface 82 extends around the handle
grip 54 at the front end 78 to smoothly connect the
radially protruding annular ridge 80 with the handle
grip 54. A major portion of the handle grip 54 defined
between the radially protruding annular ridge 80 at the
front end 78 and the upward shoulder 72 and downward
heel 74 at the rear end 70, is sized in a substantially
unchanged dimension in a side view of the handle grip 54
except for the upward projection 66 in the middle thereof,
as shown in Figure 3A.
[0035] A hole 84 (illustrated by broken lines in
Figures 4A and 4B) formed by the body portion 62, is
defined in the front end 78 of the handle grip 54 and
extends into the body portion 62 substantially along a
longitudinal axis 51 of the handle grip 54 in order to
engage the upper end 46 of the handle 44 of the walker
device 10 of Figure 1.
[0036] The top and body portions 64, 62 of the handle grip
54 are configured such that the top portion 64 forms a top
layer of the handle grip 54 as if the top layer of the
handle grip 54 was pealed away to leave a cut off area
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generally indicated by numeral 86, thereby forming the body
portion 62. The cut of f area 86 is defined within a
complete loop of a cutting edge 88 of the top of the body
portion 62. The complete loop of the cutting edge 88 of
the body portion 62 is configured and sized to exactly
correspond with a peripheral edge 90 of the top portion 64
such that the peripheral edge 90 of the top portion 64
mates substantially seamlessly with the cutting edge 88 of
the cut off area 86 of the body portion 62 when the top
portion 64 is attached to the body portion 62.
[0037] For convenience of description the top and body
portions 64, 62 have been described as in a cut off and
pealed away manner. In fact, the top portion 64 may be
made of a soft and resilient material such as a resiliently
deformable plastic or elastomer, and the body portion 62
may be made of a rigid material such as polypropylene or
other rigid plastic material. The top and body
portions 64, 62 may be made in separate molding processes
or in two steps of a double injection molding process.
[0038] The top portion 64 is optionally a thin layer
except for the upward projection 66, and therefore the body
portion 62, is provided with a cross-sectional dimension
large enough to define the hole 84 therein. The upward
projection 66 is optionally formed entirely by the top
portion 64 to provide a suitable resiliency thereof in
order to absorb an impact when transferring load from a
user's hands therethrough to the walker device 10 and then
to the ground.
[0039] The configurations of the top and body
portions 64, 62 in this embodiment are an example of the
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present invention and may be configured differently without
departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, a
rear end section (not indicated) of the top portion 64 may
form the entire upward shoulder 72, similar to the upward
projection 66, rather than being a thin layer as shown in
Figure 5A with the body portion 62 having a configuration
of the rear end section thereof (not indicated) to
correspond with such an alternative configuration of the
top portion 64. The radially protruding annular ridge 80,
for example, may be formed by a combination of both top and
body portions 64, 62, instead of being substantially formed
by the body portion 62, as shown in Figure 4A. The handle
grip 54 of the present invention is configured to best fit
into a user's hand when the walker device 10 is in use and
thus provides a very comfortable hand grip. The rigid body
portion 62 forms a major part of the configuration and thus
provides a solid feeling when the user's hand grasps the
handle grip 54. The soft and resilient top portion 64
gives the user a comfortable feeling and is enabled to
absorb impact during load transfer from the user's hand
through the walker device 10 into the ground. Furthermore,
due to the properties of the soft and resilient material,
the top portion 64 provides a surface having more
frictional resistance than the surface of the body
portion 62. This will further benefit the reliable grip
because the surface of the top portion 64 is contacted by
the palm of the user's hand during load transfer.
[0040] The handle grip 54 may be attached to the upper end
46 of each handle 44 of the walker device 10 of Figures 1
and 2, in an orientation in which a central axis 53 (see
Figures 3A and 3B) of the handle grip 54 extends vertically
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and the upward projection 66 is substantially in a upright
position. The central axis 53 of the handle grip 54 is
perpendicular to and intersects the longitudinal axis 51.
In Figure 3B the central axis 53 is shown as a point
indicated by a cross on the longitudinal axis 51 because
the central axis 53 extends into the paper at a right angle
thereto. Optionally, the handle grips 54 may be attached
to the walker device 10 of Figure 1 as right-handed and
left-handed handle grips in opposite angular orientations,
as shown in Figures 1 and 2, which is further described
below.
[0041] Reference is now made to Figures 1, 2 and 6A-8.
Left-handed and right-handed handle grips 54a, 54b which
are shown in respective Figures 6A, 7A and Figures 6B, 7B,
according to another embodiment of the present invention,
are substantially identical to the handle grip of
Figures 3A-3B as a whole. Generally, the handle
grips 54a, 54b each has an equal but mirror imaged profile
and similar features represented by the handle grip 54
illustrated in Figures 3A-3B and those similar components
and features will not be redundantly described herein. The
respective handle grips 54a, 54b are, however, attached to
the upper end 46 of the respective handles 44 of the walker
device 10 of Figure 1 in opposite angular orientations,
rather than the position in which the central axis 53
extends vertically as shown in Figure 3A. In such angular
orientations the central axis 53 of the respective handle
grips 54a, 54b extends at an angle A with respect to a
vertical direction such that the upward
projections 66a, 66b extend away from each other, as shown
in Figures 7A and 7B, while the heels 74a, 74b of the
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respective handle grips 54a, 54b extend toward each other
as shown in Figures 6A and 6B.
[0042] Although as a whole, the mirror imaged profile of
the respective handle grips 54a, 54b is substantially
similar to the profile of the handle grip 54 of
Figures 3A-3B, being symmetrical about the central axis 53
in any transverse cross-sectional view thereof, such as the
view of Figure 7A or 7B, and the rear elevational view as
illustrated in Figure 6A or 6B, the top portion 64a or 64b
and the body portion 62a or 62b may be asymmetrical about
the central axis 53. In such an asymmetrical
configuration, the top portion 64a or 64b which is made of
a soft and resilient material with respect to the rigid
body portion 62a or 62b, may extend further along the
periphery of the handle grip at one side than along the
other side. This asymmetric configuration advantageously
ensures that a substantially downward load from the user's
hands is transferred to the handle grip 54a or 54b through
the soft and resilient top portion 64a or 64b when the
handle grip 54a or 54b is angularly attached to the walker
device 10 of Figure 1. For this purpose, the asymmetrical
configuration of the top portion 64a and 64b or the
asymmetrical configuration of the body portion 62a and 62b
is different for the respective left-handed and right-
handed handle grips, which is clearly illustrated in
Figures 6A and 6B or 7A and 7B.
[0043] The handle grips 54a, 54b angularly attached to the
walker device 10 of Figure 1 advantageously provide a more
comfortable and secure hand grip to the user. When a user
walks behind the walker device 10 of Figure 1 and extends
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his/her arms forwardly to grasp the handle grips 54a, 54b
of the walker device, the user's hands are naturally
positioned on the handle grips 54a, 54b at an area located
at the upper outer side thereof. Therefore, the angularly
oriented handle grips 54a, 54b naturally conform to the
user's hands. The angle A between the central axis 53 and
the vertical direction may be 45 degrees, which may be
suitable for most users. Nevertheless, the angle A may
also be selected from a range of between 25 degrees and 55
degrees to suit individual user's needs in use of different
types or ambulatory aid appliances.
[0044] An adhesive may be applied within the hole 84
defined in the body portion 62 of the handle grip 54, to
secure the handle grip 54 (or 54a or 54b) to the upper
end 46 of the handle 44 of the walker device 10.
Alternatively, a positioning device may be provided to the
upper end 46 of the handle 44 for securing the handle
grip 54 (or 54a or 54b) in any selected angular orientation
when attached thereto. For example, as shown in Figure 8,
the upper end 46 may define one or more recesses 94, 96,
slots, holes or the like, in selected angular orientations
such as indicated by the angle Al, A2, for receiving an
inwardly projecting boss 92, a key or the like, which is
affixed or integrated to the body portion 62a or 62b, as
shown in Figures 7A and 7B. The inwardly projecting
boss 92, key or the like, may be circumferentially located
on the central axis 53 such that the angle Al or A2 in
Figure 8 indicates the angle between the central axis 53 of
the handle grip 54 (or 54a or 54b) and the vertical
direction. Angle Al or A2 is selected from the range of
from 25 to 55 degrees.
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[0045] The walker device 10 described above is an example
for describing an ambulatory aid on which the handle grips
described in various embodiments above may be used for a
comfortable and secure hand grip by a user. Other
ambulatory aids such as wheelchairs and strollers are also
applicable for use of such handle grips.
[0046] The above description is meant to be exemplary only
and one skilled in the art will recognize that changes may
be made to the embodiments described without departure from
the scope of the invention disclosed. For example, a
roller walker, a wheelchair or a stroller may be configured
differently from the described walker device but still be
applicable for use of the handle grips described in the
above embodiments. The two-piece handle grip of the
present invention may also be configured differently from
the exemplary configurations described in the embodiments.
Additional features and components may be added to the
handle grips described in the embodiments. For example,
light reflection plate(s) may be added to a central area of
the rear end of the handle grips as shown in Figures 6A, 6B
(not indicated). Still other modifications which fall
within the scope of the present invention will be apparent
to those skilled in the art in light of a review of this
disclosure, and such modifications are intended to fall
within the scope of the appended claims.
