US3658079A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding walker
Assignee: CARSTENS HEALTH IND Inc
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Filing: 1970-09-18
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Granted: 1972-04-25
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Expires: 1990-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A folding walker embodying a pair of side leg and handle frame units interconnected by brace means and which side leg and handle frame units may be manually moved into collapsed and generally parallel folded position in which they are latched by latching means embodied in one of the leg structures, and unlatched and returned to open walking position by applying manual pressure on the brace means to unlatch the side leg and handle frame units and then manually pivoting the said side leg and handle frame units inwardly toward each other and relative to the brace means and into inwardly folded or collapsed position, so that when both of the side leg and handle frame units are disposed in inwardly folded position they are latched in that position by latching means embodied in one of the leg structures. The folding walker may be readily carried by hand, transported in an automobile, or like vehicle, and stored in folded or collapsed condition when not in use, or used as a cane when folded into collapsed position. The new folding walker eliminates all parts, such as knobs, requiring pulling and twisting, and all push buttons, or similar parts, requiring hand manipulations which are difficult to operate and particularly for persons with arthritis in their hands or arms or persons suffering from strokes or similar disabilities.
Inventors
- 👤 George P Block
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
598 words
A folding walker comprising: a. a pair of spaced combination leg and handle frame units each including 1. a front leg structure, 2. a rear leg structure, and 3. handle means interconnecting each of said front leg structures with the corresponding one of said rear leg structures; b. brace means at the front of and interconnecting the said front leg structures of the said combination leg and handle frame units; c. a pair of mounting means on said brace means for movably mounting each of the said combination leg and handle frame units for movement from their generally parallel position of use into inwardly folded or collapsed position and from their inwardly folded or collapsed position into generally parallel position of use; d. a pair of latching means coacting with and under the control of the said mounting means and the said brace means for latching the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid latched relationship to the said brace means and to the said mounting means in generally parallel open position of use; e. the said brace means including a transverse brace member extending between the said combination leg and handle frame units at the front thereof; f. each of the said front leg structures including a front leg member; g. each of said mounting means including a tubular sleeve member slidably mounted on the corresponding one of the said front leg members and integrally attached to one of the outer end portions of the said transverse brace member and having the corresponding one of said front leg members swivelly mounted therein; h. each of said latching means including 1. a latch member on each of the said front leg members above the corresponding one of the said tubular sleeve members; 2. a latching element on the upper end of the corresponding one of the said tubular sleeve members and latchingly engageable with the corresponding one of the said latch members on the front leg members to latch the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid relationship with the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members, and 3. auxiliary latching means for latching the said one of the said combination leg and handle frame units in inwardly folded or collapsed position rearwardly of the said transverse brace member; i. resilient means carried by each of the said front leg members and normally urging the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members and the said latching elements thereon upwardly on and relative to the said front leg members so as to move the said latching elements into latching engagement with the said latch member; and j. a generally cylindrical cup-like member on each front leg member below the corresponding tubular sleeve member and having a lower end portion, said cup-like member being fixed on the front leg member and having an open upper end, said resilient means disposed within and confined in the cup-like member and engaged at one end with the lower end portion of the cup-like member and in engagement at its other end with the lower end of the tubular sleeve member; k. the said latching elements on the said tubular sleeve members being movable out of latching engagement with the said latch members on the said front leg members by manual pressure applied downwardly on the said transverse brace member, against the action of the said resilient means, so as to enable the said combination leg and handle frame units to be manually moved into collapsed or inwardly folded position relative to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
598 words
A folding walker comprising: a. a pair of spaced combination leg and handle frame units each including 1. a front leg structure, 2. a rear leg structure, and 3. handle means interconnecting each of said front leg structures with the corresponding one of said rear leg structures; b. brace means at the front of and interconnecting the said front leg structures of the said combination leg and handle frame units; c. a pair of mounting means on said brace means for movably mounting each of the said combination leg and handle frame units for movement from their generally parallel position of use into inwardly folded or collapsed position and from their inwardly folded or collapsed position into generally parallel position of use; d. a pair of latching means coacting with and under the control of the said mounting means and the said brace means for latching the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid latched relationship to the said brace means and to the said mounting means in generally parallel open position of use; e. the said brace means including a transverse brace member extending between the said combination leg and handle frame units at the front thereof; f. each of the said front leg structures including a front leg member; g. each of said mounting means including a tubular sleeve member slidably mounted on the corresponding one of the said front leg members and integrally attached to one of the outer end portions of the said transverse brace member and having the corresponding one of said front leg members swivelly mounted therein; h. each of said latching means including 1. a latch member on each of the said front leg members above the corresponding one of the said tubular sleeve members; 2. a latching element on the upper end of the corresponding one of the said tubular sleeve members and latchingly engageable with the corresponding one of the said latch members on the front leg members to latch the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid relationship with the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members, and 3. auxiliary latching means for latching the said one of the said combination leg and handle frame units in inwardly folded or collapsed position rearwardly of the said transverse brace member; i. resilient means carried by each of the said front leg members and normally urging the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members and the said latching elements thereon upwardly on and relative to the said front leg members so as to move the said latching elements into latching engagement with the said latch member; and j. a generally cylindrical cup-like member on each front leg member below the corresponding tubular sleeve member and having a lower end portion, said cup-like member being fixed on the front leg member and having an open upper end, said resilient means disposed within and confined in the cup-like member and engaged at one end with the lower end portion of the cup-like member and in engagement at its other end with the lower end of the tubular sleeve member; k. the said latching elements on the said tubular sleeve members being movable out of latching engagement with the said latch members on the said front leg members by manual pressure applied downwardly on the said transverse brace member, against the action of the said resilient means, so as to enable the said combination leg and handle frame units to be manually moved into collapsed or inwardly folded position relative to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
5 words
a rear leg structure, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
5 words
a rear leg structure, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
a latching element on the upper end of the corresponding one of the said tubular sleeve members and latchingly engageable with the corresponding one of the said latch members on the front leg members to latch the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid relationship with the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
a latching element on the upper end of the corresponding one of the said tubular sleeve members and latchingly engageable with the corresponding one of the said latch members on the front leg members to latch the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid relationship with the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
243 words
handle means interconnecting each of said front leg structures with the corresponding one of said rear leg structures; b. brace means at the front of and interconnecting the said front leg structures of the said combination leg and handle frame units; c. a pair of mounting means on said brace means for movably mounting each of the said combination leg and handle frame units for movement from their generally parallel position of use into inwardly folded or collapsed position and from their inwardly folded or collapsed position into generally parallel position of use; d. a pair of latching means coacting with and under the control of the said mounting means and the said brace means for latching the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid latched relationship to the said brace means and to the said mounting means in generally parallel open position of use; e. the said brace means including a transverse brace member extending between the said combination leg and handle frame units at the front thereof; f. each of the said front leg structures including a front leg member; g. each of said mounting means including a tubular sleeve member slidably mounted on the corresponding one of the said front leg members and integrally attached to one of the outer end portions of the said transverse brace member and having the corresponding one of said front leg members swivelly mounted therein; h. each of said latching means including
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
243 words
handle means interconnecting each of said front leg structures with the corresponding one of said rear leg structures; b. brace means at the front of and interconnecting the said front leg structures of the said combination leg and handle frame units; c. a pair of mounting means on said brace means for movably mounting each of the said combination leg and handle frame units for movement from their generally parallel position of use into inwardly folded or collapsed position and from their inwardly folded or collapsed position into generally parallel position of use; d. a pair of latching means coacting with and under the control of the said mounting means and the said brace means for latching the said combination leg and handle frame units in rigid latched relationship to the said brace means and to the said mounting means in generally parallel open position of use; e. the said brace means including a transverse brace member extending between the said combination leg and handle frame units at the front thereof; f. each of the said front leg structures including a front leg member; g. each of said mounting means including a tubular sleeve member slidably mounted on the corresponding one of the said front leg members and integrally attached to one of the outer end portions of the said transverse brace member and having the corresponding one of said front leg members swivelly mounted therein; h. each of said latching means including
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
242 words
auxiliary latching means for latching the said one of the said combination leg and handle frame units in inwardly folded or collapsed position rearwardly of the said transverse brace member; i. resilient means carried by each of the said front leg members and normally urging the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members and the said latching elements thereon upwardly on and relative to the said front leg members so as to move the said latching elements into latching engagement with the said latch member; and j. a generally cylindrical cup-like member on each front leg member below the corresponding tubular sleeve member and having a lower end portion, said cup-like member being fixed on the front leg member and having an open upper end, said resilient means disposed within and confined in the cup-like member and engaged at one end with the lower end portion of the cup-like member and in engagement at its other end with the lower end of the tubular sleeve member; k. the said latching elements on the said tubular sleeve members being movable out of latching engagement with the said latch members on the said front leg members by manual pressure applied downwardly on the said transverse brace member, against the action of the said resilient means, so as to enable the said combination leg and handle frame units to be manually moved into collapsed or inwardly folded position relative to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
242 words
auxiliary latching means for latching the said one of the said combination leg and handle frame units in inwardly folded or collapsed position rearwardly of the said transverse brace member; i. resilient means carried by each of the said front leg members and normally urging the said transverse brace member and the said tubular sleeve members and the said latching elements thereon upwardly on and relative to the said front leg members so as to move the said latching elements into latching engagement with the said latch member; and j. a generally cylindrical cup-like member on each front leg member below the corresponding tubular sleeve member and having a lower end portion, said cup-like member being fixed on the front leg member and having an open upper end, said resilient means disposed within and confined in the cup-like member and engaged at one end with the lower end portion of the cup-like member and in engagement at its other end with the lower end of the tubular sleeve member; k. the said latching elements on the said tubular sleeve members being movable out of latching engagement with the said latch members on the said front leg members by manual pressure applied downwardly on the said transverse brace member, against the action of the said resilient means, so as to enable the said combination leg and handle frame units to be manually moved into collapsed or inwardly folded position relative to each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB919044A
Cited
US3442276A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-25 | 1975-10-25 | 1976-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-25 | 1979-10-25 | 1980-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-25 | 1983-10-25 | 1984-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |