Abstract A novel invalid walker is disclosed for use by injured or crippled persons to steady such persons and support them during walking or standing in a substantially erect position. The walker is particularly designed to assist the user thereof in ascending or descending staircases and the like. In the preferred inventive embodiment, the invalid walker comprises a hollow tubular frame member by which the user of the apparatus can be supported and steadied. A plurality of legs downwardly depend from the frame member and will be seen to constitute, in the preferred embodiment, two pairs of front and rear legs disposed to either side and telescopically mounted within the tubular frame in the fashion of a piston. The tubular frame itself defines two closed hydraulic fluid lines interconnecting associated front and rear leg pairs such that movement of a front leg into the tubular frame to effect relative shortening of the front leg automatically and simultaneously brings about a movement of the associated rear leg in a direction outwardly from the tubular frame so as to effect relative lengthening of the rear leg. Locking means are provided so as to lock each front and rear leg pair in any respective position, thus enabling an infinite relative adjustment between the respective lengths of a front and rear leg of a given pair. In this fashion, staircases can readily be ascended or descended by the user of the apparatus.
Inventors
👤 D Birk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-02 00:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H3/00; A61H2003/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
285 words
An invalid walker having adjustable legs to enable the user thereof to ascend and descend staircases, said walker comprising, in combination: two inverted hollow tubular U-shaped members defining a frame means for supporting and steadying a user thereof, each tubular member having a handle portion adapted to be gripped by the user, and a forward and rearward open end; two pairs of downwardly-depending front and rear legs, each leg having a piston means attached thereto, each front and rear leg pair being telescopically mounted in the respective forward and rearward open end of each U-shaped member to close the ends of said member; each hollow tubular U-shaped member being filled with hydraulic fluid to define a closed hydraulic system interconnecting a respective front and rear leg pair such that downWard pressure applied by the user over one leg of each pair effects a relative shortening movement of said one leg and attached piston into the respective tubular member and a flow of fluid in each said tubular member towards the other leg and attached piston of each pair in a direction to forcibly drive same outwardly, thereby simultaneously bringing about an automatic relative lengthening movement of said other leg of each said pair; and a separate valve means actuatable by the user disposed in each U-shaped tubular member at the region of said handle portion thereof to selectively prevent and allow hydraulic fluid flow in each respective tubular member, each valve means, when actuated, enabling continuous adjustment of the relative lengths of the front and rear leg pair of a respective tubular member, each valve means, when released, locking the front and rear leg pair of the respective tubular member at any desired relative length.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
285 words
An invalid walker having adjustable legs to enable the user thereof to ascend and descend staircases, said walker comprising, in combination: two inverted hollow tubular U-shaped members defining a frame means for supporting and steadying a user thereof, each tubular member having a handle portion adapted to be gripped by the user, and a forward and rearward open end; two pairs of downwardly-depending front and rear legs, each leg having a piston means attached thereto, each front and rear leg pair being telescopically mounted in the respective forward and rearward open end of each U-shaped member to close the ends of said member; each hollow tubular U-shaped member being filled with hydraulic fluid to define a closed hydraulic system interconnecting a respective front and rear leg pair such that downWard pressure applied by the user over one leg of each pair effects a relative shortening movement of said one leg and attached piston into the respective tubular member and a flow of fluid in each said tubular member towards the other leg and attached piston of each pair in a direction to forcibly drive same outwardly, thereby simultaneously bringing about an automatic relative lengthening movement of said other leg of each said pair; and a separate valve means actuatable by the user disposed in each U-shaped tubular member at the region of said handle portion thereof to selectively prevent and allow hydraulic fluid flow in each respective tubular member, each valve means, when actuated, enabling continuous adjustment of the relative lengths of the front and rear leg pair of a respective tubular member, each valve means, when released, locking the front and rear leg pair of the respective tubular member at any desired relative length.