Motorized walker

Claim 2

A powered walker which comprises: an upstanding rigid frame assembly comprising interconnected, rigid frame members defining (a) vertical sides which define a vertical space for receiving a user''s body and defining (b) an entryway in one side thereof, said frame assembly connected to and terminating at its lower end in support means for supporting a walker user thereon in standing position within said frame assembly; a gate hingedly connected to said frame assembly along one side of said entrywaY and sized to extend across said entryway for closing engagement with said frame assembly along the opposing side of said entryway; wheel means connected to said frame assembly for supporting said frame assembly above a surface for transportational movement thereover, said wheel means comprising a pair of independently-mounted front wheels and a pair of interconnected turnable rear wheels; electrical power means carried within said frame assembly; drive means connected to said electrical power means and to one of said front wheels; switch means mounted adjacent the upper end of said frame assembly for manual operation by a walker user and electrically connected to said electrical power means; steering means connected at a lower end to said rear wheels and rotatably connected at its upper end to said frame assembly adjacent said upper end thereof; and brake means carried vertically along said frame assembly and terminating at one end adjacent said wheel means and for engagement therewith when said brake means are applied and terminating in a hand-operable position adjacent said upper end of said frame assembly.

Claim 3

The powered walker of claim 1 wherein: said electrical power means comprises an electric storage battery, a motor, and relay circuit means for producing forward and reverse movement of said walker, said relay circuit means being electrically connected to said switch means, to said motor, and to said battery.

Claim 4

A powered walker which comprises: an upstanding rigid frame assembly comprising a pair of side frames, a back, and horizontal support means at its lower end for supporting a user thereon in standing position within said walker, said side frames defining a front entryway; a gate hingedly connected to one of said side frames and sized to extend across said entryway for closing engagement with the other said side frame; a pair of independently-mounted front wheels and a pair of interconnected rear wheels connected to and supporting said frame assembly at its corners above a surface for transportational movement thereover, said front wheels each being rotatably carried on an axle connected to said frame assembly to prevent directional turning of said front wheels and said rear wheels each being mounted for turning movement for changing the direction of movement of said walker in response to steering means connected at its lower end to said rear wheels and rotatably connected at its upper end to one of said side frames for hand operation by said walker user when in a standing position; brake means carried on said frame assembly and having a pair of lower ends positioned adjacent one pair of said front or back wheels for engagement with said one pair of wheels when said braking means is applied and having upper ends in hand-operable position for said walker user; an electric motor mounted on said frame assembly adjacent said support means; drive means interconnecting said electric motor and one of said front wheels, the other of said front wheels being free-wheeling; relay circuit means carried on said frame assembly and electrically connected to said motor; switch means mounted on said frame assembly in a position for hand operation by said walker user and electrically connected to said relay circuit means; and an electric storage battery mounted within said frame assembly adjacent said support means and electrically connected to said motor through said switch means.

Claim 5

A powered walker which comprises: an upstanding rigid frame assembly comprising a pair of side frames, a back, and horizontal support means at its lower end for supporting a user thereon in standing position within said walker, said side frames defining a front entryway; a gate hingedly connected to one of said side frames and sized to extend across said entryway for closing engagement with the other said side frame; a pair of independently-mounted front wheels and a pair of interconnected rear wheels connected to and supporting said frame assembly at its corners above a surface for transportational movement thereover, said front wheels each being rotatably carried on an axle connected to said frame assembly to prevent directional turning of said front wheels and said rear wheels each being mounted for turning movement for changing the direction of movement of said walker in response to steering means connected at its lower end to said rear wheels and rotatably connected at its upper end to one of said side frames for hand operation by said walker user when in a standing position; brake means carried on said frame assembly and having a pair of lower ends positioned adjacent one pair of said front or back wheels for engagement with said one pair of wheels when said braking means is applied and having upper ends in hand-operable position for said walker user; an electric motor mounted on said frame assembly adjacent said support means; drive means interconnecting said electric motor and one of said front wheels, the other of said front wheels being free-wheeling; relay circuit means carried on said frame assembly and electrically connected to said motor; switch means mounted on said frame assembly in a position for hand operation by said walker user and electrically connected to said relay circuit means; and an electric storage battery mounted within said frame assembly adjacent said support means and electrically connected to said motor through said switch means.

Claim 6

The walker of claim 3 in which said brake means acts on said pair of said front wheels.

Claim 7

The walker of claim 3 which further includes: padded supports mounted on, and interior of, said frame assembly to support said walker user in front at about the knees of said user and in back at the back of said user.

Claim 8

The walker of claim 5 wherein said gate is padded on its inner side and the height of said gate is adjusted to provide said knee support.

Claim 9

The walker of claim 5 which further includes belt means attached to said Back of said frame assembly and positioned to pass around the waist of said walker user.

Claim 10

The walker of claim 3 wherein each of said side frame includes a top member which serves as a handrail for said walker user and wherein said steering means comprises: a tiller positioned adjacent one of said handrails for rotational movement with respect to said frame assembly; an elongated, vertical rod fixedly connected at its upper end to said tiller and rotatably connected to said frame assembly for rotation with said tiller; and linkage means connected to said elongated rod and to said pair of rear wheels for causing said rear wheels to turn in response to movement of said tiller.

Claim 11

The walker of claim 8 wherein said linkage means is connected to said rear wheels so that said rear wheels turn at different angles to the direction of movement of said walker with respect to each other to maintain all of said front and rear wheels on circular arcs having a common center for all angles of turn.

Claim 12

The walker of claim 8 wherein said switch means is mounted on said tiller.

Claim 13

A powered walker which comprises: an upstanding rigid frame assembly of rectangular cross-section comprising a pair of side frames, a back, and horizontal support means interconnecting said side frames at the bottom thereof for supporting a walker user thereon in standing position within said walker, said side frames defining an entryway in the front of said walker and having upper members positioned for use as handrails; a gate hingedly connected to one of said side frames at about adult knee height above said support means and sized to extend across said entryway for closing engagement with said other side frame, said gate carrying a knee pad on its interior side for supporting the legs of a walker user; a pair of independently-mounted front wheels and a pair of interconnected rear wheels supporting said frame assembly at its four corners above a surface for transportational movement thereover, said front wheels each being rotatably carried on axles connected to one of said side frames and to said support means in fixed position to prevent directional turning of said front wheels, said rear wheels being mounted in castors rotatably connected to said frame assembly; a brake carried on each of said side frames adjacent the front of said walker, each said brake having a lower end brake flange positioned adjacent one of said front wheels for engagement therewith when said brake is applied and having an upper end lever in hand-operable position for a walker user to produce corresponding movement in intermediate linkage connected to both said upper lever and said lower brake flange to cause said brake flange to engage and disengage said respective front wheel; steering means comprising (A) a tiller positioned adjacent one of said handrails, (B) an elongated vertically-disposed rod fixedly connected at its upper end to said tiller and rotatably connected to said frame assembly to permit rotation of said tiller with respect to said frame assembly, and (C) linkage means connected to the lower end of said elongated rod and to said rear wheels for causing said rear wheels to turn in response to the rotation of said tiller; an electric motor mounted on said frame assembly adjacent said support means; drive means interconnecting said electric motor and one of said front wheels, the other of said front wheels being free-wheeling; relay circuit means carried on said frame assembly and electrically connected to said motor; switch means mounted on said tiller for hand operation together with said tiller and electrically connected to said relay circuit means; and an electric storage battery mounted within said frame assembly adjacent said support means and electrically connected to said motor through said switch means.

Claim 14

A powered walker which comprises: an upstanding rigid frame assembly of rectangular cross-section comprising a pair of side frames, a back, and horizontal support means interconnecting said side frames at the bottom thereof for supporting a walker user thereon in standing position within said walker, said side frames defining an entryway in the front of said walker and having upper members positioned for use as handrails; a gate hingedly connected to one of said side frames at about adult knee height above said support means and sized to extend across said entryway for closing engagement with said other side frame, said gate carrying a knee pad on its interior side for supporting the legs of a walker user; a pair of independently-mounted front wheels and a pair of interconnected rear wheels supporting said frame assembly at its four corners above a surface for transportational movement thereover, said front wheels each being rotatably carried on axles connected to one of said side frames and to said support means in fixed position to prevent directional turning of said front wheels, said rear wheels being mounted in castors rotatably connected to said frame assembly; a brake carried on each of said side frames adjacent the front of said walker, each said brake having a lower end brake flange positioned adjacent one of said front wheels for engagement therewith when said brake is applied and having an upper end lever in hand-operable position for a walker user to produce corresponding movement in intermediate linkage connected to both said upper lever and said lower brake flange to cause said brake flange to engage and disengage said respective front wheel; steering means comprising (A) a tiller positioned adjacent one of said handrails, (B) an elongated vertically-disposed rod fixedly connected at its upper end to said tiller and rotatably connected to said frame assembly to permit rotation of said tiller with respect to said frame assembly, and (C) linkage means connected to the lower end of said elongated rod and to said rear wheels for causing said rear wheels to turn in response to the rotation of said tiller; an electric motor mounted on said frame assembly adjacent said support means; drive means interconnecting said electric motor and one of said front wheels, the other of said front wheels being free-wheeling; relay circuit means carried on said frame assembly and electrically connected to said motor; switch means mounted on said tiller for hand operation together with said tiller and electrically connected to said relay circuit means; and an electric storage battery mounted within said frame assembly adjacent said support means and electrically connected to said motor through said switch means.

Claim 15

The powered walker of claim 11 which further includes a back pad mounted on the back of said frame assembly for cooperatioN with said knee pad in supporting a walker user within said walker, said rectangular cross-section of said frame assembly being sized to just receive a walker user so that said pads effectively support said walker user.