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A mobile, rehabilitative walker is configured for use outdoors on an irregular or rough support surface. The walker includes a support frame, configured for supporting a person in an upright position, having a plurality of frame members defining an open rear end and an interior space sized for recei

A mobile, rehabilitative walker is configured for use outdoors on an irregular or rough support surface. The walker includes a support frame, configured for supporting a person in an upright position, having a plurality of frame members defining an open rear end and an interior space sized for receiving a wheelchair. A plurality of wheels are rotatably coupled to the support frame, and configured for multidirectional movement on the support surface. A support harness is vertically suspended from a rotatable upper rail of the support frame. A crank mechanism is coupled to the upper rail, and configured to rotate the upper rail to draw the support harness upward. The crank mechanism includes a crank handle located near the rear end of the support frame to facilitate rotation of the upper rail.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A mobile, rehabilitative walker, comprising:a plurality of wheels, configured for multidirectional movement on a support surface; a frame, coupled to the plurality of wheels, including a plurality of frame members defining opposite sides, a front between the sides, an open rear end opposite the f

1. A mobile, rehabilitative walker, comprising:a plurality of wheels, configured for multidirectional movement on a support surface; a frame, coupled to the plurality of wheels, including a plurality of frame members defining opposite sides, a front between the sides, an open rear end opposite the front, and an interior space formed between the plurality of frame members and accessible through the open rear end, the interior space being sized for receiving a user and configured for allowing leg movement of the user, the plurality of frame members including a plurality of upwardly extending columns, extending to a height above the user, a plurality of lateral rails, attached to and extending between the columns, including lower rails attached to lower ends of the columns providing a base for the columns, and a rotatable upper rail attached to upper ends of the columns and located directly over the interior space of the frame; a harness, vertically suspended from the rotatable upper rail of the frame into the interior space, the harness configured for removable attachment to an upper torso of the user; and at least one vertical suspension member, having a first end coupled to the rotatable upper rail of the frame directly above the interior space, and an opposite second end coupled to the harness, configured to be drawn upward by the upper rail when the upper rail rotates in a lifting direction, and thus to lift a portion of the user's weight. 2. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 1, further comprising a crank mechanism, coupled to the rotatable upper rail, configured to rotate the upper rail in the lifting direction.3. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 2, further comprising a selectively engageable ratchet mechanism, configured to resist rotation of the upper rail in a lowering direction that is opposite the lifting direction.4. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 3, wherein the ratchet mechanism further comprises:a rotatable ratchet wheel, having teeth, operatively coupled to the rotatable upper rail; a pawl, configured to slide over the teeth of the ratchet wheel when the ratchet wheel and the upper rail are rotated in the lifting direction, and to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel and resist rotation of the ratchet wheel and upper rail in the lowering direction; and a release, configured to allow a user to selectively release the pawl from the teeth of the ratchet wheel, to allow the ratchet wheel and the upper rail to rotate in the lowering direction. 5. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 2, wherein the crank mechanism further comprises:a crank shaft; a gear system operatively coupled between the crank shaft and the upper rail; and a crank handle coupled to the crankshaft, for allowing a user to rotate the upper rail by rotating the crank handle. 6. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 5, wherein the crank shaft is oriented transverse to an axis of rotation of the gear system.7. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 6, wherein the gear system further comprises:a worm gear, disposed on the crank shaft; and a spur gear, affixed to an axle, engaged with the worm gear, configured such that axial rotation of the worm gear causes rotation of the spur gear upon the axle. 8. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 5, wherein the gear system comprises a reduction gear system, such that a smaller amount of torque applied to the crank shaft is converted to a larger amount of torque applied to the upper rail.9. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 5, wherein the crank handle is disposed near the open rear end of the frame, so as to facilitate convenient rotation of the handle.10. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 5, wherein the gear system is connected to the rotatable upper rail by a remote connection system.11. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 10, wherein the remote connection system comprises:an upper sprocket, coupled to the rotatable upper rail; a lower sprocket, coupled to the gear system; and an endless chain, interconnected between the upper sprocket and the lower sprocket, configured to transmit rotational motion between the lower and upper sprockets. 12. A mobile, rehabilitative walker, comprising:a support frame, configured for moveable displacement on a support surface and defining an open interior for receiving a user, the support frame including a generally U-shaped base member, oriented horizontally proximal to the support surface, the base member having a front member, two side members coupled to opposite ends of the front member, and an open rear opposite the front member, the base member being sized to provide space for the user to move his or her legs within the U-shaped base member and provide stability to the support frame, a plurality of support columns, having lower ends coupled to the base member, the support members extending upwardly from the base member to upper ends, the support members including two front members coupled to the front of the base member and two rear members coupled to the rear of the base member, a rotatable upper rail, attached to the upper ends of the support members and located directly over the open interior of the frame, a plurality of wheels, coupled to the base member and configured for moveable displacement on the support surface; a support harness, vertically suspended from the upper rail of the support frame to support a person, and configured for securing about the user's body, such that the support harness, and thus the user, is suspended in the open interior of the frame; at least one suspension strap, coupled to and between the upper rail and the support harness, and configured to be drawn upward when the upper rail is rotated in a lifting direction; a crank mechanism, coupled to the rotatable upper rail, configured to rotate the upper rail in the lifting direction; and a crank handle, coupled to the crank mechanism, configured to allow a user to rotate the upper rail in the lifting direction by rotating the crank handle. 13. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 12, further comprising a selectively engageable ratchet mechanism, coupled to the crank mechanism, configured to permit rotation of the upper rail in the lifting direction, and to resist rotation of the upper rail in a lowering direction that is opposite the lifting direction.14. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 13, wherein the ratchet mechanism further comprises:a rotatable ratchet wheel, having teeth; a pawl, configured to slide over the teeth of the ratchet wheel when the ratchet wheel is rotated in the lifting direction, and to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel and resist rotation of the ratchet wheel in the lowering direction; and a release, configured to allow a user to selectively release the pawl from the teeth of the ratchet wheel, to allow rotation in the lowering direction. 15. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 13, wherein the crank mechanism is connected to the rotatable upper rail by a remote connection system comprising:an upper sprocket, coupled to the rotatable upper rail; a lower sprocket; and an endless chain, interconnected between the upper sprocket and the lower sprocket, configured to transmit rotational motion between the lower and upper sprockets. 16. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 12, wherein the open rear end and interior space are sized for receiving a wheelchair through the open rear end and into the interior space; and wherein the wheels are configured for multidirectional movement on the irregular and rough support surface and having a diameter sized to reduce friction between the wheels and the support surface and sized to easily roll over the irregular and rough surface.17. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 12, further comprising:a pair of hand grips, directly attached to and extending inwardly from opposite columns into the interior space, and thus the user, and configured for being grasped and held by the user's hands, such that the user is stabilized within the interior space of the frame by grasping the hand grips. 18. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 12, wherein the crank mechanism further comprises:a crank shaft, coupled to the crank handle, configured to axially rotate about a crank axis; a gear system, coupled to the crank shaft, having a rotational axis that is substantially perpendicular to the crank axis, configured to convert axial rotation of the crank shaft into rotation of the gear system about the rotational axis; and wherein the crank handle is disposed near the open rear end of the frame, so as to facilitate convenient rotation of the crank handle. 19. The mobile, rehabilitative walker of claim 18, wherein the gear system comprises a reduction gear system, such that a smaller amount of torque applied to the crank shaft is converted to a larger amount of torque applied to the upper rail.20. A mobile, rehabilitative walker, configured for use outdoors on an irregular and rough support surface, the walker comprising:a support frame, configured for supporting a person in an upright position including a plurality of frame members defining opposite sides, a front between the sides, an open rear end opposite the front, and an interior space bounded by the plurality of frame members and accessible through the open rear end, the open rear end and interior space being sized for receiving a wheelchair and for receiving a user and configured for allowing leg movement of the user, the plurality of frame members including a plurality of upwardly extending columns, extending to a height above the person, a plurality of lateral rails, attached to and extending between the columns including lower rails attached to lower ends of the columns providing a base for the columns, and a rotatable upper rail attached to upper ends of the columns and located directly over the interior space of the frame; a plurality of wheels, rotatably coupled to the support frame and elevating the support frame above the support surface, the wheels being configured for multidirectional movement on the irregular and rough support surface and having a diameter sized to reduce friction between the wheels and the support surface and sized to easily roll over the irregular and rough surface; a pair of hand grips, directly attached to and extending inwardly from opposite columns into the interior space, and configured for being grasped and held by the user's hands; a support harness, vertically suspended from the rotatable upper rail of the support frame, configured for securing about the user's body, such that the support harness, and thus the user, is suspended in the interior space of the frame; at least one suspension strap, coupled to the rotatable upper rail and releasably coupled to the support harness, configured to be drawn upward by the upper rail when the upper rail rotates in a lifting direction; a safety seat, separate from the support harness, suspended from the frame and positioned and configured for passing between the user's legs, having a front strap coupled to and between the front of the frame and the seat, and a rear strap coupled to the seat and releasably coupled to the rear of the frame, such that the rear strap may be selectively coupled and uncoupled to the rear of the frame to secure and remove the user from the frame, respectively; and a crank mechanism, attached to the frame and coupled to the rotatable upper rail, configured to rotate the upper rail in the lifting direction to cause the suspension strap to be drawn up therearound, and to resist undesired opposite rotation of the upper rail, the crank mechanism including: a selectively engageable ratchet wheel, disposed on an axle substantially parallel to the upper rail; a crank shaft, having a handle disposed near the rear end of the frame; a right-angle reduction gear system, coupled between the crank shaft and the axle; a lower sprocket, attached to the axle; an upper sprocket, attached to the rotatable upper rail; an endless chain, interconnecting the lower sprocket and the upper sprocket; the crank mechanism being configured such that applying a relatively small rotational force in a lifting direction upon the handle causes the upper rail to rotate with a relatively large rotational force in the lifting direction, to thereby allow lifting of a portion of the user's weight.