대표
청구항
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1. A mobility aid apparatus comprising: (a) a pair of unitary one-piece side members disposed in a spaced apart relationship with each other, each of said pair of side members manufactured from a tubular material and including: i. a top rail disposed generally horizontally during use of said apparatus,ii. a front elongated leg extending downwardly at a first angle from one end of said top rail,iii. a rear elongated leg extending downwardly at a second angle from an opposite end of said top rail,iv. a curved connection between each end of said top rail an...
1. A mobility aid apparatus comprising: (a) a pair of unitary one-piece side members disposed in a spaced apart relationship with each other, each of said pair of side members manufactured from a tubular material and including: i. a top rail disposed generally horizontally during use of said apparatus,ii. a front elongated leg extending downwardly at a first angle from one end of said top rail,iii. a rear elongated leg extending downwardly at a second angle from an opposite end of said top rail,iv. a curved connection between each end of said top rail and a respective top end of said front and rear elongated legs, andv. wherein said top, front and rear legs are disposed in a same plane;(b) a pair of first braces, each of said pair of first braces having each end thereof rigidly secured to a peripheral surface of front and rear legs of a respective one of said pair of side members in close proximity to top ends thereof, wherein said each of said pair of first braces is disposed generally parallel to a top rail of said respective one of said pair of side members;(c) a pair of second braces, each of said pair of second braces having each end thereof rigidly secured to said peripheral surface of said front and rear legs of said respective one of said pair of side members in close proximity to bottom ends thereof, wherein said each of said pair of second braces is disposed generally parallel to said top rail of said respective one of said pair of side members;(d) a first elongated cross member;(e) first means for pivotally connecting each end of said first elongated cross member to a front leg of a respective side member in close proximity to a bottom end of said front leg, said first means including a collar with a hollow interior being so sized and shaped that said collar is mounted for pivoting on a peripheral surface of said front leg and a rigid connection between a peripheral surface of said collar and said each end of said first elongated cross member;(f) a second elongated cross member;(g) second means for pivotally connecting each end of said second elongated cross member to said front leg of said respective side member in close proximity to a top end of said front leg, said second means including another collar with a hollow interior being so sized and shaped that said another collar is mounted for pivoting on said peripheral surface of said front leg and another rigid connection between a peripheral surface of said another collar and said each end of said second elongated cross member;(h) a pair of arms positioned below said second elongated cross member in a generally parallel relationship therewith during use of said apparatus, each of said pair of arms having a proximal end thereof secured rigidly to a peripheral surface of said front leg of said respective side member, said each of said pair of arms extending in a direction toward an opposite one of said pair of front legs;(i) means for releaseably securing said pair of side members in a spaced apart generally parallel relationship with each other so that a user can stand between said pair of side members and move said apparatus during use thereof, said releaseably securing means including: i. a pair of spaced apart apertures formed through a thickness of said second elongated cross member in a generally vertical plane during use of said apparatus,ii. a pair of receptacles, each of said pair or receptacles disposed on a distal end of a respective arm,iii. a pair of elongated pins, each of said pair of elongated pins passed through a respective aperture and having a bottom end thereof operatively received within a respective receptacle so as to at least temporarily secure said pair of arms in said generally parallel relationship,iv. a pair of flanges, each of said pair of flanges secured on each of said pair of pins in close proximity to said bottom end thereof,v. a pair of springs, each of said pair of springs caged between a surface of a respective flange and a peripheral surface of said second elongated cross member, andvi. a pair of gripping members, each of said pair of gripping members mounted on a top end of a respective pin;(j) a seat including an elongated support member and an elongated cushioned member securely attached to a peripheral surface of said elongated support member;(k) means for pivotally connecting one end of said elongated support member to a rear leg of one of said pair of side members, whereby said seat is mounted for pivoting in each of a plane being generally parallel to said rear leg of said one of said pair of side members and in a plane being generally perpendicular to said rear leg of said one of said pair of side members, said pivoting means including: i. yet another collar with a hollow interior being so sized and shaped that said yet another collar is mounted for pivoting on a peripheral surface of said rear leg,ii. a seat arm having a proximal end thereof rigidly secured on a peripheral surface of said yet another collar,iii. a slot formed through a distal end of said seat arm,iv. a first aperture formed through each of a thickness of said distal end of said seat arm and said slot,v. a tongue formed on one end of said elongated support member,vi. a second aperture formed through said tongue, andvii. a fastener passed through said first and second apertures being disposed in operative alignment with each other when said tongue is received within said end slot;(l) a first receptacle rigidly mounted on a peripheral surface of said rear leg of said one of said pair of side members in close proximity to a bottom end thereof, said first receptacle is so shaped and sized that it receives an opposite end of said elongated support member, whereby said seat is rigidly secured in a semi permanent manner to said rear leg of said one of said pair of side members;(m) a second receptacle rigidly mounted on a peripheral surface of a rear leg of an opposite one of said pair of side members in close proximity to a top end thereof, said second receptacle is so shaped and sized that it receives said opposite end of said elongated support member, whereby said seat is rigidly secured in a semi permanent manner to said rear leg of said opposite one of said pair of side members and whereby said seat is disposed in a generally horizontal plane for supporting the user of said apparatus on said elongated cushioned member;(n) a generally U-shaped elongated member having each end thereof secured rigidly to a peripheral surface of said first cross member;(o) a generally flexible strap having one end thereof pivotally secured to a peripheral surface of one of said pair of first braces and having an opposite end thereof detachably attachable to a peripheral surface of another one of said pair of first braces; and(p) a quartet of wheels, each of said quartet of wheel attached for rotation to a distal end of each of said front and rear leg of said pair of side members. 2. A mobility aid apparatus comprising: (a) a pair of side members disposed in a spaced apart relationship with each other, each of said pair of side members including: i. a top rail disposed generally horizontally during use of said apparatus,ii. a front elongated leg extending downwardly at a first angle from one end of said top rail,iii. a rear elongated leg extending downwardly at a second angle from an opposite end of said top rail, andiv. wherein said top, front and rear legs are disposed in a same plane;(b) a pair of braces, each of said pair of braces having each end thereof rigidly secured to a peripheral surface of said front and rear legs of a respective one of said pair of side members in a close proximity to bottom ends thereof;(c) first and second elongated cross members having each end thereof secured to a peripheral surface of a respective front leg;(d) a seat including an elongated support member and an elongated cushioned member securely attached to a peripheral surface of said elongated support member;(e) a pivotal connection between one end of said elongated support member to a rear leg of one of said pair of side members, whereby said seat is mounted for pivoting in each of a plane being generally parallel to said rear leg of said one of said pair of side members and in a plane being generally perpendicular to said rear leg of said one of said pair of side members, said pivotal connection including: i. a collar with a hollow interior being so sized and shaped that said a collar is mounted for pivoting on a peripheral surface of said rear leg,ii. a seat arm having a proximal end thereof rigidly secured on a peripheral surface of said yet another collar,iii. a slot formed through a distal end of said seat arm,iv. a first aperture formed through each of a thickness of said distal end of said seat arm and said slot,v. a tongue formed on one end of said elongated support member,vi. a second aperture formed through said tongue, andvii. a fastener passed through said first and second apertures being disposed in operative alignment with each other when said tongue is received within said end slot;(f) a first receptacle rigidly mounted on a peripheral surface of said rear leg of said one of said pair of side members in close proximity to a bottom end thereof, said first receptacle is so shaped and sized that it receives an opposite end of said elongated support member, whereby said seat is rigidly secured in a semi permanent manner to said rear leg of said one of said pair of side members;(g) a second receptacle rigidly mounted on a peripheral surface of a rear leg of an opposite one of said pair of side members in close proximity to a top end thereof, said second receptacle is so shaped and sized that it receives said opposite end of said elongated support member, whereby said seat is rigidly secured in a semi permanent manner to said rear leg of said opposite one of said pair of side members and whereby said seat is disposed in a generally horizontal plane for supporting the user of said apparatus on said elongated cushioned member; and(h) a quartet of wheels, each of said quartet of wheel attached for rotation to a distal end of each of said front and rear leg of said pair of side members. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a pair of another braces, each of said pair of another braces having each end thereof rigidly secured to said peripheral surface of said front and rear legs of said respective one of said pair of side members in a close proximity to top ends thereof, wherein said each of said pair of another braces is disposed generally parallel to a top rail of said respective one of said pair of side members. 4. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a cross member connected to front legs of said pair of side members and a generally U-shaped elongated member having each end thereof secured rigidly to a peripheral surface of said cross member. 5. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a generally flexible strap having one end thereof secured pivotally to one of said pair of side members and having an opposite end thereof detachably attachable to said one or an opposite one of said pair of side members. 6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: (a) a first pivotal connection between said each end of said first elongated cross member and said front leg of said respective side member in a close proximity to said bottom end of said front leg, said first pivotal connection including another collar with a hollow interior being so sized and shaped that said another collar is mounted for pivoting on a peripheral surface of said front leg and a rigid connection between a peripheral surface of said another collar and said each end of said first elongated cross member;(b) a second pivotal connection between said each end of said second elongated cross member and said front leg of said respective side member in a close proximity to said top end of said front leg, said second pivotal connection including yet another collar with a hollow interior being so sized and shaped that said yet another collar is mounted for pivoting on said peripheral surface of said front leg and another rigid connection between a peripheral surface of said yet another collar and said each end of said second elongated cross member(c) whereby said pair of side members are movable between an operative position, wherein said side members are disposed in a spaced apart generally parallel relationship with each other and a generally folded position, wherein said side members are generally juxtaposed in a generally planar relationship with and in close proximity to each other;(d) a pair of arms positioned below said second elongated cross member in a generally parallel relationship therewith during use of said apparatus, each of said pair of arms having a proximal end thereof secured rigidly to a peripheral surface of said front leg of said respective side member, said each of said pair of arms extending in a direction toward an opposite one of said pair of front legs;(e) a pair of spaced apart apertures formed through a thickness of said second elongated cross member in a generally vertical plane during use of said apparatus;(f) a pair of receptacles, each of said pair or receptacles disposed on a distal end of a respective arm;(g) a pair of elongated pins, each of said pair of elongated pins passed through a respective aperture and having a bottom end thereof operatively received within a respective receptacle of said pair of receptacles so as to at least temporarily secure said pair of arms in said generally parallel relationship and having a top end thereof protruding above a peripheral surface of said second elongated cross member;(h) a pair of flanges, each of said pair of flanges secured on each of said pair of pins in close proximity to said bottom end thereof;(i) a pair of springs, each of said pair of springs caged between a surface of a respective flange and said peripheral surface of said second elongated cross member; and(j) a pair of gripping members, each of said pair of gripping members mounted on a top end of a respective pin. 7. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: (a) a means for pivotally connecting each end of said first elongated cross member to said front leg of said respective side member in close proximity to a bottom end of said front leg;(b) a means for pivotally connecting each end of said second elongated cross member to said front leg of said respective side member in close proximity to a top end of said front leg;(c) whereby said pair of side members are movable between an operative position, wherein said side members are disposed in a spaced apart generally parallel relationship with each other and a generally folded position, wherein said side members are generally juxtaposed in a generally planar relationship with and in close proximity to each other;(d) a pair of arms positioned below said second elongated cross member in a generally parallel relationship therewith during use of said apparatus, each of said pair of arms having a proximal end thereof secured rigidly to a peripheral surface of said front leg of said respective side member, said each of said pair of arms extending in a direction toward an opposite one of said pair of front legs; and(e) a means for releaseably securing said pair of side members in said operative position so that a user can stand between said pair of side members and move said apparatus during use thereof. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said means for pivotally connecting said each end of said first elongated cross member to said front leg of said respective side member in close proximity to said bottom end of said front leg includes another collar with a hollow interior being so sized and shaped that said another collar is mounted for pivoting on a peripheral surface of said front leg and a rigid connection between a peripheral surface of said another collar and said each end of said first elongated cross member. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said means for pivotally connecting said each end of said second elongated cross member to said front leg of said respective side member in close proximity to said top end of said front leg includes another collar with a hollow interior being so sized and shaped that said another collar is mounted for pivoting on said peripheral surface of said front leg and another rigid connection between a peripheral surface of said another collar and said each end of said second elongated cross member. 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said releaseably securing means includes: (a) a pair of spaced apart apertures formed through a thickness of said second elongated cross member in a generally vertical plane during use of said apparatus;(b) a pair of receptacles, each of said pair or receptacles disposed on a distal end of a respective arm;(c) a pair of elongated pins, each of said pair of elongated pins passed through a respective aperture and having a bottom end thereof operatively received within a respective receptacle of said pair of receptacles so as to at least temporarily secure said pair of arms in said generally parallel relationship and having a top end thereof protruding above a peripheral surface of said second elongated cross member;(d) a pair of flanges, each of said pair of flanges secured on each of said pair of pins in close proximity to said bottom end thereof;(e) a pair of springs, each of said pair of springs caged between a surface of a respective flange and said peripheral surface of said second elongated cross member; and(f) a pair of gripping members, each of said pair of gripping members mounted on a top end of a respective pin.