BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to mobility assistance devices. The invention particularly relates to walkers capable of adaptively adjusting to uneven surfaces.

Many individuals with mobility limitations, such as the elderly, disabled individuals, and people undergoing physiotherapeutic rehabilitation, often rely on walkers for mobility assistance. As the term is used herein, a walker is a device with multiple interconnected legs, often two front two legs that may have wheels attached thereto and two back legs optionally with wheels or glides, to provide a user with additional support that promotes balance and stability while walking by allowing the user to transfer part of their body weight to the walker through the user's arms. Walkers typically are constructed of a lightweight frame that defines the legs and a pair of handholds that can be grasped by a user to balance their weight. The typical frame may be roughly waist high, approximately twelve inches (30 cm) deep, and slightly wider than the user.

Many current walkers are rigid and do not provide adjustments for stairs, curbs, sidewalks, and other ground obstacles that have adjacent uneven surfaces (i.e., surfaces that have different vertical elevations). This may limit access of users to only places and transportation that have ramps, lifts, or elevators. Therefore, it would be desirable if walkers were available that were capable of promoting a more accessible and adaptive walking experience for people with mobility limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides walkers that are adapted for use by individuals and capable of adapting to surrounding environments, including stairs, curbs, sidewalks, and other surface or ground obstacles that have adjacent uneven surfaces.

According to one aspect of the invention, a walker includes a frame assembly having first and second back legs, first and second front legs, and a handlebar fixedly coupled to the first and second back legs. Intermediate members couple the first and second front legs to the first and second back legs, respectively, and are configured for selective vertical adjustment of vertical positions of the first and second front legs relative to the first and second back legs and relative to at least a first surface engaged by lower ends of the first and second back legs. After selective vertical adjustment of the vertical positions of the first and second front legs, the first and second front legs and the first and second back legs of the walker are capable of engaging and supporting the walker on the first surface engaged by the lower ends of the first and second back legs and simultaneously engaging and supporting the walker on at least a second surface engaged by lower ends of the first and second front legs.

Technical effects of a walker as described above preferably include the capability of adaptively adjusting the vertical positions of the front legs relative to the back legs such that the walker is able to remain stable when traversing adjacent uneven surfaces, such as stairs, curbs, sidewalks, and other surface or ground obstacles.

Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be appreciated from the following detailed description.

