GB2270635A

GB2270635A - Walking frame having a foot rest.

Info

Publication number: GB2270635A
Application number: GB9219613A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christian Victor Tait
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-09-16
Filing date: 1992-09-16
Publication date: 1994-03-23
Also published as: GB9219613D0

Abstract

A walking frame has upper and lower horizontal C-shaped frames joined by pairs of front 11, 12 and rear legs 4, 5. A foot rest plate 13 is detachably mounted on the side bars 1, 2 of the lower C-shaped frame. The foot rest plate 13 may extend forward between the front legs 11, 12 and may be attached to the front bar 3 of the lower C-shaped frame. Alternatively, the foot rest plate 13 may be attached directly to the front legs 11, 12 and may be adjustable in height so that it can also be used as a seat. In another embodiment, the foot rest plate 13 may be pivotally mounted on one of the side bars 1, 2 so as to movable to a vertical position when not in use. <IMAGE>

Description

fMPROVEMENTS IN WALKING FRAMES The present invention relates to walking frames, and is particularly concerned with the provision of a platform attached to the walking frame so that when the user is seated, the walking frame may be used as a foot rest.

Conventional walking frames comprise a pair of generally 'C', 'U' or 'V' shaped frames arranged in spaced horizontal planes one above the over, and connected by a number of vertical legs. The walking frames having 'C' or 'U' shaped horizontal frames generally have four legs, a pair of rear legs extending between the free ends of the 'C' or 'U' shaped frames and a pair of front legs joining intermediate portions of the 'C' or 'U' shaped frames. The legs extend below the lower of the two 'C' or 'U' shaped frames and are generally tipped with ground-engaging ferules. Walking frames with 'V' shaped horizontal frames generally have three vertical legs, one pair joining the free ends of the frames and a front leg joining the apices of the frames. The height of the walking frames can be made adjustable by the provision of telescopic lower end portions to the legs.

The upper of the 'C', 'U' or 'V' shaped frames is provided with a pair of hand grips, so that the user may lean forward onto the hand grips and walk into the open part of the walking frame, before steadying himself, lifting the frame to advance it forward, replacing it on the ground, and taking a further step into the frame.

Walking frames are usually used by patients suffering from lower limb infirmities or other mobility or balance problems, and such patients are generally more comfortable when seated if they can have the lower legs raised to straighten the legs in the seated position. To this end, the majority of walking frame users also make use of a foot stool when sitting. This presents difficulties of manoeuvring, since the patient, once seated, must remove the walking frame from in front of the chair, and place a foot stool in position to raise the legs. For a patient with lower limb infirmity, this is a taxing manoeuvre.

The object of the present invention is to provide a walking frame which, after the patient has seated himself or herself, can remain in position and also serve as a foot rest or leg rest.

According to the present invention, there is provided a walking frame having upper and lower generally horizontal frames each defining an open-sided polygon, the upper and lower frames being joined by a number of generally vertically extending legs, a pair of rear legs joining the free ends of the upper and lower polygonal frames and extending below the lower polygonal frame to contact the ground in use, and a number of further legs joining corresponding apices of the upper and lower polygonal frames and also extending below the lower polygonal frame to contact the ground in use, the walking frame being characterised by the provision of a generally horizontally extending foot rest situated generally within the volume bounded by the upper and lower horizontal frames and remote from the open sides thereof.Preferably the foot rest is positioned above, and resting on, the lower polygonal frame at its mid-region remote from its free ends.

In the preferred embodiment, the lower horizontal frame is generally 'C' or 'U' shaped and comprises a pair of side bars and a front bar, the foot rest being arranged to extend adjacent the front bar and to be supported by the side bars. The foot rest may also extend forward over the front bar, and may be supported thereon.

In an advantageous embodiment, the foot rest may be pivotally mounted to the front bar or to one of the side bars, so as to be movable to a generally vertical stored position in which the interior of the walking frame is unobstructed. Locking means may be provided to retain the foot rest in the stored position.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which is shown a perspective view of a walking frame incorporating a foot rest.

As can be seen from the Figure, the walking frame comprises a lower 'C' or 'U' shaped horizontal frame made up of side bars 1, 2 and a front bar 3. Attached to the free ends of side bars 1 and 2 are respective generally vertically extending rear legs 4 and 5, whose upper ends are connected by a generally 'C' or 'U' shaped upper frame integrally formed with the rear legs 4 and 5. The upper 'C' or 'U' shaped frame comprises two grip rails 6 and 7, connected by a front rail 8. Rubber or plastics hand grips 9 are positioned on the grip rails 6 and 7.

Attached to the underside of the front rail 8 in the walking frame shown is a crossbar 10 which joins the upper ends of a pair of front legs 11 and 12, which extend downwardly and forwardly from the crossbar. The front legs 11 and 12 are attached to the lower 'C' or 'U' shaped frame at the junctions of the respective side bars 1 and 2 with the front bar 3.

In use, the patient grips the hand grips 9, and advances into the walking frame between the rear legs 4 and 5. When the patient is steady, the walking frame is lifted, again using the hand grips 9, and is moved forward in preparation for the next step by the patient.

It has been noticed that it is very rare for patients to advance to any degree into the walking frame, and this, coupled with the forward inclination of the front legs 11 and 12, provides space within the lower front region of the walking frame which Is not used during walking.

In the walking frame shown, a foot rest plate 13 lies across the front region of the walking frame, resting on the upper surfaces of side bars 1 and 2 adjacent the front legs 11 and 12. The foot rest 13 may be fixed in position by any suitable means such as screws or bolts, or may be made detachable from the walking frame by using resilient clips to fasten the foot rest 13 to the side bars 1 and 2.

Although not shown in the Figure, the foot rest 13 may extend forwardly between the front legs 11 and 12 of the walking frame, and may be attached to the front bar 3 of the walking frame, again either permanently by means of bolts or screws, or removably by means of clips.

As a further alternative, the foot rest may be attached directly to the front legs 11 and 12 of the frame by means of suitable brackets, and may be made adjustable in height by providing a plurality of attachment points along the front legs 11 and 12 for the brackets. By placing attachment points at a suitable height, the foot rest may be usable as a seat.

The foot rest shown in the Figure may, as a further alternative, be pivotally mounted to one of the side bars 1 or 2, so as to be movable to a vertical stored position substantially in line with one of the front legs 11, 12 of the walking frame. A locking clip may secure the foot rest in this position to allow the patient complete access to the interior of the frame when walking.

Alternatively, the foot rest may be mounted to pivot about front bar 3, to a stowed position wherein the foot rest lies adjacent the plane of the two front legs 11, 12. In these pivoting embodiments, a cord may be attached to the swinging edge of the foot rest and to the upper horizontal frame of the walking frame, to allow the user to pivot the foot rest into Its stored position without having to bend down. A cleat may be provided to secure the cord to retain the foot rest in the stored position, the foot rest returning to its horizontal position under gravity when the cord is released.

The foot rest may be formed from any suitable material, for example plywood or synthetic plastics. The upper surface is preferably upholstered for comfort. The foot rest may be fixed to the tubular frame members by permanent fixings such as screws, bolts or rivets, or may be detachably fixed using resilient clips or the like.

Claims

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1 A walking frame for the infirm, the frame having upper and lower generally horizontal frames each defining an open-sided polygon, the upper and lower frames being joined by a number of generally vertically extending legs, a pair of rear legs joining the free ends of the upper and lower polygonal frames and extending below the lower polygonal frame to contact the ground in use, and a number of further legs joining corresponding apices of the upper and lower polygonal frames dnd also extending below the lower polygonal frame to contact the ground in use, the walking frame being characterised by the provision of a generally horizontally extending foot rest situated generally within the volume bounded by the upper and lower horizontal frames and remote from the open sides thereof.

2. A walking frame according to claim 1, wherein the foot rest is positioned above, and resting on, the lower polygonal frame at its mid-region remote from its free ends.

3. A walking frame according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lower horizontal frame is generally 'C' or 'U' shaped and comprises a pair of side bars and a front bar, the foot rest being arranged to extend adjacent the front bar and to be supported by the side bars.

4. A walking frame according to claim 3, wherein the foot rest also extends forward over the front bar, and is supported thereon.

5. A walking frame according to any preceding claim, wherein the foot rest is pivotally mounted to the lower polygonal frame the front bar or to one of the side bars, so as to be movable to a generally vertical stored position in which the interior of the walking frame is unobstructed.

6. A walking frame according to claim 5 as dependent on claim 3, wherein the foot rest is pivotally mounted to the front bar or to one of the side bars of the lower polygonal frame.

7. A walking frame according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the foot rest is retainable in its vertical position by a securing device cooperating with the frame.

8. A walking frame according to claim 5, claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the foot rest has a cord or the like attached thereto at a point remote from the pivot axis and extending upwardly towards the upper horizontal frame of the walking frame, an upward pull on the cord causing the foot rest to pivot to its stored position.

9. A walking frame according to claim 8, wherein a cleat or the like is provided to secure the cord to retain the foot rest in the stored position.

10. A walking frame substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.