Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about

Definitions

• the subject of the invention is an apparatus intended to facilitate walking and functional rehabilitation of persons with disabilities of the lower limbs
• the device of the type described comprises joints in the middle of the front part, making it possible to move by sliding, in alter ⁇ nance, the left or right parts of the device.
• the object of the invention is to provide a simple, light and compact walking aid device, which does not suffer from the disadvantages of prior art devices while combining the advantages of great reliability. ⁇ functional and highly stable.
• the walking aid device has a tubular frame, essentially consisting of two frames, one anterior the other posterior, preferably both having the general shape of an inverted " ⁇ ", hinged to each other so as to allow limited pivoting of one frame relative to the other around a transverse axis, parallel to the planes of said frames, and secured to the one of said frames.
• the walking aid device In the rest position, the walking aid device therefore rests on the ground at four points, namely at the ends of the uprights of the front frame and of the rear frame.
• the tubular element which connects the upper ends of the uprights of the front frame, advantageously serves as a support handle for the user. This handle is adjustable in height thanks to a telescopic system with locking in the uprights of the front frame.
• the mechanical elements of the articulated connection between the front frame and the rear frame of the tubular frame are preferably housed in boxes so as to avoid any accident by snagging of clothing.
• FIG. 1 shows a front view of the walking aid device according to the invention
• - fig. 2 shows a side view of the same device in folded position
• - fig. 3 corresponds to the view according to fig. 2, after pivoting the two frames, posterior and anterior, relative to each other,
• - fig. •>•» is a perspective view of the device according to fi . 1, - fig. 5 shows an exploded view of the details of an example of a joint,
• - fig. 7 shows a compressed air damping cylinder connected between the two frames
• - fig. 8 represents a damping stop made of elastomer material
• FIG. 9 shows another variant of the walking aid device according to the invention.
• similar elements bear identical references.
• fig. 1 shows the uprights 1 and 2 of the anté ⁇ laughing frame, connected by the tubular element 3 lined with a padded sleeve 5.
• the lower ends of the uprights 1 and 2 are provided with non-slip shoes 4, for example made of rubber.
• the transverse elements 9 and 10 form part of the rear frame of the walking aid device according to the invention. Approximately halfway up each upright, the front edges of the cover 7 and the bottom 8 of the hinge housings 13 can be seen (see FIG. 4).
• the boxes are fixed to the uprights (1,2) by welding along the front edge of their bottom 8.
• fig. 2 shows the device according to the invention in the folded position, the uprights of the front element being parallel to those of the rear element.
• the cover 7 of the box 13 comprises a wise alé ⁇ (19, fig. 5) through which passes a tubular end 14 'of the rear frame.
• the dotted lines (like those in FIG. 3) will be used later to describe the operation of the walking aid device according to the invention.
• fig. 3 shows the device according to the invention, the front frame having tilted forward by approximately 35° with respect to the rear element.
• fig. 4 shows all the parts already mentioned, in perspective.
• the element 9, pivot axis of the device enters through the funds 8 in the arti- culation 13 and fits by its ends 14 in the tubular elements 14 'carried by the uprights (11,12) of the rear frame of the device according to the invention, (see Fig. 5).
• the rear uprights (11,12) are stabilized laterally by a crossbar 10.
• the arrow F indicates that the downward adjustment of the level of the handle 5 by means of the telescopic system 6.
• each upright (1,2) of the front frame of the device according to the invention comprises a partially closed case 13.
• the front edge of the bottom 8 of each case is welded to the relevant upright.
• the bottom 8 is crossed by the end 14 of the pivot axis 9.
• a stop 17 whose axis 15 is constituted in the variant illustrated by a threaded rod 15.
• the tubular end 14 is Fits into the tubular element 14* of the rear mon ⁇ 11.
• Each upright 11,12 also carries a buttress 18 which cooperates with the stop 17 to limit the maximum angle of pivoting to a suitable value.
• the lid 7 closes the box, the bores 19 and 20 corresponding respectively to the tubular end 14' and to the threaded rod 15. The screwing of the nut 16 on the end of the threaded rod 15 makes it possible to hold the lid in place.
• a damping means can be provided to soften the opening of the device, that is to say the tilting of one of the two frames relative to the other, which allows to make it more flexible to use.
• FIG. 6 shows one of the casings 13 containing a helical damping spring 21 surrounding the tubular element 14' and comprising a first arm 22 at one of its ends attached to the counterbut ⁇ e 18 'of the upright 11 or 12 and a second arm 23 coming to rest against the threaded rod 15.
• the helical spring 21 recalls the posté ⁇ laughing frame constantly towards its parallel position (re ⁇ folded position of the apparatus) to the front frame and dampens the forward tilting of the front frame.
• Figure 6 also shows two re ⁇ adjustable bolts 24.25 provided to limit the pivoting of a frame relative to the other in both directions.
• Figure 7 shows a compressed air cylinder damping system 26 attached on one side to an upright 1.2 of the front frame and on the other side to the counterstop 18'' of an upright 11.12 of the frame posterior.
• Figure 8 shows a damping stop 27 of elastomeric material which can be used instead of the stop 17 to soften the opening of the device.
• Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the same walking aid according to the invention.
• the apparatus comprises a single hinge box, mounted on an extension 3' of the front frame in an inverted "U".
• the user holds the device more or less vertically (position fig. 2) in front of him by leaning on the handle 5.
• position fig. 2 By pulling the arms back or by slightly straightening the bust, the user transfers its weight on the uprights of the rear frame and, by acting on the joint incorporated in the casing, it tilts the front frame forward, in the direction of travel, over an angle of e.g. 35° (see Fig. 3).
• repen ⁇ singing the bust slightly forward the user slides his weight slowly on the front uprights, stitched obliquely on the ground. The user's legs are then partially freed from the weight of the body, which allows him to train his legs in the direction of travel.
• the walking aid device according to the invention therefore serves as a kind of frontal cane.
• the frontal position ensures stable support in all circumstances. Even if the user, seized with a fit of weakness, steps back before having completed a step, the uprights of the rear frame tilt immediately backwards, restoring a stable position on four support points.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)
• Manipulator (AREA)
• Peptides Or Proteins (AREA)
• Spectrometry And Color Measurement (AREA)
• Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19730260

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (2)

• 1984
  • 1984-05-16 LU LU85364A patent/LU85364A1/fr unknown
• 1985
  • 1985-05-09 DE DE8585630076T patent/DE3566952D1/de not_active Expired
  • 1985-05-09 AT AT85630076T patent/ATE39414T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1985-05-09 EP EP85630076A patent/EP0165197B1/fr not_active Expired
  • 1985-05-13 WO PCT/EP1985/000230 patent/WO1985005268A1/fr unknown
  • 1985-05-13 AU AU44086/85A patent/AU4408685A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1985-05-15 ES ES1985296038U patent/ES296038Y/es not_active Expired

Patent Citations (2)

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