| US 7,306,246 B2 | ||
| Highly collapsible ambulatory assistive walker apparatus | ||
| Bradley D. Gale, 2731 Ridgeway Ave., Rochester, N.Y. 14626 (US) | ||
| Filed on Jan. 19, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/335,896. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0163633 A1, Jul. 19, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. B62B 7/06 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 280—87.05 [280/47.34; 280/642; 280/647] | 20 Claims |

| 1. A walker apparatus comprising:
a. a first front support leg assembly and a second front support leg assembly, each of said first front support leg assembly
and said second front support leg assembly including:
i. an elongated member including a lower end, a central region, and an upper end;
ii. a lower front cross brace link; and
iii. a triangulation link;
b. a first sliding joint comprising a body including a bore, a leg pivot link, an upper front cross brace link, and a central
joint pivot link, wherein said central region of said elongated member of said first front support leg assembly is disposed
within said bore of said first sliding joint, such that said first sliding joint is slidable along said central region of
said elongated member of said first front support leg assembly;
c. a second sliding joint comprising a body including a bore, a leg pivot link, an upper front cross brace link, and a central
joint pivot link, wherein said central region of said elongated member of said second front support leg assembly is disposed
within said bore of said second sliding joint, such that said second sliding joint is slidable along said central region of
said elongated member of said second front support leg assembly;
d. a central hinge joint comprising a first arm and a second arm, each of said first and second arms comprising an inner end,
wherein said inner end of said first arm is hingably connected to said inner end of said second arm; and each of said first
and second arms comprising an outer end including a pivot link, said pivot link of said first arm being pivotably connected
to said central joint pivot link of said first sliding joint, and said pivot link of said second arm being pivotably connected
to said central joint pivot link of said second sliding joint;
e. a first rear support leg assembly and a second rear support leg assembly, each of said first rear support leg assembly
and said second rear support leg assembly comprising an elongated member including a lower end, a central region, and an upper
end, wherein:
i. each of said upper ends of said first rear support leg assembly and said second rear support leg assembly further comprises
a pivot link, said pivot link of said first rear support leg assembly being pivotably connected to said leg pivot link of
said first sliding joint, and said pivot link of said second rear support leg assembly being pivotably connected to said leg
pivot link of said second sliding joint;
ii. each central region of said first rear support leg assembly and said second rear support leg assembly further comprises
a triangulation link and a lower rear cross brace link;
f. a first support member comprising a front end including a front link connected to said triangulation link of said first
front support leg assembly, and a rear end including a rear link connected to said triangulation link of said first rear support
leg assembly;
g. a second support member comprising a front end including a front link connected to said triangulation link of said second
front support leg assembly, and a rear end including a rear link connected to said triangulation link of said second rear
support leg assembly;
h. a front leg collapsing assembly comprising a first front cross brace and a second front cross brace, each of said first
front cross brace and said second front cross brace comprising a lower end, a central pivot connection region, and an upper
end, wherein:
i. each of said upper ends of said first front cross brace and said second front cross brace further comprises an upper pivot
link, said upper pivot link of said first front cross brace being pivotably connected to said upper front cross brace link
of said first sliding joint, and said upper pivot link of said second front cross brace being pivotably connected to said
upper front cross brace link of said second sliding joint;
ii. each of said lower ends of said first front cross brace and said second front cross brace further comprises a lower pivot
link, said lower pivot link of said first front cross brace being pivotably connected to said lower front cross brace link
of said second front support leg assembly, and said lower pivot link of said second front cross brace being pivotably connected
to said lower front cross brace link of said first front support leg assembly; and
iii. said central pivot connection region of said first front cross brace is pivotably connected to said central pivot connection
region of said second front cross brace;
i. a rear leg collapsing assembly comprising a first rear cross brace and a second rear cross brace, each of said first rear
cross brace and said second rear cross brace comprising a lower end, a central pivot connection region, and an upper end,
wherein:
i. each of said upper ends of said first rear cross brace and said second rear cross brace comprises an upper universal joint,
said upper universal joint of said first rear cross brace being connected to said first arm of said central hinge joint, and
said upper universal joint of said second rear cross brace being connected to said second arm of said central hinge joint;
ii. each of said lower ends of said first rear cross brace and said second rear cross brace further comprises a lower pivot
link, said lower pivot link of said first rear cross brace being pivotably connected to said lower rear cross brace link of
said second rear support leg assembly, and said lower pivot link of said second rear cross brace being pivotably connected
to said lower rear cross brace link of said first rear support leg assembly; and
iii. said central pivot connection region of said first rear cross brace is pivotably connected to said central pivot connection
region of said second rear cross brace.
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