Rolling knee support device

Abstract

A rolling knee support device is attached to each knee of the user for support thereof when the user is in a kneeling position. The device has four swivel caster type wheels with a threaded stem for being releasably mounted into one of eight holes defined in a double-curved lower surface of a base of the support. The four wheels can be moved and arranged such on the double-curved lower surface so that the supporting feature of the knee supporting device can be modified and customized according to the needs of the worker and/or the particular job whereby the worker is supported in the most comfortable, balanced, and efficient position and orientation for any particular job. Straps with fasteners are used to secure each rolling knee support device to each knee of the user.

Claims

1. A rolling knee support device, comprising: a one-piece base shell having an upper concave surface, a lower convex surface, two opposed side edges, two opposed ends, a longitudinal axis extending between the two opposed ends and extending parallel to the opposed side edges, and a transverse axis extending between the two opposed side edges and extending parallel to the opposed ends; at least two sets of straps, each strap being attached at its one end to one of the two opposed side edges of the one-piece base shell and each strap having a releasable fastener attached on its distal end; at least eight apertures located in the lower convex surface of the base shell, the apertures being spaced apart from each other and arranged in the lower convex surface along the two opposed side edges and the two opposed ends of the one-piece base shell; and at least four wheel assemblies, each wheel assembly being selectively mountable in one of the apertures in the lower convex surface of the base shell depending on the job being performed by the user.

2. The rolling knee support device of claim 1 further comprises a kneepad supported by the upper concave surface of the base shell and a layer of foam padding located on the kneepad.

3. The rolling knee support device of claim 1 wherein the lower convex surface of the base shell has a first convex curve along the transverse axis and a second convex curve along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the base shell is substantially open at the two opposed ends.

4. The rolling knee support device of claim 1 wherein the releasable fastener attached on the distal end of each strap comprises a hook and loop fastener.

5. A rolling knee support device, comprising: a one-piece base shell having an upper concave surface, a lower convex surface, two opposed side edges, two opposed ends, a longitudinal axis extending between the two opposed ends and extending parallel to the opposed side edges, and a transverse axis extending between the two opposed side edges and extending parallel to the opposed ends; at least two sets of straps, each strap being attached at its one end to one of the two opposed side edges of the one-piece base shell and each strap having a releasable fastener attached on its distal end; more than four apertures located in the lower convex surface of the base shell, the apertures being spaced apart from each other and arranged in the lower convex surface along the two opposed side edges and the two opposed ends of the one-piece base shell; and at least four wheel assemblies, each wheel assembly being selectively mountable and interchangeable in one of the apertures in the lower convex surface of the base shell depending on the job being performed by the user.

6. The rolling knee support device of claim 5 further comprises a kneepad supported by the upper concave surface of the base shell and a layer of foam padding located on the kneepad.

7. The rolling knee support device of claim 5 wherein the lower convex surface of the base shell has a first convex curve along the transverse axis and a second convex curve along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the base shell is substantially open at the two opposed ends.

8. The rolling knee support device of claim 5 wherein the releasable fastener attached on the distal end of each strap comprises a hook and loop fastener.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective bottom view of a rolling knee support device of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective side view of the rolling knee support device of the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 a schematic perspective bottom view of the rolling knee support device of the invention illustrating a plurality of wheel-accommodating holes defined therein.

(5) FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a threaded stem caster wheel assembly for use in the invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic plan view of the lower convex surface of the base shell of the device.

(7) FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic side view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic side view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate a rolling knee support device 10, which is comprised of a one-piece base shell 20. Base shell 20 has an upper concave surface 22 that is shaped and sized to comfortably accommodate a user's knee and upper shin when device 10 is used. A kneepad 24 has a layer of foam padding 24a and is located on upper concave surface 22 of base shell 20. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, foam padding 24a has a front edge 28 which is in the shape of a horseshoe and large enough to ensure a sufficient area to comfortably accommodate the knee of the user. Referring particularly to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, base shell 20 has a longitudinal axis L (FIG. 3) which as shown in FIG. 1 extends between a first end 29F and a second end 29S of base shell 20, and a transverse axis T (FIG. 3) which as shown in FIG. 1 extends between a first side edge 30F and a second side edge 30S of base shell 20. It is to be appreciated that first end 29F and second end 29S of base shell 20 are opposed ends in that they are opposite to each other; and first side edge 30F and second side edge 30S of base shell 20 are opposed side edges in that they are opposite to each other.

(10) Referring again to FIG. 3, base shell 20 further comprises a lower convex surface 32. In an embodiment of the invention, lower convex surface 32 contains at least four wheel assemblies 31 and four straps 40. It can be appreciated that at least two straps 40 are connected to opposed first and second ends 29F and 29S (FIG. 1) of base shell 20. Each strap 40 has a distal end 44 containing a hook-and-loop fastener 46, such as, for example, Velcro hook-and-loop fastener. When rolling knee support device 10 is used by a workman, straps 40 are looped around the user's leg and are held in place via the hook-and-loop fasteners 46 so as to secure device 10 to the knee of the user.

(11) Still referring to FIG. 3, each wheel assembly 31 is mounted in one of eight apertures 50 provided on the lower convex surface 32 of base shell 20. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of wheel assembly 31. Preferably, wheel assembly 31 is of the swivel caster type, has a stainless steel frame 31a, a four inch hard rubber wheel 31b, and a four inch threaded stem 31c. Such a swivel caster wheel is available from Service Caster Corporation in West Reading, Pa. and has about a 300 pound weight capacity. It is to be appreciated that other types of swivel caster wheel assemblies may be used in the invention depending on the weight requirements of the user. In view of the arrangement of wheel assemblies 31 in lower convex surface 32 of device 10, when in use of device 10, the wheel assemblies will swivel in a plane perpendicular to a plane containing the lower convex surface 32 of base shell 20 and will roll in a plane parallel to the lower convex surface of the base shell so that device 10 is easily maneuvered. Even though the swivel caster type wheel of FIG. 4 has been discussed in terms of the invention, it is to be appreciated that other types of wheel assemblies may be used in the invention in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art.

(12) With particular reference to FIG. 5, and as discussed herein above, lower convex surface 32 of base shell 20 has at least eight apertures 50, four of which generally will accommodate one of the four wheel assemblies 31 at any one time when device 10 is being used in a floor project. Even though not shown, it is to be appreciated that each aperture 50 has an inner threaded surface that corresponds to the threads of the threaded stem 31c of wheel assembly 31. As shown in FIG. 5, at least three apertures 50 are arranged in two spaced-apart rows R1, R2 running parallel to the transverse axis T and which rows R1, R2 are essentially parallel with a plane containing first end 29F and second end 29S of base shell 20. Still referring to FIG. 5, at least three apertures 50 are arranged in two spaced apart rows R3, R4 running parallel to the longitudinal axis L of base shell 20 and which rows R3, R4 are essentially parallel with a plane containing first side edge 30F and second side edge 30. As discussed herein above and with particular reference to FIG. 4, each wheel assembly 31 has a threaded stem 31c which allows each wheel assembly 31 to be easily threaded into aperture 50, then removed, and then threaded back into another aperture 50 depending on the job a worker is performing.

(13) As best appreciated in FIGS. 6 and 7, lower convex surface 32 of base shell 20 is curved in two directions (that is, along the traverse axis T and the longitudinal axis L) in order to allow wheel assemblies 30 to be oriented at angles with respect to kneepad 24, whereby further control of the user's balance can be affected by inserting wheel assemblies 31 in the most appropriate apertures 50. Even though FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the double curvature of base shell 20, this double curvature of base shell 20 is further indicated in FIG. 3 by curved surface-defining lines 60 and 62 to more clearly indicate that the lower convex surface 32 of base shell 20 is curved in two directions. By allowing wheel assemblies 31 to be oriented at various angles with respect to kneepad 24, each wheel assembly 31 can be tilted in order to allow the user to have his weight supported in a line when he is tilted to one side or is tilted forward or backward as may be required by the job the wearer of each rolling knee support device 10 is performing. Examples for the direction for the movement of wheel assemblies 31 are illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3.

(14) The spacing and orientation of apertures 50 allow the user of device 10 to select the apertures that are most favorable to the worker's desired center of gravity, balance, orientation, and position for the required job. This option allows the user to move the wheel assemblies 31 so that their placement in lower convex surface 32 of base shell 20 can be adjusted to fit the particular needs of the worker and the particular job and yet allow the worker to maintain his balance and center of gravity while allowing for adjustments of the wheel assemblies during a particular job or from job-to-job. This option allows the worker greater flexibility and versatility while being as comfortable as possible. It is to be noted that while an embodiment of the invention provides for device 10 having apertures 50 arranged as indicated in FIG. 5, other arrangements and/or numbers of apertures 50 may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.

(15) While the present invention has been described in connection the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the invention.