FOLDING ROLLATOR

Abstract

A rollator to aid mobility is described. The rollator comprises an A-frame with two pairs of uprights, each pair of uprights connected by at least one respective hinge to allow each pair of uprights to be folded or pivot front-to-back and a seat disposed between the two pairs of uprights, the seat foldable side-to-side. To fold compactly the rollator comprises an X-shaped cross-linkage comprising four linkage members. A method of manufacturing the rollator is also disclosed. The four linkage members may extend from a respective upright to a central hub underneath the seat. The cross-linkage may fold or pivot at the central hub in both front-to back and side-to-side dimensions when the rollator is folded away.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A rollator comprising: an A-frame with two pairs of uprights, each pair of uprights connected by at least one respective hinge to allow each pair of uprights to be folded or pivot front-to-back; and a seat disposed between the two pairs of uprights, the seat foldable side-to-side wherein the rollator comprises an X-shaped cross-linkage comprising four linkage members and the four linkage members extend from a respective upright to a central hub underneath the seat.

21. A method of manufacturing a rollator comprising: constructing an A-frame comprising two pairs of uprights, each pair of uprights connected by at least one respective hinge to allow each pair of uprights to be folded or pivot front-to-back; and disposing a seat between the two pairs of uprights, so that the seat is foldable side-to-side to thereby manufacture the rollator; wherein the rollator comprises an X-shaped cross-linkage comprising four linkage members and the four linkage members extend from a respective upright to a central hub underneath the seat.

22. The rollator of claim 20, wherein the cross-linkage supports the seat.

23. The rollator of claim 20, wherein the cross-linkage folds or pivots at the central hub in both front-to back and side-to-side dimensions when the rollator is folded away.

24. The rollator of claim 20, wherein each pair of uprights comprises a front upright and a rear upright.

25. The rollator of claim 20, wherein the A-frame comprises four uprights.

26. The rollator of claim 25, wherein a front pair of uprights are straight and the rear pair of uprights comprise an angled section.

27. The rollator of claim 20, wherein the frame further comprises one or more front struts.

28. The rollator of claim 27, wherein the one or more front struts comprise two or more cross-struts.

29. The rollator of claim 29, wherein the two or more cross-struts comprise two cross-struts which cross-over or intersect at or near their mid-point.

30. The rollator according to claim 29, wherein the two or more cross-struts fold or pivot relative to one another when the rollator folds.

31. The rollator of claim 20, wherein the frame further comprises one or more side struts which extend between a respective front upright and a respective rear upright.

32. The rollator of claim 20, wherein the one or more side struts comprise a pair of side struts which support the seat.

33. The rollator of claim 20, wherein the hinges comprise a pair of hinges, with a hinge of the pair disposed on each pair of uprights.

34. The rollator of claim 20, wherein each hinge of the pair of hinges operates to fold the rollator front to back.

35. The rollator of claim 20, wherein folding is operated by an actuator comprising one or more release which when operated removes or partially removes the linkage members from the central hub to allow folding.

36. The rollator of claim 20, wherein the rollator frame further comprises one or more stopper.

37. The rollator of claim 20, wherein the rollator comprises one or more wheels; handles; or brakes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to identical elements. The drawings are provided by way of example only, wherein:

[0033] FIGS. 1A; 1B: shows a front perspective view; side perspective view; and a close-up view of a handle; of a rollator according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0034] FIGS. 2A; 2B; 2C; 2D; and 2E show a perspective view; a front view; a right-side view; a top view; and a bottom view, respectively of the rollator frame in a schematic representation.

[0035] FIGS. 3A; 3B; 3C; and 3D show a perspective view; a front view; a right-side view; a top view, respectively of the rollator frame in the folded in a schematic representation.

[0036] FIGS. 4A and 4B show zoomed in perspective views of the rollator handle and handle section of the frame in folded and unfolded configuration, respectively.

[0037] FIGS. 4C and 4D show zoomed in outer-side perspective views of the rollator seat and seat section of the frame in a folded and unfolded configuration, respectively.

[0038] FIGS. 4E and 4F show zoomed in inner-side perspective views of the rollator seat and seat section of the frame in a folded and unfolded configuration, respectively.

[0039] FIGS. 4G and 4H show zoomed in side perspective views of the rollator front wheel and front wheel section of the frame in a folded and unfolded configurations, respectively.

[0040] FIG. 5 is a chart showing the steps according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0041] Skilled addressees will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the relative dimensions of some elements in the drawings may be distorted to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a folding rollator. Advantageously, the folding rollator of the invention folds in two dimensions.

[0043] Although the term “fold” is used, it is understood that no bending may result and that instead there is pivoting or otherwise relative movement from an open or functional configuration to a “folded” or collapsed configuration. One purpose of this “folding” or “pivoting” or “relative movement” is to transition from a functional configuration where the rollator may be used as a mobility aid to a folded configuration that is more compact to aid storage and transport.

[0044] FIGS. 1 (1A; 1B; 1C); 2 (2A; 2B; 2C; 2D; 2E); and 3 (3A; 3B; 3C; 3D) show one embodiment of a rollator 100 according to the invention.

[0045] Rollator 100 comprises an A-frame 110 with two pairs of uprights 120, each pair of uprights 120 connected by at least one respective hinge 150 to allow each pair of uprights 120 to be folded or pivot front-to-back. Each pair of uprights comprise a front upright 122 and a rear upright 124. The A-frame 110 thereby comprise four uprights.

[0046] The rollator 100 shown in the Figures comprises a pair of hinges 150, with a hinge 150 of the pair disposed on each front upright 122. In other embodiments the hinges 150 may be disposed on rear uprights 124. Each hinge 150 of the pair of hinges 150 operates to fold the rollator 100. Each hinge 150 of the pair of hinges 150 allows the front struts 130 and/or side struts 140 to slide along the uprights 122, 124 during folding.

[0047] In the embodiment of rollator 100 shown in FIGS. 1; 2; and 3 the front uprights 122 are straight, while the rear uprights 124 comprise an angled section designed to provide an ergonomic shape.

[0048] Rollator 100 also comprises a seat 180 disposed between the two pairs of uprights 120. Advantageously, seat 180 is foldable side-to-side.

[0049] By providing rollator 100, which folds or pivots in both a front-to-back and side-to-side dimension, a strong, stable and lightweight product is provided which collapses to an exceptionally small fold package. Further advantages include that folding of rollator 100 is much easier to manipulate than prior art devices. Another significant advantage of rollator 100 is that the linkage which supports the seat 180 is robust enough to support a user for an extended period of time.

[0050] As is best seen in FIG. 2E, seat 180 comprises a cross-linkage 182, which is shown as an X-shaped cross-linkage. This X-shaped cross-linkage comprises four linkage members 182a, 182b, 182c, 182d, each of which extend from a respective upright 122, 124 to a central hub 184 underneath seat 180. When linkage members 182a, 182b, 182c, 182d are disposed in central hub 184 they are at or below centre. The cross-linkage 182 folds or pivots at the central hub 184 in both front-to back and side-to-side dimensions when the rollator 100 is folded away. This folding can be observed by comparing the diagrams in FIGS. 2, which show rollator 100 in the unfolded configuration to the diagrams in FIGS. 3, which show rollator 100 in the folded configuration. The pairs of FIGS. 4A and 4B; 4C and 4D; 4E and 4F; and 4G and 4H; also allow a comparison of the folded (4A; 4C; 4E; and 4G) and unfolded configurations (4B; 4D; 4F; and 4H).

[0051] In the embodiment shown in the Figures, folding is operated with actuator 190 which comprises a release 192 on the rollator seat 180. The folding is operated by pulling the release 192 in one direction, upwardly. When release 192 is operated, the linkage members 182a, 182b, 182c, 182d are lifted and/or removed or partially removed from central hub 184 to allow folding. When the linkage members 182a, 182b, 182c, 182d are removed or partially removed from the central hub 184 they may be lifted above centre. When the release 192 is operated, the movement may allow one action folding.

[0052] In the embodiment shown, release 192 is disposed on rollator seat 180. In other embodiments, release 192 may be disposed on rollator handle 104.

[0053] While in the embodiment shown in the Figures, the folding is actuated by a pulling motion, in other embodiments the folding may be actuated by a pushing motion. Advantageously, the folding is operated by pulling or pushing in one direction.

[0054] A-frame 110 further comprises front struts 130. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1; 2 and 3, the front struts 120 are provided in the form of two cross-struts which cross-over or intersect at or near their mid-point. Advantageously, the front struts 130 also fold or pivot relative to one another when the rollator 100 folds so the frame 110 folds side to side. The one or more front struts 130 are disposed on and extend between the two front uprights 122.

[0055] A-frame 110 also further comprises side struts 140. As shown in FIGS. 1; 2; and 3; the side struts 140 extend between a respective front upright 122 and a respective rear upright 124. The side struts 140 are shown to comprise a pair of side struts 140 which support seat 180.

[0056] Rollator A-frame 110 further comprises stoppers 112 which are fixed on the frame 110 to restrict movement of hinges 150 past a desired position for support of seat 180. The desired position may be horizontal to the ground.

[0057] With stoppers 112 positioned below hinges 150, frame 110 and/or front struts 130 will only fold up in the side to side folding. If stoppers 112 were placed above hinges 150, frame 110 and/or front struts 130 would only fold down in the folding. By positioning stoppers 112 below hinges 150, stoppers 112 provide additional structural support to the seat 180.

[0058] As is typical of rollators, rollator 100 also comprises four 102 wheels and handles 104 comprising hand grips 105.

[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 5 invention also provides a method 200 of manufacturing a rollator 100. Method 200 comprises constructing 210 an A-frame 110 comprising two pairs of uprights 120, each pair of uprights 120 connected by at least one respective hinge 150 to allow each pair of uprights 120 to be folded or pivot front-to-back. Method 200 also comprises disposing 220 a seat 180 between the two pairs of uprights 120, so that the seat 180 is foldable side-to-side.

[0060] The A-frame 110 may be manufactured from aluminium or other suitably strong and light weight material.

[0061] Rollator 100 also comprises a brake 106 which is operated by brake handles 108 disposed near handle 104. In other embodiments, brake 106 may comprise a button or lever instead of handles 108 and/or the brake handle 106, button or lever may be disposed at or near wheels 102.

[0062] Although not shown, rollator 100 may further comprise one or more storage components 109 (not shown). The one or more storage components 109 may be disposed on handles 104, on frame 110 and/or under the seat 180.

[0063] In this specification, the terms “comprises”, “comprising” or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed.

[0064] Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. Persons skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific embodiments that will nonetheless fall within the scope of the invention.