Support and shopping walker

Abstract

A collapsible support and shopping walker includes eight tubes of equal length that pivot in eight corner supports forming four cross braces. This four-sided cage can then flex in one direction from being fully collapsed to fully extended. Flexible fabric is attached across four corners to this cage allowing it to open about half-way between the collapsed state and full extension and can now be used as a seat. Collapsible diagonal supports, hinged at each end, form a spider which provides stability and enables easy opening and closing of the cage by moving the spider head up and down. In order to provide a stable chair or walker the spider must be lockable with the seat in the open position. This is arranged by letting the spider over toggle which stretches the fabric fully and tightens all the joints of the chair.

Claims

1. A collapsible support walker comprising: four legs connected together at upper and lower corner supports by four sets of pivotable cross braces to form a collapsible walker structure; four diagonal supports hinged together at a center head and each hingedly attached to a lower corner support of said walker structure thereby forming an array; where said array can be over toggled past a tipping point to lock said walker structure open against the tension of a flexible seat connected to four upper corner supports and spanning the walker structure; wherein said array is restricted from collapsing upon being over toggled by attachment to a tube containing a movable rod that is in turn attached to a bottom of said seat.

2. The collapsible support walker of claim 1 wherein said flexible seat includes a strap handle for pulling up on said seat when it is desired to collapse the walker.

3. The collapsible support walker of claim 1 wherein collapsible netting is placed around said walker structure to form a collapsible shopping cart.

4. The collapsible support walker of claim 1 wherein one of said legs supports a removable umbrella.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support and shopping walker of this invention in its open state;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side elevation view thereof;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the support and shopping walker in its collapsed state;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the walker in its shopping cart configuration;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the walker seat connection to the spider; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the walker supporting a large golf type umbrella.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved support and shopping walker, generally denominated 10.

(9) The support and shopping walker 10 of the present invention is based on the same structural principle used with four legged camping chairs. Eight lightweight tubes 12 of equal length pivot in eight corner supports 14 forming a cage of four cross braces 16. This four-sided arrangement or cage can then flex in one direction from being fully collapsed to fully extended.

(10) In order to form a stable chair, flexible fabric 20 is attached across four corners to this cage allowing it to open about half-way between the collapsed state and full extension. The suspended flexible fabric 20 can now be used as a seat where the load is reflected as compression forces on the cross braces 16. On level ground this forms a firm support of the load.

(11) To make this chair as light as possible the cross braces also include a pivot 22 where they intersect, allowing for higher compression forces, i.e. reducing tube size and weight.

(12) The novelty of the arrangement is created by installing four straight vertical tubes or legs 24, 26 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 with wheels 28 and casters 30 at their lower end, as used in a conventional walker. However, using just this configuration as a walker on uneven surfaces makes it unstable since there are no diagonal supports between the four corners of the cage. Collapsible diagonal supports 32 made of four aluminum members of equal length, hinged at each end, form a four-legged array or spider 34. This arrangement provides for easy opening and closing of the cage by moving the central spider head 36 up and down like an umbrella.

(13) In order to provide a stable chair or walker the spider must be lockable with the seat in the open position. This is arranged by letting the spider over toggle or go over its opening tipping point (FIG. 2) which stretches the fabric fully and tightens all the joints of the chair. However, the over toggle of the spider must be restricted since the cage otherwise will start to collapse again. This restriction is made by attaching a rod 38 to the underside of the center of the seat (fabric) 20. The rod can travel freely inside a tube 40 that is attached to the spider head 36 allowing it to be pushed down past the tipping point of the spider 34. The over toggle is facilitated by pressing the center of the seat (fabric) 20 down, which includes the rod 38, onto the upper end of the tube 40 which subsequently lets the spider head 36 snap to the bottom head 42 of the rod 38, into the predetermined inverted position. A suitable adjustable restriction 44 is placed on the upper part of the rod 38. At this moment all the forces in the structure are at equilibrium and they will remain so also when the seat is fully loaded by the user sitting down.

(14) Closing the walker or chair is done by pulling up a strap handle 46 attached to the inside center of the fabric seat 20 which thus pulls up the spider head 36 beyond the toggle or tipping point. Further pulling then folds the spider and subsequently the cage together into compact bundle of aluminum tubes. The fabric armrests 48 and backrest 50 follow simultaneously.

(15) Adjustable telescoping handles 52 are secured at any desirable height by bicycle type seat clamps 54. The handles are equipped with normal walker type wheel brake grips 56 and brakes 58 at the rear wheels 28. The swivel type caster 30 in the front completes the arrangement into a fully usable equipped walker.

(16) The vertical tubes 26 supporting the casters 30 including the arm and backrest may be equipped with telescopic tubes that can follow the opening and closing of the cage. In the chair position they can nearly totally disappear or be pulled out and secured by clamps in any position. This results in adjustable heights for the arm and backrest and/or holding the shopping basket fabric in the right position.

(17) Shopping Walker: The size and arrangement of the seat lends itself for further improvements. FIG. 4 shows how a suitable collapsible netting 60 surrounds the seat transforming the walker into a small flexible collapsible shopping cart.

(18) Rain/Sun Protection: The vertical tube of one walker handle can without any modifications also support a large golf type umbrella 62, which serves as sun or rain cover, see FIG. 6.

(19) Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention may be characterized as a collapsible support walker, including four legs connected together at corner supports by four sets of pivotable cross braces to form a collapsible walker structure; four supports hinged together at a center head and each hingedly attached to a corner support of the walker structure thereby forming an array; where the array can be over toggled past a tipping point to lock the walker structure open against the tension of a flexible seat spanning the walker structure; wherein the array is restricted from collapsing upon being over toggled by attachment to a rod that is in turn attached to a bottom of said seat.

(20) Another embodiment of the present invention may be characterized as a collapsible support walker, including four supports hinged together at a head and each hingedly attached to a corner support of the walker structure thereby forming a spider; where the spider can be over toggled past a tipping point to lock the structure of the walker open against the tension of a flexible fabric seat; where the spider is restricted from collapsing upon being over toggled by attachment to a rod that is in turn attached to a bottom of the fabric seat, which includes a strap handle for pulling up on the seat when it is desired to collapse the walker; and where collapsible netting can be added around the walker structure to transform the walker into a collapsible shopping cart.

(21) The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.

(22) Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.