UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

ETTA CALHOUN, ON BEHALF OF HERSELF AND

ALL OTHER PERSONS SIMILARLY SITUATED, Civil Case No: 18-01022 RCM

Plaintiff,

v.

INVENTION SUBMISSION CORPORATION, D/B/A

INVENTHELP, TECHNOSYSTEMS CONSOLIDATED
CORP., TECHNOSYSTEMS SERVICE CORP.,
WESTERN INVENTION SUBMISSION CORP.,
UNIVERSAL PAYMENT CORPORATION,
INTROMARK INCORPORATED, INNOVATION
CREDIT CORP., ROBERT J. SUSA, THOMAS FROST,
P.A., THOMAS FROST, LAW OFFICE OF KYLE
FLETCHER, P.C., KYLE A. FLETCHER, CROSSLEY
& STEVENSON, CROSSLEY PATENT LAW,
KAUFHOLD & DIX, ABOVE BOARD DRAFTING,
INC., JOHN DOE COMPANIES 1-10, JOHN DOE
INDIVIDUALS 1-10,

Defendants.

AFFIDAVIT OF JULIE PECHERSKY PLITT. ESQ.

STATE OF NEW YORK )

) ss:
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER )

JULIE PECHERSKY PLITT, being duly sworn deposes and says:

1. Iam Counsel to the Oxman Law Group, PLLC, counsel for Plaintiff Etta

Calhoun, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated.

2. I submit this Affidavit in opposition to the objections of Defendants Thomas

Frost, P.A. and Thomas Frost, (“Frost”) to Magistrate Judge Mitchell’s Report and

Recommendation dated January 3, 2019. (ECF 48).

1
 3. Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a "Basic Information Package Agreement” dated

March 15, 2017 by and between InventHelp and Ms. Georgia Brown, 13198 N.W. 19th Street,

Pembrook Pines, Florida 3328. I represent Ms. Brown in connection with this lawsuit, and she

has provided me with this document as well as the other documents described herein.

4. Pursuant to the Basic Information Package Agreement, Ms. Brown agreed as

follows: "I wish to have a preliminary patentability search and opinion conducted for my idea,

and request that InventHelp refer my request for this work to a patent attorney to whom it refers

its clients’ patent work as set forth in a Preliminary Patentability Search and Opinion Referral

Request.... I authorize InventHelp to pay $215 (U.S.) which I have already advanced for

this purpose, to the patent attorney for the patent search and opinion which will be sent to

InventHelp for delivery to me with my completed Basic Information Package Report.”

(Exhibit A at 1-2) (emphasis added).

5. That Basic Information Package Agreement further states: I authorize my

patent attorney and InventHelp to share information regarding my idea and the

preliminary patentability search and opinion.” (Exhibit A at 2) (emphasis added).

6. Ms. Brown never had a single conversation with Attorney Defendant Frost (nor

anyone with whom he works) regarding her invention.

7. Ms. Brown did not pay Frost for his services; she paid InventHelp, which

purportedly paid Frost on her behalf in accordance with the Basic Information Package

Agreement, Exhibit A herein.

8. Attached hereto as Exhibit B is a copy of the Preliminary Patentability Search

and Opinion dated April 27, 2012 from Attorney Defendant Thomas Frost, P.A. to Georgia

2
Brown, which Ms. Brown received directly from InventHelp at its Pittsburgh address, 217 Ninth

Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

9. The Preliminary Patentability Search and Opinion states: “[I]n my professional

opinion, protection in the form of a utility patent may be available directed to the specific novel

structural or functional features of your invention.” (Exhibit B at 1-2).

10. The Preliminary Patentability Search and Opinion also states: “Attorney-Client

Privilege. I want to assure you that all of the information you have provided for in this search,

as well as the results therof as set forth in writing in this opinion, has been and will continue to

be treated as confidential material falling within the protection falling within the protection

falling within the attorney-client privilege.” (Exhibit B at 5). However, as set forth above, Ms.

Brown received this document from InventHelp, not Attorney Defendant Frost.

11. Attached hereto as Exhibit C is a letter dated December 15, 2017 to Ms. Brown

from Intellectual Property Attorneys Kain Spielman, P.A.

12. That letter states, “At our December conference, I reviewed the prior art

references (3 references) located by InventHelp and your wheelchair-wallcer invention. It is clear

to me that there is no possibility that you could get a utility patent on the wheelchair-walker

invention.” (emphasis in original).

13. That letter further states, “I believe that any patent attorney or patent agent

who recommended or stated that there was a reasonable chance or any possibility that you

could get a utility patent on the wheelchair-walker invention has committed legal

malpractice.” (emphasis added).

3
 14. For the reasons set forth in the accompanying Memorandum of Law, together

with those in Magistrate Judge Mitchell’s January 3, 2019 Report and Recommendation (ECF

48), and those in Plaintiffs submissions in opposition to the Attorney Defendants’ motion to

dismiss (ECF 43), Plaintiff, on behalf of herself and those similarly situated, respectfully

requests that this Court overrule Frost’s objections in toto.

JULIE P

Sworn to before me this

LUCIA A. HALBOHN
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 01HA602G951
Qualified in Putnam County
Commission Expires March 8, 20_/_?

4
EXHIBIT A
 217 Ninth Street BASIC INFORMATION PKG. AGREEMENT# HI W-542-2P1PU

InventHelp* Pittsburgh, PA
15222-3506 SalesRepresentative Aaron Poster_________
(print name)
Sales Office.. _____ _
ID:201703174407
Inventor 'Jiw. Q m s . CJMrs.Georgia BrownAre you 18 years of age or older?_________________________________________

Address 13198 N.W. 19th St.__________ ________________________________________________________ _______

CiIv Pembroke Pines_____________ State Florida ___________________________ Zi p 33028
Telephone: Work ( i Residence (754) 214-4391 __
area code area code
Occupation ________ Invention/Idea/Product WALKER WHEEL CHAIR COMBO (WWCC)

^Ta4US OF INVENTION
01 Illustrations/Drawings O Product in Production J Client has inventory
J Photographs □ Copyright or Trademark ZJ Patent Issued- #___
J Model or Prototype □ Patent Pending

1. BASIC INFORMATION PACKAGE SERVICES

In consideration of the fees stated below, Inventhielp-'agrees to prepare a report containing basic information in the
following categories:
» Product concept description & history
(based on client’s disclosure toInventHelpD
• Production considerations
• Estimated retail price, manufacturing & wholesale
costs
• Coding of your invention by Standard Industrial
Classification
• Function and appealing features
• Benefits, appeals and trendsforconsumers and/or
society Production considerations
• Potential target markets (based on Trade &
Government Statistics)
• A visual industry graph (if available for your idea)
• Potential channels of distribution and outlets
• Promotional considerations

You will receive a 20-30 page bound report in which InventHelp'* assembles basic information and attempts to emphasize
the most positive features of your idea. The contents of the report are described in InventHelp’s Basic Information Package
brochure which we have provided to you.
I request that a Basic information Package Report be prepared for my idea, invention or product described above. I
understand that:
• The Basic Information Package Report is not an evaluation of my idea, but rather assembles basic information and
attempts to emphasize the most positive features of my idea.
• InventHelp* accepts most ideas and does not determine the feasibility of my idea. InventHelp® relies on my belief that I
am the original inventor.
• InventHelp"2 * * 5cannot be aware of or responsible for the existence of similar concepts which may already be on the
market or may be introduced at a later time. It is not possible to adequately check the marketplace for similar
products. InventHelp4'performs a very limited competitive check usually through catalogs.
• lnventHelp*is assembling information regarding my idea for (he purpose of preparing a Basic information Package
Report. I authorize InventHelp® to share information with the patent attorney who may perform patent services on my
behalf. I understand that the patent attorney, not InventHelp5', is responsible for contacting me to obtain any
information required in order to perform his patent services.

2. PATENT SERVICES REFERRAL

If you are interested in obtaining a preliminary patentability search and opinion for your idea or invention and you do not
want to locate a patent attorney or patent agent on your own, you may request that InventHelp® refer you to a patent
attorney/to whom InventHelp1- refers its clients’ patent work. It is important that you understand that the choice of a patent
attorney or patent agent rests entirely withyou.
Please check the appropriate box below:
\j I wish to have a preliminary patentability search and opinion conducted for my idea, and request that InventHelp"
refer my request for this work '.o a patent attorney to whom it refers its clients' patent work as set forth in a Preliminary
Patentability Search and Opinion Referral Request. (Please review and sign a separate Preliminary Patentability
Search and Opinion Referral Request). I authorize InventHelp'5' to pay $215 (U.S.), which I have already
advanced for this purpose, to the patent attorney for the patent search and opinion which will be sent to InventHelp-

Page I of 2 16-1122-US IH BIP ©Nov2016 InventHelp'

led: 03/15/2017
 for delivery to me with my completed Basic Information Package Report. InventHelp® will place legal fees I have
advanced in an escrow account for payment to the patent attorney once I have engaged him to provide patent
services. I understand that it is my responsibility to review and accept the patent attorney's engagement letter to
' act as my patent attorney, Further, I authorize my patent attorney and InventHelp^'to share information regarding my
idea and the preliminary patentability search and opinion. 1 understand that the patent attorney, not InventHelp*, is
responsible for contacting me to obtain any information required to perform my patent services. I also understand that
InventHelp^receives no fee for referring me to a patent attorney.

□ 1 wish to have a preliminary patentability search and opinion conducted for my idea, but wish to choose a patent
attorney or patent agent on my own. Accordingly, I will not be charged $215 (U.S.) for this service.

□ I do NOT wish to have a preliminary patentability search and opinion conducted for my idea. Accordingly, I will not be
charged $215 fU.S.) for this service. My decision not to proceed with a preliminary patentability search and opin­
ion is based solely on my judgment and is in no way based on anything which InventHelp® has said. lnventHelp'4';has
given me no advice in this matter and I understand that only a patent attorney or patent agent may give such advice.

NOTICE
. THE PURCHASE OF INVENTOR ASSISTANCE
IS A HIGH-RISK EXPENDITURE.
. FULL PATENT PROTECTION CAN PROVIDE
LEGAL PROTECTION FOR IDEAS,
INVENTIONS, AND PRODUCTS. WE GIVE
NO ADVICE AS TO WHETHER YOUR IDEA,
INVENTION OR PRODUCT IS OR IS NOT
PATENTABLE. SUCH ADVICE MAY COME
ONLY FROM A PATENT ATTORNEY OR
LICENSED PATENT AGENT.
. IF YOU WISH PATENT ADVICE, IT IS ADVISABLE
THAT YOU SEEK ADVICE FROM AN INDEPDNDENT
PATENT ATTORNEY.
. MANUFACTURERS OR OTHER BUSINESS
ORGANIZATIONS MAY BE UNWILLING TO ENTER
INTO LICENSING AGREEMENTS FOR, OR AGREE TO
PAY FOR THE RIGHT TO COMMERCIALIZE,
UNPATENTABLE OR UNPATENTED IDEAS,
INVENTIONS OR PRODUCTS.

. YOU SHOULD TREAT YOUR IDEA,

INVENTION OR PRODUCT AS A
CONFIDENTIAL SUBJECT IN ORDER TO
AVOID LOSING ANY PATENT RIGHTS YOU
MAY HAVE.

NOTICE OF CANCELLATION
If you change your mind, you can cancel this Contract, for any reason, within seven (7) business days after you
signed it. If you mailed us the Contract, you can cancel it within seven (7) business days after you put the Contract in
the mail. There will be no penalty or obligation if you cancel under this provision. Within ten (10) business days after
we receive your written cancellation notice we will return, by mail, all monies paid by you to us pursuant to the
Contract that you have cancelled, If you choose to mail your cancellation notice, it must be placed in the United
States mail properly addressed, certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, and postmarked before
midnight of the last day allowed for cancellation.

FEES
Basic Information Package Report: $760.00fU.S.)
(does not include cost of Preliminary Patentability Search
and Opinion, See Preliminary Patentability Search and
Opinion Referral Request)

Being paid'by: jfeheck DMoney Order JCredit Card

Signed__ KY / Signed
'~'s. (Client/Inventor-Cwner) (Co-Inventor)
DaleZ>-^ Date__

This agreement shall not become effective or binding upon

the parties until it has been received in InventHelp's head­
quarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and executed there by a (Authorized InventHelp®" AcceptanceT*’"**”*5’’

duly authorized representative of InventHelp®'. Once exe­

cuted, a copy will be sent to Client. Date of Execution
2011
Attach copies of any relevant material or information - let client keep originals.DON 01 send models unless requested.
Page 2 Of?. ie-1122-US IH BIP ©Nov 2016 InvcntHelp*
led' 03/15/2017
EXHIBIT B
PRELIMINARY PATENTABILITY
SEARCH AND OPINION
 Thomas Frost, P.A.
Registered Patent Attorney

6600 Fourth Street North, Suite 102

St. Petersburg, Florida. 33702

Attorneys '• • . .
Thomas Frost . . ... .Telephone: 727.410.4572
Brian Goldych . Fax: 727.279.4853
Email: tfrost3@verizon.net • • . .

March 30, 2017

Georgia Brown
13198 NW 19th St
Pembroke Pines, FL 33028 ■'

In re: International Patentability Search and Opinion (PPSO)

Information: Title of Invention: ‘Walker Wheel Chair Combo'

Your File Number: HLW2019
Attorney Case Reference: A-166914- -BG (GU)

Dear Georgia: .

• Authorization and Reaffirmation of Engagement

in accordance with your request and authorization to engage my services, an

international patentability search for published and issued U.S. and foreign patent
documents related to your invention has been conducted.

• Search Results (Opinion and Recommendation)

After a careful review of the patent documents discovered during the search, l am
of the opinion that while the broad concept and function of your invention may not
be new, your invention discloses certain novel structural and/or functional
features which are neither shown nor made obvious by any of the patent
documents discovered during the search, whether these documents are
considered individually or in combination with each other. Although this search
has disclosed patent documents which may suggest that other people have
received patents for inventions having similar concepts as yours, most patents .
are improvements on what others have done, and the courts have established
the precedent that minor improvements to inventions in crowded arts can
constitute patentable improvement. Therefore, in my professional opinion,
protection in the form of a utility patent, may be available directed to the specific
novel structural or functional features of your invention. The characteristics of a
utility patent are discussed below.

• The Invention

For purposes of record, I state and have confirmed that this international
patentability search was directed to the structure and function of the wheelchair
with detachable walker as described in your provided confidential disclosure. You
can be rest assured that additional information (if any) forwarded to us before the
search was conducted, such as written materials delivered by facsimile, email,
express courier, U.S, mail, and the like, or any information provided verbally
during personal and telephone interviews, was included in our search.

* Relevant Prior Art (U.S. & Foreign Patent Documents)

The patent documents listed below, copies of which are provided herewith, are
considered relevant to your invention. They are not arranged in any particular
order, and a brief explanation of why each document was chosen is provided.

United States Utility Patent 8,998,244 discloses a wheelchair with a

mechanically detachable walker.

United States Utility Patent 6,467,797 discloses a walker attachment that

connects to the frame of a conventional wheelchair.

United States Utility Patent 3,398,974 discloses a detachable walker device

that mounts to a standard wheelchair.

United States Patent Application 2011/0006494 discloses a wheelchair

system with an extendable walker.

United States Utility Patent 3,999,778 discloses an adjustable walker

attachment for wheelchairs., _

United States Utility Patent 2,556,121 discloses a walking apparatus that may
be readily attached to and detached from a wheelchair. .

United States Design Patent Des, 301,131 illustrates an ornamental design

for an invalid's chair.

Foreign Patent Document WO2013074945A1 discloses a wheelchair with .a

mechanically detachable walker.
# Analyzing the above-listed Patent Documents (Prior Art)

A patent for an invention grants to an inventor the legal ownership rights for his
or her invention. Once a patent has been granted to an inventor, an invention
may not be lawfully manufactured, used or sold, or offered for sale by others
without the inventor’s consent. Basically, the patent law provides for the granting
of patents in three major categories: (1) utility patents, (2) design patents, and
(3) plant patents Most inventions fall into the utility and design categories.
Plant patents are rare and won't be further discussed. .
: ' ■ ;■
A utility patent protects the 'structural and functional’, aspects of an invention
and is normally applied for in those instances where it is desired to protect how
an invention is made (its structure or composition), or how it works, or how it is
used. A utility patent can be issued to any person who invents a new, useful,
and non-obvious (1) process, (2) machine, (3). manufactured article, (4)
composition of matter, or (5) any new and useful improvement to any of these
types of inventions. 'Process’ means any process or method. ‘Manufacture’
refers to articles that are made. 'Composition of matter’ relates to chemical
compositions. .

A design patent is, directed strictly to protecting the overall appearance and
decorative aspects (i.e., how it looks) of an invention. The law states that a
design patent can be granted for a new, original and ornamental design of an
article of manufacture. Design patents, if obtained, will NOT include protective
coverage for the structural and functional aspects of an invention. Design
patents are appropriate for certain inventions, but not all. For example, a
chemical composition would not qualify for design patent protection. However, a
container or packaging for a chemical composition may qualify for design patent
protection and could for example be important in preventing others from offering
competing products in substantially similar looking packaging or containers.

Whenever possible, a preliminary patentability search is directed to both the

utility and design features of an invention so that a determination can be made as
to which type of patent protection may be available. In the majority of cases, it is
better to pursue utility patent protection, if available, since protecting the function
and structure of an invention is preferable over protecting only the appearance.

However, where meaningful utility patent protection may riot be available, or if the
appearance of an invention is more important than its function, protection in the
form of a design patent may be the best choice. There are also those situations
where it may be appropriate to seek both utility and design patents for an invention.
More specifically, a search may show that protection for both "function" and

03005
"appearance" are available and important, and when this occurs, the inventor may
choose to file applications for both design and utility patent protection for the same
invention.

When reviewing the patent documents discussed above, you will note that some
of them disclose various features similar in concept to some of the features and
structure of your invention. While the basic concept and function of your
invention may have been the subject matter of previously published patent
documents, your invention is different from the prior art since it discloses a
wheelchair walker combination device where the walker is foldable for storage
under.the wheelchair, erectable on the front of the wheel chair, and detachable
for independent use by a disabled individual.

• Important Legal Considerations

(1) Patent Pending. Patent rights can be a critical part of an effective

marketing strategy. Many manufacturers, investors, potential licensees and
other interested parties will not review a new product idea until the invention has
obtained at least ‘Patent Pending’ status. ‘Patent Pending’ status will be
obtained only after you. have had a patent application actually filed in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office. . ,

(2) First Inventor To File. The United States utilizes a 'first inventor to file'
system which, simply stated, means in a race to the Patent Office where two or
more inventors.are seeking patent protection for the same invention, the patent
would be awarded to the inventor who filed his patent application first, regardless
of whether or not he was the first and true inventor of the invention. This is a
very important reason why you should carefully consider whether a patent
application should be prepared and filed in the United States Patent Office as
quickly as possible. -

(3) Satutory Bars. The ability to obtain patent protection for an invention
may be lost with the passage of time. According to U.S. patent law, an inventor
has one year from the date that he first places his invention in ‘public use’ or ‘on :
sale' to file a patent application. After the expiration of this one year time clock,
you could be barred from ever receiving patent protection. -

(4) Enablement Requirement. Title 35, Section 112, of the U.S. Code requires
that if an inventor is going to file a patent application for an invention, he must be
able to completely and clearly describe the ‘manner and process of making and
using it' After reading your disclosure and reviewing the prior art provided
herewith, I have proceeded on the presumption that you, or someone under your
direction and control, could make a working model of your invention - either from
information exclusively in your possession (and possibly not fully disclosed to
me) or by the inclusion of information available from other sources, i.e., issued
patents, the internet, etc. If I am wrong and you don’t possess enough
information to clearly describe in writing how to build a working version of your
invention, or can’t assemble that information from available documentation and
other sources in the public domain, a patent application filed in the U.S. Patent
Office would most likely be rejected as being incomplete. .

(5) Attorney-Client Privilege. I want to assure you that all of the information
you have provided for this search, as well as the results thereof as set forth in
writing, in this opinion, has been and will continue to be treated as confidential
material falling within the protection provided by attorney-client privilege. The
information contained in this document is intended only for the perusal of the
inventor or inventors to whom it is addressed, or to any employees or other
persons authorized by such inventor(s) to receive this information. No part of this
information has been used for any purpose whatsoever outside of the intended
purpose of performing and compiling the patentability search described in this
document. Although I shall retain a copy of this opinion and all of the information
related thereto, I will not use, nor cause others to use, nor divulge to third parties
any part of this information without your approval.

There are tens , of millions of issued patent documents worldwide, and it is

impossible to guarantee the completeness of a patentability search due to the
immensity of searchable material. However, this search has been conducted by
professional, patent searchers employed exclusively by this law firm, and our
searches are in most instances very accurate and reliable. While I am of the
opinion that utility patent protection should be available, the patentability of your
invention is a legal determination made by a Patent Examiner in the ITS. Patent
and, Trademark Office. As such, my opinion in this report is not a guarantee that
utility patent protection will be obtained if a utility patent application is filed. ,

If I can be of further service, please so advise.

Kind regards, •

Thomas Frost
 US008998244B2

(12) United States Patent (io) Patent No.: US 8,998,244 B2

Purdue (45) Date of Patent: Apr. 7,2015

(54) WHEELCHAIR WITH DETACHABLE (58) Field of Classification Search

WALKER USPC ............ 280/640, 647, 656, 657; 5/81.1,503.1,
5/662
(71) Applicant: Carole Purdue, Centerville, MD (US) See application file for complete search history.

(72) Inventor; Carole Purdue, Centerville, MD (US)

(56) References Cited
(•) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. 3,584,890 A * 6/1971 Presty .................. ....... 280/7.1
3,999,778 A * 12/1976 Markiel ................... 280/304.1
(21) Appl.No.: U/358,921 5,320,122 A * 6/1994 Jacobson et al. ....... 135/66
5,451,193 A * 9/1995 Pickard................. ........ 482/68
5,697,628 A * 12/1997 Spear ................... ... 280/304,1
(22) PCT Filed: Nov. 16, 2012 4/2002 Foster et al........... ...... 5/81.1 R
6,374,436 B1 *
6,467,797 Bl * 10/2002 ...... 280/647
(86) PCI No.: PCT/US2012/065550 6,669,287 Bl* 12/2003 DeLilla ................ ...... 297/243
7,040,637 B2* 5/2006 Owens et al.......... ... 280/87.021
§371 (c)(1), 8,714,171 Bl * 5/2014 Haygood ............. ........ 135/66
(2) Date: May 16, 2014 2002/0084617 Al * 7/2002 Torsiello .............. .... 280/250.1
2009/0152826 Al* 6/2009 Silva et al............. ... 280/47.34
(87) PCT Pub. No.: WO2013/074945 2011/0006494 Al * 1/2011 Walker....................... 280/7.17
PCT Pub. Date: May 23, 2013 * cited by examiner

(65) Prior Publication Data Primary Examine?— John Walters

US 2014/0300071 A1 Oct. 9, 2014 Assistant Examiner — James Triggs
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Finn — Klauber & Jackson LLC
Related U.S, Application Data
(60) Provisional application No. 61/629,426, filed on Nov. (57) ABSTRACT
18, 2011.
A wheelchair having a detachable walker, The walker can be
(51) Int.Cl. mechanically attached and detached from the wheelchair eas­
B62B1/00 (2006.01) ily so that the user can s afely ri se from, a sitting position on the
A61G5/14 (2006.01) wheelchair to a standing position assisted by the walker,
(2006.01) During that transition, the user has the wheelchair attached to
A61G 7/10 (2006.01) the walker in case the user falls backwardly or gets tired and
A61H3/04 (2006.01) wants to again be seated in the wheelchair. When the user has
reached the standing position, the user can ambulate in a
(52) U.S. Cl
space intermediate the walker and the wheelchair or simply
CPC A61GS/14 (2013.01); A61G5/022 (2013.01);
detach the walker from the wheelchair and continue ambu­
A61G 7/1038 (2013.01); A61H3/04 (2013.01);
lating while relying solely on the walker for support.
JJWKM (2013.01); ,4670 22AK#
(2013.01); A61H2201/1633 (2013.01); A61G
5/02 (2013.01) 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets

•40
U.S. Patent Apr. 7,2015 Sheet 1 of 3 US 8,998,244 B2

CM

U_
Apr. 7, 2015 Sheet 2 of 3

CM
U.S. Patent Apr. 7,2015 Sheet 3 of 3 US 8,998,244 B2

CM
CM
<r> 3
CM

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FIG. 3

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CM

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85
 US 8,998,244 B2
1 2
WHEELCHAIR WITH DETACHABLE
WALKER
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
APPLICATIONS
The present application is a National Stage Application
claiming the priority of co-pending PCT Application No.
PCT/US2012/065550 filed Nov. 16, 2012, which in turn,
claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser, No. 10 It would be further advantageous to have the walker readily
61/629,426, filed Nov. 18, 2011, and U.S, Non-Provisional
application Ser. No. 13/385,894, filed Mar. 13,2012. Appli­
cant claims the benefits of 35 U.S.C. §120 as to the PCT
application and the U.S. Non-Provisional Application, and
priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 as to the said U.S. Provisional 15
application, and the entire disclosures of all applications are
incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wheelchair for moving a
patient, and, more particularly, to a wheelchair with a detach­
able walker so as to reduce the possibility of a patient falling
and being injured.
Each year a typical nursing home reports 100 to 200 falls 25 supported by a walker.
with approximately 35% of the falls resulting in injuries, It is
also reported that over 80% of the falls occur among residents
who cannot walk and, instead, use wheelchairs for their
mobility and seating needs.
Falls among hospital inpatients are common as well. 30 members secure into the attachment sockets easily and
Approximately 30% of hospital falls result in injury. Patients
who fall and sustain an injury are reported to have hospital
charges over $4,200 higher than patients who do not fall.
According to a 2009 report by the CDC, the total direct and
indirect cost of all fall injuries for people 65 years and older 35 holding onto the walker and ambulating while the wheelchair
exceeded $19 billion in 2000. By 2020, the annual direct and
indirect cost of fall injuries is expected to reach $54.9 billion.
The average cost of one fall for an older adult totaled $19,440
which included hospital, nursing home, emergency room, and
home health care.
Furthermore, these costs do not include the long-term
effects of falls such as dependence on others, lost time from
activities, difficulty performing personal care and household
duties, pain and suffering and reduced quality of life. Preven­
tion of falls in both hospital settings and long term care 45
settings is therefore an important patient safety and public
health issue.
One of the areas where persons are likely susceptible to
falls is in the transition of a patient from a wheelchair to a
standing, ambulatory stance. The problem arises in that there 50 from the wheelchair.
are certain individuals who are strong enough to get up out of
tlieir wheelchair but do not have adequate balance to ambulate
alone and are at a high risk for falling.
Such individuals often have cognitive impairment as well
and have decreased safety awareness and the inability to 55
acknowledge their functional limitations. This population
may include, but is not limited to, residents living in dementia
andAlzheimer’s care facilities, other nursing home residents,
hospitalized patents suffering from post op confusion or
altered mental status, stroke victims and traumatic brain 60
injury patients.
As such, the risk of a fall is great where such patients try to
arise from a wheelchair to a standing position and/or tty to
transition from a wheelchair to a walker so as to ambulate on
their own supported solely by the walker.
It would, therefore, be advantageous to have a wheelchair
that can facilitate the transition of a patient from a sitting
position on a wheelchair to a standing position to continue
ambulation with a walker by providing a combination of a
wheelchair and walker that can be attached to and detached
from the wheelchair so that the wheelchair can act as a safety
5 device in the event the patient loses his or her balance and falls
backward,
It would also be advantageous to have a combination
wheelchair and walker detachably attached together where
there i s a space intermediate the wheelchair and walker for the
person to ambulate in a protective environment.
detachable from die wheelchair so that the patient can con­
tinue ambulating solely with die support of the walker,
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, die present invention combines technologies
to create a new, innovative mobility wheelchair and walker
combination that addresses die wheelchair user’s needs in
one basic design.
20 One of the key components of the present invention is that
the walker readily attaches and detaches from the wheelchair.
The combination wheelchair and walker is designed to pre­
vent falls for a person transitioning from the sitting position
on a wheelchair to an ambulatory standing position being
When an individual is sitting in the wheelchair, a caregiver
can attach the walker to the front of the wheel chair by an
attachment system. In the exemplary embodiment, the attach­
ment. system is comprised of securing downwardly directed
members into attachment sockets. The downwardly directed
quickly and allow a caregiver to facilitate the attaching and
detaching of the walker to the wheelchair.
As such, once die walker is attached to the wheelchair, the
wheelchair’s user will have the capability of standing up,
remains behind and attached to the walker to allow the user to
sit back down. The walker and wheelchair can move individu­
ally or be locked in place, reducing the risk of falls during
unsupervised activities.
40 With the present invention, the user can stand up from the
sitting position on the wheelchair and grasp the handle of the
walker and remain in the space between the wheelchair and
the walker so as to ambulate with the safety of the wheelchair
behind the user in the event that user needs to sit down again.
As another alternative, the caregiver can fully separate the
walker from the wheelchair once the user has risen to the
standing position and has grasped the walker so that the
wheelchair can. be left behind and the user can continue to
ambulate with the sole support of the walker disconnected
These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more readily apparent during the fol -
lowing detailed description taken in conjunction with the
drawings herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination of a wheel­
chair and a walker attached together;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the combination wheelchair and
walker of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a top view of the wheelchair and walker of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
65
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown, a perspective
view, a side view and a top view of a combination of a
 US 8,998,244 B2
3 4
wheelchair 10 and a walker 12 attached together. As can be
seen, the wheelchair 10 has a wheelchair frame 14 that incor­
porates a lower seat 16 as well as a back support 18 for
holding the user in the proper sitting position within the
wheelchair 10,
A head support 20 may be provided that extends upwardly
from theback support 18, again, for supporting the head of the
user. Additionally, there may be arm supports 22 that are
provided on each lateral side of the lower seat 16 for support­
ing the arms of the user.
A set of swiveled front wheels 24 are located at the front of
the wheelchair 10 so as to allow the wheelchair 10 to freely
roll along a planar surface. As used herein the term “front”
will be the area of the wheelchair 10 and walker 12 that is in
the direction the user is facing when seated in the wheelchair
and the term “rear” will be the opposite area of the wheelchair
10 and walker 12. In a similar manner, a “forward”movement
will be movement in the direction the user is facing when
seated in the wheelchair and a “rearward” movement will be
movement of the wheelchair in the opposite direction.
There are two drive wheels 26 that are located along the
lateral sides of die wheelchair 10 (only one of which is shown
in FIG, 1). The drive wheels 26 may be of the conventional
type where the drive wheels 26 are manually grasped and
rotated by the user in a forward or reverse direction to propel
the wheelchair 10,
Alternatively, the drive wheels 26 may, as in the exemplary
embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, be of a type wherein the user
manipulates a pair of lever arms 28 by utilizing a pushing or
pulling motion of the arms to move the drive wheels 26
simultaneously so as to move the wheelchair 10 in a forward
or reverse direction or individually to turn the wheelchair 10
in a desired direction.
Turning then to the walker 12, the walker 12 is comprised
of a frame 30 of a standard nature in that it includes an upper
handle 32 and side supports 34. As is conventional, the user
can grasp the upper handle 32 for support during ambulation
or can grasp both of hie side supports 34 for support during
that ambulation. In either case, the user is normally in the
upright, standing position.
The walker 12 also includes two forward struts 36 that
extend from the upper handle 32 to bottom members 38, that
serve to support the upper handle 32. As such, the bottom
members 38 extend rearwardly from apair of front wheels 40,
which may be swiveled wheels 40, to be attached to the lower
ends 42 of the bottom members 38.
In the exemplary embodiment, there can also be seen rear
supports 44 having support legs 46. It should be noted that the
present invention may be constructed as the exemplary
embodiment ofFIGS. 1-3 orinan alternative embodiment. To
cany out the present invention, the walker 10 should prefer­
able include die upper handle 32, the front wheels 40 and the
support legs 46 at the rear of the walker 12. The support legs
42 may actually also be wheels consistent with the present
invention.
In any event, the walker frame 3 0 includes a pair of down­
wardly directed members 48 that extend downwardly and
which interflt into hollow attachment sockets 50 that are
affixed to the wheelchair 10. As such, an attachment system is
formed that allows the walker 12 to be attached to the wheel­
chair 10 and detached from the wheelchair 10 in a relatively
easy manner to facilitate such attachment and detachment.
"When the walker 12 is in its attached position and thus
joined to the wheelchair 10, it can be seen that the interfitting
of the downwardly directed members 48 into the hollow
attachment sockets 50 are dimensioned such that the support
legs 46 are located above the planar surface, such as a floor,
upon which the wheelchair 10 and walker 12 rest.
That attachment system, in the exemplary embodiment,
allows the walker 12 to be raised and lowered vertically in
5 order to carry out the detaching and attaching of the walker 12
and the wheelchair 10.
As a feature of the present invention, there can be seen,
particularly in FIG. 3, the presence of a space 52 that is
intermediate the wheelchair 10 and die walker 12 that lias
10 sufficient room to allow a user to walk in die space 52 when
the walker 12 is attached to the wheelchair 10.
As can now be seen, the use of the present combination
wheelckair/walker can be explained with reference to FIGS.
1-3. In a typical situation, the user can be seated in the wheel­
15 chair 10 and there is a desire on die part of the user or the
healthcare facility to transition the user from a sitting position
on the wheelchair 10 to a standing position supported by a
walker 12. In such event, the caregiver can simply attach the
walker 12 to the wheelchair 10 through the use of the attach­
20 ment system that provides an easy mechanical means of posi­
tively and readily carrying out that attachment.
Accordingly, to attach the walker 12 to die wheelchair 10,
the walker 12 is simply raised vertically by die caregiver and
the downwardly directed members 48 are aligned with the
25 hollow attachment sockets 50, By then simply lowering the
walker 12, the downwardly directed members 48 enter into
the hollow attachment sockets 50, thereby attaching the
walker 12 firmly and positively to the wheelchair 10.
At fills point, the user can move from file sitting position to
30 the standing position and is still confined within the space 52
so that file user is protected from falling in any direction and
die user can hold onto the walker 12 for assistance in rising to
the standing position.
The user can then proceed to ambulate by holding onto the
35 upper handle 32 or side supports 34 of the walker and, since
the wheelchair 10 is still attached to die walker, the wheel­
chair 10 is available to catch the user if die user falls back­
wardly or simply gets tired and wants the comfort and safety
of the sitting position on the wheelchair 10.
40 On the other hand, if the user is feeling comfortable with
ambulating in the standing position, die caregiver can detach
the walker 12 from the wheelchair 10 by the attachment
system, that is, by lifting the walker 12 vertically to disengage
the downwardly directed members 48 from die hollow attach­
45 ment sockets 50 and the wheelchair 10 canbe detached so that
the user can continue walking assisted only by the walker 12.
Those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous
adaptations and modifications which can be made to the
wheelchair and walker combinadon of the present invention
50 which will result in an improved safety system to enable a
user to transition from, a sitting to a standing position using the
combinadon wheelchair/walker, yet all of which will fall
within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined
in the following claims
55 Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by die
following claims and their equivalents.
What is claimed is:
1. A combination of a wheelchair and a walker mechani­
cally affixed together, the wheelchair comprising a wheel­
60 chair frame for supporting a user in a sitting position, a pair of
front wheels and a pair of drive wheels rotatably affixed to the
frame and being movable to propel the wheelchair over a flat
surface, the walker comprising a walker frame having a
handle adapted to be graspedby a user, and having at least two
65 wheels that contact the flat surface when supporting a user,
die walker having a rear facing toward the wheelchair and a
front facing outwardly from the wheelchair, the walker fur­
 US 8,998,244 B2
5 6
ther having a least one downwardly directed member that
interfits into at least one hollow attachment socket on the
wheelchair, the walker further having a pair of support legs
proximate the rear of the walker that independently extend
toward a floor and are adapted to support the rear of the walker
when detached from the wheelchair in a generally level ori­
entation.
2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the at
least one downwardly directed member and the at least one
hollow attachment socket comprises a pair of downwardly
directed members and a pair of hollow attachment sockets.
3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein the pair
of downwardly directed members are located along lateral
sides of hie walker and the pair of hollow attachment sockets
are located along lateral sides of the wheelchair.
4. The wheelchair as defined in claim 2 wherein space is
provided between the wheelchair and the walker when the
walker is affixed to the wheelchair to enable a user to stand
and ambulate within the space,
5. A method of allowing a user to transition from a sitting
position in a wheelchair to a standing position supported by a
walker, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a wheelchair having a wheelchair frame to sup­
port a user in a sitting position, the wheelchair frame
having drive wheels and support wheels affixed thereto,
the wheelchair having a first component of an attach­
ment system,
providing a walker comprising a walker frame having front
wheels and rear support legs, the walker having a second
component of an attachment system that is separate from
the rear support legs and located between the support
legs and the front wheels, and
using the attachment system to attach the walker to and
5 detach the walker from the wheelchair wherein, when
detached, the walker is supported on the front wheels
and rear support legs in a generally level orientation.
6. The method of claim S wherein the step of using the
attachment system to attach the walker comprises interfitting
10 together the second component of the attachment system to
the first component of the attachment system.
7. The method of claim S wherein the step of using the
attachment system to detach the walker comprises releasing
the second component of the attachment system from the first
15 component of the attachment system.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of releasing the
second component from the first component comprises rais­
ing the walker vertically to detach the second component for
the first component.
20 9. The method of claim 5 wherein the method further
comprises the step of detaching the walker from the wheel­
chair to allow the user to continue ambulating supported
solely by the walker,
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of using the
25 attachment system to attach the walker to the wheelchair
includes die step of providing a space intennediate the wheel­
chair and the walker to allow a user to ambulate while posi­
tioned within the space.
*****
 US006467797B1

(i2) United States Patent (io) Patent No.: US 6,467,797 B1

Lofy et al. (45) Date of Patent: Oct. 22,2002

(54) COLLAPSIBLE WALKER ATTACHMENT 5,419,571 A 5/1995 Vaughan

FOR A WHEELCHAIR 5,427,438 A 6/1995 Fochs
5,509,152 A 4/1996 Kippes
(76) Inventors: Stephen J Lofy, 2915 Raintree Ct., 5,657,783 A * 8/1997 Sisko ........................... 135/67
Stockton, CA (US) 95219; Richard E
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Jones, 3418 Paint Rock Ct., Antelope,
CA (US) 95843 Dfiler Medical Catalog, Mar. 2000, pp. 26 and 28, Bluifton,
Ohio.
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 * cited by examiner
U.S.C. 154(b) byO days.
Primary Examiner—.lack Lavinder
(21) Appl. No.: 09/689,132 Assistant Examiner—C. T. Batrz
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Heisler & Associates
(22) Filed: Oct. 11, 2000
(57) ABSTRACT
(51) Int. Cl.7.. ................................................... B26B 1/00
(52) U.S. Cl. .. ........................................................ 280/647 A disclosed walker is a three sided framework allowing
(58) Field of Search ....................................... 280/647, 640, quick connect/disconnect to the frame of a conventional
280/656, 657; 5/81.1, 503.1, 662 standard wheelchair. The walker is formed with a front and
two side assemblies pivotally linked to the front assembly.
(56) References Cited When the walker is not connected to a wheelchair, the side
assemblies and front assemblies pivot and collapse into a “z”
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS pattern forming a flat, compact package. For connection to
2,556,121 A 6/1951 Thomas a wheelchair, the sides assemblies unfold perpendicularly to
2,596,055 A 5/1952 Thomas the front assembly, and are locked into place by a horizontal
2^55,979 A 10/1958 I-Iubbard crossbar. U-shaped securing clips located at the rear ends of
3,398^74 A 8/1968 Edwards the walker’s side assemblies, drop over and straddle hori­
3,405,954 A 10/1968 Wolfe zontal frame members of the wheelchair tightly grasping the
3,584,890 A 6/1971 Presty wheelchair’s frame members. The stability of the walker/
3,708,182 A 1/1973 Markiel wheelchair combination is enhanced by outward bends of
3,999,778 A 12/1976 Markiel the front vertical sections of the walker which terminate in
4,506,930 A 3/1985 Lambert swivel caster supports.
4,934,725 A 6/1990 Owens
4,948,156 A 8/1990 Fortner
5,347,666 A 9/1994 Kippes 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
U.S. Patent oct.22,2002 Sheet 1 of 3 US 6,467,797 B1
U.S. Patent Oct. 22,2002 Sheet 2 of 3 US 6,467,797 B1
 Sheet 3 of 3 US 6,467,797 B1
U.S. Patent Oct.22,2002

116
 US 6,467,797 B1
1 2
COLLAPSIBLE WALKER ATTACHMENT
FORA WHEELCHAIR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a walker, and in particular, to a
walker for attachment to a conventional wheelchair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Walkers have long been known which provide a frame
that can be grasped by a person with limited walking
capability to allow the person to walk. The frame typically
has legs that rest on the ground through wheels, non-rolling
bases or some combination of both.
A device known by the trademark “Merry Walker,” pro­
vided by Diller Medical, Inc. is commonly utilized for the
cognitively impaired yet ambulatory patient. These patients
require support with ambulation and a sitting device when
tired, these patients are unable to independently use a free
standing assistive device for ambulation or to independently
maneuver to a free standing chair to sit down when fatigued,
this device is useful for the cognitively impaired patient to
ambulate without supervision. However, several limitations
exist, such as difficulty transferring patients into the “Merry
Walker,” storage of multiple devices within the facility,
costs, transferring patients within the facility and extended
seating comfort. Because other devices use four caster
wheels the patient has a tendency to turn the device side­
ways.
The mating of a walker to an associated wheelchair as an
aid to a partially ambulatory patient has been addressed in a
variety of patents in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,974,
dated Aug. 27,1968 discloses a walker rigidly mounted to
wheelchair wherein the walker, when not in use, is stowed
by removing its horizontal support crossbar and pivoting its
side members alongside, and extending mostly behind the
wheelchair proper; the walker side assemblies remaining
attached to the wheelchair. Also disclosed is a spring loaded
braking system that actuates when the patient applies down­
ward pressure on the walker’s handle grips.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,596,055 discloses a walker detachable
from a wheelchair having mating attachment tubes that are
permanently secured to the wheelchair. Use of this walker
requires modification to the structure of the wheelchair, and
the walker can only be used with a wheelchair that has been
so modified. The detached walker remains an assembled,
bulky unit, inconvenient for storage.
The present invention provides a walker usable with a
conventional unmodified wheelchair, and that further
addresses problems of stowage and stability in an effective
and simplified manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The walker of the invention is a three sided framework
providing a front and sides for a wheeled walker. The walker
includes clips allowing quick connect/disconnect to the
frame of a conventional standard wheelchair, so that the
wheelchair provides a rear for the walker and a seat with the 60
walker. The walker frame is formed with a front assembly
and two side assemblies that are pivotally linked to the front
assembly. When the walker is not in use, and is not con­
nected to a wheelchair, the side assemblies pivot and fold
such as in a “z” pattern, against the front assembly to form 65 alone, showing its assembled configuration.
a collapsed, removable, compact package. When assembled
for connection to a wheelchair, the sides assemblies unfold
perpendicularly to the front assembly, and are locked into
place by a horizontal crossbar, which also serves as an extra
handgrip for the patient. The clips are located at the rear ends
of the walker’s side assemblies, and drop over and straddle
5 horizontal frame members of the wheelchair. Tethered pins
can then be pushed through the legs of the clips so that the
clips tightly grasp the wheelchair’s frame members.
The stability of the walker/wheelchair combination is
enhanced by outward bends of the front vertical sections of
10 the walker which increase the side to side width of the
walker at a base of the walker but allow portions of the
walker above the bands to be narrower to clear obstructions
when moving. These section’s ends terminate in swivel
caster supports. The walker has two front caster wheels or
15 other wheels mounted in the caster supports. The supports
are preferably provided with side stops that limit the angles
by which the casters may swivel away from the forward
direction. It has been determined that an angular deflection
of plus or minus 60° relative to the forward direction
20 provides acceptable stability. The casters cannot rotate into
the 90° positions which would allow the front of the walker
to roll in the sideways direction. If the standing patient
begins to fall to the side, or to fall backwards, the swivel
wheels pivot into the angularly limited stopped positions, at
25 which point they cannot rotate, but slidingly resist move­
ment of the walker due to the frictional force between the
caster’s tires and the flooring. Thus, built-in protection
against unwanted tipping and instability is provided,
30 OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is
to provide a walker which is attachable to a front end of a
wheelchair to allow a person to use the walker in a standing
position to move and keep a wheelchair with an associated
35
seat nearby for resting purposes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
walker attachable to a front end of a wheelchair which can
be readily removed and collapsed for storage when not in
use.
40
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
walker attachment to a wheelchair which does not require
modification of the wheelchair in any way.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
45 walker attachment to a wheelchair which is highly stable and
resists tipping over, especially laterally.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
walker attachment for a wheelchair which includes a break­
ing mechanism which causes wheels of the walker to be
50 automatically braked when the walker is moving laterally,
such that unwanted lateral movement can be more easily
resisted by the user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
walker attachment for a front of a wheelchair which can be
55
readily formed from commonly available materials.
Other further objects of the present invention will become
apparent from a careful reading of the included drawing
figures, the claims and detailed description of the invention,
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the walker of this invention
attached to an associated wheelchair,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the walker of this invention
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the walker of this invention
alone, showing its folded configuration.
 US 6,467,797 B1
3 4
FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded parts view of the clip of pivotally attaches one end of crossbar 26 to a fixed location
the walker of the invention for connecting the invention to of horizontal section 28. The other end of crossbar 26
a wheelchair. terminates in a cupped partially cylindrical surface 66 which
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a caster support and its fits over the horizontal section 30. With the cupped surface
associated caster with portions cut away to reveal interior 5 66 mating with the section 30, a bole 68 in the cupped
details. surface 66 aligns with a hole 70 in horizontal section 30, and
FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the caster and support of a removable pin 72 through the holes 68,70 ties the crossbar
FIG. 5 illustrating the angular limits of swiveling of the 26 to the horizontal section 30. The crossbar 26 thus rigidly
caster. ties the side assembly 20, the side assembly 22 and front
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED 10 assembly 24 together, and provides the walker 10 with the
EMBODIMENT structural stiffness requisite for use.
Referring to FIG. 1, a walker 10 connected to a wheel­ With the above description in mind, the convenient stow­
chair 12 is shown in use by a patient 14, illustrative of a age of the walker 10, when not attached to the wheelchair
preferred embodiment of this invention. It will be noted that 12, may be understood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3. In
15 stowing the unit, the pin 72 securing the crossbar 26 to the
the walker 10 is preferably fastened to horizontal structural
members 18 of the wheelchair 12 by means of two clips 16. horizontal section 30 is first removed. This frees the cupped
The clips 16 are secured to the rear vertical sections of the surface 66 end of the crossbar 26, and the crossbar 26 is now
walker 10, legs 86, 88 (FIG. 4) of the clips 16 straddle the lifted and rotated by 270° about the pivot 64 so that the
structural members 18 of the wheelchair 12 to fasten the crossbar 26, while remaining attached to the horizontal
20 section 28 by pivot 64, lies alongside side assembly 20.
walker 10 to the wheelchair 12. It will be noted than the
wheelchair 12 requires no modification to accept the clips 16 The front assembly 24 may now be rotated about pivots
of this preferred embodiment. 56, 58 so that the front assembly 24 is positioned parallel to,
As seen in FIG. 2, the walker 10 of this invention 10 is a and up against, the side assembly 20. Simultaneously, the
three sided framework having side assemblies 20, 22 and a 25 side assembly 22 is rotated about the pivots 60, 62, so that
front assembly 24, The assemblies 20,22, 24 are preferably the side assembly 22 comes to rest alongside, and parallel to,
fabricated from a tubular plastic, such as PVC, or light the folded front assembly 24, the folded walker assemblies
weight metal, such as aluminum. Side assembly 20 includes assuming a collapsed “Z” shaped configuration when
the upper horizontal section 28, lower horizontal section 44, viewed from above. The entire walker 10 can then be easily
front vertical section 32 and rear vertical section 48. Sec­ 30 stored as a compact, fiat package, independent of the wheel­
tions 32, 28, 48 may be fabricated from a single piece chair 18, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
formed in the shape of an inverted “U,” and horizontal The clips 16,17 which allow the walker 10 to attach to the
section 44 is optionally rigidly connected to the vertical wheelchair 12 are preferably removably attachable to the
sections 32, 48 as a stiffening member. Side assembly 22 is vertical sections 48, 50. Preferably, this location where
similarly fabricated with vertical sections 34, 50, top hori­ 35 removable attachability of the clips 16, 17 is provided is
zontal section 30 and optional rigidly connected stiffener 46, above the jog in the vertical sections 48,50. When the clips
The upper horizontal sections 28, 30 of the sides 20, 22 16,17 and associated portions of the vertical sections 48, 50
are also available as hand-holds for the patient 14. These are removed including the jog, the remaining portions of the
sections 28, 30 can be provided with high friction surfaces vertical sections 48, 50 extend linearly.
such as grips to allow the sections 28, 30 to be more easily 40 Replacement legs of a linear nature can be provided
grasped. The lower ends of the vertical sections 32,34 of the which removably attach to the remaining portions of the
side assemblies 20,22 have offset ends 36,38 to increase the vertical sections 48, 50 after the clips 16,17 and associated
width and the stability of the walker 10, and the offset ends jogged portions of vertical sections 48, 50 have been
36, 38 terminate in casters 100,102. removed. These legs would be sufficiently long that they
An important feature of the invention is the interconnec­ 45 would extend down to the floor. Hence, the walker 10 would,
tion of the side assemblies 20,22 and the front assembly 24. when configured with these straight replacement legs, have
The front assembly 24 includes the horizontal sections 52, a configuration similar to that of a standard, walker. In this
54. A horizontal pivotable crossbar 26 serves as a handgrip way, the walker 10 can attach to a wheelchair 12 in one
for the walking patient 14, as well as providing structural mode, be used as a stand alone walker in a second mode with
rigidity to the walker 10. Section 52 has pivots 58, 62 at its 50 two non-wheeled legs resting on the floor and two wheeled
ends. Preferably, the pivots 58, 62 are in the form of legs resting on the floor, and in a. third mode be folded up for
cylindrical tubes sized slightly larger than the tubes forming storage with either the straight lower portions of the vertical
the vertical sections 32, 34. Pivot 58 attaches one end of sections 48, 50 or with the clips 16,17 and included jogged
section 52 to the vertical section 32, and similarly, pivot 62 portions of lower vertical sections 48, 50.
attaches the other end of section 52 to the vertical section 34. 55 Referring again to FIG. 1, the walker 10 is preferably
The attachments of the pivots 58, 62 are such that free attached to wheelchair 12 horizontal member 18 by two
rotational movement about the vertical sections 32, 34 is quick/connect clips 16, 17 affixed to the bottom ends of
allowed, while the location of the pivots 58,62 is fixed along vertical sections 48,50 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Just above the clips
the vertical sections 32, 34 so that displacement of the 16,17 the vertical sections 48, 50 preferably jog in toward
section 52 in the direction along the vertical section 32, 34 60 each other. In this way, they are positioned to match the
cannot occur. Similarly, pivots 56, 60 attach the ends of width of the wheelchair 12 at the clips 16,17 but be wide
horizontal section 54 to vertical sections 32, 34 so that enough to orient the vertical sections 48, 50 on outboard
rotation relative to vertical sections 32, 34 is allowed for sides of the wheelchair 12.
horizontal section 54, while its displacement along the Referring to FIG. 4 the detail of the clips 16,17 assem­
vertical sections 32, 32 is prohibited. 65 blies shows one of the clips proper, e.g. 16 which is secured
The crossbar 26 is also provided with a freely rotating to the base of one of two end-caps 74,76, e.g. 74, by means
pivot 64, preferably in the form of a cylindrical sleeve which of hardware consisting of, e.g. washers 78, 80, bolt 84 and
 US 6,467,797 B1
5 6
nut 82. The end of the vertical section, e.g. 48' fits tightly
into the end cap 74, and may be further secured in place by
means of an appropriate adhesive. (In the drawings, related
elements are designated by the same reference number,
albeit they are distinguished by primes.) The clip 16 has two
legs 86, 88 which lead to a slot 90 through the body of the
clip 16.
In attachment of the walker 10 to a wheelchair 12, the
clips 16, 17 slip over the horizontal members 18 of the
wheelchair 12, and the slot 90 captures the horizontal
member 18. A hole 92 extends through the legs 86, 88 and
a pin 94 having a spring loaded ball 98 holds the clip 16 in
place. The pin 94 is provided with a ring 96 for convenience
in removal of the pin 94 from the clip e.g. 16, and a tether
secured to the walker 10 may be tied to the ring 96 to prevent
the pin’s 94 loss or misplacement.
The clip 16 may be fabricated from a metal, and to
increase the frictional force between the clip 16 and the
wheelchair 12 horizontal member 18, a high coefficient of
friction post 102, such as rubber, extends through a hole 100
in the legs 86, 88 to deter slippage between the clip 16 and
the horizontal chair 12 member 18. In a second embodiment
of the invention, the clip itself 16 may be made of rubber or
of a high coefficient of friction plastic to prevent such
slippage.
The resistance of the walker 10 to instability and
sidewards movement may be understood by reference to
FIGS. 5 and 6, showing the front caster wheels 100,102 and
their swivel mountings. FIG. 5 illustrates one of the caster
wheel assemblies, e.g. 100, consisting of a rubber tired
wheel 104 mounted on a swiveling bracket 106.
The off-set end 36' of vertical section 32 is tightly inserted
and secured into a cylindrically shaped cup 108, and hard­
ware consisting of a bolt 109, washers 110,114 and nut 112
connect the bracket castor wheel assembly 100, in the
following manner. The bolt 109 fits through a hole in the
upper surface of a cut-away cylindrical surface stop 116 and
through the washers 114,110 such that on tightening the nut
112, the upper surface of the cut-away cylindrical surface
stop 116 is firmly secured against the base of the cup 108
with the concave segment of the surface stop 116 positioned
to face in the forward direction of the walker 10.
An oversized hole in the upper surface of the bracket 106
clears the bolt 109 passing through it, and allows the bracket
106 and caster 104 to swivel about the bolt 109, and
accordingly around the vertical member 32. A low friction
spacer 118 attached to the upper surface of the bracket 106
keeps the bracket 106 from binding against the fixed washer
110 during swiveling of caster wheel 104.
The angle through which the caster wheel 104 can swing
in either direction, relative to the forward direction of the
walker 10, is limited by the abutment of the swiveling
bracket 106 against the fixed vertical edge 122 of the
cut-away cylindrical surface stop 116; the limit occurring
when the caster wheel assembly 100 rotates to the maximum
preset angle. The phantomed outlines of the caster wheel
assembly 100 seen in bottom view in FIG. 6, shows the
abutment of the swivel bracket 106 against the fixed cylin­
drical surface 116 edges 122,123.
A total swing of 120° relative to the forward direction of
the walker 10 allows unimpeded forward motion. At the
same time, sideways stability is provided to the walker 10
since non-rolling frictional resistance between the floor and
the rubber tired wheels 104,105 to sideways movement of
the walker 10 arises when the caster wheel assemblies 100,
102 are against the stops 122, 123.
This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodi­
ment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the
invention. Having thus described the invention in this way,
it should be apparent that various different modifications can
5 be made to the preferred embodiment without departing
from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. When structures
are identified as a means to perform a function, the identi­
fication is intended to include all structures which can
perform the function specified,
10 What is claimed is:
1. A wheelchair and walker combination comprising:
a wheelchair;
a walker connected to said wheelchair, said walker further
comprising;
15
a first side assembly, wherein said first side assembly is
substantially planar in structure;
a front assembly pivotally connected to said first side
assembly, wherein said front assembly is substantially
20 planar in structure;
a second side assembly pivotally connected to said front
assembly, wherein said second side assembly is sub­
stantially planar in structure, wherein said first side
assembly and said second side assembly are each
25 pivotally positioned perpendicular to said front assem­
bly to substantially form a U-shaped structure, the
closed portion of said U being designated the front of
said walker, and the open portion of said U being
designated the rear of said walker;
30 attachment hardware affixed to the rear of said U-shaped
structure and connected to structural members of said
wheelchair, whereby said walker is attached to said
wheelchair;
first and second wheels attached to said first and said
35
second side assemblies closer to the front of said
U-shaped structure than to the rear of said U-shaped
structure;
wherein said walker includes a crossbar having a proxi­
40
mate end pivotally connected to said first side
assembly, and having a distal end extending to said
second side assembly, said distal end removably attach­
able to said second side assembly, whereby structural
rigidity is provided to said U-shaped structure by
attachment of said crossbar to said second side assem­
45
bly;
wherein said distal end of said crossbar is a cup shaped
attachment having an inside diameter similar to an
outside diameter of structures forming said second side
50 assembly to mate with said second side assembly; and
wherein said cup shaped attachment includes a removable
pin for securing said cup shaped attachment to said
second side assembly.
2. A wheelchair and walker combination comprising:
55 a wheelchair;
a walker connected to said wheelchair, said walker further
comprising;
a first side assembly, wherein said first side assembly is
60
substantially planar in structure;
a front assembly pivotally connected to said first side
assembly, wherein said front assembly is substantially
planar in structure;
a second side assembly pivotally connected to said front
65 assembly, wherein said second side assembly is sub­
stantially planar in structure, wherein said first side
assembly and said second side assembly are each
 US 6,467,797 B1
7 8
pivotally positioned perpendicular to said front assem­
bly to substantially form a U-shaped structure, the
closed portion of said U being designated the front of
said walker, and the open portion of said U being
designated the rear of said walker;
attachment hardware affixed to the rear of said U-shaped
structure and connected to structural members of said
wheelchair, whereby said walker is attached to said
wheelchair;
first and second wheels attached to said first and said
second side assemblies closer to the front of said
U-shaped structure than to the rear of said U-shaped
structure; and
wherein said attachment hardware comprises U-shaped
clips fitting over structural members of said wheelchair
for grasping said members.
3. A wheelchair and walker combination comprising:
a wheelchair;
a walker connected to said wheelchair, said walker further
comprising;
a first side assembly, wherein said first side assembly is
substantially planar in structure;
a front assembly pivotally connected to said first side
assembly, wherein said front assembly is substantially
planar in structure;
a second side assembly pivotally connected to said front
assembly, wherein said second side assembly is sub­
stantially planar in structure, wherein said first side
assembly and said second side assembly are each
pivotally positioned perpendicular to said front assem­
bly to substantially form a U-shaped structure, the
closed portion of said U being designated the front of
said walker, and the open portion of said U being
designated the rear of said walker;
attachment hardware affixed to the rear of said U-shaped
structure and connected to structural members of said
wheelchair, whereby said walker is attached to said
wheelchair;
first and second wheels attached to said first and said
second side assemblies closer to the front of said
U-shaped structure than to the rear of said U-shaped
structure; and
wherein said wheels are caster wheels and wherein said
walker includes first and second mechanical stops
associated with said first and second casters respec­
tively wherein the angular swiveling amplitude of said
casters is limited to first and second fixed angles
relative to the planar directions of said first and said
second side assemblies.
4. The wheelchair walker combination of claim 3 wherein
said first and second fixed angles of said mechanical stops
are each less than plus or minus 60° relative to the direction
of said planar directions of said first and said second side
assemblies.
5. A walker for use with a wheelchair, the wheelchair
having a seat, a rigid frame supporting the seat and at least
two wheels rotatably attached to the rigid frame, the walker
comprising in combination:
two side assemblies, said side assemblies adapted to be
removably coupled to the rigid frame of the wheelchair
on opposite sides of the seat;
at least one wheel rotatably attached to a lowermost
portion of each said side assembly;
a front assembly pivotably attached to both of said side
assemblies, such that said front assembly and said side
assemblies can pivot relative to each other between a
collapsed orientation and a deployed orientation, said
deployed orientation of said walker wider than said
collapsed orientation of said walker; and
5 wherein said two side assemblies each include a pair of
legs which extend in a downward direction, each said
pair of legs spaced apart a distance at least as great as
a width of a non-vertical portion of the rigid frame of
the wheelchair, said legs located on opposite sides of a
10 slot, said slot located a similar distance above said
wheels of said walker as the non-vertical portion of the
rigid frame of the wheelchair is above the ground.
6. The walker of claim 5 wherein said pair of legs are
coupled to a portion of each of said side assemblies which
15 is further in toward the other of said two side assemblies
than any other portions of said two side assemblies.
7. Acollapsible walker for attachment to a wheelchair, the
wheelchair having a seat, a rigid frame supporting the seat
and at least two wheels rotatably attached to the rigid frame,
20 the collapsible walker comprising in combination:
two side assemblies, said side assemblies adapted to be
removably coupled to the rigid frame of the wheelchair
on opposite sides of the seat, each said side assembly
including a forward substantially vertical section;
25
at least one wheel rotatably attached to a lowermost
portion of each said side assembly;
at least one front section extending between said forward
substantially vertical sections of each said side
30 assembly, said at least one front section pivotably
attached to both of said forward substantially vertical
sections of said side assemblies; and
wherein each said side assembly includes a leg removably
attachable to said side assembly in an orientation with
35 a bottom of said leg extending down from said side
assembly a distance similar to a distance that said at
least one wheel extends below said side assembly, said
leg spaced from said wheel, such that when said
removable legs are attached to said side assemblies of
40 said collapsible walker and said side assemblies are
removed from the rigid frame of the wheelchair, said
walker can stand upon the ground with two wheels
resting on the ground and said two legs resting on the
ground, such that said walker can be used to assist a
45 person in walking upright, both with or without the
wheelchair being attached.
8. A walker for use with a wheelchair, the wheelchair
having a seat, a rigid frame supporting the seat and at least
two wheels rotatably attached to the rigid frame, the walker
50 comprising in combination:
two side assemblies, said side assemblies adapted to be
removably coupled to the rigid frame of the wheelchair
on opposite sides of the seal;
at least two wheels rotatably attached to said walker;
55
a front assembly pivotably attached to both of said side
assemblies, such that said front assembly and said side
assemblies can pivot relative to each other between a
collapsed orientation and a deployed orientation, said
60
deployed orientation of said walker wider than said
collapsed orientation of said walker;
wherein said at least two wheels are attached to said
walker at locations laterally spaced from each other;
and
65 wherein said at least two wheels are attached to said
walker at attachment locations sufficiently low to allow
said at least two wheels to extend below all other
 US 6,467,797 B1
9 10
portions of said walker, such that said walker can be the wheelchair is supported, when said walker is in said
supported upon said at least two wheels. deployed orientation and said walker is coupled to the
9. The walker of claim 8 wherein said at least two wheels wheelchair.
are attached to said walker at locations on said walker which
place said at least two wheels adjacent a surface upon which *****
Aug. 27, 1968 t , l . edwards ETAL 3,398,974
. WALKER'ATTACHMENT FOR'WHEEL CHAIR • '

Filed June 1, 1966 ' - 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

ATTORNEYS
Aug. T. L EDWARDS ETAL 3,398,974
WALKER ATTACHMENT FOR WHEEL CHAIR ' .

:
9

United States Patent Office
' I ” '
3,398,974' ............... .
WALKER ATTACHMENT FOR WHEEL CHAIR
Thomas L. Edwards, 4650 Winslow Court, Dayton, Ohio
45430, and Raymond S. Kleismit, Dayton, Ohio; said
Kleismit assignor to said Edwards
Filed June 1, 1966, Ser, No. 554,461
7 Claims. (Cl. 280—289)
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A walker 'attachment for a wheel chair which includes
two side assemblies which pivot between a retracted posi­
tion adjacent the side of the chair and an extended posi­
tion wherein they cooperate to provide a walker in front 15
of .the chair. Wheels are provided on the front portion .
of the side assemblies, and brakes lock.these.wheels and
the large chair wheels when downward pressure is applied •
to the side assemblies. Arm. supports can be,extended to
engage the armpits of the patient to support him in a 20
standing position with his hands free.
This invention relates to wheel chairs, and particularly
to a walker attachment for use with a standard wheel 26
chair.
Many different types of wheel chairs are manufactured
throughout the world for use by older persons, by per­
sons who are physically disabled, and by patients re­
cuperating from illness of one type or another. Many of SO
these wheel chairs have large rear wheels which can be
used by the person sitting in the chair to propel the chair
while the person sits therein. Frequently it is desirable
for the patient, to walk or exercise or to regain the _
strength lost from illness. For this purpose, a separate 33
walker device is used and there normally is great difficulty
in getting from the wheel chair to the walker device. •
Accordingly, an important object of, this invention is
to provide a wheel chair having a walker attachment se­
cured thereto which enables the patient to stand up and 40
walk in front, of the wheel chair. . invention. ’
Another object of this invention is to provide a walker
attachment which is adapted for use with substantially all
types of standard wheel chairs, and further to provide such
a walker attachment which is easily converted from the 45
walking position to a storage or retracted position so that
the wheel chair operates in the usual manner without any
substantial interference from, the walker attachment, .
Another object of this invention is to proyi.de a wheel
chair-walker apparatus having a braking .device on the
walker attachment -which, applies brakes to .the wheels of
the apparatus when downward.pressure is.applied-to the
walker attachment thereby locking the apparatus in place
as the patient takes a step but which automatically re- gg
leases the brakes .when the pressure is relieved, so that
the apparatus will move, with the patient.
Another object of this invention is to provide, a walker
attachment which can be easily mounted on a standard
wheel chair and which is simple in design for low cost go
and dependable operation over long periods of time, and
particularly to provide such an. •attachment which has
adjustable supports which engage the armpits of the pa­
tient so. that the -hands of .the patient, -can be freed for
other uses, • • .•
Additional objects and advantages.of the-invention will
be. apparent from the following description, the -accom­
panying -drawings and the appended claims,
. In the drawings— , . . . . • the floor when the assemblies 31 and 32 are in retrated
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a patient sitting in a 70
wheel chair with the walker .attachment in its -retracted
position; - - • Each of the side assemblies 31 and 32 also includes
3,398,974
Patented Aug. 27, 1968
: 2
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a patient standing in
the walker attachment shown in its operative position; •
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to. FIG. 2 and
showing the supports engaging the patient in the armpits;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the front of the
wheel chair and walker attachment; .•.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevation view partially in section
showing the -rear brake assembly; .
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6—6 of
io FIG. 5;
. FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevation view, partially in -sec­
tion showing the shoulder arm support;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the front brake
assembly; and • ' '
- FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9—9 of
FIG. 8.
•Referring, to the drawings wherein a preferred embodi­
ment of the invention is shown, FIG. 1 illustrates an in­
valid or medical patient 10 seated in the standard wheel
chair 11. This wheel chair 11 comprises a seat 12 having
a back rest 13 with the vertical tubes 14 on either side
thereof and the handle members 15 on top thereof for
pushing the chair 11. The vertical tubes 14 extend down­
wardly -and support the large wheels 16 for rotation in
a conventional manner. The forward portion of the seat
12 has the arm rests 18 thereon and the downwardly ex­
tending tubular members 20 support the smaller front
wheels -22 on the fork assemblies 23 which are free to
rotate about a vertical .axis so that the direction of the
wheel chair 11 can be easily changed.
A foot rest 25 is provided on each of the vertical mem­
bers 20 and each includes a downwardly extending tubular
support 26-having the flat plate 27 on the- end thereof
which receives one foot 28 of the invalid or patient 10.
This plate can be pivoted upwardly and the entire assem­
bly can be rotated on the vertical member 20 to a re­
tracted position -as shown in FIG. 2. While one embodi­
ment of a wheel chair has been -shown, it should be under­
stood that other types of wheel chairs can be used with
the walker attachment 30 which is the subject of this
The walker attachment 30 includes 'a pair of side assem­
blies 31 and 32 which are mounted on one of the vertical
members 20. Each of the side assemblies 31 and 32 in­
cludes a pair of brackets 34 and 35 -which are rigidly
clamped near the top of the vertical members 20 ad­
jacent the front of the wheel chair -11. These brackets
thus can be secured to almost any standard wheel chair.
These brackets extend outwardly and reawardly to sup­
port pivotally the main frame member 37 which extends
vertically through the outer ends 38 to create the horizon­
tal section 42 thereof. The -main frame member 37 is then
bent to form the handle section 43 for mounting the hand
grips 44 in the horizontal portion thereof, and then the
frame member is bent at 45 to create the vertical section
46 which supports the front wheel assemblies 47 includ­
ing the caster wheels 48, as will be described.
A reinforcing tubular member 49 extends between the
horizontal section 42 and the vertical section 46 of each
side of the assemblies 43 and 44 and is curved as shown
to. provide additional rigidity to each of the side assem­
blies. The brackets 34 and 35 permit the entire side as­
semblies 31 and 32 to pivot about one end thereof so
gg that each side assembly can be pivoted from the walking
position shown in FIG, 2 to the retracted position shown
in FIG. 1. The ends 38 of the brackets 34 and 35 are off­
set slightly so that the caster wheels 48 are spaced above
position whereas they engage the floor .while in the for­
ward position. .
 3 .• 4
an arm support 50 which includes a tubular member 51 the cross pin 97 engages the bottom of. the slots 98 at
secured on the inside of each of the vertical, sections 46, 'which""time the brake member 104 is spaced from the
as shown in FIG, 4, with the extendable arm support 53 tire which is then free to rotate about its support .pin 93
telescoped therein. This arm' support slides internally with­ and about the vertical axle 110, in the conventional man­
in the support 50, as .shown in FIG. 7, and it has a hori­ 5 ner.
zontal section. 56 on the upper end thereof for engaging In operation, when the walker attachment is not in use
the armpits of the patient 10 (FIG. 3) when in its raised it is pivoted about the outer ends 38 of the. brackets 34
position. In its lowered position, the horizontal section and 35 so that the side assemblies remain in their retracted
56 is aligned with the handle section 43 and thus does position as shown in FIG. 1. In this position, the caster
not interfere with the use of the walker attachment 30. 10 wheels 48 are spaced above the floor and there is sub­
The. arm supports 53 can pivot to allow the horizontal stantially no interference with the use of the wheel chair
sections 56 to overlap and be secured together by the in the conventional-manner. Suitable means may be-pro­
removable wing nut 58 as shown in FIG. 4. In this posi­ vided to hold releasably the side assemblies in this re­
tion, the arm supports 53 provide additional rigidity to tracted position. '
the walker attachment, as. well as a vertically adjustable 15 When it is desired to use the walker attachment 30
support for the patient’s hands. • . • it is merely necessary to pivot the side assemblies 31 and
The arm supports 50 are held in the raised position 32 about the brackets 34 and 35 to a position in front of
by the wing nuts 60 which threadedly engage the nuts the wheel chair and then connect the cross bar 65 to
61 and pass through the tubular .member 51 and into any interconnect the. side assemblies and provide rigidity to
one of a plurality of openings 62 in the extendable mem­ 20 the unit. The patient may then use the walker attachment
ber, as shown in FIG. 7. In this manner, the actual height to puli' himself up to the standing position as shown in
of the horizontal section 56 can be varied to accommo-* FIG. 3 wherein the handle grips 44 are use to support
date the height of the patient, • the patient in this standing position. The patient is free
A horizontal cross bar 65 releasably secures the front to walk forward and each time that the hands apply down­
of the assemblies 31 and 32 together,, as shown in FIGS. •' 25 ward pressure to.the side assemblies, for example, when a
2 and 4, so that the walker attachment 30 is rigid when step is being taken, the front and rear brake assemblies
in its walking position.. This bar is pivotally attached to 47 and 73 lock the wheels 48 and 16 against rotation in
one of the .assemblies 31, and its opposite end is con­ any direction. Thus, the wheel chair-walker unit 10 be­
nected to the other assembly 32 by the pin 68 on one of comes a substantially immovable fixture by merely press­
the tubular members 46 having an enlarged head 70 (FIG. 30 ing downwardly on the side assemblies 31. and 32. When
7) which is engaged by the keyhole slot. 71 in the end a patient releases the pressure-on the side:assemblies the
of the cross bar 65. Thus the cross, bar 65 can be easily brakes are automatically released thus allowing the unit
detached and moved to a storage position as shown in 10 to be moved forward for the next step.
FIG. 1. When the patient.desires to free his hands for use in
Front, and rear brake assemblies 73 are provided on 35 working or for some other-reason, the arm. supports 50
each of the side assemblies 31 and 32 for braking the are raised so that the horizontal sections 56 thereof en­
caster wheels 48 and the large rear wheel 16, respectively, gage the patient in the armpits. As indicated above, these
when weight is applied to the handle grips 44. The rear shoulder members are adjustable to accommodate differ­
brake assemblies 73 each include a horizontal brake mem­ ent heights of patient. The patient can then walk in the
ber 76 having a tire engaging abutment 77 on one end 40 manner- described above with the arm supports 50 ab­
thereof and being threaded into the plug 78 within the. sorbing the downward pressure and transferring the same
vertical sleeve 79 held in position by the brackets 34 and to the brake assemblies 47 and 73 which operate in the
35. The elongated slots 81 are provided in the sides of same manner as described above. Should the patient lose
the tube sleeve 79 to allow the brake member 76 and balance or become weakened, the increased pressure on
the tube 83 on the end of main frame member 37 to
45 the arm supports 50 would be transferred to the arm
•move vertically against the bias • of the spring 84 which supports to lock the side assemblies 31 and 32 rigidly in
is interposed between the disk 85 on the bottom of the position,. The horizontal sections 56 can also be secured
sleeve 79 and the plug 78. Thus, when the weight forces together as shown in FIG. 4 to add rigidity and provide
the main frame downwardly, the brake member 76 moves additional support for the patient.
with the tube 83 downwardly, so that the abutment 77 50 The invention has thus provided a walker attachment
engages the rubber tire or wheel 16 and locks it against for use with a standard wheel chair which enables the
•rotation. patient to stand up and walk with ease. The walker at­
Each of the front brake assemblies 47 includes the tachment is easily moved to a retracted position wherein
conventional caster wheel 48 comprising a rubber- tire it provides substantially no interference with the normal
mounted on the fork 91 which is supported and pivots 55 use of- the wheel chair, and it can be easily moved to
with the vertical support pin 93. The support pin 93 is the walking position • by the patient. Both the front and
held in the plug member 94 which is secured within the rear wheels are locked in position when pressure is ap­
lower end 95 of. the vertical tube 46 by the cross pin 97 plied to the walker attachment to prevent the unit from
which also extends through the.elongated slots 98 in the moving during the time-the.patient is taking a step or is
opposite sides of the tube 46. A coil spring 100 is mounted 60 otherwise resting on the walker. In addition, adjustable
inside of the tube 46 between the plug member.94 and supports are provided for engaging the • armpits of the
the upper cross pin 102 which extends through the tube patient to free his hands for use or to provide additional
46 (FIG. 8). On the lower end of the tube 46 is rigidly support for the patient.
secured the brake member 104 which comprises an an­ While the form of apparatus herein described consti­
nular disc 105 of phenolic or other plastic material se­ 65 tutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be
cured to. the support plate 106 by the conventional screws understood that the invention is not limited to this pre­
108. cise form.of apparatus, and that changes may be made
Accordingly, when downward pressure is applied to therein without departing from the scope of the inven­
the handle grips 44. the tube 46 is forced downwardly tion which is-defined in the-appended-claims. '
against the bias of the spring 100 so that the lower end 70 1. A walker attachment adapted for use with a wheel
95 of the:tube slides downwardly with respect to the plug chair which has front and back and two sides, said walk­
member 94 to enable the brake member 104 to engage er attachment comprising a pair of side assemblies mount­
the rubber tire 90 of the caster wheel 48 and lock it ed on the wheel chair near the front thereof and extend­
against movement. When this pressure is relieved the ing forwardly of the chair generally parallel to the sides
snrinff fftfl forces the plug member M downwardly until 75 '■thereof, means connecting the forward end of said as­
semblies together to provide rigidity thereto, wheel means
supporting said forward end of said assemblies for move­
ment across the floor, said means connecting the forward
end of said assemblies together being manually disengage-
able and said side assemblies being pivotally supported on
the wheel chair for movement to a retracted position
spaced from in front of said chair.
2. A walker attachment .as defined in claim 1 wherein
each said side assembly includes a tubular main frame
member having one end pivotally secured to the wheel
chair, a horizontal section on each of said main frame
members having hand grip means thereon, a forward ver­
tical section connected to said horizontal section and hav­
ing said wheel means secured to the lower end thereof,
arm support means mounted on said vertical section and
adapted to extend vertically from a retracted position to
a raised position for engaging .a patient’s armpits to
support the patient in a standing position with hands
free.
3. A walker attachment as defined in claim 2 wherein
said arm support means has a horizontal upper section
for engaging the armpits of the patient, and said horizon­
tal upper section being aligned with said horizontal sec­
tion of said main frame member when said arm support
means is in said retracted position.
4. A walker attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein
brake means are provided to lock said wheel means
against rotation when downward pressure is applied to
said side assemblies.
5. A walker attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein
arm support means are provided on each of said side
assemblies for engaging a patient’s armpits to support the
patient in the walker ateachment.
5 6. A walker attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein
brake means are provided to lock at least two of the
wheels on the wheel chair against rotation when down­
ward pressure is applied to said side assemblies.
7. A walker attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein
brake means simultaneously lock at least two of the
10
wheels on the wheel chair and said wheel means when
downward pressure is applied to said side assemblies,
said brake means being automatically disengaged when
the downward pressure is relieved from said side as­
15 semblies.
References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS
2,459,066 1/1949 Duke..................................... 297—5
20 2,556,121 6/1951 Thomas............................ 280—289
2,596,055 5/1952 Thomas............................ 280—289
2,732,004 1/1956 Forbes 272—70.4
2,855,979" 10/1958 Hubbard280—289 X
2,862,544 12/1958 Lilja................................. 272—70.3
25 3,237,940 3/1966 Johnson........................... 272—70.3
3,279,567 10/1966 Kempel________ ____ 272—70.3
KENNETH H. BETTS, Primary Examiner.
 US 20110006494A1
(i9) United States
(i2) Patent Application Publication (io) Pub. No,: US 2011/0006494 A1
Walker (43) Pub. Date: Jan. 13,2011

(54) WHEELCHAIR WITH EXTENDABLE Publication Classification

WALKER .
(51) Lit. Cl.
A61G S/02 (2006,01)
(76) Inventor: Evaret Walker, Longview, WA
A61H 3/04 (2006.01)
(US)
(52) U.S. Cl............................................... 280/7.17; 135/66
Correspondence Address:
RYLANDER & ASSOCIATES PC (57) ABSTRACT
P.O. Box 250 The mobility system of an embodiment may be a wheelchair
VANCOUVER, WA 98660 (US) walker system and may include a wheelchair portion and a
walker portion that may extend from and/or retract into the
(21) Appl.No.: 12/834,880 wheelchair portion. When the walker portion is substantially
retracted within the wheelchair portion, the mobility system
(22) Filed: Jul.12,2010
may function substantially as a standard and/or unmodified
wheelchair. When the walker portion is substantially
Related U.S. Application Data
extended from the wheelchair portion, a user (not illustrated)
(60) Provisional application No, 61/225,169, filed on Jul. may utilize the walker portion substantially as a standard
13, 2009. and/or unmodified walker.

to
Jan. 13,2011 Sheet 1 of 4 US 2011/0006494 A1

*
K)
Patent Application Publication Jan. 13,2011 Sheet 2 of 4 US 2011/0006494 A1
 Jan. 13,2011 Sheet 3 of 4 US 2011/0006494 A1
Patent Application Publication

A!

3
FIG. 4b FIG. 4c
US 2011/0006494 A1
1
WHEELCHAIR WITH EXTENDABLE
WALKER
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
APPLICATION
(0001) This application claims priority to co-pending U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/225,169 filed M.
13, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference,
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates a wheelchair. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a wheelchair
including a walker portion that extends therefrom.
BACKGROUND
(0003] A wheelchair is a wheeled mobility device in which
tile user sits. The device may bepropelled either manually (by
turning the wheels by the hand) or via various automated
systems. For example, the wheelchair may be propelled by a
battery-powered electric motor system. Wheelchairs may be
used by people for whom walking is difficult or impossible
due to illness (physiological or physical), injury, or disability.
Often, wheelchairs are designed to fold or otherwise alter
their configuration to offer more compact storage, for
example in a trunk of a car, when the wheelchair is not in use.
[0004] A walker or walking frame is a tool for disabled or
elderly people who need additional support to maintain bal­
ance or stability while walking. The basic design consists of
a frame that is about waist high, approximately twelve inches
deep and slightly wider than the user. Accordingly, walkers
may range in size from pediatric to bariatric. Walkers may be
height adjustable and may be set at a height that is comfort­
able for the user, but will allow the user to maintain a slight
bend in their arms (e.g., to help maintain circulation in the
arms while using the walker). The front two legs of the walker
may or may not have wheels attached depending on the
strength and abilities of the person using it. It may also be
common to see caster wheels or glides on the back legs of a
walker with wheels on the front. Like the wheelchair, the
walker may include a folding mechanism to decrease their
size for storage, for example in the trunk of a car, when the
walker is not in use.
SUMMARY AND ADVANTAGES
[0005] The mobility system of an embodiment may be a
wheelchair walker system and may include a wheelchair por­
tion and a walker portion that may extend from and/or retract
into the .wheelchair portion. When the walker portion is sub­
stantially retracted within the wheelchair portion, the mobil­
ity system may function substantially as a standard and/or
unmodified wheelchair. When the walker portion is substan­
tially extended from tire wheelchair portion, a user (not illus­
trated) may utilize the walker portion substantially as a stan­
dard and/or unmodified walker.
[0006] The wheelchair system of an embodiment of the
present invention presents numerous advantages, including:
(1) offers the advantages of a wheelchair and of a walker in a
single system without requiring an impaired user to use both;
(2) the walker substantially completely retracts into the
wheelchair when not in use and does not substantially inter­
fere with the operation of the wheelchair; (3) with the walker
retracted, the wheelchair system may fold substantially simi­
lar to an unmodified wheelchair for relatively compact stor­
Jan. 13,2011
age; (4) allows a user to transition between walking, walking
with support, and sitting in the wheelchair more easily; (5)
provides a generally wheelchair-bound user the opportunity
to transition to a walker more easily than if a detached and/or
stand-alone device; (6) provides a generally walker-bound
user the opportunity to transition to a wheelchair more easily
than if a detached and/or stand alone device; and (7) offers an
elegant integrated mobility device that may increase tire dig­
nity and confidence with which a user may transport them­
selves.
[0007] Additional advantages of the invention will be set
forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of
the invention. The advantages of the invention may be real­
ized and attained by means of tire instrumentalities and com­
binations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
Further benefits and advantages of tire embodiments of the
invention will become apparent from consideration of the
following detailed description given with reference to tire
accompanying drawings, which specify and show preferred
embodiments of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorpo­
rated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate
one or more embodiments of the present invention, and,
together with the detailed description, serve to explain the
principles and implementations of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a mobility system of an embodiment
with a walker portion extended therefrom.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows themobility system of an embodiment
with the walker portion retracted therein.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows themobility system of an embodiment
with tire walker portion retracted therein and in a folded
configuration.
[0012] FIG. 4a shows the scissor joint of the wheelchair
portion of an embodiment in an open configuration.
[0013] FIG. 46 shows the scissor joint of tire wheelchair
portion of an embodiment in a semi-open configuration
[0014] FIG. 4c shows tire scissor joint of the wheelchair
portion of an embodiment in a closed configuration
REFERENCE NUMBERS USED IN DRAWINGS
[0015] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in winch
similar reference characters denote similar elements through­
out tire several views, the figures illustrate the wheel cover
assembly of an embodiment of the present invention. With
regard to the reference numerals used, the following number­
ing is used throughout the various drawing figures:
[0016] 10 mobility system
[0017] 20 wheelchair portion
[0018] 22 wheelchair back
[0019] 23 wheelchair handle
[0020] 24 wheelchair seat
[0021] 26 wheelchair wheel
[0022] 28 wheelchair armrest
[0023] 29 wheelchair armrest vertical strut
[0024] 30 wheelchair seat frame
[0025] 32 wheelchair base frame
[0026] 34 wheelchair base vertical start
[0027] 50 walker portion
[0028] 52 armrest walker extension
[0029] 54 walker vertical strut
US 2011/0006494 A1
2
[0030] 56 seat frame walker extension
[0031] 58 base frame walker extension
[0032] 60 caster wheel
[0033] 70 wheelchair scissor joint
[0034] 71 wheelchair scissor joint member
[0035] 72 wheelchair scissor joint pivot
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] Before beginning a detailed description, of the sub­
ject invention, mention of the following is in order. When
appropriate, like reference materials and characters are used
to designate identical, corresponding, or similar components
in differing figure drawings. The figure drawings associated
with this disclosure typically are not drawn with dimensional
accuracy to scale, i.e., such drawings have been drafted with
a focus on clarity of viewing and understanding rather than
dimensional accuracy,
[0037] In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine fea­
tures of the implementations described herein are shown and
described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the devel­
opment of any such actual implementation, numerous imple­
mentation-specific decisions must be made in order to
achieve the developer’s specific goals, such as compliance
with application- and business-related constraints, and that
these specific goals will vary from one implementation to
another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will
be appreciated that such a development effort might be com­
plex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine
undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the
art having the benefit of this disclosure.
[0038] As shown in FIGS, 1-4, a mobility system 10 is
provided. Simply stated, the mobility system 10 may be a
wheelchair walker system and may include a wheelchair por­
tion 20 and a walker portion 50 that may extend from and/or
retract into the wheelchair portion 20. When the walker por­
tion 50 is substantially retracted within the wheelchair por­
tion 20, the mobility system 10 may function substantially as
a standard and/or unmodified wheelchair. When the walker
portion 50 is substantially extended from file wheelchair por­
tion 20, a user (not illustrated) may utilize file walker portion
50 substantially as a standard and/or unmodified walker.
However, file walker portion 50 of an embodiment may
remain substantially coupled to the wheelchair portion 20
such that the wheelchair portion 20 may provide added sta­
bility to the walker portion 50 and the ability for file user to
transition substantially easily between sitting on the wheel­
chair portion 20 and walking with the walker portion 50.
Further, the user may substantially extend the walker portion
50 from the wheelchair portion 20 while they are seated in the
wheelchair portion 20 thereby contributing to the ease of
transition between sitting on the wheelchair portion 20 and
walking with the walker portion 50.
[0039] FIG. 1 shows the mobility system 10 of an embodi­
ment with a walker portion 50 retractably extended from fire
wheelchair portion 20. In an embodiment, the wheelchair
portion 20 may include a wheelchair back 22, one or more (in
an embodiment two) wheelchair handles 23, a wheelchair
seat 24, and two wheelchair wheels 26. Though not illus­
trated, the wheelchair portion 20 may also include a set of
footrests that are foldable or otherwise configurable to deploy
and/or retract depending on the user’s needs. These compo­
nents of wheelchair portion 20 may function substantially as
they would on a standard and/or unmodified wheelchair.
Jan. 13,2011
[0040] FIG. 1 further illustrates that file wheelchair portion
20 may further include a wheelchair base frame 32, a wheel­
chair seat frame 30 coupled to the wheelchair base frame 32
with one or more wheelchair base vertical struts 34, and two
wheelchair armrests 28 coupled to the wheelchair seat frame
30 with one or more wheelchair armrest vertical struts 29.
Unlike their standard and/or unmodified counterparts, the
wheelchair base frame 32, wheelchair seat frame 30, and/or
wheelchair armrests 28 may be substantially hollow, slotted,
and/or otherwise configured to receive and/or include one or
more portions of the walker portion 50 when the walker
portion 50 is substantially retracted into the wheelchair por­
tion 20 as will be described with reference to FIG. 2.
[0041] When extended from wheelchair portion 20, walker
portion 50 may include armrest walker extension 52, seat
frame walker extension 56, and base frame walker extension
58 extending from each lateral side of the wheelchair portion
20. Each armrest walker extension 52, seat frame walker
extension 56, and base frame walker extension 58 may couple
to a walker vertical strut 54 substantially at their distal (i.e.,
away from the wheelchair portion 20) ends. A caster wheel 60
may further couple to each walker vertical strut 54. In an
embodiment, the each armrest walker extension 52, seat
frame walker extension 56, and base frame walker extension
58 may extend from the wheelchair portion 20 approximately
by 1 to 2 times the depth of the wheelchair portion. The
extension length of an embodiment may be long enough to
define an area between the wheelchair seat 24 and the end of
the wheelchair armrest extensions 52 in which a user may
walk. The extension length may at the same, time be short
enough to substantially ensure the rigidity of at least the
wallcerportion50 ofthe mobility system 10 so that ausermay
apply some and/or most of their weight to the wheelchair
armrest extensions 52 without substantially deforming the
structure of and/or decreasing file stability of at least the
walker portion 50 of an embodiment.
[0042] Though not illustrated, the walker portion 50 of an
embodiment may further include one or more optional lateral
support elements between the two sections (e.g., left and
right) of the walker portion 50 to further increase the strength
and/or stability of at least the walker portion 50 while retrac­
tably extended from the wheelchair portion 20. For example,
one or more lateral support elements may detachably engage
both walker vertical struts 54 to substantially maintain their
lateral separation. Multiple lateral support elements, for
example one adjacent to file caster wheels 60 and another
adjacent to the armrest walker extension 52 may add further
support and/or strength to at least the walker portion 50 ofthe
mobility system 10. When not in use, the one or more lateral
support elements may detach from file walker portion 50 or
may remain substantially coupled to the walker portion 50
while rotating, swinging, or otherwise moving aside to sub­
stantially avoid encumbering a mobility system 10 user. Such
modifications and/or additions to the mobility system may be
particularly useful if the mobility system 10 is sized and/or
configured for a bariatric user and/or for a user who may
require a relatively high level of support from the walker
portion 50.
[0043] FIG. 2 shows the mobility system 10 of an embodi­
ment with the walker portion 50 extendably retracted therein.
Each armrest walker extension 52, seat frame walker exten­
sion 56, and base frame walker extension 58 may extendably
retract into wheelchair portion 20. In an embodiment, when
each armrest walker extension 52, seat frame walker exten­
US 2011/0006494 A1
3
sion 56, and base frame walker extension 58 is retracted into
the wheelchair portion 20, the wheelchair portion 20 may
substantially appear as and operate like a standard and/or
unmodified wheelchair.
[0044] More specifically, each of the wheelchair armrests
28, the wheelchair seat frames 30 and die wheelchair base
frame 32 may be substantially hollow, Further, each may have
an inside diameter and/or internal dimension to accept the
insertion of the armrest walker extensions 52, seat frame
walker extensions 56, and base frame walker extensions 58,
respectively, into their interiors. For example, in an embodi­
ment, the wheelchair armrests 28, the wheelchair seat frames
3 0 and the wheelchair base frame 3 2 may be formed of hollo w
tubing that has an approximately 1 Vs inch outside diameter
with approximately Vie inch wall thickness. Accordingly, the
inside diameter of an embodiment is approximately 1.0 inch.
The armrest walker extensions 52, seat frame walker exten­
sions 56, and baseframe walker extensions 58 may be formed
of similarly shaped, yet smaller tubing. For example, the
armrest walker extensions 52, seat frame walker extensions
56, and base frame walker extensions 58 may be formed from
tubing that has an approximately 7/s inch outside diameter,
Accordingly, the approximately 7/s inch outside diameter of
the armrest walker extensions 52, seat frame walker exten­
sions 56, and base frame walker extensions 58 may fit within
the approximately 1.0 inch inside diameter of the wheelchair
armrests 28, the wheelchair seat frames 3 0 and the wheelchair
base frame 32.
[0045] In an embodiment, the interior of the wheelchair
armrests 28, the wheelchair seat frames 30, and the wheel­
chair base frame 32 as well as the exteriors of the armrest
walker extensions 52, seat frame walker extensions 56, and
base frame walker extensions 58 may be polished and1 or may
include a friction-reducing coating. The polished surfaces
and/or friction-reducing coating may substantially prevent
the components of the walker portion 50 from binding to their
corresponding components of the wheelchair portion 20
when the walker portion 50 is extended from and retracted
into the wheelchair portion 20.
[0046] Alternately or additionally, in an embodiment the
armrest walker extensions 52, seat frame walker extensions
56, and/or base frame walker extensions 58 may further
include plastic wrapping or coating around at least a portion
of their outside diameters. For example, the armrest walker
extensions 52, seat frame walker extensions 56, and/or base
frame walker extensions 58 may be at least partially wrapped
or coated around their outside diameters by a heat shrink
tubing. In an embodiment, the thickness of the hear shrink
tubing added to the approximately % inch outside diameter of
the armrest walker extensions 52, seat frame walker exten­
sions 56, and/or base frame walker extensions 58 may allow
each to more snugly fit withinthe wheelchair armrests 28, the
wheelchair seat frames 30 and the wheelchair base frame 32
respectively (each having an approximately 1.0 inch interior
diameter). Though snug, the fit between the portions of the
walker portion 50 and the wheelchair portion 20 may never­
theless not bind or snag to prevent the deployment and/or
retraction of the walker portion 50.
[0047] Further, though not illustrated, at least one locking
mechanismmay substantially lock the walker portion 50 in an
extended and/or retracted configuration depending on the
mobility desired by the user. For example, while the walker
portion 50 is retracted, the locking mechanism may substan­
tially lock the walker portion 50 to the wheelchair portion 20
Jan. 13,2011
so that the walker portion does not inadvertently extend and/
or otherwise interfere with the operation of the wheelchair %
portion 20 as a standard and/or unmodified wheelchair. Like­
wise, the locking mechanism may substantially lock the
walker portion 50 in the extended configuration so that the
walker portion 50 does not inadvertently retract and/or the
wheelchair portion 20 otherwise interfere with the operation
of the walker portion 50 as a standard and/or unmodified
walker. In an embodiment, the locking mechanism may
include a pushpin or lock pin in either the wheelchair portion
20 or the walker portion 50 to engage a locking hole in the
opposite portion. In an embodiment, the locking mechanism
is a push pin included in at least one seat frame walker
extension 56 to engage a hole formed in at least one wheel­
chair seat frame 30. More specifically, the locking mecha­
nism may be a spring-biased push pin coupled to a portion of
the walker portion 50 that inserts into the wheelchair portion
20. The wheelchair portion 20 may include at least two holes
or apertures through which the spring biased push pin may
protrude to substantially lock the walker portion 50 in a
retracted configuration and at least one extended configura­
tion. In an embodiment, the retracted configuration hole or
aperture and at least one other hole or aperture are separated
by approximately 12.0 inches.
[0048] At least one additional locking mechanism, also not
illustrated, may substantially prevent the mobility system 10
from folding (e.g., for stowage) when the mobility system 10
is in use as a wheelchair and/or a walker. For example, the
locking mechanism may substantially lock the wheelchair
portion 20 in an unfolded position. In an embodiment, the
locking mechanism may include a push pin or lockpin in the
wheelchair portion 20 to engage an adjacent locking hole to
substantially lock open the wheelchair portion 20. In an
embodiment, the locking mechanism is a lock pin to remov­
ably engage at least a hole formed in one wheelchair base
vertical strut 34 and at least an adjacent hole formed in one
wheelchair scissor joint member 71 to substantially prevent &
the wheelchair scissor joint member 71 from rotation about
and/or translation along the wheel chair base vertical strut 34.
In an embodiment, a lock pin and corresponding holes may be
included in one or both wheelchair base vertical struts 34
toward the front of the wheelchair portion 20 to improve the
accessibility of the one or both lock pins. Though described
with reference to one or more wheelchair base vertical struts
34, it is to be understood that the locking mechanism may
alternately or additionally substantially prevent the wheel­
chair scissor joint member 71 from rotation about and/or
translation along the wheelchair seat frame 30 and/or the
wheelchair base frame 32.
[0049] In an alternate embodiment not illustrated, adjacent
each wheelchair base vertical strut 24 is an elevator strut.
Each elevator strut couples to the wheelchair base frame 32.
However, instead of coupling to the wheelchair seat frame 3 0,
the elevator struts couple to either a left or right seat rail (not
illustrated) separate from the wheelchair seat frame. Each
elevator strut has an adjustable length. For example, when the
mobility system is folded, and the wheelchair scissor joint
members 71 approach a vertical orientation. Accordingly, the
vertical distance between the ends of the wheelchair scissor
joint members 71 increases. While the vertical spacing
between the wheelchair base frame, wheelchair seat frame
30, and wheelchair armrests remains substantially unaltered,
the elevator struts may lengthen to accommodate the scissor
3
joint members 71 and seat rails coupled thereto.
 US 2011/0006494 A1
[0050] In an embodiment, the elevator struts may be formed
substantially as telescoping elevator struts with adjustable
lengths. Like the various portions of the walker portion 50
that extend from and retract into portions of the wheelchair
portion 20, the elevator struts may include a two piece con­
struction with an outer tube accepting an inner tube. Also like
the various portions of the walker portion 50, the smaller
diameter inner tube may include a coating and/or surface
treatment to generate a snug fit between the inner tube and the
outertube while also mitigating friction wear. For example, in
an embodiment the inner tube may include a shrink wrap to
generate the snug fit while mitigating friction wear.
[0051] To substantially lock the mobility system 10 in a
folded or unfolded configuration (e.g., for transportation and/
or stowage) in an alternate embodiment, the length of the
elevator struts may be locked. More specifically, at least one
elevator strut may include a hole or aperture into which a lock
pin may be removably inserted and substantially secured. In
an embodiment, the hole or aperture may extend substantially
entirely through the two sidewalls of the outer tube and the
two sidewalls of the inner tube. A lock pin inserted into the
hole or aperture may form a sturdy locking mechanism to
hold the mobility system 10 in the folded or collapsed con­
figuration while die lock pin inserted onto a second hole or
aperture may form a sturdy locking mechanism to hold the
mobility system 10 in an unfolded or operational configura­
tion. In an embodiment, one elevator strut includes a lock pin
locking mechanism to substantially lock the mobility system
10 in either die folded or unfolded configuration. Accord­
ingly, the user needs only remove and replace one lock pin.
Alternately, two or more elevator struts may include locking
pin locking mechanisms,
[0052] FIG. 3 shows the mobility system 10 of an embodi­
ment with the walker portion 50 extendably retracted into the
wheelchair portion 20 therein and in a folded configuration.
As introduced above, the retraction of the walker portion 50
within the wheelchair portion 20 may not substantially0 inter­
fere with die ability of the mobility system 10 to be folded
similar to a standard and/or unmodified wheelchair. Accord­
ingly, while including both the wheelchair and walker fea­
tures of wheelchair portion 20 and walker portion 50 respec­
tively, die mobility system 10 of an embodiment may
nevertheless be folded into a substantially compact configu­
ration for storage and/or transport (or for any other reason for
which the compact configuration of mobility system 10 may
be desired).
[0053] To facilitate die folding and unfolding of the mobil­
ity system 10 of an embodiment for storage and/or transport,
the one or more scissor joint members 71 may at least in part
rotate about the wheelchair seat frame 30 and/or the wheel­
chair base frame 32 to which the distal ends of the scissor joint
members 71 couple. In an embodiment, the distal ends of the
scissor joint members 71 may include and/or couple to collars
(not illustrated) that fit over and rotate about portions of the
wheelchair seat frame 30 and/or the wheelchair base frame
32. In an embodiment, die collars may be configured substan­
tially as hollow cylinders having inside diameters larger dian
die outside diameters of the portions of the wheelchair seat
frame 30 and/or the wheelchair base frame 32 to which the
scissor joint members 71 couple. The fit between the portions
of the wheelchair seat frame 30 and/or the wheelchair base
frame 32 and the collars may be configured so that the collars
Jan. 13,2011
fit snugly while nevertheless not substantially binding or
snagging to prevent the folding and unfolding of the mobility
system 10.
[0054] As the one or more scissor joint members 71 may at
least in part rotate about the wheelchair seat frame 30 and/or
the wheelchair base frame 32 to which the distal ends of the
scissorjointmembers 71 couple, die wheelchair seat frame 30
and/or the wheelchair base frame 32 may include one or more
features to substantially prevent the scissorjointmembers 71
from moving or translating along the wheelchair seat frame
30 and/or the wheelchair base frame 32. The one or more
features may permit a rotational degree of freedom while
substantially preventing additional degrees of freedom,
[0055] For example, in an embodiment, the portion of the
wheelchair seat frame 30 and/or the wheelchair base frame 32
between two scissor joint members may include a sleeve
member (not illustrated) having an outer diameter greater
than the inside diameter of the scissor joint member 71 col­
lars. The sleeve members may or may not be substantially
rigidly coupled to the wheelchair seat frame 30 and/or die
wheelchair base frame 32. The sleeve members of an embodi­
ment may permit the scissor joint member 71 collars to rotate
while substantially preventing additional movement and/or
translation along the wheelchair seat frame 30 and/or the
wheelchair base frame 32. Alternately, the wheelchair seat
frame 30 and/or the wheelchair base frame 32 may include
one or more hose clamps (not illustrated) or the like coupled
thereto to similarly permit the scissor joint member 71 collars
to rotate while substantially preventing additional movement
and/or translation along the wheelchair seat frame 30 and/or
die wheelchair base frame 32.
[0056] To further increase the ease with which the mobility
system 10 may be folded, and to increase the strength and/or
stability of mobility system 10 when unfolded, the mobility
system 10 of an embodiment may include at least one scissor
joint 70 to couple the wheelchair seat frame 30 to tile wheel­
chair base frame 32. For example, FIG. 4a shows the scissor
joint 70 of the mobility system 10 of an embodiment in an
open configuration (i.e., when the mobility system 10 is
unfolded). The scissor joint 70 of an embodiment may
include two scissorjointmembers 71 that couple to and rotate
about a scissor joint pivot 72. FIG. 4b shows the scissor joint
70 of the mobility system 10 of an embodiment in a semi­
open configuration (i.e., when the mobility system 10 is par­
tially folded/unfolded), FIG. 4c shows the scissor joint 70 of
the mobility system 10 of an embodiment in a closed con­
figuration (i.e., when the mobility system. 10 of an embodi­
ment is substantially folded). In an embodiment, at least one
of the scissor joint members 71 may include a chicane-like
bend and/or offset adjacent to the scissor joint pivot 72 so that
when scissor j oint 70 is in the closed configuration, the scissor
joint members 71 maybe substantially parallel. Further, in an
embodiment the distal ends of the scissor joint members 71
may be substantially in the same plane when the scissor joint
70 is in the closed configuration.
[0057] From a folded configuration, the mobility system 10
may be unfolded substantially into a wheelchair. In such a
configuration, the walker portion 50 may be extendably
retracted within the wheelchair portion 20. To extend the
walker portion 50, a user may grasp at least a part of the
walker portion (after unlocking a locking mechanism if
present) and pull it from the wheelchair portion 20 until it is
substantially extended therefrom. Alternately, while seated in
the wheelchair portion 20, the user may push the walker
US 2011/0006494 A1
5
portion 50 away from the wheelchair portion until it is sub­
stantially extended therefrom. At this point, the user may
grasp at least the armrest walker extensions 52 (for example,
after standing up from the wheelchair portion 20) to use the
mobility system 10 as a walker. Thereafter the user may return
to a seated position in wheelchair portion 20 and may retract
the walker portion 50 into the wheelchair portion 20 while
seated.
[0058] As the user may both alter the configuration of the
mobility system 10 and transition between the seated and
standing positions (e.g., seated to standing and standing to
seated) substantially without having to remove themselves
horn the mobility system 10, set aside die mobility system 10,
and/or otherwise substantially break contact with the mobil­
ity system 10, the mobility system 10 of an embodiment may
farther mitigate the likelihood of an accident during what is
otherwise a risky transition. For example, when transitioning
from a walker to a chair, the user may traditionally set the
walker aside often to their left or right, in particular if the chair
is adjacent a table or the like such that the user cannot set the
walker aside in front ofthemselves, before sitting down on the
chair. Likewise, when transitioning from a chair to a walker,
the user may have to stand up first and then search to their left
or right for their walker, For both instances, there may be a
brief moment during which the user has substantially no
support. By coupling the wheelchair portion 20 to die walker
portion 50, the mobility system 10 may help the user avoid
accidents by keeping both the wheelchair portion 20 and the
walker portion 50 sub stand ally within reach at the same time,
[0059] Though described as foldable for storage and
including an extendible walker portion 50 that may also be
retracted, an alternate embodiment may omit either or both
features. For example, the mobility system 10 of an alternate
embodiment may include a walker portion 50 extending
therefrom that may not also retract into the wheelchair por­
tion 20. Though it may not retract into the wheelchair portion,
walker portion 50 may be removable from the wheelchair
portion 20, Further, the mobility system may not fold or
otherwise collapse to improve portability. Such an embodi­
ment may be useful for physical therapy and/or physical
rehabilitation and/or in environments (e.g., medical facilities,
assisted living facilities) in winch the mobility system 10 may
be deployed substantially exclusively on site.
[0060] Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous
modifications and changes may be made to the preferred
embodiment without departing from the scope of the claimed
invention, It will, of course, be understood that modifications
of the invention, in its various aspects, will be apparent to
those skilled in the art, some being apparent only after study,
others being matters of routine mechanical, chemical and
electronic design. No single feature, function or property of
the preferred embodiment is essential. Other embodiments
are possible, their specific designs depending upon the par­
ticular application. As such, the scopeof the invention should
not be limited by the particular embodiments herein
described but should be defined only by the appended claims
and equivalents thereof.
I claim:
1. A mobility system comprising:
a wheelchair portion; and
a walker portion coupled to the wheelchair portion to
retractably extend from tire wheelchair portion.
2. The mobility system of claim 1, the wheelchair portion
further comprising:
Jan. 13,2011
a wheelchair base frame;
a wheelchair seat frame coupled to the wheelchair base
frame with at least one scissor joint and at least one
wheelchair base vertical strut; and
a pair of wheelchair armrests coupled to tire wheelchair
seat frame with at least one wheelchair armrest vertical
strut per wheelchair armrest;
wherein at least a portion of the wheelchair base frame, a
portion of the wheelchair seat frame, and a portion of
each wheelchair armrest are configured to retractably
accept at least a portion of the walker portion.
3. The mobility system of claim 1, tire walker portion
further comprising:
a pair of base frame walker extensions;
a pair of seat frame walker extensions; '
a pair of armrest walker extensions; and
a pair of walker vertical struts, each one coupled to one
base frame walker extension; one seat frame walker
extension, and one armrest walker extension.
4. The mobility system of claim 3, at least a portion of tire
pair of base frame walker extensions, pair of seat frame
walker extensions, pair of armrest walker extensions, or a
combination thereof further comprising a plastic coating.
5. The mobility system of claim 4, the plastic coating
further comprising a shrink wrap coating.
6. The mobility system of claim 2 further comprising at
least one walker portion locking mechanism to substantially
lock the walker portion to the wheelchair portion while the
walker portion is in an extended configuration, a retracted
configuration, or a combination thereof.
7. The mobility system of claim 6, the walker portion
locking mechanism further comprising at least one push pin
locking mechanism included in the walker portion to detach­
ably engage at least one push pin aperture included in the
wheelchair portion.
8. The mobility system of claim 2, further comprising at
least one wheelchair portion locking mechanism to substan­
tially lock the wheelchair in an open position.
9. The mobility system of claim 8, the wheelchair locking
portion further comprising at least one lock pin locking
mechanism included in a wheelchair base vertical strut.
10. The mobility system of claim 2, the walker portion
further comprising at least one lateral support element to
detachably engage a lateral side of the walker portion to
another lateral side of the walker portion while the walker
portion is substantially extended from the wheelchair portion.
11. A method of improving mobility of a user comprising:
providing a mobility system configured to increase the
mobility of the user while seated;
altering the configuration of the mobility system; and
providing the mobility system configured to increase the
mobility of the user while standing or walking.
12. The method of improving the mobility of the user of
claim 11, the mobility system configured to increase the
mobility of the user while seated further comprising the
mobility system substantially configured at least in part as a
wheelchair.
13. The method of improving the mobility of the user of
claim 11, the mobility system configured to increase the
mobility of the user while standing or walking further com­
prising the mobility system substantially configured at least
in part as a walker,
14. The method of improving the mobility of the user of
claim 11, altering the configuration of the mobility system
US 2011/0006494 A1
6
further comprising reversibly altering the mobility system
between a wheelchair configuration, and a walker configura­
tion.
15. A method of improving the mobility of a user compris­
ing:
mobilizing, with a mobility system configured in a wheel­
chair configuration, the user while seated;
mobilizing, with the mobility system configured in a
walker configuration, the user while standing or walk­
ing; and
reversibly converting the mobility system between the
wheelchair configuration and the walker configuration.
16. The method of improving the mobility of the user of
claim 15, reversibly converting the mobility system between
the wheelchair configuration and the walker configuration
further comprising extending a walker portion from the
wheelchair portion.
Jan. 13,2011
17. The method of improving the mobility of tire user of
claim 16 further comprising:
unlocking the walker portion a stowed position from the
wheelchair portion;
extending the walker portion from the wheelchair portion;
and
locking the walker portion in an extended position.
18. The method of improving the mobility of the user of
claim 17 further comprising:
unlocking the walker portion from the extended position;
retracting fire walker portion into the wheelchair portion;
and
locking the walker portion in the stowed position.
* * * * *
 f

[19] [11]:
Markiel [45] Dec. 28, 1976

[54] ADJUSTABLE WALKER ATTACHMENT 3,782,749- 1/1974 Wiczer ................................ 280/150.5

FOR WHEEL CHAIRS
Primary Examiner—Kenneth H. Betts
[76] Inventor: Henry Markiel, Idlewood Drive, W.
E., Jamestown, N.Y. 14701 [57] ABSTRACT ; :
[22] Filed: Nov. 1,1974 A walker for use with a wheel chair, is disclosed. The
[21] Appl. No.: 519,940 walker has a generally U-shaped frame with a column
swingably attached to the intermediate part of the U-
[52] U.S. Cl..................................... 280/289 WC;297/5; shaped frame. A caster wheel is attached to the distal
' 280/43 end of the column and a tube is swingably attached, to
[51] Int. Cl.2.................................................... B60H3/00 the distal ends of the U-shaped frame. A pair of brack:
[58] Field of Search........................ 280/289, 150.5, 43; ets are provided by attaching the front side of the wheel
' 272/70.3, 70.4;297/5 chair to the brackets. Each of the brackets has a tele­
[56] . References Cited scoping pin. Clamps are provided on the tubular brack­
ets which can be attached to the wheel chair arid which
UNITED STATES PATENTS
receive the telescoping pins attached to the U-shaped
2,137,703 11/1938 Scyferth................... frame. . .
3,398,974 8/1968 Edwards et al........... .......... 280/289
3,584,890 6/1971 Prcsty ...................... ...... . 280/289
3,708,182 1/1973 Markiel .................. 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
U.S. Patent Dec. 28, 1976 3,999,778
 ‘To change the effective length of column 13, the
ADJUSTABLE WALKER ATTACHMENT FOR lower column tube 29 slides relative to the upper col­
WHEEL CHAIRS umn tube 30 when the detent 31 is depressed, and the
. spring loaded pin. 33 has to slide relative to the inner
REFERENCE TO PRIOR ART 5 column sleeve 29. This is accomplished by the pin 33
A walker generally of the type disclosed herein is extending through slot 32 in column 29. Pin 33. is sup­
shown in U,S. Pat. No. 3,708,182 issued to Henry Mar- ported on column tube 30 and engages hole 36 in the
kiel on Jan. 2, 1973. outer upper column sleeve 30 and projects through the
slot 32. Thus, the lower column tube 29 can slide rela-
. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 10 five to the upper column sleeve 30 without retracting
It is an object of the invention to provide an im­ the pin 33. The bracket 34 is fixed to the sleeve 27. The
proved walker. sleeve 27 slides on the upper column tube 30 when the
Another object of the invention is to provide an im­ . pin 33 is retracted from its hole 36, thus, enabling the
proved walker in combination with a wheel chair. column 13 to pivot on its bracket 21 on the U-shaped
Another object of the invention is to provide an im­ 15 frame 12. . - .
proved bracket and walker combination. . The bracket 21 is of a type similar to that found on
With the above and other objects in view, the present some bicycle forks that hold the handle bars to the fork
invention consists of the combination and arrangement ■ and is familiar to those skilled in the art. However, the
of parts hereafter more fully described, illustrated in stud 24 that normally clamps the handle bars to the
the accompanying drawings and more particularly 20 bracket 21 is not tightened up sufficiently fight to pre,
pointed out in the appended claims, it being under­ vent the bracket 21 from rotating relative to the frame
stood that changes may be made in the form, size, 12. Rotation is prevented by the braces 17 that posi­
proportions, and minor details of construction without tively hold the column in position. :.
departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the ad­ The brackets 16 are made up of clamp straps 37 that.
vantages of the invention. 25 are adapted to be clamped to a tubular member 22 on
a wheel chair. The tubular member 22 on the chair is
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS clamped to the bracket 37 by the clamp member 43,
FIG. 1 is a side view of the walker according to the which is. held to the intermediate, strap by means .of a
invention and attached to the wheel chair by means of stud 44 and has its outer end clamped by the hand
a suitable bracket. . 30 wheel 45, which connects to the stud 46. Thus, the
FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged cross sectional view of the clamp means 37 can be swung relative to the wheel
bracket shown in FIG. 1. chair member 22 by loosening the hand wheel.45. The
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the bracket. ■ ’ lower bracket tube 39 is clamped to the strap.member
FIG. 4 is a side view partly in cross section of the 37 by the end of the bracket member 47 which bends.
bracket according to the invention. ' 35 back on itself and encircles the bracket tube 39 and has
FIG. 5 is a side view similar to FIG; 4. its end 47 which terminates in an end portion 48. Then
portion 48 rests on the member 37 and provides a
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS resilient support urged by the stud.,49 when the hand.
Now with more particular reference to the drawings, wheel 50 is tightened. Thus, the lower tubular member
the walker 10 is shown attached to the wheel chair 11. 40 39 can be frictionally held in clamped position by tight­
The walker 10 is made up of a generally U-shaped ening the hand wheel'50. .
frame 12 having spaced legs 18 and an intermediate The end members 15 are telescopically received in
part 20. A column 13 is swingably attached to the inter­ the lower brackef tube 39 and are held selectively in.
mediate part 20 of the frame by means of the bracket adjusted vertical position by the detents 51 supported
24 which is fixed to the upper end.of the column 13 and 45 in the end members. When a detent 51 is depressed, the.
has a sleeve that receives the round tubular frame end member can be slid upwardly or downwardly rela- .
member 20. .. five to the lower bracket tube 39 to bring detent 51 to .
Caster wheel 14 is supported on the lower end.of the a new hole 40, thereby adjusting the rearward vertical
column 13 and the distal ends 19 of the legs 18 are position of the legs 18. of the walker. :.'
turned at right angles to the legs 18 and have the end 50 The plastic bumper, members 53 are in the form of.
members 15 swingably connected thereto at pivot 25. plastic sleeves which Surround the ends of the several
Downwardly forwardly and inwardly extending brace tubular members shown, thereby preventing them from
members 17 are swingably connected to a leg member damaging furniture apd the like. :'
26 on each of the legs 18 by. means of a pivot 28. Leg 29 is fixed to sleeve 27 and sleeve 27 slidably and .
The column 13 is made up generally of the lower 55 telescopically receives column tube 30. Sleeve .27.:
column tube 29 and the upper column tube 30. The carries spring loaded,pin 33 which engages hole 36 in ;
lower column tube 29 is telescopically received in the the upper tube and slides freely in slot 32, Column 13
upper column tube 30. The caster bracket 42 is sup­ is pivoted to the braces 17 at 28. The length of the ^
ported on the lower end of the lower column tube 29 . column 13 is adjustable since the lower tube 29 of the .
and bracket 42 supports wheel 14. The lower column 60 column is telescopically received in the upper tube and;
sleeve 29 has a spring loaded detent 31 supported on it, a detent member 31 in the inner member 29 selectively
and this detent selectively engages the spaced holes 35 engages a plurality of, spaced holes 35 in the front side
in the upper column sleeve 30. Thus, the detent 31 can of the tubular member 30 so."that the detent:can,be J
be depressed and moved out of one of the upper holes pushed inwardly out of the particular hole 34 and the,
35 to a lower hole 35, allowing column 29 to .extend 65 lower tube 29 can be pulled outward to adjust the
further, and the wheel 14 can' thus be moved further • length of the column 13. A spring loaded pin 33 is
down, thereby increasing the overall effective length of supported on the sleeve 27 and the pin 33 engages the
the column 13. . hole 36 of the tubular member 30. Thus, the tubular .
 3,999,778
3
member 27 can be slid downward along the tubular .
member 30 when pin 33 is pulled out of hole 36. Sleeve
27 will freely slide on tube 30, making it possible to
swing the column 13 and wheel 14 upward into a posi­
tion parallel with the legs 18. The entire walker can be 5
swung up around the pivots 25 so that the legs 18 are in
vertical position to enable the occupant of the chair to
move out of the chair without removing the.legs 18
from the brackets 16.
In mounting the walker attachment on a wheel chair, 10
the bracket 37 will be attached to the tubular members
22 in front of the wheel chair in a vertical position so
that the U-shaped frame 12 will swing upwardly and
pass over the head of a person sitting in the wheel chair
to the position shown in FIG. 1. The operator will then 15
firmly tighten the large knobs 45 and the small knobs
50. When the walker attachment is not needed, the
main U-frame 12 is removed by disconnecting the end
members 15 from the tubular members 16. This is done
by lifting the end members 15 out of the tubular mem- 20
bers 39. The wheel 14, the U-shaped member 12 and
the end members 15 will be a separate unit from the
chair. The tube 16 can be swung around the chair
member 22 to be out of the way from the rest of the
25
chair.
The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in
its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is
capable of modification within a range of equivalents
without departing from the invention which is to be
understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with
the appended claims.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu­
sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as
follows:
1. In combination, a walker and a wheel chair having 35
spaced vertically extending tubular bracket means at­
tached thereto,
a generally U-shaped frame member having spaced
legs connected by an intermediate part,
said legs terminating in end members disposed at 40
right angles to said legs,
a column member swingably connected to said inter­
mediate part of said U-shaped frame member,
a caster wheel attached to the lower end of said col­
umn member,
means swingably connecting the distal end of said
end members to said spaced legs,
5 0
5 5
6 0
65
downwardly, inwardly and forwardly extending
braces swingably attached at one end to said legs of
said U-shaped member,
a sleeve slidably received on said column member,
said braces being connected to said sleeve,
means to hold said sleeve against sliding on said col­
umn member.
2. The walker recited in claim 1 wherein said bracket
means have spring, loaded detent means thereon for
engaging said end members on said U-shaped member
whereby said walker is held in position on said brackets
means.
3. The walker recited in claim 1 wherein said bracket
means and end members comprise tubular members
telescopically disposed relative to each other,
and detent means supporting end members relative
to said bracket means whereby the effective length
of said end members can be adjusted.
4. The walker recited in claim 1 wherein said column
comprises,
an upper column tube and a lower column tube,
said upper column tube being telescopically received
in said lower column tube,
said column member being swingably attached to
said intermediate part of said U-shaped member by
a bracket means fixed to the upper end of said
upper column.tube and rotatably supported on said
U-shaped member.
5. The walker recited in claim 4 wherein a plurality of
axially spaced holes are provided in said upper column
tube,
and detent means supported on said lower column
tube and adapted to selectively engage one of said
axially spaced holes in said upper column tube,
whereby said upper column tube and said lower
column tube can be held in selected axial relation
to each other thereby providing adjustment for the
overall length of the said column.
6. The walker recited in claim 5 including
spring loaded pin means on said sleeve engaging a
hole in said upper column tube
and an axially extending slot in said lower column
tube receiving said pin means whereby said lower
column tube can be adjusted by depressing said
detent in the upper end thereof from one of said
spaced axial holes and allowing said pin means to
slide in said axially extending slot.
* * * * *
June 5, 1951 j. d, thomas 2,556,121
DETACHABLE' WHEEL CHAIR WALKING APPARATUS
• Filed July.13, 1949 '

ATTORNEY
 Patented June 5, 1951 2,556,121

STATES,,
-2,556,121
DETACHABLE WHEEL CHAIR WALKING
\ APPARATUS ' /•' - ' .•
. . Jean D. Thomas, Buffalo; N.;Y. ' . ....
Application July 13, 1949, Serial No. 104,401 ........................................................
•■■ • - 4 Claims. ' (C1.-155-—23)' .

' This inventton relates generally to certain new Which gli'dingly support the'device when .coupled
and' ’-iisefui Improvements.'in apparatus Tor- use 'with the-' wheeT- chair or at .such times-when-the
by invalids but'.more particularly tb'an apparatus ' . patient- desires to use the device-as a unit sepa-
for use in conjunction/ with, or without1 a.'wheel . - rate and -detached"from the 'wheel chair..: -
chair .to enable the. user, supported1 'by such ap­ :'S • These frame-sections 16 are: adjustably joined
paratus, to walk and move about at will and . transversely in spaced relation at their front ends
thereby'exercise his leg 'muscles to strengthen . to. .accommodate the width- of the wheel-chair,
. and improve their condition, ' \1''' .While: between.'their-rear ends they are unob-
' Tfc'has for one of its Objects tor provide: ah in­ 1 structed 'to'permit-the patient to transfer him-

valid 'walking apparatus of this character which 10 self from: the: chair to a walking position- between
is so designed- and constructed as. to be readily ’ • such sections and back-again. • For this purpose
attached' to and 'detached from a'wheel chair, . these sections' may be joined'by tele'Scopdca'lly.-
by the invalid,himself,.while seated.in such chair, ' • fitted guard rails or tie'members .1.9,-20-and clamp -
and which affords1 him complete safety and pro­ ' . .lug'1-screws 21' or the like provided for retaining
jection at all times when-in use. - v ! - : IB them:in their properly spaced position.

Another object of the invention' is to' provide
• the wheel , chair walker, with ,a,.novel two-part
. seat structure which can be-readily folded out
of use when desired. '• ' zontal rearwar'dly-exten'ding coupling members or
. . . Other features1 of the invention, reside in the
construction and arrangement of parts' herein­
after described and particularly pointed out-in
the. appended claims. - • . .'
I n the accompanying drawings— •
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus
attached for use' to a. wheel chair. Figure- 2 is'
an enlarged fragmentary section, taken. on line
2—2 , Figure' 1. .Figure'3 is a fragmentary per­
spective view of the walker equipped with my im­
proved seat. Figure. 4 is' an enlarged fragmen­
tary section taken on line 4—4, Figure 3. Figure
5 is a cross.section taken on line 5—5, Figure 4.
Similar- characters of reference- indicate cor­
responding parts throughout the several views.
. By way of example, I have shown my invention
in- conjunction with , a wheel chair of- ordinary
construction, 10 indicating the frame, (I the seat,
12 the side arms, 13 the hand-propelled wheels,
and 14 the. casters or steering, wheels. - -The walk­
ing device, indicated generally by. the numeral'
15, is adapted to be detachably connected in cor--
relation .to the wheel chair to permit the patient
to transfer himself from the chair to the. walker
and vice versa with complete'support at all times.
In its preferred construction, the. walking de­ 45 usual manner should the patient' have occasion
vice IS consists of a comparatively light, frame -.' to do so. • .' " .
■made of tubular material and including laterally- .
spaced side sections I B , IB of. substantially rec-.
tangular shape having, handle bars 17, 17 at their
upper ends. These handle bars are telescopically
fitted in the, companion side sections for vertical
adjustment to accommodate the-height of the
patient for supporting himself while walking
or. exercising. At their, lower ends these frame-
sections 16 have casters 18 mounted; thereon
. /The.rear end of the walking device is1 adapted
' to be’ detachably connected to the wheel chair
: and for' this purpose its frame-sections have hori­
20 bars -22 of tubular material'adapted ton disposi­
tion along opposite sides of the chair, beneath,
the arm rests thereof, each member being fitted
. at one end with a coupling plug 23 for connecting
. it endwise by an axially-disposed bolt 24 to the
25 adjoining-side section 15, the latter having a ver­
tical row of bolt-receiving openings 25 therein to
position the companion coupling member at the
. proper height in relation to the wheel chair.
• Connected to each coupling member 22 is a trans-
80, verse, hook-like fitting -26 whose threaded shank
■ 27 is adjustably .positioned in one or another of
••a series of openings 2.8 formed in such member
- to bring the hook portion, of such fitting into em­
". ' braced relation with the. adjoining front portion
85 of the chair-frame 10 in the-manner shown in
. . Figures 1 and 2. A nut or adjusting knob 29 is
.' applied to the fitting-shank for detachably
. clamping the fitting securely in place, the latter
..'-having a.rubber gripping.sleeve.30 thereon. By
40 this construction, the patient himself can readily.
; attach and detach the walking -device to his wheel
.-.chair while seated "therein and without, the aid
of others, and it does "riot interfere, or in any way.
: prevent the: wheel chair being, propelled in. its.
.
•' Adjustably .mounted .at.the. rear. side of- the.
•' walker between its framer-sections - 16 is a seat
. for,the purpose of enabling the patient to as-
50 su'me a sitting, posture, when using the walker.
This seat is .vertically foldable-to and from an
operative position and consists of'companion
: sections 3 1 , 3 1 , each secured, at its outer end
to a bracket. 32 pivoted.at .33 to the adjoining
55 upright portion of the frame-section 16 of the
r

2,566,131 ... .r
3-. . . , y: . . \ .. 4
walker. ■ Each bracket includes a channelportion. 2. A walking device for detachable connection
34, rising above, its pivot, which embraces the . .to a-wheel chair, comprising - a wheeled' frame
frame-section in .the operative position: of the having members, projecting from the rear end.
seat, as shown in Figure 3, and effectually retains ^ thereof for disposition . ’along opposite • sides of'
the same , in a horizontal position, the opposing ;the'chair, and hook-like fittings adjustable .trans-.
inner ends of the seat-sections 31 -substantially ver&ely on said members for 'clamping engage-
meeting- and abutting each other as shown. . As. ment'-with the adjoining portions-of-the wheel'
shown in Figure 4, one seat-section'has ah eye '• chair) . ■' . ■’ ' ■
• 35 on- the • underside -ofi i t s inner end and the -.. 3. A walking device for detachable connection ;
;
. companion.’seat-section has a, mating hook- 38 0 !to a 'wheel chair, comprising a wheeled frame
. thereon';.-• whereby such ..sections- are coupled .-'having members projecting from the rear end.
against accidental - displacement, -. ''' •" thereof for disposition-along opposite sides of
• -While . manifestly simple, compact, .and . inex- the ’chair, and fittings-applied to said members
.. pensive in construction, this, wheel chair walker: ’• for . detachably' clamping adjoining portions of .
or exerciser. attachment is very practical and 5 the "wheel chair thereto, each of said fittings
enabled the patient himself to cohnect.it to'and' ' including an attaching' shank engageable; trans-. ••
- disconnect it from his-.wheel chair and-.to have ; versely' with the companion member and pro-
maximum confidence for support and complete;.; •'•vided'at one'end with a hook between which;
safety/arid protection when he desires to exercise ", ;• and .such member; the adjoining portion of the •
his leg muscles and at the same time be assured o • wheel chair is adapted .to.be detachably clamped.
that.:;ai..the end of- such: exercising period; he'-can V - 4.,A. walking, devlce .for detachable' connection
;,ta-.a wheel.chaii’., -'comprising- a; wheeled,frame
. %gai-n' yelax/ in hi; chair, by merely changing
.from.-attending-te a sitting posture. In prac­ •;::havifi$-members projecting-from’the rear end •
tice, the-: patient .propels his,wheel, chair to the ‘therebl-for. disposition!along opposite sides., of '
. walking’ attachment and after connecting, the 25 '.the chair and having, rows. Qf. transverse open-
. parts,'. ho is. ih; unobstructed, correlation.with the ;ings -therein,, and fittings' engageable with one
.attachment 'to transfer',himself unaided from m?- another of .-the! openings hr said members for
. the chair to; a standing- posture between the­ •■•detachably 'clamping adjoining-portions, of the '
' frame-sections I;?,. IS and, after exercising,'as. .wheel'chair thereto;-each of said fittings inciud--'
readily transfer himself to, the. chair,. and with 30. .iiig an'-attaching shank having a nut at one end.
the; assurance of complete supporting, protection- •and a'hook at its other end. .
at, all:-times,v . •' • ' ;•:-• '• - ; JEAN D. THOMAS,
• -E claim as: my invention:: -- '
•' L'A-Waiklng device for detachable connection ;. -- , REFERENCES CITED
to a-, ivheel-chair, comprising, a wheeled frame -<K> The following references are-of "record in. the
having members projecting from the rear end file-of .-’this patent.:- -- . • ' ; • .-••.- ' -
•thereof;- for- disposition along, opposite side's of ' !.' - ' UNITED STATES PATENTS' -
• the chair,, and' clamping elements, applied trans­
versely, of said members, .for releasable clamping' "Number- Name '.- . Date !
engagement with, adjoining portions of the wheel >«jiO .i;42Q,0&o .-. Gutter ____ ______ June 20.,. 1922 -
chair* ■" ' ’ ■■ ■' '.. . 2*300,608: Yusek ____ ____ — N o v . 3,1942

i
P

United States Patent m [li] Patent Number: Des. 301,131

Brooks [45] Date of Patent: ** May 16,1989

[54] INVALID’S CHAIR 4,428,615 1/1984 Hynson ............................... 297/118

4,453,732 6/1984 Assanah et al......................... 280/648
[76] Inventor: Raymond P. Brooks, 2307 Roberts 4,691,962 9/1987 Holdt....................................... D12/131
St., Wichita Falls, Tex. 76301 4,717,169 1/1988 Shaffer .................................... 280/648

[**] Term: 24 Years FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

[21] Appl. No.: 52,350 939012 10/1963 United Kingdom.................. 280/47.38

[22] Filed: May 21,1987 Primary Examiner—Wallace R. Burke

[52] U.S. Cl.......................................D12/128; D12/131 Assistant Examiner—Kay H. Chin
[58] Field of Search......................... D12/I28, 131, 132; Attorney, Agent, or Firm—David H. Semmes
280/647, 648, 649, 650, 242 WC, 289 WC,' [57] CLAIM
47.38,642, 643, 644; 297/DIG. 4, 348, 84; 5/86,
81 The ornamental design for an invalid’s chair, as shown
and described.
[56] References Cited
DESCRIPTION
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an invalid’s chair, show­
D. 250,977 2/1979 Powers................................... D12/128 ing the design adapted for wheelchair use;
D. 286,626 11/1986 Britz.........................................D12/128 FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof, with the leg-
D. 286,762 11/1986 Britz.........................................D12/128 rest in raised condition;
3,215,458 11/1963 Wamsley.................................. 297/348
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of FIG. 2;
3,261,031 7/1966 Gates ............................................. 5/86
4,016,005 4/1977 DeMatteo................................... 134/30 FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof, showing the design
4,079,990 3/1978 McMunn et al............................ 297/69 adapted for horizontal support of a patient; and,
4,099,277 7/1978 Watkins ........................................ 5/81 FIG. 5 is a perspective view as in FIG. 1, showing the
4,285,541 8/1981 Onishi........................................ 297/84 design adapted for potty use.

i|
U.S. Patent May u, Sheet 1 of 3

ii

^76! 4
V
U.S. Patent May 16,1989 Sheet 3 of 3 9
 (12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
(19) World Intellectual Property
Organization iiiiiiiiiiiiiDiiiiniiiinii mi
I ill 111 II 111 III II1! Ill III III III lllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
International Bureau
(10) International Publication Number
(43) International Publication Date WO 2013/074945 Al
23 May 2013 (23.05.2013) POi PCT

(51) International Patent Classification; AO, AT, AU, A2, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY,
A63C17/18 (2006.01) BZ, CA, CH, CL, ON, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM,
DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT,
(21) International Application Number: HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP,
PCT/US2012/065550 KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD,
(22) International Filing Date: ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NO, NI,
16 November 2012(16.11,2012) NO, NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU,
RW, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ,
(25) Filing Language: English TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA,
(26) Publication Language: English ZM, ZW.

(30) Priority Data: (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
61/629,426 18 November 2011 (18.11.2011) US kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,
13/385,894 13 March 2012 (13.03.2012) US GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ,
UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TJ,
(72) Inventor; and TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK,
(71) Applicant : PURDUE, Carole [US/US]; 168 W. Gold EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, OR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV,
Finch Lane, Centerville, MD 21617 (US). MC, MK, ML, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM,
TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, OF, CO, Cl, CM, GA, ON, GQ, GW,
(74) Agent: JACKSON, David, A.; Klanber & Jackson L.L.C,
ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TO).
25 East Spring Valley Avenue - Suite 160, Maywood, NJ
07607 (US). Published:
(81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every — with international search report (Art. 21(3))
kind of national protection available)\ AE, AG, AL, AM,

(54) Title: WHEELCHAIR WITH DETACHABLE WALKER

(57) Abstract: A wheelchair having a detachable
walker. The walker can be mechanically attached
and detached from the wheelchair easily so that
the user can safely rise from a sitting position on
the wheelchair to a standing position assisted by
the wallcer. During that transition, the user has
the wheelchair attached to the walker in case the
user falls backwardly or gets tired and wants to
again be seated in the wheelchair. When the user
lias reached the standing position, the user can
ambulate in a space intermediate the walker and
the wheelchair or simply detach the walker from
the wheelchair and continue ambulating while re­
lying solely on the walker for support.
WO 2013/074945 Ai
 WO 2013/074945 PCT/US2012/065550

WHEELCHAIR WITH DETACHABLE WALKER

Background of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheelchair for moving a patient, and, more
particularly, to a wheelchair with a detachable walker so as to reduce the possibility of a patient
falling and being injured.

[0002] Each year a typical nursing home reports 100 to 200 falls with approximately 35%
of the falls resulting in injuries. It is also reported that over 80 % of the falls occur among
residents who cannot walk and, instead, use wheelchairs for their mobility and seating needs.

[0003] Falls among hospital inpatients are common as well. Approximately 30% of
hospital falls result in injury. Patients who fall and sustain an injury are reported to have hospital
charges over $4,200 higher than patients who do not fall. According to a 2009 report by the
CDC, the total direct and indirect cost of all fall injuries for people 65 years and older exceeded
$1.9 billion in 2000. By 2020, the annual direct and indirect cost of fall injuries is expected to
reach $54.9 billion. The average cost of one fall for an older adult totaled $19,440 which included
hospital, nursing home, emergency room, and home health care. ,

[0004] Furthermore, these costs do not include the long-term effects of falls such as
dependence on others, lost time from activities, difficulty performing personal care and household
duties, pain and suffering and reduced quality of life. Prevention of falls in both hospital settings
and long term care settings is therefore an important patient safety and public health issue.

[0005] One of the areas where persons are likely susceptible to falls is in the transition of a
patient from a wheelchair to a standing, ambulatory stance. The problem arises in that there are
certain individuals who are strong enough to get up out of their wheelchair but do not have
adequate balance to ambulate alone and are at a high risk for falling.

[0006] Such individuals often have cognitive impairment as well and have decreased safety
awareness and the inability to acknowledge their functional limitations. This population may
include, but is not limited to, residents living in dementia and Alzheimer’s care facilities, other
nursing home residents, hospitalized patents suffering from post op confusion or altered mental
status, stroke victims and traumatic brain injury patients.
 WO 2013/074945 PCT/US2012/065550

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[0007] As such, the risk of a fall is great where such patients try to arise from a wheelchair
to a standing position and/or try to transition from a wheelchair to a walker so as to ambulate on
their own supported solely by the walker.

[0008] It would, therefore, be advantageous to have a wheelchair that can facilitate the
transition of a patient from a sitting position on a wheelchair to a standing position to continue
ambulation with a walker by providing a combination of a wheelchair and walker that can be
attached to and detached from the wheelchair so that the wheelchair can act as a safety device in
the event the patient loses his or her balance and falls backward.

[0009] It would also be advantageous to have a combination wheelchair and walker

detachably attached together where there is a space intermediate the wheelchair and walker for the
person to ambulate in a protective environment.

[0010] It would be further advantageous to have the walker readily detachable from the
wheelchair so that the patient can continue ambulating solely with the support of the walker.

Summary of the Invention

[0011] Accordingly, the present invention combines technologies to create a new,

innovative mobility wheelchair and walker combination that addresses the wheelchair user’s needs
in one basic design.

[0012] One of the key components of the present invention is that the walker readily
attaches and detaches from the wheelchair. The combination wheelchair and walker is designed
to prevent falls for a person transitioning from the sitting position on a wheelchair to an
ambulatory standing position being supported by a walker.

[0013] When an individual is sitting in the wheelchair, a caregiver can attach the walker to
the front of the wheel chair by an attachment system. In the exemplary embodiment, the
attachment system is comprised of securing downwardly directed members into attachment
 WO 2013/074945 PCT/US2012/065550

-3-

sockets. The downwardly directed members secure into the attachment sockets easily and quickly
and allow a caregiver to facilitate the attaching and detaching of the walker to the wheelchair.

[0014] As such, once the walker is attached to the wheelchair, the wheelchair’s user will
have the capability of standing up, holding on to the walker and ambulating while the wheelchair
remains behind and attached to the walker to allow the user to sit back down. The walker and
wheelchair can move individually or be locked in place, reducing the risk of falls during

unsupervised activities.

[0015] With the present invention, the user can stand up from the sitting position on the
wheelchair and grasp the handle of the walker and remain in the space between the wheelchair- and
the walker so as to ambulate with the safety of the wheelchair behind the user in the event that
user needs to sit down again.

[0016] As another alternative, the caregiver can fully separate the walker from the
wheelchair once the user has risen to the standing position and has grasped the walker so that the
wheelchair can be left behind and the user can continue to ambulate with the sole support of the
walker disconnected from the wheelchair.

[0017] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more
readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings
herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combination of a wheelchair and a walker attached

together;

[0019] Fig. 2 is aside view of the combination wheelchair and walker of Fig. 1; and

[0020] Fig. 3 is atop view of the wheelchair and walker of Fig. 1.

 WO 2013/074945 PCT/US2012/065550

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Detailed Description of the Invention

[0021] Referring now to Figs. 1-3, there is shown, a perspective view, a side view and atop
view of a combination of a wheelchair 10 and a walker 12 attached together. As can be seen, the
wheelchair 10 has a wheelchair frame 14 that incorporates a lower seat 16 as well as aback support 18
for holding the user in the proper sitting position within the wheelchair 10.

[0022] A head support 20 may be provided that extends upwardly from the back support 18,
again, for supporting the head of the user. Additionally, there may be arm supports 22 that are
provided on each lateral side of the lower seat 16 for supporting the arms of the user.

[0023] A set of swiveled front wheels 24 are located at the front of the wheelchair 10 so as to
allow the wheelchair 10 to freely roll along a planar surface. As used herein the term “front” will be the
area of the wheelchair 10 and walker 12 that is in the direction the user is facing when seated in the
wheelchair and the term “rear” will be the opposite area of the wheelchair 10 and walker 12. In a
similar manner, a “forward” movement will be movement in the direction the user is facing when seated
in the wheelchair and a “rearward” movement will be movement of the wheelchair in the opposite
direction. •

[0024] There are two drive wheels 26 that are located along the lateral sides of the wheelchair
10 (only one of which is sh own in Fig. 1). The drive wheels 26 may be of the conventional type where
the drive wheels 26 are manually grasped and rotated by the user in a forward or reverse direction to
propel the wheelchair 10.

[0025] Alternatively, the drive wheels 26 may, as in the exemplary embodiment of Figs. 1-3, be
of a type wherein the user manipulates a pair of lever arms 28 by utilizing a pushing or pulling motion
of the arms to move the drive wheels 26 simultaneously so as to move the wheelchair 10 in a forward
or reverse direction or individually to turn the wheelchair 10 in a desired direction.

[0026] Turning then to the walker 12, the walker 12 is comprised of a frame 30 of a standard
nature in that it includes an upper handle 32 and side supports 34. As is conventional, the user can
grasp the upper handle 32 for support during ambulation or can grasp both of the side supports 34 for
support during that ambulation. In either case, the user is normally in the upright, standing position.
 WO 2013/074945 PCT7US2012/065550

-5-

[0027] The walker 12 also includes two forward struts 36 that extend from the upper handle
32 to bottom members 38, that serve to support the upper handle 32. As such, the bottom members 38
extend rearwardly from a pair of front wheels 40, which may be swiveled wheels 40, to be attached to
the lower ends 42 of the bottom members 38.

[0028] In the exemplary embodiment, there can also be seen rear supports 44 having support
legs 46. It should be noted that the present invention may be constructed as the exemplary embodiment
of Figs 1-3 or in an alternative embodiment. To carry out the present invention, the walker 10 should
preferable include the upper handle 32, the front wheels 40 and the support legs 46 at the rear of the
walker 12. The support legs 42 may actually also be wheels consistent with the present invention.

[0029] In any event, the walker frame 30 includes a pair of downwardly directed members 48
that extend downwardly and which mterfit into hollow attachment sockets 50 that are affixed to the
wheelchair 10. As such, an attachment system is formed that allows the walker 12 to be attached to the
wheelchair 10 and detached from lhe wheelchair 10 in a relatively easy manner to facilitate such
attachment and detachment.

[0030] When the walker 12 is in its attached position and thus joined to the wheelchair 10, it
can be seen that the interfitting of the downwardly directed members 48 into the hollow attachment
sockets 50 are dimensioned such that the support legs 46 are located above the planar surface, such as
a floor, upon which the wheelchair 10 and walker 12 rest.

[0031] That attachment system, in the exemplary embodiment, allows the walker 12 to be
raised and lowered vertically in order to carry out the detaching and attaching of the walker 12 and the
wheelchair 10.

[0032] As a feature of the present invention, there can be seen, particularly in Fig. 3, the
presence of a space 52 that is intermediate the wheelchair 10 and the walker 12 that has sufficient room
to allow a user to walk in the space 52 when the walker 12 is attached to the wheelchair 10.
 WO 2013/074945 PCT/US2012/065550

- 6-

[0033] As can now be seen, the use of the present combination wheelchair/walker can be
explained with reference to Figs, 1-3. In atypical situation, the user can be seated in the wheelchair 10
and there is a desire on the part of the user or the healthcare facility to transition the user from a sitting
position on the wheelchair 10 to a standing position supported by a walker 12. In such event, the
caregiver can simply attach the walker 12 to the wheelchair 10 through the use of the attachment
system that provides an easy mechanical means of positively and readily carrying out that attachment.

[0034] Accordingly, to attach the walker 12 to the wheelchair 10, the walker 12 is simply
raised vertically by the caregiver and the downwardly directed members 48 are aligned with the hollow
attachment sockets 50. By then simply lowering the walker 12, the downwardly directed members 48
enter into the hollow attachment sockets 50, thereby attaching the walker 12 firmly and positively to
the wheelchair 10.

[0035] At this point, the user can move from the sitting position to the standing position and is
still confined within the space 52 so that the user is protected from falling in any direction and the user
can hold on to the walker 12 for assistance in rising to the standing position.

[0036] The user can then proceed to ambulate by holding on to the upper handle 32 or side
supports 34 of the walker and, since the wheelchair 10 is still attached to the walker, the wheelchair 10
is available to catch the user if the user falls backwardly or simply gets tired and wants the comfort and
safety of the sitting position on the wheelchair 10.

[0037] On the other hand, if the user is feeling comfortable with ambulating in the standing
position, tire caregiver can detach the walker 12 from the wheelchair 10 by the attachment system, that
is, by lifting the walker 12 vertically to disengage the downwardly directed members 48 from the
hollow attachment sockets 50 and the wheelchair 10 can be detached so that the user can continue
walldng assisted only by the walker 12.

[0038] Those skilled in the ait will readily recognize numerous adaptations and
modifications which can be made to the wheelchair and walker combination of the present
invention which will result in an improved safety system to enable a user to transition from a
 WO 2013/074945 PCT/US2012/065550

-7-

sitting to a standing position using the combination wheelchair/walker, yet all of which will fall
within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined in the following claims

[0039] Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and their
equivalents.
 ' WO 2013/074945 PCT/US2012/065550

- 8 -

CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1. A combination of a wheelchair and a walker mechanically affixed together, the
wheelchair comprising a wheelchair frame for supporting a user in a sitting position, a pair of front
wheels and a pair of drive wheels rotatably affixed to the frame and being movable to propel the
wheelchair over a flat surface, the walker comprising a walker frame having a handle adapted to be
grasped by a user, and having at least two wheels that contact the flat surface when supporting a user,
and an attachment system that enables the walker to be readily attached to and detached from the
wheelchair.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the attachment system comprises the
interfilting of a component of the walker to a component of the wheelchair.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the attachment system comprises at least
one downwardly directed member on the walker that interfits into at least one hollow attachment

socket on the wheelchair.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein the at least one downwardly directed
member and the at least one hollow attachment socket comprises a pair of downwardly directed
members and a pair of hollow attachment sockets.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein the pair of downwardly directed

members are located along lateral sides of the walker and the pair of hollow attachment sockets are
located along lateral sides of the wheelchair.

6. The wheelchair as defined in claim 1 wherein the walker and the wheelchair are located
on the flat surface and wherein the walker has the two wheels located at the front of the walker and has
a pair of support legs proximate the rear of the walker and wherein, when attached to the wheelchair,
the support legs are elevated above the flat surface.
 WO 2013/074945 PCT/US2012/065550
I
-9-

7. The wheelchair as defined in claim 4 wherein space is provided between the wheelchair
and the walker when the walker is affixed to the wheelchair to enable a user to stand and ambulate
within the space.

8. A method of allowing a user to transition from a sitting position in a wheelchair to a

standing position supported by a walker, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a wheelchair having a wheelchair frame to support a user in a sitting position,
the wheelchair frame having drive wheels and support wheels affixed thereto, the wheelchair having a
first component of an attachment system,
providing a walker comprising a walker fi'ame having a front wheels and rear support
legs, the walker having a second component of an attachment system, and
using the attachment system to attach the walker to and detach the walker from the
wheelchair.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of using the attachment system to attach the
walker comprises interfitting together the second component of the attachment system to the first
component of the attachment system

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of using the attachment system to detach the
walker comprises releasing the second component of the attachment system from the first component
of the attachment system

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of releasing the second component from the
I
first component comprises raising the walker vertically to detach the second component for the first
I
component.

i
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the method further comprises the step of detaching the
walker from the wheelchair to allow the user to continue ambulating supported solely by the walker.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of using the attachment system to attach the
walker to the wheelchair includes the step of providing a space intermediate the wheelchair and the
walker to allow a user to ambulate while positioned within the space.

me
WO 2013/074945 PCT/US2012/065550
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CN

u.
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CN
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 INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT international application No.
PCT/US 12/65550

A. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER

IPC(8) - A63C 17/18 (2013,01)
USPC- 280/7.15
According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC

B. FIELDS SEARCHED__________________________________________________________
Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols)
USPC: 2B0/7.15 . '

Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched
USPC: 260/7.17, 7.15, 7.1; 135/66 (keyword limited; terms below)

Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practicable, search terms used)
Patbasa; Freepatentsoniina; Google Scholar
Search Terms Used: wheelchair, walker, combination, connect*, attach*, cane

C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT

Category4 Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No.

X US 6,467,797 B1 (LOFV et al) 22 October 2002 (22.10.2002) fig 1, 2, 4, col 3, In 12-22, col 4, In 1-2, 6, 8-11,13-14
31-54, col 5, Irt 8-16
3-5,7

Y US 3,999,778 A (MARKIEL) 28 December 1976 (28.12.1976) fig 1, 2, col 2, In 24-49 3-5,7

A US 3,584,890 A (PRESTY) 15 June 1971 (15.06.1971) fig 1, 2, 3 1-11, 13-14

A US 3,398,974 A (EDWARDS et al) 27 August 1968 (27,08.1968) fig 1, 2. 3 1-11,13-14

A US 2011/0006494 A1 (WALKER) 13 January 2011 (13.01.2011) fig 1,2 1-11,13-14

US 2009/0152826 A1 (SILVA at al) 18 June 2009 (18.06.2009) fig 2, 3, para [0083] 1-11,13-14

□ Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box C.

Special categories of cited documents:

□
"T” later document published after ihe international filing dale or priority
“A” document defining the general stale of Ihe art which is not considered date and not in conflict with the application but cited to understand
to be of particular relevance the principle or theory underlying the invention
“E" earlier application or patent but published on or after the international “X” document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot be
filing date considered novel or cannot be considered to involve an inventive
“L” document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) or which is step when the document is taken alone
cited to establish the publication date of another citation or other “Y” document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot be
special reason (as specified) considered to involve an inventive step when the document is
“O” document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or other combined with one or more other such documents, such combination
means being obvious to a person skilled in the art
“P” document published prior to the international filing date but later than “&" document member of the same patent family
the priority date claimed
Date of the actual completion of the international search Date ofmailing of the international search report

18 January 2013(18.01.2013)
07 F E B .2013
Name and mailing address of the ISA/US Authorized officer:
Mail Stop PCT, Attn: ISA/US, Commissioner for Patents Lee W. Young
P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
PCT Helpdesk: 571-272-4300
Facsimile No. 571-273-3201 PCT OSP: 571-272-7774

Form PCT/1SA/2I0 (second sheet) (July 2009)

EXHIBIT C
 900 Southeast Third Avenue, Suite 205
Kain Spielman, P.A. Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316
Intellectual Property Attorneys
Telephone: (954) 768-9002
Facsimile: (954) 768-0158

ComplexIP.com®
Patent - Trademark -Copyright - Computer Law Robert C. Kain, Jr. rkain@ComplexIP.com
Trade Secret - Domain Disputes - Defamation Darren Spielman dspielman@ComplexIP.com
Nicole Valdivieso nvaldivieso@ComplexIP.com

December 15, 2017

VTA EMAIL ONLY georgi 12@yahoo.com

Georgia Brown
13198 NW 19th St.
Pembroke Pines, FL 33028

Re: Patent Analysis Services

Invent Help Patentability Opinion

Dear Ms. Brown:

This letter responds to your request that I document my comments about the InventHelp
Patent Opinion letter dated March 30, 2017, your wheelchair-walker invention, and the prior art
located by InventHelp.

As we discussed at our conference on December 13, 2017, it is my opinion that the

InventHelp March 30 letter is completely inaccurate when it states that your wheelchair-walker
invention may be patentable and that you may be able to obtain a utility patent on the wheelchair-
walker invention.

At our December conference, I reviewed the prior art references (3 references) located by
InventHelp and your wheelchair-walker invention. It is clear to me that there is no possibility that
your could get a utility patent on the wheelchair-walker invention. My opinion is directly contrary
to the InventHelp March letter and the concluding opinion therein. Further, I believe that any patent
attorney or patent agent who recommended or stated that there was a reasonable chance or any
possibility that you could get a utility patent on the wheelchair-walker invention has committed legal
malpractice.

Sincerely,
/s/RobertKain
Robert C. Kain, Jr., Esq.

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