Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Canes – sticks – crutches – and walking aids – Combined and convertible
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2001-10-16
Canfield, Robert (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Canes, sticks, crutches, and walking aids
Combined and convertible
C135S067000, C297S440110, C297S006000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302126
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices for the disabled. More particularly, it relates to an attachment for a walker which may be used as a seat and as a storage means.
STATEMENT OF THE PRIOR ART
Attachments for walkers are well known in the art and generally fall into two categories. The first category is the rigid, non-portable type. These attachments generally have clamps or other attachment means which enable a solid support member to be extended across and secured to the opposing handles of the walker. While these attachments are usually quite sturdy, they are not very portable as they add excessively to the overall weight of the walker and are difficult to stow in an out of the way position when the walker is to be used for walking.
The second category is the flexible, generally portable type. These attachments are generally made of cloth and employ various schemes for attachment to the walker. The devices are used essentially as makeshift seats and, given their relatively insubstantial structure, are dubious from a safety perspective. The entire weight of the user is typically supported by zippers or buttons or the like at some stress point and require the user to be certain the device is properly attached. The weight of the user will tend to dislodge the attachment from its proper position possibly causing the placement of stress in an area of the fabric not designed to be weight bearing, resulting in a potentially dangerous failure of the attachment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,800 issued to Pirrallo discloses a removable one piece walker seat. The seat is comprised of a generally rectangular sheet of fabric having a pair of attachment bars affixed to both ends of the rectangular sheet. The sheet and the bars cooperate to form a seat when the sheet is suspended across opposing horizontal frame members of the walker. This assembly suffers from the drawback in that the bars add overall weight to the seat and walker. Also, the bars form stress points within the material which could cause failure of the seat with a high probability of injury to the user. By contrast, the present invention contemplates a seat for a walker having a single sheet of fabric with no metal bars or clamps. The seat has two pair of pockets, a first pair is sized and shaped for placement over the top end of the opposing horizontal frame members or handles of the walker, and a second pair having a zippered closure. The first pair of pockets form a weight bearing attachment means with a portion of the walker handle secure therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,620 issued to Quillan et al. discloses a seat for a walker comprised of a rectangular sheet of fabric. The sheet has a pair of loops formed therein which may be slid over the handrails to form attachments points for the seat. This arrangement suffers from several drawbacks. First, the loops are permanently stitched shut and thus the seat is very difficult to attach to the walker. Some disassembly of the walker is required in most cases and assembly is not easily accomplished by disabled persons. Also, the removably mountable embodiment discussed uses zippers to close the loops which are affixed to the handrails. In addition to the obvious difficulty of manipulating the zippers, the device would cause all of the weight of the user to be placed upon a zipper closure. By contrast, the present invention provides a seat for a walker which is easily attached to the walker and has very robust attachment points. No metal clamps or bars are used within or without the assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,067 issued to Carbajal, et al. discloses a rigid foldable seat for a walker where the seat folds away when not in use. In addition to being heavy and bulky, these types of seats are also relatively expensive By contrast, the present invention concerns a seat formed of an inexpensive flexible single sheet. The seat can be safely and reliably attached to the walker and includes auxiliary attachment means which allow for attachment in a storage position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,168 issued to Alulyan and U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,912 issued to Harroun both disclose modified walker devices which have built in seats. Unlike the present invention, these devices require users to purchase a new walker and discard what may be a perfectly new walker. For many disabled, the cost of such a device would be prohibitive. Also, parts for a non-standard device may be impossible to get eventually, further increasing the potential costs of ownership of such a device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention contemplates an attachment for a walker which may be used as a seat and has a convenient storage pouch. The attachment is formed from a single sheet of fabric having a pair of pockets formed at each of the opposing ends. A first one of the pockets conforms to the shape of the top ends of opposing vertical support members of the walkers and is adapted to fit over the support members and function as the attachment means to the walker. The seat is formed by extending the fabric across the space between the horizontal support members and sliding the first pair of pockets downwardly over the top ends of the opposing horizontal support members until the support members are firmly embedded therein. The weight of the user is distributed over the entire seam eliminating relatively small stress points. A second one of the pockets functions solely as a storage means and has a zippered closure.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved attachment for a walker which functions as a temporary seat and storage pouch.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved attachment for a walker which is portable and lightweight.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved attachment for a walker which is flexible and yet strong enough to support the weight of an adult user.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved attachment for a walker which can be attached to a standard walker without the use of clamps, rods, buttons, or other attachment means.
Finally, it is a general object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is fully effective in accomplishing its intended purpose.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2473090 (1949-06-01), Becker
patent: 2713890 (1955-07-01), Mack
patent: 4456284 (1984-06-01), Saka
patent: 4553786 (1985-11-01), Lockett, III et al.
patent: 4974620 (1990-12-01), Quillan et al.
patent: 5012963 (1991-05-01), Rosenbaum
patent: 5280800 (1994-01-01), Pirrallo
patent: 5340005 (1994-08-01), Woods et al.
patent: 5496094 (1996-03-01), Schwartzkopf et al.
patent: 5513789 (1996-05-01), Woods et al.
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