A forward-facing walker

Abstract

The application discloses a forward walking vehicle, which comprises a vehicle frame, a wheel set and a supporting device for supporting the upper body. The supporting device comprises supporting rods arranged on both sides of the walking space, and the supporting rods are provided with lifting positioning assemblies and lifting-positioned mounting rods. The top end of each mounting rod is provided with a rotary positioning assembly, a mounting shaft capable of rotating and positioning is horizontally arranged on the rotary positioning assembly, the mounting shafts on both sides are concentrically arranged, and the ends of the mounting shafts towards the walking space are fixedly connected with a surrounding part for surrounding the trunk. The application allows the user to adjust the height and the fixed inclination angle of the surrounding part according to the ability of the user, so that the trunk is properly supported and the physical strength is effectively saved. The height and angle adjusting structure is designed ingeniously, the two sides can be independently and quickly operated by one hand, which is simple and labor-saving, the preparation time for adjustment is greatly shortened, and the rehabilitation training effect is excellent.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of rehabilitation medical device technology, and more specifically, to a forward-facing baby walker. Background Technology

[0002] For individuals with lower limb motor impairments who require rehabilitation training, a rehabilitation walker is typically used. Since the degree of paralysis varies from person to person, walkers with different support configurations are needed to ensure optimal training results for individuals with varying degrees of paralysis.

[0003] Currently, for trainees who have almost completely lost their ability to support themselves in their upper body, a rearward-facing walker is usually used, with the support part located behind the trainee to completely fix the upper body in place; while for trainees who have a relatively strong ability to support themselves in their upper body, a simple forward-facing walker is usually used, where the trainee can simply support themselves with both hands on the walker's handlebars.

[0004] However, for trainees who have some upper body self-support ability but not enough to support their own body, or who cannot support their body for extended periods, both types of walkers have drawbacks. Rear-facing walkers completely fix the upper body, causing strong discomfort for the user; simple forward-facing walkers cannot provide effective body support. Some forward-facing walkers on the market also have a U-shaped frame for upper body support and support handles for gripping, and a seat for the trainee to sit and rest when tired. While these walkers provide some upper body support, they require the trainee to expend considerable energy to support the upper body, leading to fatigue and failing to achieve effective lower limb training results within the same training time. In addition, due to insufficient support in the upper and lower limbs, baby walkers need to be adjusted very precisely according to the trainee's body shape and posture to achieve the best results. However, although existing baby walkers have adjustment functions, these adjustment structures are designed for assistive users, which often makes the adjustment time-consuming and laborious. This requires the trainee to cooperate for a long time, which leads to the trainee being very tired and often makes it difficult to achieve the ideal adjustment effect. Therefore, the adjustment device needs to be improved to simplify the adjustment operation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a forward-facing walker to solve the technical problems of insufficient support and easy fatigue of trainees with some upper body self-support in existing forward-facing walkers. At the same time, it simplifies the adjustment structure, shortens the adjustment time, and solves the technical problem that trainees have difficulty cooperating with the adjustment for a long time.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a forward-facing walker, comprising a frame that forms a walking space for the user, front and rear wheel sets mounted on the bottom of the frame, and a support device mounted on the frame for supporting the upper body. The support device includes two support rods arranged parallel to each other on both sides of the walking space. Each support rod has a grip handle at its front end. Each of the two support rods has a lifting and positioning assembly, and each lifting and positioning assembly has a lifting and positioning mounting rod. Each mounting rod has a rotational positioning assembly, and each rotational positioning assembly has a mounting shaft installed horizontally perpendicular to the mounting rod. The mounting shaft can rotate and be positioned relative to the mounting rod, and the mounting shafts on both sides are concentrically arranged. The ends of both mounting shafts facing the walking space are fixedly connected to a surrounding member for enclosing the torso.

[0007] The lifting and positioning assembly includes a first lock box, the rear side of which is clamped to the support rod and fixed by bolts. A vertically penetrating sleeve is provided inside the first lock box. The mounting rod is coaxially inserted into the sleeve, and multiple positioning holes are formed along its length on the mounting rod. An opening is formed on the outer side of the first lock box, and a pressure plate is provided within the opening. The two sides of the pressure plate are rotatably mounted on the two side walls of the first lock box. A telescopic spring is provided between the lower inner side of the pressure plate and the first lock box. An L-shaped latch is also provided inside the first lock box. One end of the L-shaped latch passes through the side wall of the sleeve and engages with the positioning hole. The corner of the L-shaped latch is rotatably mounted on the upper inner wall of the pressure plate.

[0008] The rotary positioning assembly includes a second locking box fixed to the top of the mounting rod. The second locking box has a shaft hole adapted to pass through the mounting shaft. A locking block that can move radially to abut against the side wall of the mounting shaft is embedded in the second locking box. A convex shaft handle is rotatably mounted on the outside of the second locking box. The convex shaft on the convex shaft handle can drive the locking block to press against the mounting shaft.

[0009] Furthermore, the bottom end of the grip handle is provided with a universal ball, which is installed in a ball groove. The ball groove includes upper and lower parts, and a friction pad is provided inside the ball groove. The upper and lower parts of the ball groove are locked together with screws to clamp and fix the universal ball. A U-shaped support groove is provided at the rear of the grip handle, and the support groove can rotate a certain angle on the horizontal plane.

[0010] Furthermore, a clamping lock is provided at the front end of the support rod, which can be adjusted to the front and rear position on the support rod and locked in place; a support plate is provided at the top of the clamping lock, and an arc-shaped through groove is provided on the support plate. A mounting plate is attached to the top surface of the support plate in parallel, and multiple screws are inserted into the arc-shaped through groove to lock the support plate and the mounting plate in place. The ball groove and the bracket groove are both installed on the mounting plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the enclosure is made of a flexible material, and both ends of the enclosure are provided with connecting latches for connecting the ends of the enclosure.

[0012] Furthermore, the front ends of the support rods on both sides are fixedly connected by a connecting crossbar, and a plug rod is fixedly provided at the center of the connecting crossbar; a plug sleeve is fixedly provided on the frame, and the plug rod can be inserted into the plug sleeve in a height-reducing manner and its position can be locked.

[0013] Furthermore, the frame extends into the walking space and is provided with a seat plate. A backrest assembly is rotatably mounted on the seat plate. The backrest assembly can be flipped downwards and can be locked and fixed after being flipped upwards into place.

[0014] Furthermore, the vehicle frame extends into the travel space and is provided with a front-to-back isolation bar, which is located between the two support bars.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. By setting a lifting and positioning component, a mounting rod, a rotating positioning component, a mounting shaft, and a retaining frame on the support rod, the mounting shaft can rotate relative to the mounting rod and lock the tilt angle. At the same time, the mounting rod can rise and fall relative to the support rod and lock the height. This allows the user to independently adjust the overall height of the retaining frame and fix the tilt angle according to their own support ability, so that the torso obtains a suitable support state. This ensures that the upper body is not completely fixed to maintain training autonomy, and effectively saves the physical exertion of the trainee in supporting the upper body. Through the structural cooperation of the first locking box, sleeve, pressure plate, telescopic spring, and L-shaped lock, the operator only needs to press the lower part of the pressure plate to use the leverage of the pressure plate to activate the L-shaped lock. Unlocking is achieved by exiting the positioning hole on the front end of the mounting rod. After releasing the pressure plate, the telescopic spring automatically pushes the pressure plate back to relock the height of the mounting rod, making the one-handed adjustment of the mounting rod height simple and quick. Through the cooperation of the second locking box, locking block, and cam shaft handle in the rotation positioning assembly, the mechanical thrust generated by the change in the eccentricity of the cam shaft during the rotation of the cam shaft handle drives the locking block to move radially and tightly press against the side wall of the mounting shaft. The principle of locking by pure mechanical friction achieves rapid locking of the stepless rotation angle of the mounting shaft. Therefore, both sides of the enclosure can be adjusted independently, and both height and angle adjustments are simple, quick, and effortless, greatly shortening the trainee's coordination time and achieving the best usage effect. 2. By setting a universal ball at the bottom of the grip handle, in conjunction with the ball groove and friction pad divided into upper and lower parts, the grip handle can be adjusted in all directions in three-dimensional space and locked with screws. At the same time, the groove that can rotate on the horizontal plane is set, so that trainees with different arm gripping abilities and different arm sizes can find a suitable support angle. 3. By incorporating a clamping lock, support plate, mounting plate, and arc-shaped groove at the front end of the support rod, the entire mounting plate, along with its ball groove and bracket, can be adjusted and locked along the support rod. Furthermore, the horizontal angle of the mounting plate can be adjusted by sliding screws within the arc-shaped groove, allowing for adjustment of the arm support position's forward / backward distance and overall orientation. 4. By extending a long, narrow seat plate and a flip-up backrest assembly into the walking space, the backrest assembly can be flipped downwards to avoid interference when the user enters the walker, and then flipped upwards and locked after entry, providing back support. The narrower seat plate reduces user discomfort during prolonged sitting, encouraging standing and walking exercises, thus ensuring the duration and effectiveness of lower limb rehabilitation training. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a forward-facing baby walker according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the vehicle frame and support rod installation structure of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a single-sided structure of the support device of the present invention; Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the mounting structure parts of the lifting positioning component and the rotating positioning component of the present invention; Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the grip handle and bracket mounting structure parts of the present invention.

[0017] Reference numerals: 10. Frame; 11. Running space; 12. Front and rear wheel sets; 20. Support device; 21. Support rod; 22. Grip handle; 221. Universal ball joint; 222. Ball groove; 2221. Friction pad; 223. Tray; 224. Clamping latch; 225. Support plate; 226. Arc-shaped through groove; 227. Mounting plate; 30. Lifting and positioning assembly; 31. First lock box; 32. Sleeve; 3 21. Perforation; 33. Pressure plate; 34. Telescopic spring; 35. L-shaped latch; 36. Clamping seat; 40. Mounting rod; 41. Positioning hole; 50. Rotary positioning assembly; 51. Second lock box; 52. Shaft hole; 53. Lock block; 54. Protruding shaft handle; 60. Mounting shaft; 70. Enclosure; 80. Connecting crossbar; 81. Insert rod; 82. Insert sleeve; 90. Seat plate; 91. Backrest assembly; 92. Isolation rod. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0019] refer to Figures 1 to 5 This embodiment provides a forward-facing baby walker 100, including a frame 10. The main body of the frame 10 is constructed from high-strength metal tubing welded or bolted together. Its structure encloses an inward-facing hollow walking space 11 for the user to stand and walk. Front and rear wheel sets 12 are mounted at the four corners of the frame 10 via bearing structures. Each wheel set 12 includes omnidirectional wheels with foot brakes to ensure smooth movement of the entire baby walker 100 on the ground. A support device 20 for supporting the user's upper body is mounted on the top of the frame 10.

[0020] Specifically, the support device 20 includes two support rods 21 arranged parallel to each other on the left and right sides of the walking space 11, with the two support rods 21 running horizontally. Each support rod 21 has a grip handle 22 at its front end for the trainee to hold. A lifting and positioning assembly 30 is fixedly installed on each of the support rods 21. A mounting rod 40 perpendicular to the ground is threaded through each lifting and positioning assembly 30. The mounting rod 40 is adjusted in height relative to the support rod 21 via the lifting and positioning assembly 30, and is securely locked after reaching the target height.

[0021] A rotary positioning assembly 50 is fixedly mounted at the top of each mounting rod 40. Each rotary positioning assembly 50 is equipped with a mounting shaft 60, the length of which is arranged horizontally, and its axis is perpendicular to the central axis of the mounting rod 40. The mounting shaft 60 can rotate relative to the mounting rod 40 at a specific angle, and the rotary positioning assembly 50 fixes and locks the rotated angle. The center lines of the two mounting shafts 60 on the left and right sides coincide, presenting a concentric arrangement.

[0022] Two mounting shafts 60 extend inward (towards the walking space 11) to a connecting piece 70. The connecting piece 70 is made of a flexible, tensile-resistant material (such as nylon webbing with a sponge padding), and is strip-shaped with a pair of interlocking fasteners or Velcro at both ends. After entering the walking space 11, the trainee wraps the connecting piece 70 around their torso and fastens the fasteners, thus securing the torso. Because the connecting piece 70 is connected to the mounting shafts 60, the trainee can adjust the tilt angle of the connecting piece 70 around their body by rotating the mounting shafts 60, and adjust the overall height of the connecting piece 70 by using the lifting mounting rod 40. After adjustment, the lifting positioning component 30 and the rotation positioning component 50 are locked. This structure can accommodate trainees of different heights and with different upper body tilting support habits, effectively distributing upper body weight and reducing muscle fatigue.

[0023] Regarding the height adjustment mechanism of the mounting rod 40, the lifting and positioning assembly 30 includes a hollow first lock box 31. A clamping seat 36 is formed on the rear side of the first lock box 31, which surrounds the outer wall of the support rod 21 and is fastened to the support rod 21 by a transversely passing bolt. This structure also supports the front-to-back position adjustment of the first lock box 31 on the support rod 21. A vertically extending sleeve 32 is embedded inside the first lock box 31, and the mounting rod 40 slides up and down coaxially within the inner hole of the sleeve 32. Multiple positioning holes 41 are equidistantly formed on the side wall of the mounting rod 40 along its length.

[0024] A rectangular opening is formed on the outer wall of the first lock box 31. A pressure plate 33 is fitted into the opening. The pressure plate 33 has protruding hinge shafts on both sides of its central portion, which are rotatably mounted on the side walls of the opening of the first lock box 31, forming a lever fulcrum. A telescopic spring 34 abuts against the inner wall of the lower half of the pressure plate 33, with the other end of the spring 34 pressing against the internal frame of the first lock box 31. Under normal conditions, the elastic force of the telescopic spring 34 pushes the lower part of the pressure plate 33 outwards, keeping the outer surface of the pressure plate 33 flush with the outer surface of the first lock box 31.

[0025] Inside the first lock box 31, above the pressure plate 33, there is an L-shaped latch 35. The horizontal end of the L-shaped latch 35 passes through the pre-drilled hole 321 on the side wall of the sleeve 32 and is inserted into one of the positioning holes 41 on the surface of the mounting rod 40, thereby restricting the vertical movement of the mounting rod 40; the corner end of the L-shaped latch 35 is rotatably connected to the inner wall of the upper half of the pressure plate 33 by a pin. When the user presses the lower part of the pressure plate 33 inward, the pressure plate 33 rotates around the central hinge axis, the upper half of the pressure plate 33 tilts outward, and then pulls the L-shaped latch 35 outward from the sleeve 32, so that the end of the L-shaped latch 35 disengages from the positioning hole 41, thereby unlocking; after the user adjusts the height of the mounting rod 40, the pressure plate 33 is released, the telescopic spring 34 releases its elastic force and pushes the lower part of the pressure plate 33 back, the upper part of the pressure plate 33 rotates inward and pushes the L-shaped latch 35 back into the corresponding new positioning hole 41, restoring the lock.

[0026] Regarding the angle adjustment mechanism of the enclosure 70, the rotary positioning assembly 50 includes a second lock box 51 fixed to the top of the mounting rod 40. The second lock box 51 has a horizontally extending shaft hole 52 through which the mounting shaft 60 rotates. A radial guide groove is provided on the side of the second lock box 51, and a locking block 53 with a friction surface is slidably embedded within the guide groove. A convex shaft handle 54 is rotatably mounted on the outside of the second lock box 51 via a rotating shaft. The cross-section of the rotating shaft portion of the convex shaft handle 54 is an eccentric wheel structure, and the outer edge surface of the convex shaft abuts against the outer end face of the locking block 53. When the cam handle 54 is pressed down, the side with the longer radius of the cam pushes against the locking block 53, forcing the locking block 53 to move radially inward and press tightly against the outer cylindrical surface of the mounting shaft 60, thus locking the mounting shaft 60 by friction. When the cam handle 54 is lifted up, the side with the shorter radius of the cam faces the locking block 53, the pressure of the locking block 53 is released, and the mounting shaft 60 can then rotate freely within the shaft hole 52 to adjust the angle of the enclosure 70.

[0027] Regarding the hand support adjustment structure, a universal ball 221 is integrally formed or screwed to the bottom end of the grip handle 22. The support device 20 also includes a ball groove 222, the interior of which has a spherical cavity adapted to the spherical size of the universal ball 221. The ball groove 222 is divided into upper and lower parts, and the edges of the upper and lower parts are provided with flanges with pre-drilled threaded holes. Multiple screws are screwed into the flanges to lock them in place. A friction pad 2221 is also provided inside the ball groove 222. When the screws are loose, the universal ball 221 can rotate omnidirectionally within the ball groove 222; when the screws are tightened, the upper and lower parts of the ball groove 222 tighten inward, and the friction between the friction pad 2221 and the outer surface of the universal ball 221 completely clamps the universal ball 221, thereby fixing the spatial angle of the grip handle 22. A U-shaped support groove 223 is provided in the area of ​​the support rod 21 behind the grip handle 22. The inner wall of the bracket 223 is lined with shock-absorbing foam to support the trainee's forearm. The bottom of the bracket 223 is mounted via a vertical pivot, allowing it to rotate at a certain angle around the vertical pivot in the horizontal plane to accommodate different trainees' forearm positioning preferences.

[0028] Furthermore, to achieve overall adjustment of the forearm support position, a clamping lock 224 is fitted onto the outer wall of the front end of the support rod 21. The clamping lock 224 is clamp-shaped and is locked with bolts. After loosening the bolts, the entire clamping lock 224 can slide back and forth along the axis of the support rod 21. After reaching a suitable distance, the bolts are tightened to fix it. A support plate 225 is horizontally welded to the top of the clamping lock 224. Two arc-shaped through slots 226 are formed through the surface of the support plate 225. A mounting plate 227 is stacked parallel to the top surface of the support plate 225. A threaded hole is formed on the bottom surface of the mounting plate 227. A screw passes through the arc-shaped through slots 226 on the support plate 225 from bottom to top and is screwed into the mounting plate 227 to press and lock the support plate 225 and the mounting plate 227. When the screw is loosened, the mounting plate 227 can rotate at an overall angle in the horizontal plane as the screw slides in the arc-shaped through slots 226. The aforementioned ball groove 222 and bracket 223 are both fixedly mounted on the mounting plate 227. This arrangement ensures that the hand and forearm support device can adjust its own angle while also adjusting its front-to-back distance and overall orientation angle as a whole.

[0029] In the remaining structural layout of the frame 10, a connecting crossbar 80 is spanned and welded between the front ends of the two support rods 21 on the left and right sides, connecting the support structures on the left and right sides into a stable whole. A vertical insertion rod 81 is welded vertically downward from the center point of the connecting crossbar 80. A hollow vertical sleeve 82 is welded to the center position of the front crossbeam of the frame 10. The lower end of the insertion rod 81 is fitted into the sleeve 82 and can be locked by existing fasteners such as pins, thereby enabling height adjustment of the entire support device 20, including the support rods 21, relative to the frame 10.

[0030] A frame extends horizontally into the inward walking space 11 at the bottom of the frame 10, with a seat 90 covering the top surface of the frame. The seat 90 is designed as a narrow, elongated soft pad to limit the pressure area on the trainee's buttocks. This design allows the trainee to sit down and rest when fatigued, but the narrow seat 90 does not provide comfort for prolonged sitting or lying down. Therefore, both physiologically and psychologically, this forces the trainee to stand up again and continue training, ensuring the efficiency of lower limb rehabilitation.

[0031] A backrest assembly 91 is rotatably mounted on the seat frame 90 via a hinge with a locating pin. The backrest assembly 91 includes a back support plate and a support arm. When the trainee enters the walking space 11 from the rear of the frame 10, the backrest assembly 91 can be flipped downwards to make way and prevent interference; after the trainee is in position and the armrest 70 is secured, the backrest assembly 91 can be flipped upwards to a vertical position and automatically locked in place by the locating pin, providing back support and protection when the trainee sits back.

[0032] In addition, a barrier bar 92 is welded to the bottom of the frame 10, extending towards the walking space 11 in a front-to-back direction. The barrier bar 92 is positioned precisely between the trainee's legs, using its physical blocking effect to forcibly separate the trainee's left and right foot movement areas, preventing trainees with impaired lower limb motor function from tripping over their legs during steps.

Claims

1. A forward-facing baby walker, comprising a frame that forms a walking space for a trainee to walk, and front and rear wheel sets mounted on the bottom of the frame, characterized in that, It also includes a support device mounted on the frame for supporting the upper body; the support device includes two support rods arranged parallel to each other on both sides of the walking space, each support rod having a gripping handle at its front end, each support rod having a lifting and positioning component, each lifting and positioning component having a lifting and positioning mounting rod; each mounting rod having a rotating positioning component, each rotating positioning component having a mounting shaft installed in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the mounting rod, the mounting shaft being able to rotate and position relative to the mounting rod, the mounting shafts on both sides being concentrically arranged; the ends of both mounting shafts facing the walking space are fixedly connected to a enclosure, the enclosure being used to enclose the torso; The lifting and positioning assembly includes a first lock box, the rear side of which is clamped to the support rod and fixed by bolts. A vertically penetrating sleeve is provided inside the first lock box. An mounting rod coaxially passes through the sleeve, and multiple positioning holes are formed along the length of the mounting rod. An opening is formed on the outer side of the first lock box, and a pressure plate is provided within the opening. The two sides of the pressure plate are rotatably mounted on the side walls of the first lock box. A telescopic spring is provided between the lower inner side of the pressure plate and the first lock box. An L-shaped latch is also provided inside the first lock box. One end of the L-shaped latch passes through the side wall of the sleeve and engages with the positioning hole. The corner of the L-shaped latch is rotatably mounted on the upper inner wall of the pressure plate. The rotary positioning assembly includes a second locking box fixed to the top of the mounting rod. The second locking box has a shaft hole adapted to pass through the mounting shaft. A locking block that can move radially to abut against the side wall of the mounting shaft is embedded in the second locking box. A convex shaft handle is rotatably mounted on the outside of the second locking box. The convex shaft on the convex shaft handle can drive the locking block to press against the mounting shaft.

2. The forward-facing baby walker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom end of the grip handle is provided with a universal ball, which is installed in a ball groove. The ball groove includes upper and lower parts, and a friction pad is provided inside the ball groove. The upper and lower parts of the ball groove are locked together with screws to clamp and fix the universal ball. A U-shaped support groove is provided at the rear of the grip handle, and the support groove can rotate a certain angle on the horizontal plane.

3. The forward-facing baby walker according to claim 2, characterized in that, A clamping lock is provided at the front end of the support rod. The clamping lock can be adjusted to the front and rear position on the support rod and locked in place. A support plate is provided at the top of the clamping lock. An arc-shaped through groove is provided on the support plate. A mounting plate is attached to the top surface of the support plate in parallel. Multiple screws are inserted into the arc-shaped through groove to lock the support plate and the mounting plate in place. The ball groove and the bracket groove are both installed on the mounting plate.

4. The forward-facing baby walker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The enclosure is made of a flexible material, and both ends of the enclosure are provided with connecting latches for connecting the ends of the enclosure.

5. The forward-facing baby walker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front ends of the support rods on both sides are fixedly connected by a connecting crossbar, and a plug rod is fixedly provided at the center of the connecting crossbar; a plug sleeve is fixedly provided on the frame, and the plug rod can be inserted into the plug sleeve in a height-reducing manner and its position can be locked.

6. The forward-facing baby walker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The frame extends into the walking space and is provided with a seat plate. A backrest assembly is rotatably mounted on the seat plate. The backrest assembly can be flipped downwards and can be locked in place after being flipped upwards.

7. The forward-facing baby walker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle frame extends into the walking space and is provided with a front-to-back isolation bar, which is located between the two support bars.

Images