Device as an aid for climbing stairs

Abstract

A climbing aid device designed as an aid to assist people with limited leg muscle strength when climbing stairs provides a detachable connection between a foot or footwear, for example, via a block-shaped intermediate element. Parallel support surfaces create a distance between the foot and the tread of a stair step, shifting the body weight onto the foot with the intermediate element as an aid when climbing stairs, thus lowering the stair height.

Description

The invention relates to a device as an aid in the form of a climbing aid for assisting in the stair climbing of persons with limited muscle strength in the legs, by means of a mobile element.There is the difficulty with people restricted in movement that they can often no longer cope with stair steps, since the muscle power in the legs is often not sufficient to bring the body weight with one leg above the step height. In this case, spatially bound stair lifts, escalators and elevators offer only limited mobility for these persons. In homes with stairlifts without technical aids, this circle of people is relatively spatially limited, although walking is still possible. As mobile support for stair climbing, therefore, only backs or walking poles can be used to a limited extent.The object of the invention is to provide a simple mobile device as an aid for overcoming steps for a circle of people restricted in movement, which is simple to carry along and ensures location-independent use.This object is achieved according to the invention in that a block-shaped intermediate element is arranged as an elevation of a tread surface of a foot in relation to a stair step, wherein the intermediate element is detachably connected to the foot or an associated footwear.Thus, an inexpensive auxiliary device to be carried along is provided which is easy to handle.An advantageous arrangement consists in that the height of the intermediate element corresponds approximately to the height of half a staircase.It is further proposed that the intermediate element is formed in the form of a geometric structure, such as e.g. cubes, cuboids, etc., with parallel receiving surfaces, on the one hand as a foot receiver and on the other hand for resting on the stair step.Easy handling is provided in that the intermediate element is detachably connected to the foot or the footwear via connecting elements, such as straps.Alternatively, it is provided that the intermediate element has a plate corresponding to the footwear on its receiving side for the foot, and the plate has associated clip elements for connection to the footwear.Further advantageous embodiments of the intermediate element are provided according to the features of claims 6 to 9.The drawing schematically shows an apparatus according to the invention. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows an illustration of the functional principle, FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the device in a perspective illustration, and FIG. 3 shows an illustration according to FIG. 2 with fixed footwear via restraining straps. FIG. 4 shows an intermediate element as a U-shaped profile FIG. 5 shows an intermediate element as a square tube FIG. 6 shows an intermediate element as a folding element FIG. 7 shows an intermediate element as a scissors-type lifting arrangement with an associated drive, and FIG. 8 shows a fillable intermediate element ( 1) as bellows with parallel receiving surfacesThe device essentially consists of an intermediate element 1 as a support block for receiving a foot or footwear 2, and for this purpose a height corresponding to approximately half a stair step 3 is provided for the intermediate element 1, wherein parallel receiving surfaces 4 and 5 are arranged on the one hand for receiving the foot or footwear 2 and on the other hand for resting on the stair step 3. The foot or footwear 2 is connected to the intermediate element 1 in a releasable and adjustable manner via restraining straps 6.As a result of the intermediate piece 1 connected to the foot or footwear 2, the body weight is displaced to the foot 2 with the intermediate element 1 during stair climbing and only half the stair step height with a greater knee angle is overcome by the other leg with foot 7. Thereafter, the unloaded foot 2 with the intermediate element 1 is placed on the same stair step 3. The force to be applied is similar to walking, since the body weight is transmitted to the feet 2, 7 or legs in alternation and the non-loaded foot 2 or 7 must in any case be raised.Further embodiments of the intermediate element 1, which improve weight reduction, transport and handling, are provided according to FIGS. 4 to 8. In FIG. 7, the use of a drive 8 is assigned, and in FIG. 8, a fillable bellows 9 is arranged.

Claims

Device as an aid in the form of a climbing aid for assisting in the stair climbing of persons with limited muscle power in the legs, by means of an element which can be used in a mobile manner, characterized in that a block-shaped intermediate element (1) is arranged as an elevation of a tread surface of a foot (2) relative to a stair step (3), wherein the intermediate element (1) is detachably connected to the foot (2) or to an associated article of footwear.Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the height of the intermediate element (1) corresponds approximately to the height of half a stair step (3).Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the intermediate element is formed in the form of a geometric structure, such as e.g. cubes, cuboids etc. with parallel receiving surfaces (4, 5), on the one hand as a foot receiver and on the other hand for resting on the stair step (3).Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the intermediate element (1) is detachably connected to the foot (2) or the article of footwear via connecting elements (6), such as, for example, restraining straps.Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the intermediate element (1) has, on its receiving side (4) for the foot (2), a plate corresponding to the article of footwear and the plate has associated clip elements for connection to the article of footwear.Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the intermediate element (1) has the shape of a rectangular hollow profile or U profile.Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the intermediate element (1) is designed as a folding element.Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the intermediate element (1) is formed as a scissor-type stroke arrangement with an associated drive (8).Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the intermediate element (1) consists of a fillable and adjustable bellows (9).

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