Walking and carrying aid

Abstract

Walking aid with a single handle pointing rearward in the direction of travel, wherein a steering tube (2) and the steering tube (1) are inclined rearward at an angle between 0 and 30° to the perpendicular in the direction of travel (8) and the support surface (11) is connected to the steering tube (2) by the neck (10), characterized in that the front wheel (3) is larger than the rear wheels and has at least 1.5 times the diameter of the rear wheels and characterized in that two rear wheels (13) are mounted side by side at the rear end of the support surface (11).

Description

[0001] The following utility model application concerns walking and carrying aids for people who find it difficult to move safely in their own home or outside without using their hands and who also have difficulty carrying shopping.

[0002] As the Boomer generation in Europe and many other industrialized nations around the world ages, the proportion of people who are or will become physically and / or mentally impaired in their personal mobility is also increasing. However, individual mobility and regular exercise are basic requirements for a longer and healthier life and thus enable participation in social contacts.

[0003] For these people, there are numerous products and vehicles on the market, whether muscle-powered or electric, designed to maintain individual mobility. In addition to the 21 million senior citizens in Germany, there are also millions of younger people who are also physically and / or mentally disabled and who also want and need to be mobile.

[0004] The focus should therefore be on independent, supported running in order to maintain and promote physiological and mental abilities for as long as possible.

[0005] The walking and carrying aid market is dominated by approximately 90% four-wheeled rollators. There are also three-wheeled rollators with only one wheel at the front, which are also pushed by the user. Very rarely, single-wheeled walking aids are found, which are guided and steered laterally with only one hand, like a walking stick.

[0006] Rollators are typically wide vehicles with a seat and a means of transporting shopping. Although these vehicles are very practical and robust, many potential users are reluctant to accept them, or even reject them altogether, because they stigmatize and make their disability visible from a distance. Furthermore, maneuvering them over curbs and other obstacles is difficult. Walking sticks and wheelchairs available on the market that are slim and lightweight and are guided and controlled from the side are generally perceived as vehicles for disabled people due to their design and construction and are therefore unattractive. Vehicles with two front wheels can interfere with the steering when approaching an obstacle at an angle, causing the vehicle to tip over. Furthermore, these vehicles tend to have smaller wheels, making it difficult to negotiate obstacles and requiring laborious lifting.

[0007] The object of the invention is to design a rollable walking and carrying aid that is easy and safe to use and is slim, light and, if possible, foldable.

[0008] Viewed from the side, almost all rolling walking and carrying aids are designed as triangular structures. The support structure primarily consists of round tubes that run from the top of the triangular structure directly to the wheels at the front and rear. Thus, the forces acting on the system (the weight of the person supporting the support or the weight of the additional load) are directed directly to the wheels. A horizontal or angled, and often foldable, connecting strut prevents the triangular structure from expanding further. The present invention has a triangular geometry in side view, but without an additional oblique support structure to the two rear wheels acting from top to rear.

[0009] The walking aid in illustrations A, B and E has a front wheel (3) as large as possible in a fork (4) in order to be able to drive effortlessly over obstacles such as curbs. Unlike previous models, the new walking and carrying aid shown in Figure E is folded (14) in the area between the head tube (2) and the connection to the rear wheels (13) in the so-called neck (10), thus saving space for mailing or folding in the car / at home. The rear area of ​​the triangular architecture / silhouette remains free for hanging bags (22) and / or objects on the horizontal storage surface (11), where the transport container (17) on the storage surface (11) does not have to be removed even when folded. This container (17) can be permanently or removable in order to transport heavy objects at the lowest possible center of gravity of the walking aid, and the handlebars (5) can still be pivoted around the lockable folding joint (14) without having to remove the transport container (17). See Figure E.

[0010] Two wheels (13) are mounted side by side at the rear to prevent the vehicle from tipping over when stationary. The two wheels can be as large as the front wheel or, preferably, smaller and wider to ensure secure positioning without tipping over. A ramp (12) is mounted between the wheels (13) at the rear to ensure that the wheels do not get stuck when encountering obstacles, but rather slide over the ramp and are eventually rolled over by the wheels.

[0011] The smaller wheels (13) in the rear area advantageously do not protrude above the horizontal floor platform and thus allow the installation of transport containers (17) such as baskets or cup holders on the horizontal storage surface (11) even beyond the end of the vehicle to the rear. See Fig. .

[0012] In contrast to (kick) scooters with two steering handles perpendicular to the direction of travel (8), there is only one handle for steering the vehicle, which is mounted rearward from the steering tube (1) against the direction of travel (8). In an ergonomically advantageous design, the handle (7) is positioned approximately at a right angle to the angled steering tube (1) so that, when the height of the handle is correctly adjusted, the wrist, which rests on the handle (7), does not have to be bent but can hold the handle in a position that is as neutral and straight as possible and protects the joints.

[0013] By positioning the handle (7) horizontally or backwards and downwards, the person leaning on it and / or the weight of the full shopping bags (22) always ensures that the handle (7) is always positioned in a stable, straight-ahead position, allowing safe and smooth driving / pushing without accidentally drifting to the side. By relieving the load on the handle (7) by no longer resting your entire body weight on it or by removing the shopping bag (22), tighter turns can be negotiated more easily and with less effort.

[0014] A handle pointing perpendicular to the direction of travel, such as a spade or knob, would not serve the desired function. The vehicle also cannot be used as a kick scooter, as the storage area is too short, and the handle, pointing vertically above the storage area and pointing backward, gets in the way. Furthermore, the handle (7) is always located between the large front wheel (3) and the rear wheels (13) when viewed from above. This ensures that the vehicle cannot tip longitudinally and fall over. In Figure F, the assistant is shown from the front and shows that the handle (7) does not protrude to the side, but can be seen behind the handlebar (5) with its wider handle thickness.

[0015] In addition, the installation of a two-legged stand with spreader is helpful so that, in addition to the supporting position of the two rear wheels, the front area of ​​the walking aid between the neck (10) and the storage area (11) can also be secured against falling over.

[0016] A further advantageous embodiment in Figures A, B, C and E offers a two-legged stand with outward spreading (15), as is often used on bicycles and which can be located in the area between the storage surface (11) and the neck (10). It is also possible to attach this two-legged stand with spreading under the storage surface (11) or under the neck (10). This two-legged stand (15) is characterized in that the two supports can be folded in as parallel as possible and in a space-saving manner. When folded out, the two supports usually spread outwards laterally using bevel gears in order to use the widest possible support surface and to prevent the walking aid from tipping over, preferably during loading or unloading.

[0017] An advantageous design of the handle (7) as an ergonomic handle (16) can be achieved in Figure D in that the ergonomic handle is shaped mirror-symmetrically (N) to the handlebar tube axis (5) and can therefore be easily adjusted for right-handed and left-handed use by turning (S) and locking using conventional clamping systems, thus ensuring greater safety and preventing the fingers on the handle (16) from becoming numb so quickly during longer journeys.

[0018] A further advantageous embodiment of the handlebars (5) is the installation of a handbrake between the grip (7) and the angled handlebars (5) for attaching a handbrake (6). Depending on the design, this handbrake (6) can brake just the front wheel (3) or the two rear wheels (13) or all wheels together. This function is particularly helpful when driving on sloping surfaces such as ramps or roads. This ensures that the walking aid does not roll backwards when stopped when being pushed uphill or that the walking aid does not accelerate unintentionally when going downhill. By specifically braking downhill or uphill, the user can even support themselves on the walking aid in order to safely reach the next level surface.

[0019] In Figure B, suitable devices for attaching bags or sacks can be located on the handlebar (5) in the area between the grip (7) and the clamping lever (26), so that they can be carried safely while hanging. One embodiment, for example, is a combination of a basket (21) attached to the handlebar (5) and connected to a hook, carabiner, or similar device on the back below the brake (6) for safely transporting hanging shopping bags (22). An optionally removable basket (21) in the visible and gripping area of ​​the handle (7) increases security against unwanted theft and allows quick access to bags, wallets or other items without bending down.

[0020] In order to make yourself noticeable to other road users, a bicycle bell (24) is attached near the handle (7).

[0021] Manually operated walking aids are not usually required by law to have active or passive lighting devices, as users generally only use the aids at walking pace on sidewalks or in rooms. However, they have to cross streets (with and without traffic lights) or travel in the dark, and this can lead to accidents, either because they are not seen in time or because they do not recognize obstacles such as curbs or road damage with holes, which can lead to falls. This poses a particular danger, particularly in bad weather or in the dark at night or in winter. A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is the attachment of an active lighting system with passive white reflective foils or a cat's eye and / or an active white electric front light (19) to illuminate paths and be seen by other road users. Additionally, a lighting system with passive red reflective foils or a cat's eye and / or an active red electric rear light (20) can be attached to the upper end of the handle (20) to be seen by other road users. See Figure B. For passive lighting, reflective foils in white or bright colors (23) on the head tube, neck, and other surfaces of the walking aid are recommended for improved visibility and recognition. This is especially helpful for older users, as they often cross streets and intersections on red lights or do not use pedestrian crossings.

Claims

[1] Walking aid with a single handle pointing backwards in the direction of travel, wherein a head tube (2) and the steering tube (1) are inclined backwards at an angle of between 0 - 30° to the vertical in the direction of travel (8) and the storage surface (11) is connected to the head tube (2) by the neck (10), characterized by that the front wheel (3) is larger than the rear wheels and is at least 1.5 times the diameter of the rear wheels and characterized by that two rear wheels (13) are mounted next to each other at the rear end of the storage area (11). [2] Walking aid according to claim 1, characterized by that the handle (7) is aligned horizontally to the flat floor. [3] Walking aid according to claim 1, characterized by that the handle (7) points backwards and downwards at an ergonomically advantageous angle horizontally between 0° and 30° to the flat ground. [4] Walking aid according to claim 1, characterized bythat the handle (7) is raised upwards along the circular path due to the inclination of the head tube (2) and steering tube (1) when turning, thus representing a progressive steering kinematics which automatically returns to the straight-ahead position due to the geometry and the bike's own weight and other loads. [5] Walking aid according to claim 1, characterized by that due to the inclined position of the head tube (2) and steering tube (1), a hook (25) pointing backwards in the direction of travel (8) for attaching shopping bags (22) is located on the steering tube (1) and lifts upwards along the circular path when turning, and thus also represents a progressive steering kinematics which automatically returns to the straight-ahead position due to the geometry and the dead weight and other loads. [6] Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims 2 and 3 characterized bythat the handle (7) is ergonomically shaped (16) with an enlarged support surface in the area of ​​the ball of the hand and is mirror-symmetrical (S) to enable adjustability for left- and right-handed users. [7] Walking aid according to claim 1, characterized by that the two rear wheels (13) are shaped as wide rollers, for example like skateboard wheels. [8] Walking aid according to claim 1, characterized by that the two rear wheels (13) are mounted below the storage area (11). [9] Walking aid according to claims 6 and 7 characterized by that a wedge-shaped, inclined ramp (12) is attached in the area of ​​the rear wheels (13). [10] Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims characterized by that the handle (7) viewed from above (27) is always arranged lengthwise in the area between the large front wheel (3) and the rear wheels (13)? [11] Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims characterized bythat a handbrake (6) is attached between the handle (7) and the angled handlebar (5), which, as required, brakes only the front wheel (3) or the two rear wheels (13) or all wheels at the same time. [12] Walking aid according to claim 1, characterized by that a lockable folding joint (14) can be attached in the area of ​​the neck (10) in order to enable a smaller packing size. [13] Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims characterized by that the storage surface (11) provides a fastening interface for containers (17) in order to transport heavy objects at the lowest possible center of gravity of the walking aid and the handlebar (5) can still be pivoted about the lockable folding joint (14) without having to remove the container (17). [14] Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims characterized bythat a two-legged stand with outward spread (15) can be located in the area between the storage surface (11) and the neck (10), whereby it is also possible to fasten this two-legged stand with spread under the storage surface (11) or under the neck (10). [15] Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims characterized by that the walking aid is provided with an active electric lighting device with a white front light (19) and with an active electric lighting device with a red rear light (20) at the end of the handle. [16] Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims characterized by that passive reflective foils or cat's eyes in white or signal color (23) are attached to the side of the neck (10) and to the side and front of the steering tube (1) in order to increase safety and visibility in road traffic.

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