Orthopedic standing and walking aid

Abstract

The invention relates to an orthopedic standing and walking aid and to a method for assisting a person using said type of orthopedic standing and walking aid. The orthopedic standing and walking aid comprises a carriage that can be slidably mounted on a slide rail, an approximately c-shaped frame suspended on the carriage by means of a suspension device, and a seat which is mounted on the C-shaped frame approximately rectilinearly aligned below the suspension device. The orthopedic standing and walking aid is characterised by a spring element which is mounted in the region between the carriage and the seat, such that the seat is elastically mounted in the vertical direction. Also, the seat and / or the orthopedic standing and walking aid automatically adapts to a person sitting thereon even if the height of the seat is changed. The orthopedic standing and walking aid can also be characterised by a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting the height of the seat, said height adjusting mechanism comprising a height-adjustable spring element which exerts upward pressure on the seat. Said height adjusting mechanism can be produced such that it can be blocked by hand using a blocking unit.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an orthopedic standing and walking aid.

[0002] US Pat. No. 2,589,803 discloses a work seat that can be moved along a rail. This work seat can be used, for example, by a dentist to move along a patient chair. Other work seats that can be moved along a rail are described, for example, in EP 0 582 255 B1 or DE 693 01 509 T2, DE 10 2009 021 316 A1, DE 10 2011 050 753 A1, and DE 1 061 983 A.

[0003] Other seats that are suspended from the ceiling and assist a worker in his work are described in JP 2007-020602 A and JP 2011-078478 A.

[0004] FR 2225376 A2 discloses a standing and walking aid comprising a seat coupled to a vertical, straight bar. A spring element is integrated into the straight bar. The straight bar is bent at its upper end in such a way that this unit can be suspended from a carriage movable along a rail in such a way that a user sitting on the saddle or seat is positioned approximately vertically below the carriage.

[0005] Another standing and walking aid is shown in FR 2217262 A1.

[0006] DE 1061983 B discloses a freely swinging suspended work seat that can be moved on a rail.

[0007] US Pat. No. 5,623,948 A describes a safety support system for patients, which comprises a two-dimensionally movable rail system to which various objects are attached, with which a patient can be lifted or supported. A harness is primarily used to hold the patient. One embodiment also includes a suspended seat. This seat is used for transporting a patient in a seated position. When using this seat, the patient cannot stand on the floor.

[0008] EP 582 255 A1 discloses a seat that can be moved along a rail. The seat is suspended from an arched bracket so that it can be inserted into the passenger compartment through the vehicle openings during assembly. The seat is height-adjustable. It is not a walking or standing aid.

[0009] JP 2011-078478 A discloses a seat suspended from a rail that can be moved along the rail. The seat has a belt so that a person sitting on it can buckle up. The seat can be tilted forward so that the person sitting on it can rest their feet on the floor.

[0010] JP 2004-075383 A discloses a device for supporting a person, comprising a seat, a seat belt, and a frame suspended from a lifting device formed from a gas-charged cylinder. The gas-charged cylinder is connected to a pressure-reducing valve that acts as a pressure regulator. This keeps the pressure in the cylinder 21 constant. As a result, if a user of the device exerts a force with their weight that is greater than the holding force of the cylinder, the device lowers. In the lowered state, the pressure is adjusted to the same pressure as before thanks to the pressure-reducing valve. This lifting device thus always exerts the same lifting force on the seat, regardless of the vertical position of the seat.In an alternative embodiment, instead of the gas-charged cylinder, a spring made of sheet steel is provided, which is designed in such a way that the tensile force changes as little as possible during the deflection of the spring and thus imitates the function of the gas-charged cylinder.

[0011] The present invention aims to create an orthopaedic standing and walking aid which is simply designed, yet allows its user as much freedom of movement as possible, provides reliable support and is still easy to use.

[0012] This object is achieved by an orthopedic standing and walking aid according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the respective subclaims.

[0013] An orthopaedic standing and walking aid according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a carriage which is mounted on a guide rail so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, an approximately C-shaped frame which is suspended from the carriage by means of a suspension device, a saddle which is arranged on the C-shaped frame approximately in a straight line below the suspension device, the saddle having an elongated, slender shape such that a person sitting on the saddle can arrange their legs pointing downwards past the saddle, and a spring element which is arranged in the area between the carriage and the saddle so that the saddle is elastically mounted in the vertical direction.

[0014] The spring element is a coil spring. The coil spring is subjected to compression.

[0015] The C-shaped frame allows a person sitting on the saddle to be positioned in a straight line below the carriage, so that a large portion of the body weight is transferred from the orthopedic standing and walking aid upwards to the guide rail. No transverse forces occur, as the person's center of gravity is positioned below the carriage. This allows the person to sit safely and comfortably on the saddle.

[0016] The orthopedic standing and walking aid according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the guide rail is mounted on a further rail arrangement so that it can be displaced transversely to its longitudinal direction. This allows the carriage and thus the saddle to be moved in a horizontal plane below the guide rail and the further rail arrangement. This gives a person sitting on the saddle the freedom to move along a floor in any direction.

[0017] Because the saddle is designed and shaped so that the person's legs can be positioned sideways, pointing downwards, past the saddle, the person can lean on the floor below and transfer part of their body weight to the ground. Thus, only a fraction of the person's body weight rests on the person's legs, and this fraction can be freely adjusted by the person, depending on how strongly they lean on the ground.

[0018] By supporting themselves on the floor, the person can also generate lateral forces relative to the floor, causing the C-shaped frame and carriage to slide along the track. This allows the person to move easily along the track, with a large portion of their body weight being supported by the orthopedic standing and walking aid.

[0019] During such movements, a certain amount of support on the ground is necessary. These movements often cause the buttocks of the person on the orthopedic standing and walking aid to rise and fall. By providing the spring element, contact with the saddle is not lost even if the buttocks are raised slightly, because the spring element automatically moves the saddle slightly upwards, following the buttocks. A person on the orthopedic standing and walking aid can therefore move with the orthopedic standing and walking aid without losing contact with the saddle or the orthopedic standing and walking aid. Therefore, it is not necessary for the person to be connected to the orthopedic standing and walking aid. With the orthopedic standing and walking aid according to the invention, no fastening belt is required to secure the person on it.The person simply has to sit on the saddle like a conventional chair and can then move freely within a predetermined range of motion.

[0020] Therapy devices are known for reducing weight on the legs. These therapy devices are strapped to the person's body with one or more belts. Putting on and taking off such a therapy device can take up to 10 minutes each. In a 30-minute therapy session, putting on and taking off the therapy device can therefore consume a large portion of the available time. The orthopedic standing and walking aid according to the invention can be used for therapeutic purposes. The person receiving therapy simply needs to sit on the saddle and can immediately begin the appropriate exercises. This significantly increases the efficiency of the corresponding therapy sessions.

[0021] The orthopedic standing and walking aid can also be used for other purposes. Workers who spend most of their working time in a confined area, such as chefs who primarily work in the kitchen, can use this type of orthopedic standing and walking aid, allowing them to move freely between workstations. This is especially useful if the worker is no longer able to bear their full body weight on one or both legs for extended periods due to injury or illness. Other professional groups for which the standing and walking aid is suitable include hairdressers, beauticians, and surgeons.

[0022] The C-shaped frame can be designed to be elastic in such a way that it forms the spring element. Such an elastic design of the C-shaped frame exists when the C-shaped frame yields at least 3 mm vertically downward under a load of 80 kg. Preferably, the C-shaped frame is designed to be elastic in such a way that it yields at least 5 mm vertically downward under a load of 50 kg.

[0023] An elastic C-shaped frame can, for example, be made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material.

[0024] An orthopaedic standing and walking aid according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the spring element is arranged between the suspension device and the C-shaped frame or between the saddle and the C-shaped frame.

[0025] This makes it possible to form the C-shaped frame with any desired curvature and to form it to fit snugly against the body of a person sitting on the saddle. This allows the C-shaped bracket to be ergonomic and space-saving. Furthermore, the spring element is in a straight vertical alignment with the suspension device. The spring element only has to absorb forces in the vertical direction. It is not necessary for the spring element to be stiffened longitudinally to be able to transmit laterally acting moments, as is necessary, for example, with the device known from FR 2225376 A2.

[0026] The spring element preferably has a spring constant of a maximum of 10 5< N / m, in particular a maximum of 5×10 4< N / m and preferably a maximum of 3×10 4< N / m.

[0027] According to a further aspect of the present invention, an orthopaedic standing and walking aid according to the invention comprises a carriage which is mounted on a guide rail so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, an approximately C-shaped frame which is suspended from the carriage by means of a suspension device, a saddle which is arranged on the C-shaped frame approximately in a straight line below the suspension device, wherein the saddle has an elongated, slender shape such that a person sitting on the saddle can arrange their legs pointing downwards past the saddle, and a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the saddle, wherein the height adjustment mechanism has a height adjustment spring element which exerts an upward preload on the saddle, and a locking unit with which the height adjustment spring element can be locked.

[0028] This height adjustment mechanism can be operated simply by releasing and re-locking the lock, as the preload exerted by the height adjustment spring element presses the saddle against the seat of the person sitting on it. When unlocked, the person can adjust the saddle height simply by raising or lowering their seat. If the lock can be released and re-adjusted with one hand, the height adjustment mechanism can be operated with one hand.

[0029] A person sitting on the height adjustment mechanism can quickly and easily adjust the height of the saddle, allowing them to reach different heights while performing their work while seated on the saddle. For example, a chef sitting on the orthopedic standing and walking aid can quickly and easily reach drawers at different heights in the kitchen using the height adjustment mechanism.

[0030] The locking unit preferably has an actuating lever. This actuating lever can be operated, in particular, with one hand, leaving the other hand free to operate the height adjustment mechanism.

[0031] The height adjustment mechanism is preferably located in the area directly under the saddle so that it is easy and quick to reach for the person sitting on the saddle.

[0032] The height adjustment spring element can have a gas or oil pressure spring.

[0033] The various orthopedic standing and walking aids described above may feature a rail arrangement on which the guide rail is mounted so that it can move transversely to a longitudinal direction. This allows the carriage mounted on the guide rail to be movable in a single plane.

[0034] The suspension device can include a swivel joint, allowing the C-shaped frame to rotate. The swivel joint is equipped, for example, with a ball bearing. A person sitting on the orthopedic standing and walking aid can then rotate freely around a vertical axis.

[0035] One or more fastening means can be provided on the C-shaped frame, with which additional elements, such as a handrail, a backrest, a headrest, a legrest, a footrest and / or a holding device can be fastened to the C-shaped frame.

[0036] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method for supporting a person is provided, which utilizes an orthopedic standing and walking aid as described above. This method is characterized in that the orthopedic standing and walking aid is positioned in such a way, or the height of the seat is adjusted in such a way, that a person sitting thereon can touch a floor located beneath the orthopedic standing and walking aid with their feet, so that part of the person's body weight is supported by the orthopedic standing and walking aid and the other part of the body weight is transferred to the floor.

[0037] In this case, part of the body weight is absorbed by the orthopedic standing and walking aid, yet the person can still move freely within the orthopedic standing and walking aid's range of motion. It is not necessary for the person to be secured to the orthopedic standing and walking aid with a strap or similar device.

[0038] Preferably, the leg muscles relieved by the orthopedic standing and walking aid are stimulated using electrical signals. A corresponding electronic control device can be integrated into the orthopedic standing and walking aid. This prevents the corresponding leg muscles from atrophying due to the minimal strain on the leg muscles.

[0039] The saddle can be mounted on a pivot joint, allowing it to pivot sideways and / or forward and backward. Such a pivot joint can be a ball joint or an elastomer joint, for example. Sitting on a seat supported in this way strengthens the back and abdominal muscles and requires a straight, healthy, upright sitting posture.

[0040] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a vertical access aid is provided which comprises an approximately C-shaped frame suspended from a suspension device, a saddle which is arranged on the C-shaped frame approximately in a straight line below the suspension device, and a guide device for guiding the vertical access aid along a vertical wall.

[0041] The guide device can, for example, be formed by two or more rollers which are attached to the C-shaped frame by means of a corresponding holder.

[0042] Such a vertical access aid can be lifted by a crane and moved along a vertical wall, allowing a person sitting on the saddle to perform predetermined tasks on the vertical wall. This work could be painting or cleaning, for example. The guidance device can be arranged below and / or above the person sitting on the saddle.

[0043] Preferably, the vertical access aid has a fastening means for attaching a safety element, such as a safety belt. Such a fastening means can, for example, be an eyelet.

[0044] The saddle preferably has an elongated, slim shape.

[0045] This vertical access aid can be supplemented by other components of the orthopedic standing and walking aid described above, such as various positions arranged on the C-shaped frame, a spring element, footrests, handles, handrails, headrests, legrests, footrests, pivot bearings, and / or a spring element. The provision of a spring element is particularly useful when the vertical access aid is used in locations where the user can support themselves with their feet, for example, on a surface, beam, or steps.

[0046] The invention is explained in more detail below by way of example with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an orthopedic standing and walking aid according to the invention in a perspective view, Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the standing and walking aid according to the invention with additional elements compared to the first embodiment, and Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a vertical access aid in a perspective view.

[0047] An orthopedic standing and walking aid 1 according to a first embodiment comprises a movably mounted carriage 2, a suspension device 3, and an approximately C-shaped frame 4, which is attached to the carriage 2 by means of the suspension device. The C-shaped frame 4 is connected to the carriage 2 at one end by means of the suspension device 3. At the other end of the C-shaped frame 4, a saddle 5 is arranged, the seat surface of which is oriented upwards.

[0048] The C-shaped frame 4 is dimensioned such that the upper body of an adult sitting on the saddle 5 is surrounded by the C-shaped frame 4. Preferably, the C-shaped frame 4 is dimensioned so large that the person's body does not touch it when the person is on the saddle 5. However, the C-shaped frame 4 can also be designed to fit snugly against the person's body so that the C-shaped frame does not take up much space and does not disturb other people.

[0049] The saddle 5 is located approximately in a straight, vertical line below the suspension device 3 or below the carriage 2.

[0050] The suspension device 3 has a spring element 6 that provides elasticity in the vertical direction to the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1. Preferably, the spring range and / or spring hardness of the spring element 6 is adjustable.

[0051] The suspension device 3 has a detachable connecting element 7, so that the C-shaped frame 4 can be detached from the carriage 2. The detachable connecting element 7 is, for example, an eyelet and a carabiner. The detachable connecting element 7 can be arranged in the area between the spring element 6 and the C-shaped frame 4 or in the area between the spring element 6 and the carriage 2.

[0052] Furthermore, the suspension device 3 is provided with a pivot bearing 8, so that the C-shaped frame 4 can rotate freely relative to a vertical axis. In the present embodiment, the pivot bearing 8 is designed as a ball bearing.

[0053] The saddle 5 is attached to the lower end of the C-shaped frame 4 with a height adjustment mechanism 9. The height adjustment mechanism 9 has a sleeve 10 that is connected to the C-shaped frame 4. A seat post 11 is slidably mounted in the sleeve 10. The saddle 5 is attached to the upper end of the seat post 11. The seat post 5 is provided with an operating lever 12 that can be pivoted back and forth between two positions, wherein in one position the seat post 11 is fixed in the sleeve 10. In the other position the seat post 11 is freely movable in the sleeve 10. A gas pressure spring (not shown) is arranged below the seat post 11, which applies an upward preload to the seat post 11. In the released position the seat post 11 is pushed upward by the gas pressure spring. Such a height adjustment mechanism is known, for example, from DE 10 2014 002 189 A1.

[0054] The carriage 2 is mounted on a guide rail 13 for displacement in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 13. The guide rail 13 is itself mounted on a further rail arrangement 14, which comprises two parallel rails, for displacement transversely to its longitudinal direction. As a result, the carriage 2 is mounted for free movement in a plane defined by the rail arrangement 14.

[0055] The use of this orthopedic standing and walking aid is explained in more detail below: A person sits with their buttocks on the saddle 5. This transfers at least part of the body weight to the carriage 2 via the C-shaped frame 4 and the suspension device 3. The load exerted by this person causes the spring element 6 to deflect slightly downward.

[0056] The saddle 5 has an elongated, slender shape, similar to a bicycle saddle, so that a person sitting on the saddle can position their legs pointing downwards past the side of the saddle. This allows the person sitting on the saddle 5 to support themselves with their feet on a floor located below the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1. The proportion of weight transferred to the carriage 2 via the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1 depends on how strongly the person supports themselves on the ground and can be freely selected by the person. Because the person can support themselves on the ground, the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1 can move freely within the area of ​​the rail arrangement 14 and rotate as desired about the vertical axis.

[0057] When a person moves within the available range of motion, it is unavoidable that the buttocks of the person sitting on the saddle are raised and then lowered slightly. By providing the spring element 6, the saddle 5 is elastically pressed upwards against the buttocks, so that the saddle and thus the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1 also follows a vertical movement of the person within a certain range. As a result, contact with the saddle 5 is not lost and the person sitting on the saddle 5 can move freely, with the support of the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1 being ensured, even if slight vertical movements occur during the person's movement. Therefore, it is not necessary for the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1 to provide means by which the person sitting on it is secured to it.

[0058] Such means are only necessary if the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1 is used by persons who lack the necessary sense of balance to stand freely or maintain posture on a saddle. All persons with a minimal sense of balance can sit on the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1 according to the invention without having to be secured to it.

[0059] The height adjustment mechanism 9 can be operated with one hand on the operating lever 12, which is located directly below the saddle 5. This allows the person sitting on the saddle 5 to quickly and easily adjust the height of the saddle 5 and thus achieve different heights. Since the height adjustment mechanism 9 can be operated with one hand, the person has the other hand available for other activities. The height adjustment range of the height adjustment mechanism 9 can be adapted to the person's specific mobility needs. If the person is a warehouse worker who has to place goods in and take them out of a storage rack, a very large height adjustment range can be useful. If, on the other hand, the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1 is used for therapeutic purposes, the height adjustment range should be selected so that the saddle can be adjusted to typical body sizes.

[0060] In Figure 2A second embodiment of the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1 is shown. Identical elements are identified by the same reference numerals. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the description of the first embodiment, which also applies to these elements, unless otherwise stated below.

[0061] Fasteners 15 are provided on the C-shaped frame 4, to which additional elements can be attached. In the present embodiment, the fastening means are through-holes, so that sleeves 16, which also have corresponding through-holes, can be fixed to the frame 4 with a bolt. The bolt is preferably spring-loaded and provided with a handle 17 so that it can be pulled slightly out of the sleeve 16 against the spring action of the handle 17, thereby releasing the connection between the sleeve 16 and the frame 4. The sleeve 16 can then be moved to any other position where corresponding through-holes are provided to accommodate the bolt.

[0062] These cuffs can be used to attach various elements to the frame 4. These elements are preferably attached to the cuffs 16 with a force-locking connection, such as a soldered or welded joint. These elements can be a handrail 18, a headrest 19, a legrest 20, a footrest 21, a holding device 22, and / or an eyelet 23. A person can be secured to the eyelet, for example, using a belt or strap arrangement similar to a climbing harness.

[0063] The leg support comprises a somewhat cup-shaped support 24 for supporting the upper or lower leg of a person using the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1, and a rigid rod 25. The rigid rod 25 preferably has fixable joints, so that the position of the cup-shaped support 24 can be freely determined within a certain range to support the upper or lower leg.

[0064] The footrest 21 is designed similarly to a riding stirrup and is attached to one of the cuffs 16 with an elastic band.

[0065] Furthermore, a backrest 26 can be provided. In the present embodiment, the backrest 26 is attached to the same cuff 16 as the handrail 18. It is, of course, possible to arrange a backrest on a cuff independent of the handrail 18.

[0066] The C-shaped frame 4 can in principle be extended slightly beyond the attachment point of the saddle 5 or the attachment point of the suspension device 3. In the Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the C-shaped frame 4 is extended with a section 27 beyond the connection point on the suspension device 3. A holding device 22 is provided on this section 27, to which a screen, a tablet, or other parts can be attached.

[0067] At the free end of section 27, a cable winch 28 is provided, with which loads can be lifted. This allows a person to easily move larger loads without injuring their own body. When providing such a load-carrying device, it is expedient if the saddle 5 is movable horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the saddle. This allows the position of the saddle to be pushed back slightly when a load is being picked up, thereby balancing the load and the person's weight around the attachment point on the suspension device 3. This displacement device can preferably be locked using a lever, similar to the height adjustment device.

[0068] Furthermore, a fixing arm 29 can be provided, with which the C-shaped frame is fixed. The fixing frame 29 can be attached either to a building wall or to a frame. The fixing arm 29 has a clamping sleeve 30, with which the fixing arm can releasably hold the frame 4. This fixing frame 29 is used to temporarily fix the C-shaped frame or the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1, so that a person whose sense of balance is severely impaired can more easily sit on the saddle 5. Once this person is sitting on the saddle, the clamping sleeve 30 is released, and they can then move around with the support of the orthopedic standing and walking aid. In such a situation, the handrail 18 is also preferably provided. The person can then hold on to the handrail, making it easier to maintain balance on the orthopedic standing and walking aid.

[0069] Based on the second embodiment, it can be seen that the orthopedic standing and walking aid 1 can be used in various variations. However, it is assumed that the embodiment according to the first embodiment will be the most widely used in practice, since the embodiment according to the first embodiment offers the user the greatest freedom.

[0070] In the embodiments explained above, the rail arrangement is designed to be attached to a building ceiling so that the user of the standing and walking aid can move freely in the area of ​​the rail arrangement 14 with reduced strain on his legs.

[0071] Within the scope of the invention, the rail assembly can be mounted on a frame, allowing it to be set up without a building. The frame can also be designed to be movable, allowing the location of the rail assembly to be easily changed. The means for moving the frame are preferably lockable, allowing the position of the rail assembly to be clearly defined.

[0072] The standing and walking aid explained above can also be modified so that it can be used as a vertical access aid 31 ( Figure 3 ). Such an embodiment of a vertical access aid 31 is explained below, wherein the same parts as in the standing and walking aid are designated by the same reference numerals and will not be explained again.

[0073] This vertical access aid 31, in turn, comprises a C-shaped frame 4, a saddle 5, and a detachable connecting element 7, which functions as a suspension device. In the present embodiment, the detachable connecting element is an eyelet in combination with a carabiner 32 for attaching the vertical access aid 31 to a rope 33. The rope 33 can be raised and lowered by means of a crane (not shown).

[0074] On a footrest 21, which is connected to the C-shaped frame 4 by a sleeve 16, rollers 34 are arranged laterally. These rollers are mounted for rotation about a common horizontal axis. The rollers 34 preferably have a soft, elastic surface. The rollers 34 are made of rubber, for example. This allows the rollers 34 to roll along a vertical wall without leaving marks on the wall.

[0075] The cuff 16 is adjustable along the C-shaped frame 4 (double arrow 35). The C-shaped frame 4, in the section in which the cuff 16 is located, is arranged at an oblique angle to the seat post 11 of the saddle 5. This adjustment allows both a change in the vertical distance of the footrest 21 from the saddle 5 and an adjustment of the horizontal distance of the footrest 21 from the seat post 11. Thus, the distance of the saddle 5 from a wall can also be adjusted by adjusting the footrest 21 relative to the C-shaped frame 4.

[0076] The footrest 21 together with the rollers 34 forms a guide device for guiding the vertical access aid 31 along a vertical wall.

[0077] Alternatively or in addition to this guide device, a further guide device 36 can be arranged at the upper end of the C-shaped frame, which has a bracket 37 that is approximately U-shaped in plan view. The U-shaped bracket 37 is provided at its bottom section of the U-shape with a sleeve 16, with which the guide device 36 can be slidably fastened to the upper end section of the C-shaped frame 4. The sleeve 16 and thus the guide device 36 can be displaced along a straight, approximately horizontal section of the C-shaped frame 4 (double arrow 38). A roller 39 is arranged at each of the free ends of the bracket 37. The rollers 39 are mounted so as to be rotatable about a common, approximately horizontal axis so that they can roll along a vertical wall. The rollers 39 are preferably, just like the rollers 34, soft-elastic rollers, in particular rubber rollers.

[0078] An eyelet 23 is attached to the C-shaped frame 4. This eyelet 23 serves for attaching a safety harness, in particular a climbing harness.

[0079] The vertical access aid 31 can be raised and lowered vertically along a wall using a suitable crane. A person sitting on the saddle 5 can lift the vertical access aid 31 slightly away from the vertical wall by supporting themselves with their feet on the wall, allowing the vertical access aid 31 to be slightly offset laterally. Thus, the vertical access aid 31 can be raised or lowered along different paths along a vertical wall.

[0080] Both the vertical access aid 31 and the above-described orthopedic standing and walking aids 1 can be attached to a crane with a pivoting arm so that they can be moved a short distance in the horizontal direction by pivoting the pivoting arm.

[0081] Instead of a crane, a vertical / alpine rope technique can also be used. This involves a conventional anchoring device, such as an eyelet at the top of the vertical wall, to which a rope is attached. The vertical access aid can be lowered step by step using this rope. List of reference symbols 1 orthopedic standing and walking aid 37 bracket 2 Sleds 38 double arrow 3 Hanging device 39 role 4 C-shaped frame 5 saddle 6 spring element 7 detachable connecting element 8 Pivot bearing 9 Height adjustment mechanism 10 sleeve 11 seat post 12 Operating lever 13 guide rail 14 Rail arrangement 15 Fasteners 16 cuff 17 Handle 18 Handrail 19 headrest 20 Leg support 21 Footrest 22 Holding device 23 eyelet 24 bowl-shaped receptacle 25 rigid rods 26 backrest 27 Section 28 cable winch 29 Fixing arm 30 clamping sleeve 31 vertical access aid 32 Carabiner 33 Rope 34 role 35 double arrow 36 Guide device

Claims

1. An orthopedic standing and walking aid, comprising - a carriage that is mounted on a running rail so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the running rail, - a roughly C-shaped frame suspended on the carriage by means of a suspension device, - a saddle which is arranged on the C-shaped frame approximately in a straight line below the suspension device, the saddle having an elongated slender shape such that a person sitting on the saddle can arrange their legs downwards past the side of the saddle, and - a spring element (6) arranged in the area between the carriage and the saddle so that the saddle is elastically mounted in the vertical direction, the slide rail (13) being displaceably mounted on a further rail arrangement (14) transversely to its longitudinal direction, characterized in that a height adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting the height of the saddle, the height adjustment mechanism comprising a height adjustment spring member exerting an upward preload on the saddle, and a locking unit with which the height adjustment spring member is lockable.

2. The orthopedic standing and walking aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (6) is situated between the suspension device and the C-shaped frame or between the saddle and the C-shaped frame.

3. The orthopedic standing and walking aid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking unit comprises an operating lever.

4. The orthopedic standing and walking aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the height adjustment mechanism is located in the area immediately under the saddle.

5. The orthopedic standing and walking aid according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the height adjustment spring element comprises a gas spring.

6. The orthopedic standing and walking aid according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the suspension device comprises a rotary joint so that the frame is rotatably suspended.

7. The orthopedic standing and walking aid according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an eyelet is arranged on the standing and walking aid, to which an individual can be secured by means of a safety belt.

8. The orthopedic standing and walking aid according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that fastening means are provided on the C-shaped frame, by means of which additional elements, such as a hand bracket, a backrest, a headrest, a leg rest, a footrest and / or a holding device can be fastened to the C-shaped frame.

9. The orthopedic standing and walking aid according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the saddle is arranged on a pivot joint.

10. The orthopedic standing and walking aid according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the spring element (6) has a spring constant of at most 10 N / m.

11. A method for assisting a person with an orthopedic standing and walking aid, characterized in that the orthopedic standing and walking aid is arranged such and / or the height of the saddle is adjusted such that an individual sitting thereon can touch with his / her feet a floor located under the orthopedic standing and walking aid, so that part of the body weight of said individual is carried by the orthopedic standing and walking aid and the other part of the body weight is diverted to the floor, wherein a standing and walking aid according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is used.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the leg muscles are stimulated by means of electrical signals.

Images