System for adjusting the height of support structures for walking aids

Abstract

The present invention defines a height adjustment mechanism for a height-adjustable support, comprising a housing having an orifice adapted to surround at least one tube or a portion of a tube, and a receiving means adapted to receive a corresponding mounting means for a wedge member; and a handle that is user-operable, has a locking and unlocking mechanism, has at least two positions, and is movable between the two positions, the handle having a handle portion and an eccentric locking projection for moving the wedge member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to support materials for the elderly or disabled, and more specifically, to height adjustment of supports for walking aids, and mechanisms, devices, and systems for locking, and even more specifically, to a main frame, wheels or legs, and handle or a rollator or walking aid having a height-adjustable support such as an arm support, each support being provided with a height adjustment and locking mechanism.

Background Art

[0002] A walking aid is a device for assisting a user while engaged in walking or movement on various types of terrain. A walking aid can be any type of device intended to assist people with impaired walking ability, both those having wheels known as rollators and those not having wheels known as walk boards or walkers.

[0003] The number and percentage of people using walking aids are increasing in most regions of the world, and the quality of life of these users depends on various support materials. Rollators or walk boards are one of the most important, enabling users to maintain an independent state, perform daily tasks such as shopping, and move around according to their own free will. Adjusting the height of a walking aid to the requirements of the user is extremely important for the experience of the user of that aid.

[0004] A general type of known system for adjusting the height of an adjustable handlebar, as disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 093182, European Patent No. 2343035, or European Patent No. 2825147, comprises removing and repositioning a pre-tensioned pin or ball. The mechanism locks the height of the handlebar only by blocking vertical movement.

[0005] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 076090 discloses a system for adjusting the height of a handlebar, in which a ball is pressed into a corresponding hole in an inner tube, and a complex mechanism inside the inner tube engages a ratchet mechanism to secure the device.

[0006] Japanese Patent No. 3003369 discloses a system for adjusting the height of a handlebar for a walker, wherein a hinged cover protects the locking mechanism from being accidentally engaged by the user. The locking mechanism is an inclined lever having an engaging pin at one end and a pressing surface and a pre-tensioned spring at the other end.

[0007] These types of mechanisms may require a considerable amount of force to operate and may result in an unstable feel and rattling motion within the handlebars. Therefore, such solutions may be undesirable for users who suffer from conditions such as Parkinson's disease and may experience uncontrollable muscle spasms and tremors.

[0008] U.S. Patent No. 7,179,200 discloses a system for adjusting the height of a handlebar for a walker. The system comprises a housing, a plunger bar, and an eccentric lock for moving the plunger bar. The system does not disclose a failsafe mechanism for the plunger bar, and the locking mechanism is likely to damage the inner tube if the lock is engaged when the plunger is misaligned with the hole in the inner tube.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism and system for height adjustment of a walking aid in which the aforementioned drawbacks are avoided. A further object of the present invention is to provide a device and system for locking the height of a handlebar by adding further locking means in addition to a pin that blocks vertical movement. A further object of the present invention is to provide a device and system for improving the rigidity of a height-adjustable handlebar for a walking aid.

[0010] The system according to claim 1 is provided to provide a stable and fail-safe system for adjusting the height of a handle for a walking aid. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0011] It is an object of this disclosure to mitigate, reduce or eliminate the identified defects and disadvantages in one or more prior art and to solve at least the problems mentioned above. In a first aspect, a height adjustment mechanism is provided for a height-adjustable support, comprising: a housing having an orifice adapted to surround at least one tube or portion of a tube, and a receptacle means adapted to receive a corresponding mounting means for a wedge member; a handle that is user-operable, has at least two positions, and is movable between the two positions, and has a handle portion and an eccentric locking projection; a rotating hinge means adapted to rotatably mount the handle to the housing; a tension member positioned between the handle and the housing and attached to the rotating means, the tension member adapted to pre-tension the handle in one of the locked and unlocked positions; and a wedge member having a proximal end and a free distal end with mounting means adapted to coincide with the receptacle means of the housing.

[0012] In some embodiments, the wedge member further comprises an interference member on the inward side of the wedge member, the interference member being adapted to interfere with a notch, hole, or recess on the tube.

[0013] In some embodiments, the interfering member is a protrusion, a ball, or something similar.

[0014] In some embodiments, the receiving means is one or more notches, parallel grooves and / or tracks arranged radially inward within the housing.

[0015] In some embodiments, the wedge member further comprises a receiving member adapted to receive an eccentric lock projection, the receiving member being located on the opposite side of the wedge member from the interfering member.

[0016] In some embodiments, the wedge member further comprises a friction surface adapted to contact an inner tube, the friction surface being located on the inward side of the wedge member.

[0017] In some embodiments, the eccentric lock projection is adapted to press against or move the distal end of the wedge member, and the eccentric lock has two positions corresponding to two positions of the locking mechanism: a locked position in which the eccentric lock projection applies a radially inward force onto the receiving member of the wedge member, pressing its friction surface toward the inner tube, thereby locking the inner and outer tubes together by friction, and an interfering member engages with one of the holes or recesses in the inner tube, thereby locking the inner and outer tubes together by interfering; and an unlocked position in which the eccentric lock projection releases the edge member from the inner tube, and the interfering member is disengaged from the hole or recess in the inner tube, allowing the inner tube to slide up and down within the outer tube.

[0018] In some embodiments, the wedge member comprises two aligned and adjacent members, which are a first member and a second member, the second member being configured as an elongated strip, positioned inside the first member, and housed or fixed to a portion of the proximal end of the wedge member.

[0019] In a second embodiment, a system for adjusting the height of a support for a walking aid is provided, comprising a locking mechanism according to any of the first embodiments, the system further comprising a walking aid having a height-adjustable handlebar comprising: an outer tube forming part of the walking aid; and an inner tube slidably attached to the outer tube, the inner tube having a plurality of holes or recesses arranged in a straight line at regular intervals for supporting the handlebar, the locking mechanism being adapted to lock and unlock relative movement between the inner tube and the outer tube.

[0020] In some embodiments, the locking mechanism is fixed to the top of the outer tube of the walking aid, and the inner tube is partially aligned with the outer tube and the inside of the orifice of the locking mechanism.

[0021] In a third embodiment, a walking aid is provided that includes a locking mechanism according to any of the first embodiments.

[0022] The results and features of the second and third embodiments are generally similar to those described above in relation to the first embodiment. Embodiments mentioned in relation to the first embodiment are generally compatible with the second and third embodiments.

[0023] This disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description set forth below. The detailed description and specific examples disclose preferred embodiments of this disclosure solely by illustration. Those skilled in the art will understand from the guidance in the detailed description that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the disclosure.

[0024] Therefore, since the device and method may vary, it should be understood that the disclosure presented herein is not limited to the specific components of the described device or the steps of the described method. It should also be understood that the terms used herein are for the purpose of describing only specific embodiments and are not intended to be limiting. Note that the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" used in the specification and appended claims are intended to mean that there is one or more elements present, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, references to "a unit" or "the unit" may include several devices and the like. Further, "comprising," "including," "containing," and similar words do not exclude other elements or steps.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] The above objectives, as well as additional objectives, features, and advantages of the present disclosure, will be more fully understood by reference to the following exemplary and non-limiting detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] Shows a perspective view of a walking aid in an unfolded state. [Figure 2] Shows a perspective view of a height adjustment mechanism. <L [Figure 3a] Shows a perspective view of a wedge member of an adjustment mechanism. [Figure 3b] Shows a perspective view of a wedge member of an adjustment mechanism. [Figure 4] Shows a perspective view of the wedge member as seen from above. [Figure 5] Shows a perspective view of the wedge member in the visible state. [Figure 6a] Shows a perspective view of a height adjustment mechanism attached to a component of a walking aid. [Figure 6b] Shows a perspective view of a height adjustment mechanism attached to a component of a walking aid. [Figure 7] Perspective view of the height adjustment mechanism as seen from above. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] This disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred examples of the disclosure. However, the disclosure may be carried out in other forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0027] When using terms such as upward, downward, front, and rear, they always refer to an extended, upright walking aid in its normal use on the floor. Inward and outward are used in relation to the orifice of a locking mechanism.

[0028] Figure 1 shows a wheeled walking aid comprising left and right lower horizontal bars and left and right upright bars, with wheels mounted near the ends. The upright bars are fitted to height-adjustable supports in the form of handlebars. The supports may be handlebars, handles, armrests, or support contacts of the walking aid adapted to be contact points between the user and the walking aid. Typically, the height-adjustable supports are fitted to a braking system (if the walking aid has wheels) and means for attaching carrier bars, seats, armrests, or other useful objects or devices. Furthermore, the walking aid may include a crossbar or a foldable system connecting the two sides. Height-adjustable mechanisms and systems may be employed and used with non-foldable walking aids, which may have a single transverse bar-shaped handlebar.

[0029] A walking aid with a height adjustment mechanism may comprise an outer tube 10 and an inner tube 9 having a plurality of holes 15 or recesses arranged in a straight line at regular intervals. The inner tube 9 is slidably attached to the outer tube 10, and the locking mechanism / height adjustment mechanism is attached to the top of the outer tube 10. The handlebar is located at the top of the inner tube 9.

[0030] The inner and outer tubes may have different geometric profiles in their cross-sections, but they must be interchangeable. The holes or recesses in the inner tube may be through-passages, non-through-recesses, or notches of any shape suitable for receiving the interference member 14 in a manner that prevents sliding movement between the outer and inner tubes.

[0031] Figure 2 discloses a first aspect of the present disclosure, showing a height adjustment mechanism 1 for a height-adjustable handle. The height adjustment mechanism 1 comprises a housing 7 surrounding an orifice 8 adapted to surround at least one tube or a portion of a tube 9, 10, and a receiving means 11 adapted to receive corresponding mounting means 12, 20 of a wedge member 5. The mechanism 1 further comprises a handle 2 which is user-operable and has at least two positions, which are locked and unlocked, and which is movable between the two positions, the handle 2 comprising a handle portion and an eccentric lock 17. The handle portion is an elongated member adapted for the user to grasp and operate the handle 2.

[0032] The eccentric lock 17 may comprise a pivot mounting point adapted for attachment to the hinge 3, a cam-shaped body portion, and a lever portion (the handle portion of the handle 2). The cam-shaped body must have at least two stable positions corresponding to the locked and unlocked positions of the eccentric lock 17. The cam-shaped body portion comprises a contact surface suitable for pressing the receiving member 16 of the wedge member 5. The contact surface is located at a distance from the pivot mounting point, and the distance between the pressing surface and the pivot point varies with respect to the rotational direction of the eccentric lock 17. This is achieved by the cam-shaped body portion. The cam-shaped portion may be, but is not limited to, any suitable geometric shape, such as oval, eccentric, hexagonal, or a combination thereof, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. It may also be a projection extending from the pivot mounting point.

[0033] Handle 2 is adapted to be operable by the user and changes the rotational direction of the cam-shaped portion of the eccentric lock 17. When the locking mechanism is set to the locked position, handle 2 is operated by the user, thereby rotating the cam-shaped portion around the pivot point 3, so that the distance from the pivot point to the contact surface 16 reaches its maximum. In the unlocked position, handle 2 is operated by the user, thereby rotating the cam-shaped portion to a position where the distance from the pivot point 3 to the contact surface is shorter than its maximum length, and the contact surface 16 does not forcibly press against the pressing surface 14 of the wedge member 5. In one embodiment, the eccentric lock 17 is pivotally mounted within the housing 7.

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the adjustment mechanism 1 includes a rotary hinge means 3 adapted to attach the handle 2 to the housing 7 in a rotational manner, and a tension member 4 positioned between the handle 2 and the housing 7 and attached to the rotary means 3, the tension member 4 adapted to apply pre-tension to the handle 2 in either the locked or unlocked position. The tension member may be a coil spring or a leaf spring.

[0035] To facilitate locking and unlocking contact between the two sliding tubes 9 and 10, the adjustment mechanism 1 includes a wedge member 5 having a proximal end with mounting means 12 adapted to match the receiving means 11 of the housing 7, and a free distal end 13. The mounting means 12 of the wedge member 5 corresponds to the receiving means 11 of the housing 7, so that the wedge member 5 is removably attached to the housing 7. The receiving means 11 may be one or more notches, parallel grooves and / or tracks arranged radially inward within the housing 7, and the mounting means 12 may be shaped to correspond to the notches, parallel grooves and / or tracks arranged radially inward within the housing 7. The wedge member 5 may also include a receiver for attaching fastening means 6, the proximal end of the wedge member 5 being fixedly attached to the top portion of the housing 7. The wedge member 5 is preferably located inside the housing 7.

[0036] The wedge member 5 may further be provided with an interference member 14 on its inward side, the interference member 14 being adapted to interfere with a notch, hole, or recess 15 on / inside the tubes 9, 10. The interference member 14 is shown as a protrusion. However, the interference member 14 may be a ball, a semi-dome, a notch, a bar, a protrusion, or similar.

[0037] Figures 3a and 3b illustrate the wedge member 5. In Figure 3a, the wedge member 5 is viewed from the side, along with the means at the top portion for attaching the fastening means 6. In the illustration, the fastening means 6 is a screw, but it should be understood that any suitable fastening means such as bolts, rivets, nails, friction fitting means, clip-type means, screw-in means and / or precision fitting means may be used. As seen in the figure, the wedge member 5 further comprises a mounting means 12 corresponding to the top portion. In the illustration, the corresponding mounting means 12 protrudes from the top, and the protrusion is adapted to abut against or coincide with the receiving means 11 of the housing 7. The wedge member 5 extends from the proximal end (top portion in the figure) to the distal end 13, and the wedge member 5 is provided with an interfering member 14 and a receiving member 16 on the opposite side of the wedge member 5, on the distal end 13, toward the distal end 13, or at the distal end 13. As shown in the figure, the interfering member 14 protrudes a certain distance from the relatively flat portion of the wedge member 5. Furthermore, the wedge member 5 may include a receiving member 16 adapted to receive an eccentric lock 17 or a component thereof, the receiving member 16 being located on the opposite side of the wedge member 5 from the interfering member 14.

[0038] In Figure 3b, the wedge member 5 is shown as viewed from the front, with the interference member 14 positioned on the lower half of the relatively flat portion of the wedge member 5.

[0039] Figure 4 shows a wedge member viewed from above, which comprises two pairs of corresponding mounting means 12, 20, which consist of a first pair of mounting means 12, 12' comprising two lateral projections 12, 12' adapted to fit into grooves or similar features of the corresponding receiving means 11, and a second pair of mounting means 20, 20' extending forward from the wedge member 5, partially enclosing at least one tube 9, 10 and adapted to fit into corresponding shoulders of the housing 7.

[0040] The wedge member 5 may further include a friction surface 18 adapted to contact the inner tube 9, the friction surface 18 being positioned on the inward side of the wedge member 5. The idea is that a secure locking mechanism is achieved by both the inner and outer tubes engaging with the projection 14 of the hole or recess to lock the inner tube 9 against the outer tube 10, and by pressing the friction surface 18 of the wedge member 5 against the inner tube 9. The pressure of the friction surface 18 on the inner tube 9 prevents rattling and unstable movement of the handlebar, and Projection 14 The engagement prevents sliding movement between the inner and outer tubes, thereby locking the handlebars by friction and by blocking.

[0041] Figure 5 illustrates an alternative example of the present invention in which the wedge member 5 is composed of two parts 21, 22, which are a first member 21 and a second member 22, wherein the first member 21 is made of a first material and the second member 22 is made of a second material, the first material may be a composite material, plastic, fiber-reinforced polymer or glass fiber reinforced plastic, polymer material and / or metal, and the second material may be an alloy and / or metal. In the illustration, the second member 22 is made of an elongated piece, is positioned inside the first member 21 and is housed or fixed to a portion of the proximal end of the wedge member 5. strip The second member 22 can be composed of such a structure, and as a result, a pre-tension can be applied to the second member 22 in an inward (away-from) direction from the first member 21. The surface of the second member 22 may include a friction surface 18.

[0042] In this embodiment, the interfering member 14 is composed of a projection of the first member 21 and a corresponding projection of the second member 22. When adopted and / or used in the system, the second member 22 is subsequently moved away from the first member 21, and outside Pre-tension may be applied toward the tube 10, so that when a user of the walking aid unlocks the mechanism and adjusts the height of the support, the projection of the second member 22 functions as an indexing means. In this embodiment, the second member 22 may be flexible so that the projection of the second member 22 follows the hole in the inner tube in a tactile manner. As a result, if a user attempts to forcibly lock the mechanism when the interfering member 14 is not aligned with the hole, the user can feel the timing when the interfering member 14 is engaged with the hole in the inner tube so as not to damage the inner tube.

[0043] Figure 6a illustrates a locking mechanism 1 fixed to the top of an outer tube 10 of a walking aid (not shown), with an inner tube 9 partially aligned inside the outer tube 10 and the orifice of the locking mechanism 1. Typically, the outer tube extends from the structural components of the walking aid, and the inner tube 9 supports a support and has a plurality of holes or recesses 15 arranged in a straight line at regular intervals, and the inner tube 9 is slidably attached to the outer tube 10, and the locking mechanism is adapted to lock and unlock relative movement between the inner tube 9 and the outer tube 10 by forcing an interference member 14 into a hole 15 selected by the user by positioning the handle in the locked position (as shown in Figure 6a).

[0044] When in use, the eccentric lock 17 is adapted to directly or indirectly press against or move the distal end 13 of the wedge member 5, and the eccentric lock 17 has two positions corresponding to two positions of the locking mechanism: a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the eccentric lock projection 17 applies a radially inward force onto the receiving member 16 of the wedge member 5, pressing its friction surface 18 toward the inner tube 9, thereby fixing the inner and outer tubes together by friction, and the interfering member 14 engages with one of the holes or recesses 15 in the inner tube 9, thereby fixing the inner and outer tubes together by locking. In the unlocked position, the eccentric lock 17 releases the edge member 5 from the inner tube 9, and the interfering member 14 is disengaged from the hole or recess 15 in the inner tube 9, allowing the inner tube to slide up and down within the outer tube.

[0045] Furthermore, Figure 6a illustrates an embodiment in which the system includes a pre-indexing height device 19 adapted to be attached to the inner tube 9 in a predetermined hole 15 in the inner tube 9, so that the pre-indexing height device 19 can guide the user to a predetermined height for the support after the walking aid has been folded, for example for transport. The pre-indexing height device 19 consists of a main body portion having a curve corresponding to the curvature of the inner tube 9, and a projection that protrudes from the main body and is adapted to fit into the hole 15.

[0046] Figure 6a and 6b This indicates two positions of the locking mechanism: a locked position in which the inner tube 9 is fixed in a certain position relative to the outer tube 10, thereby fixing the height of the support / handlebar, and an unlocked position in which the inner tube 9 is free to slide in the longitudinal direction of the outer tube 10, releasing the support / handlebar and allowing the user to move the handle up and down to suit their height preference.

[0047] Figure 6b shows the height adjustment and locking mechanism 1 in the unlocked position, and the eccentric lock 17 has a friction surface. 18The pressure from the inner tube 9 is released, and the interfering member 14 is released from the pressure from the handle 2 and from the protrusion of the locking 17, thereby disconnecting from the hole or recess 15, and the inner tube 9 outer tube 10 It is released by sliding up and down within. The user can easily and simply move the handle 2 from and between the locked and unlocked positions shown in Figures 6a and 6b, thereby easily and simply moving the locking mechanism.

[0048] Furthermore, in Figure 6b, the interfering member 14 is positioned between the holes 15 on the inner tube 9. When the interfering member 14 reaches a hole 15, the second member 22 of the interfering member 14, which is flexible and / or pre-tensioned, enters the hole 15, and the user will feel slight resistance when trying to move the support / handle further. The user knows that a hole 15 is positioned and the handle 2 can be safely moved to a preferred position, or if the height is undesirable, the user can move to an adjacent hole 15. Thus, the second member 22 of the pre-tensioned interfering member 14 functions as an indexer.

[0049] A second aspect of the present disclosure shows a system for adjusting the height of a handlebar for a walking aid, comprising a locking mechanism according to the first aspect, the system comprising: a walking aid comprising a height-adjustable handlebar comprising an outer tube 10 forming part of the walking aid; and an inner tube 9 slidably mounted within the outer tube 10, the inner tube 9 supporting the handlebar and comprising a plurality of holes or recesses 15 arranged in a straight line at regular intervals, the locking mechanism being adapted to lock and unlock relative movement between the inner tube 9 and the outer tube 10.

[0050] In the second embodiment, the locking mechanism may be fixed to the top of the outer tube 10 of the walking aid, and the inner tube 9 is partially aligned with the outer tube 10 and the inside of the orifice of the locking mechanism 1.

[0051] Figure 7 illustrates the mechanism 1 fitted into the outer tube 10, viewed from above. In the illustration, the housing 7 surrounds the outer tube 10 and is located at the top of the tube 10, along with the interfering member 14 projecting inward from the wedge member 5. A second pair of mounting means 20, 20' are located at the top of the edge of the outer tube 10 in a lockable manner. In the figure, the orifice of the mechanism 1 and the outer tube 10 is illustrated in a partially elliptical shape. However, it should be understood that the cross-sections of the inner tube 9 and the outer tube 10 may be round, elliptical, square, elliptical, or molded into any interchangeable geometric profile. The walking aid may be a walking cane, a walking board, a walker, a wheeled support device, or a wheelless support device.

[0052] A third aspect of this disclosure relates to a walking aid equipped with a locking mechanism according to the first aspect.

[0053] A person skilled in the art will recognize that this disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. A person skilled in the art will further recognize that modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, variations of the disclosed embodiments can be understood and implemented by a person skilled in the art in carrying out the claimed disclosure, based on a review of the drawings, disclosure and appended claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 1. Height adjustment mechanism 2 handles 3 Hinge 4. Tension Member 5 Wedge Member 6 Fastening means 7 Housing 8 Orifice 9. Inner tube 10 Outer tube 11 Receptor means 12 Mounting means corresponding to the receiver means 13 Free distal end of wedge member 14 Interference members 15 Hole inside the inner tube 16 Receiving member of wedge member 17 Eccentric Lock 18 Friction surface 19. Spare indexing height device 20 Second mounting means 21 First member 22 Second member

Claims

1. Height adjustment mechanism (1) for a height-adjustable support: - A housing (7) comprising an orifice (8) adapted to surround at least one tube or a portion of a tube (9, 10) and a receiving means (11) adapted to receive the corresponding mounting means (12) of a wedge member (5); - A handle (2) that is user-operable and has at least two positions, locked and unlocked, and is movable between the two positions, the handle (2) comprising a handle portion and an eccentric lock projection (17); - A rotary hinge means (3) adapted to attach the handle (2) to the housing (7) in a rotational manner; - A tension member (4) positioned between the handle (2) and the housing (7) and attached to the rotating means (3), wherein the tension member (4) is adapted to apply pre-tension to the handle (2) in one of the locked and unlocked positions; - A wedge member (5) having a proximal end and a free distal end (13) having mounting means (12) adapted to match the receiving means (11) of the housing (7), A height adjustment mechanism (1) is provided.

2. The height adjustment mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein the wedge member (5) further comprises an interference member (14) on the inward side of the wedge member (5), and the interference member (14) is adapted to interfere with a notch, hole or recess (15) on the tubes (9, 10).

3. The height adjustment mechanism (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interfering member (14) is a protrusion, a ball, or something similar.

4. The height adjustment mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving means (11) is one or more notches, parallel grooves and / or tracks arranged radially inward within the housing (7).

5. The height adjustment mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wedge member (5) further comprises a receiving member (16) adapted to receive the eccentric lock projection (17), the receiving member (16) being positioned on the opposite side of the wedge member (5) from the interfering member (14).

6. The height adjustment mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wedge member (5) further comprises a friction surface (18) adapted to contact the inner tube (9), and the friction surface (18) is located on the inward side of the wedge member (5).

7. The eccentric lock projection (17) is fitted to press against or move on the distal end (13) of the wedge member (5), and the eccentric lock (17) is: The eccentric locking projection (17) applies a radially inward force onto the receiving member (16) of the wedge member (5), pressing the friction surface (18) toward the inner tube (9), thereby fixing the inner and outer tubes together by friction, and the interfering member (14) engages with one of the holes or recesses (15) in the inner tube (9), thereby fixing the inner and outer tubes together by blocking, in a locked position, The eccentric locking projection (17) releases the edge member (5) from the inner tube (9), and the interference member (14) is released from the hole or recess (15) in the inner tube (9), releasing the inner tube so that it can slide up and down within the outer tube, in a release position. A height adjustment mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, having the two positions corresponding to the two positions of the locking mechanism.

8. The height adjustment mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wedge member (5) is composed of two aligned and adjacent members (21, 22), which are a first member (21) and a second member (22), the second member (22) being configured as an elongated piece, positioned inside the first member (21), and housed in or fixed to a part of the proximal end of the wedge member (5).

9. The height adjustment mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the eccentric lock (17) is adapted to be pressed against or moved on the distal end (13) of the wedge member (5).

10. A system for adjusting the height of a support for a walking aid, comprising the locking mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the system: The outer tube (10) that forms part of the walking aid, and; An inner tube (9) that supports the handlebars and has a plurality of holes or recesses (15) arranged in a straight line at regular intervals, wherein the inner tube (9) is slidably mounted within the outer tube (10), A walking aid further comprising a height-adjustable handlebar, The locking mechanism is adapted to lock and unlock the relative movement between the inner tube (9) and the outer tube (10). A system for adjusting height.

11. The height adjustment system according to claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism is fixed to the top of the outer tube (10) of the walking aid, and the inner tube (9) is partially aligned with the inside of the outer tube (10) and the orifice of the locking mechanism (1).

12. A walking aid comprising the locking mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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