Walking support apparatus

Claim 2

A walking support apparatus for at least partially supporting a user comprising: a lower frame of a generally U shape having an open end and a closed end and formed by first and second lateral members and a front member, said open end being at the rear of said frame and the closed end being at the front of said frame; three vertical support members, each having an upper and a lower end, one of said vertical support members being attached at said lower end to each of said lateral members and to the front member of said frame; an upper frame attached to the upper ends of said vertical support members, said upper frame comprising first and second lateral members having first and second ends and internal threads at each of said ends thereof and attached to the upper ends of the vertical support members attached to the respective lateral members of said lower frame; a front member attached to the vertical support member attached to the front member of said lower frame and having externally threaded portions extending laterally for engagement with said internal threads of one of said lateral members; a rear member having laterally extending portions with external threads for engagement with said internal threads of one end of each of said lateral members, said rear member being selectively removable to allow the user to enter the enclosed area formed by the assembled upper frame.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said front and rear members of said upper frame member each comprises: a central portion having a T shaped member attached to each end thereof lying in a horizontal plane; a lateral member rotatably supported in said T member and having external threads thereon for engagement with the internal threads of the lateral members of said upper frame; a cap member attached to the outer end of said lateral member and having an external diameter greater than the internal diameter of said T member; a collar attached to the lateral member adjacent the other side of said T member.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the vertical support members are adjustable in length.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising padding material surrounding at least a portion of said lower and upper frame members.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising: wheel means for rolling support of the apparatus.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 5 where four wheels are provided, one attached to each of the corners of said lower frame.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vertical support members are adjustable in length.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising padding material surrounding to at least a portion of said lower and upper frame members.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising: wheel means attached to said lower frame for rolling support of the apparatus.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vertical support means comprises: a vertical member; a T member attached to the lower end of said vertical member, the lateral portion of said T member enclosing a portion of its respective portion of the frame member; collar means for retaining said vertical member at a preselected place on its respective lower frame portion.

Claim 13

A walking support apparatus for at least partially supporting a user comprising: a lower frame of a generally U shape having an open end and a closed end, said U shape being formed by first and second lateral members and a front member, said open end being at the rear of said frame and the closed end being at the front of said frame; three vertical support members, each having an upper and a lower end, one of said vertical support members being attached at said lower end to a respective one of said lateral members of said lower frame and one attached at said lower end to the front member of said frame, said vertical support members being attached for rotation on their respective lower frame members; an upper frame comprising first and second lateral members, a front member and a rear member, said upper frame members forming an enclosed area above said lower frame, said rear upper frame member being selectively removable to allow the user to enter said enclosed area formed by the assembled upper frame; means for releasably attaching said upper frame to said vertical support members whereby upon removal of said upper frame members from said vertical support members, said vertical support members may be rotated on their respective lower frame members to an approximate horizontal position forming a compact assembly for ease of transport; and wheel means attached to said lower frame for rolling support of said apparatus.

Claim 14

A walking support apparatus for at least partially supporting a user comprising: a lower frame of a generally U shape having an open end and a closed end, said U shape being formed by first and second lateral members and a front member, said open end being at the rear of said frame and the closed end being at the front of said frame; three vertical support members, each having an upper and a lower end, one of said vertical support members being attached at said lower end to a respective one of said lateral members of said lower frame and one attached at said lower end to the front member of said frame, said vertical support members being attached for rotation on their respective lower frame members; an upper frame comprising first and second lateral members, a front member and a rear member, said upper frame members forming an enclosed area above said lower frame, said rear upper frame member being selectively removable to allow the user to enter said enclosed area formed by the assembled upper frame; means for releasably attaching said upper frame to said vertical support members whereby upon removal of said upper frame members from said vertical support members, said vertical support members may be rotated on their respective lower frame members to an approximate horizontal position forming a compact assembly for ease of transport; and wheel means attached to said lower frame for rolling support of said apparatus.

Claim 15

The walking support apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said upper frame comprises T shaped members, each of said T shaped members having a stem portion attached to a respective vertical support member and a cross portion extending parallel to a respective lateral member of said upper frame, said first and second lateral upper frame members and said front upper frame member each comprising first and second portions, of each of said first and second portions of said lateral and front upper frame members being releasably attached to one end of one of said cross members of said T shaped members on its respective vertical support member, said rear upper frame member comprising a unitary tube; upper frame connecting members attached to each end of said front and rear upper frame members, said upper frame connecting member having a T shape with a stem portion and a cross portion, attached to the other end of each of said first and second portions of said front upper frame member and to each end of said rear upper frame member, the cross portion of the upper frame connecting member being a hollow tube of greater internal diameter than the external diameter of the lateral upper frame members, said lateral upper frame members being inserted in the cross portion of said connecting members and slidably moveable therein; cap members releasably tot he each end of said lateral upper frame members, said cap members having a larger diameter than the internal diameter of said connecting members thereby retaining said front and rear upper frame members attached to said lateral members and whereby, upon removal of said cap members, said front and rear upper frame members may be removed from the upper frame assembly by sliding said front and rear upper frame members off the ends of said lateral members thus allowing said vertical support members to be rotated on their respective lateral lower frame members to an approximate horizontal position forming a compact assembly for ease of transportation.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said T shaped members are releasably attached to said first and second portions of said lateral upper frame members by means of matching threads on adjoining members, and said cap members are releasably attached to said upper frame lateral members by means of matching threads on adjoining members.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said vertical support members are adjustable in length.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 13 and further comprising padding material surrounding at least a portion of said upper and lower frames.

Claim 19

The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein four wheels are provided, one attached to each of the corners of said lower frame.

Claim 20

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said vertical support members are adjustable in length.

Claim 21

The apparatus according to claim 12 and further comprising padding material surrounding at least a portion of said upper and lower frames.

Claim 22

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein four wheels are provided, one attached to each of the corners of said lower frame.

Claim 23

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said lower frame comprises: a front member having an elbow at each end thereof facing the rear of the lower frame; first and second lateral members, one at each side of the lower frame and attached to the elbow member of a respective side; second elbow members attached to the other ends of said lateral members and extending downward therefrom; T shaped members attached to said lateral members near said first elbows, the stem of said T members extending downward from said lateral members; wheel support means extending downward from said second elbow members and said T members; and wheels attached to each of said wheel support means for providing rolling support for said apparatus.