Knee Pad Attachment for Invalid Walker

Knee pads and equivalent supports are known as parts of or attachments for invalid walkers, typical of which is that disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,668, to Tosto. The Tosto device is a simple, removable, padded tray-like element that hooks over the front lower cross bar of the walker as well as hooking over a lower fore-and-aft bar of the walker. The Tosto pad must be made in right or left models according to which knee is to be supported and is provided with hook-over portions, depending upon whether the right or left fore-and-aft bar is used in conjunction with the cross bar in front, but in either case the level or elevation of the pad remains the same, the adjustment being basically to accommodate either the right or left knee.

According to the present invention, several positions of the knee pad are available, including a number of vertical positions as well as a number of lateral positions resulting from swingability of the pad from left to right about a vertical axis. Further positions are available in a fore-and-aft direction. Additionally, the support for the pad includes cooperative means enabling reversibility, end for end, of a pad-supporting post, thereby resulting in a still wider range of adjustment. The attachment features simple design, yielding a sturdy, low-cost product that may be inexpensively manufactured, distributed, and used, adding to the improved care of invalided persons.

The foregoing and other important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as a preferred embodiment thereof is disclosed in the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a small-scale perspective showing the attachment in use with a known type of walker.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan of the attachment per se, the dotted lines showing representative adjusted positions of the pad.

FIG. 5 is a face view of the attachment as seen from the rear or patient's side of the walker.

FIG. 6 is a side view, showing one mode of post positioning.

FIG. 7 is a similar view but showing the post reversed and the pad turned to occupy a second adjusted mode.

The numeral (10) in FIG. 1 denotes a typical invalid walker having a pair of front legs (12), a pair of rear legs (14), a lower front cross bar or brace (16) and right and left fore-and-aft bars or braces (18). The rear legs are part of a U-shaped tubular part including a bight (20) that provides a top cross bar and top fore-and-aft arms (22) that are fitted with pads (24). The terms "front", "rear", etc. are used with respect to the parts as seen by a user patient facing forwardly in the walker.

The attachment, designated as a whole by the numeral (26), is preferably constructed of metal tubing or the like having high strength and low weight and here comprises upper and lower cross members (28) and (30) that are rigidly connected to the tops and bottoms of a pair of upright members (32). Each end of the top member is provided with attachment means in the form of a U-shaped element or hook (34) shaped to hook over and engage the associated front leg from the front (FIG. 2), the areas of engagement in this respect being at upper portions of the front legs. Likewise, but reversed, each end of the lower cross member has a hook-like element (36) adapted to hook over and engage the associated front leg from the rear, the engagement here being just above the walker lower cross bar (16) (FIGS. 1 and 3). Each hook element may be configured to have a frictional or like fit with its associated leg portion, as by being formed of springy material. As will be seen from the description to follow, the manner of support of the attachment on the walker, utilizing the hook elements (34) and (36) and engagement with the lower walker cross bar enables easy mounting of the attachment on and removal thereof from the walker, and also accommodates any overturning moment resulting from the weight of the walker user.

In addition to the framework established by the uniting of the attachment members (28), (30), and (32), the attachment includes a substantially central support means (38) comprising a metal plate (40) affixed to the members (30) and (32) and a tube (42) fixed to the plate and providing a bearing on a vertical axis. The tube receives a post (44) of cylindrical section so that the post is both slidably and angularly movable in the tube. Both vertical and angular adjustments of the post are thus available, and selective positions are maintained by means including a hand screw (46). See FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, FIG. 4 showing, in dotted lines, angular positions and FIGS. 6 and 7 showing end-for-end reversibility of the post in the tube (42) which is of course open at both its upper and lower ends.

One end of the post has rigid therewith a horizontal arm (48), preferably of square section, and serves as a part of means mounting a knee pad (50) which has a square-sectioned sleeve (52) at its underside dimensioned to slidably fit the arm so as to enable fore-and-aft adjustment of the pad as well as removal and inversion of the pad when the post is reversed end-for-end as between FIGS. 6 and 7. A hand screw (54) is provided for securing the selected position of the pad.

In use, the attachment is mounted on the typical walker via the hook elements (34) and (36) and the pad is positioned as to height and lateral position; i.e., left or right or any selected positions in between, according to the stature of the user. In the present case, the angular range of swinging of the pad is in the order of 140.degree.. The grasping nature of the hooks on the respective leg portions retains the attachment in place against inadvertent dislodging, yet the attachment is easily removable when the occasion arises. When vertical adjustment of the pad entails inversion of the post, as between the positions of FIGS. 6 and 7, the pad is removed from the arm and remounted in its inverted position so as to keep the knee-supporting surface on top.

Features and advantages other than those pointed out herein will become apparent to those versed in the art, as will many modifications and alterations in the preferred embodiment disclosed, all of which may be achieved without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.