DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The present invention, as seen in FIG. 1 is a combination crutch-walker 1. In the following embodiment, this invention can be described in terms of two components: an upper support frame A and a lower support frame B. The upper support frame A is composed of two upper horizontal frontal supports 8 that are connected to two vertical frontal corner posts or members 4. The horizontal frontal supports 8 are telescoping pieces that can be adjusted to the width of the user's body. To accomplish this, they have male 15 and female 17 ends that can slide into one another, allowing them to contract or extend.

[0023] Also connected to each vertical frontal corner post or members 4 are two horizontal side upper 6. These horizontal side 6 are each stabilized in the back by two vertical rear corner posts 10.

[0024] These pieces taken in conjunction create a U-shaped upper support frame A surrounding the user across the front and on both sides. This shape allows the user easy rear access to the crutch-walker. It also gives the user the option of positioning himself towards the front or rear of the device.

[0025] Attached to the upper support frame A are two vertical body supports 24, one for each side of the crutch walker 1. These body supports 24 are connected to the horizontal side supports 6 by means of any of a pin, screw, spring-loaded lock or any other type of connecting/locking device. Each vertical body support 24 has an adjustable upper arm support 28 located at its top, and arranged to be adjusted for a user's height to fit under his arm.

[0026] Each vertical body support 24 also has an adjustable hand support 30 located near its bottom and arranged can be adjusted to the user's proper arm length. The positioning of both the upper support 28 and the hand support 30 with respect to each other is crucial to ensure that the user receives full crutch support while using the combination crutch-walker 1. The adjustability of both the upper arm support 28 and hand support 30 allows the user to extend his arms and lock his elbows in a vertical position, thus providing the user with a proper weight distribution, allowing more economic usage of body strength.

[0027] The vertical body supports 24 can also be adjusted forward or backward along the horizontal side supports 6 according to the user's size and preference. By placing the position farther to the rear, additional accessories such as a hand basket can easily be added to the front of the upper support frame A.

[0028] The lower support section B is similar in shape and orientation to the upper body support section A. The lower support section B is connected to upper body support section A at the four corners of the device 1 where vertical frontal and rear corner vertical members on 4 and 10 are connected to lower corner vertical members on 16 that extend outward at an angle away from their connection as they descend to the ground or substrate supporting the device 1. The lower corner vertical members on 16 extend outward so that the lower support section B as the base of the crutch-walker 1 cover more surface area and thus provide the user with greater stability.

[0029] The lower support frame B is composed of a lower horizontal frontal support 14 that is connected to two lower vertical members 16. The combination crutch-walker 1 can be partially collapsible by pivoting all the aforementioned side structures at vertical members 4 towards the front. Specifically, the connection joints between the horizontal frontal supports 8 and the vertical frontal members 4 as well as the connection joints between the lower horizontal frontal support 14 and the front lower vertical members 16 can be pivoted so that the sides fold in towards the front of the device 1, allowing for easy transport and storage.

[0030] Also attached to the base of the lower vertical members 16 are lower side horizontal supports 12. These lower side horizontal supports 12 are connected to the rear two lower vertical members 16 to form a bottom U-shaped frame. Attached to the four base corners of the device 1 are four wheels that are connected to the bottom U-shaped frame.

[0031] In one preferred embodiment, as described in FIG. 1, wheels 20 are attached to the lower U-shaped frame. Alternatives for floor support interface include rubber feet, castors, gliders, or any combination of such devices. These devices can have adjustable locks on them to stop movement of the device along the floor or substrate. These various combinations could be used on the lower u-shaped frame of the device 1, and changed by means of sliding, pivoting, or rotating the various floor support interfaces.

[0032] One such variation includes extendable feet 22. These are kept in a first position, as depicted in FIG. 1, to facilitate movement of the crutch-walker device 1. Feet 22 can be lowered (by pivoting, for example) to extend beyond the wheels 20 to make contact with the floor. Thus, the feet 22 can act as brakes. If extended far enough the feet can lift device 1 to remove wheels 20 from the floor.

[0033] In another embodiment, brakes can be easily installed using cable or pneumatics lines. These can be run through the interior of the vertical members 16, 4 if they are hollow or along the exterior if they are not. Such brakes can be controlled by hand controls (not shown) placed on the hand supports 30.

[0034] Attached to the base of the crutch-walker are anti-tip safety extensions or bumpers 23. These extensions 23 wrap over and curve downward around the base wheels 20. They act as a further guard against the tipping of the device 1, and can be deployed in a variety of configurations.

[0035] The present drawings show the upper body support section A as being vertically parallel to the user's body and the lower support section B as extending outward at an angle. This arrangement allows for the user to receive the vertical supports 24 so that he can extend his arms and lock his elbows vertically, as he would with a crutch. At the same time, the extended base provides the user with increased stability due to the large surface the combination crutch-walker 1 covers.

[0036] In a further embodiment of the combination crutch-walker 1, both the upper support frame A and the lower support frame B extend away from the user's body on the front and rear faces. This is achieved by having the vertical frontal and rear corner posts 4 and 10 extend at the same angle away from the user's body as the lower corner posts 16 to the front and back. This provides a single angle of extension for the entire device 1. The lower corner posts 16 do not extend away from the user's body to the side. The sides of the device 1 in this embodiment do not extend to the sides of the user, and possess a trapezoid shape. This allows for easier pivoting and collapsing of the sides towards the front as described previously.

[0037] A combination crutch-walker 1 having the aforementioned trapezoid-shaped side body supports is depicted in FIG. 3. The drawing shows a side view of one of the horizontal body support frames 30. Two such frames are held together by front horizontal supports 40 and 42. The horizontal supports are located only at the front of the device, leaving the space in the rear for easy access by the user. The substantially trapezoid-shaped device depicted in FIG. 3 is constituted by two telescoping legs 31, 32 and a horizontal crosspiece 38 connecting the two legs together. While a trapezoid shape is depicted in FIG. 3, the side body support frames 30 can be substantially U-shaped or any other shape that will accomplish the function of the present invention.

[0038] The legs 31, 32 are preferably constituted by telescoping members so that the overall height of the body support frame 30 can be adjusted to fit a wide variety of user heights. Standard devices or modifications for adjusting and locking the telescoping pieces can be used. These would include aligned holes 33, clamps, or any other suitable device. Horizontal piece 38 is preferably positioned so that it fits underneath the user's arm to provide the fit normally found in the crutch. Preferably horizontal piece 38 is padded (not shown). The shape of horizontal piece 38 need not be as depicted in FIG. 3. Rather, any shape that will properly accommodate the user at the armpit can be used.

[0039] Legs 31 and 32 are braced to each other by horizontal side braces 34 and 37. With tubular steel construction, the horizontal bracing provided by front horizontal supports 40 and 42 along with the side horizontal supports 37 and 34 in conjunction with horizontal piece 38, provide adequate support for a user of virtually any weight.

[0040] To obtain the full benefits of a crutch and a walker, an adjustable handhold 35 is provided so that a user can adjust the overall height of the crutch-walker device 1 to fit his armpit with horizontal piece 38 and adjust handhold 35 so that his arms are fully extended and elbows locked. Adjustment of the hand piece 35 is provided by an adjustable length telescoping vertical piece 36. The adjusting devices are the same as those described with respect to legs 31 and 32, and can encompass any techniques from aligned holes with cotter pins to matched threaded tubular pieces. The telescoping vertical piece 36 is horizontally adjustable along the length of horizontal side support 37 by means of a sliding sleeve 361. The sleeve can be lockable with any number of well-known devices such as setscrews, clamps, pins, and the like. The use of this adjusting device allows a user to position himself within the two body support frames 30 for maximum comfort. As an alternative, handhold 35 can be replaced by a solid horizontal bar (not shown).

[0041] One advantage of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 is that the trapezoid-shaped side body support frames 30 can be folded by pivoting them with respect to the front horizontal supports 40, 42. This permits convenient storage and transport. The pivoting is accomplished by pivoting sleeve 41, which is formed as part of horizontal front support 40. By virtue of pivoting sleeve 41, each of the side body support frames 30 can be rotated with respect to horizontal front support 40 and thereby folded on top of one or the other. A pivoting device such as a pin, screw, or the like (not shown), is formed as part of the structure of the upper front horizontal support 42. This permits pivoting of the two side body support frames 30 with respect to the upper front horizontal support 42 so that an easy two-step (one for each side body support frame 30) can be quickly accomplished for storage or transport of the crutch-walker combination 1.

[0042] While castors 39 are depicted in FIG. 3, other devices for achieving mobility along the substrate or ground supporting the crutch-walker device 1 can also be used, as previously described. In order to achieve additional stability, the castors or wheels 39 can be fitted with hand brakes (not show) such as those used on bicycles. The cables necessary to operate the brakes can be contained within the hollow tubular structures of legs 31, 32. The cable can run through the hollow horizontal support 37 down through the hollow vertical support 36 to handhold 35. The brake structure can be one that allows locking without additional effort by the user or the traditional brake that operate only when the user provides constant pressure.

[0043] The present invention admits to many variations since there are a wide variety of different needs and constraints on the part of those who must use either a crutch or a walker. Accordingly, the shape and physical configuration of the present invention is expected to be modified in accordance with the personal needs of those who use the inventive crutch-walker 1.

[0044] In another embodiment of the invention, the vertical posts and horizontal supports of the device 1 are composed of tubular stainless steel. This provides a high-level of strength and durability. The device is also protected from corrosion. An alternative material is tubular aluminum, which, while easy to manipulate, is not as strong as steel. As another alternative, titanium would be stronger than steel, but its cost is too prohibitive. High density-plastic could also be used, though it too could be difficult to manufacture. Finally, wood, a traditional material, could be used but it would suffer problems of adjustability, strength, and weight, mitigating against its use.

[0045] Although the preferred embodiment and given drawings concern a combination crutch-walker 1 with four lower vertical corner posts 16, the quantity of such “legs” or vertical members can be any number no less than three, as three legs are the minimal number required to maintain proper stability. As few as three contact points (using casters for example) with the ground can be used. In the alternative, as many contact points can be used as appropriate.

[0046] Additional embodiments of the invention 1 can possess a variety of shapes, including triangular, square, rectangular, circular, elliptical, or any other appropriate shape as long as the lower support frame B extends outward from the user's body. Although the embodiment depicted in the drawings has a general U-shape, other shapes or configurations, such as a triangular shape, can be used within the concept of the present invention.

[0047] The present invention facilitates a process to stabilize the user's body. It achieves this goal by extending the lower support frame B away from the user's body. This gives the device 1 a larger base of support on the ground. The contact points on the ground, which are wheels 20 in the preferred embodiment, are positioned at the end of all vertical corner posts 16 as depicted in FIG. 1.

[0048] Stability is also enhanced with the addition of extendible feet 22 (in FIGS. 1 and 2). These can be engaged by the user to prevent unwanted movement of the device. Brakes can also be utilized to provide the user with additional control over the movement of the combination crutch-walker.

[0049] As part of this overall process, the present invention facilitates support of the user's body. It achieves this goal by placing the vertical supports 24 of FIG. 1 directly beneath the user's arms. The adjustability of the upper and lower horizontal frontal supports 8 and 14 allows the user to adjust the width of the device 1 so that the vertical body supports 24 are properly beneath the user's armpits. The upper support 28 can be adjusted so that it is snug beneath the user's armpits. The hand support 30 can then be adjusted in order for the user to fully extend his arms and lock his elbows. This process also distributes the user's weight by allowing him to utilize his arm's strength.

[0050] While the present invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, it is not limited there to. Rather, the present invention encompasses any adaptations, variations, embodiments, permutations, equivalents, and modifications that would occur to one skilled in the present technology, and being in possession of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.