Compliant walker

US5174590A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• James J. Kerley · Greenbelt, US
• Wayne D. Eklund · Edgewood, US
• J. Allen A. Crane · Baltimore, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 3, 1991
• Grant date: Dec 29, 1992
• Expiry date: Jul 3, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61H2201/165
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A compliant walker for humans having limited use of their legs and lower back includes an upright wheeled frame which at least partially surrounds an upright user wearing a partial body harness which is attached to the frame by means of cable compliant apparatus consisting of sets of cable segments and angle bracket members connected between opposite side members of the frame and adjacent side portions of the harness. The type of partial body harness utilized takes two forms, the first being a torso harness which encircles the waist or rib cage of the user, while the second type of harness is a hip harness which fits around the hips and buttocks. The frame itself lends itself to several embodiments, one of which completely surrounds the user, while the other consists of a frame open at the front end including a pair of upright side members which attach to the cable support apparatus and which is vertically adjustable to accommodate the user's height.