DE102024109990B3 - Tread for a pathway aid - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tread (60) for a walking aid (10) with which persons (56) and/or objects (55) can be moved by pushing. The walking aid (10) is formed with a supporting structure (12) having two wheel receptacles (14) and two wheels (16), a holding rod (80) having at least one handle (82), a pushing rod (30) having at least one handle (34), and at least one tread (60) arranged on or at the supporting structure (12). The special feature of the at least one tread (60) is that it has two regions (62, 64), namely a first region (62) with a higher strength in the front region of the at least one tread (60), and a second region (64) with a lower strength in the rear region of the at least one tread (60).

Description

The invention relates to a tread for a walking aid with which people and/or objects can be moved by pushing. The walking aid is formed with a supporting structure having two wheel mounts and two wheels, a support rod with at least one handle, a push rod with at least one handle, and at least one tread arranged on or at the supporting structure. The special feature of the at least one tread is that it has two regions, namely a first region with greater strength in the front region of the at least one tread, and a second region with less strength in the rear region of the at least one tread.

When families travel with children, it often happens that the children get tired and no longer want to walk on their own. It also happens that they simply don't feel like participating in an activity like shopping. For these and similar cases, there are various options for taking the children along, i.e., transporting them, or supporting their mobility.

For transportation, handcarts, bike trailers, and the like are used. Children's independent mobility is supported with kickboards, skateboards, scooters, balance bikes, children's bikes, and similar devices—in the broadest sense, "mobile devices."

These solutions have several disadvantages. For example, most child transport solutions are not compact, lightweight, or flexible. They cannot be easily carried as backup solutions and do not fit in small cars or carry-on luggage compartments when traveling. Assistive mobility solutions for children, on the other hand, are not hand-held and cannot be controlled by a supervisor. Therefore, there is always a risk of accidents, especially on public roads, especially in unfamiliar areas. If a child loses interest in their vehicle, in extreme cases, not only the child but also the vehicle must be carried.

Out of DE 10 2005 013 336 A1 A transport device for children who are tired of walking is known, which has a base for the child to be transported with two wheels arranged on the side, as well as a rod attached to the base, on which a handle for guiding the transport device and handles for holding the child are arranged. A similar device is available in GB 2 489 575 A or GB 2 531 499 A described, whereby the rods are designed to be foldable.

Assistance may also be necessary for transporting objects, especially for older people or when heavy loads, such as large purchases, need to be moved. Here, too, only bulky and inflexible solutions are known to date.

US 2003 / 0 062 699 A1 discloses a transport device for heavy objects such as snowmobiles. The transport device features a bow-shaped frame and wheels attached to the ends of the frame.

The inventors have developed a mobility aid that can be used to transport people and/or objects, eliminating the aforementioned disadvantages. It may be desirable to increase ride comfort for a person being transported and/or to improve the safety of transporting objects. The object of the invention is to fulfill precisely these wishes.

The object of the invention is achieved with a tread according to claim 1 and a path aid according to claim 9. Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the remaining features mentioned in the subclaims.

• • eine Tragkonstruktion, die zwei Radaufnahmen und zwei Räder aufweist, die um eine gemeinsame virtuelle Achse rotieren, die oberhalb der Tragkonstruktion verläuft,
• • mindestens eine Trittfläche, die an oder auf der Tragkonstruktion angeordnet ist,
• • eine Haltestange mit mindestens einem Griff, und
• • eine Schiebestange mit mindestens einem Griff.

A step surface according to the invention for a path aid for the pushing transport of persons and/or objects comprises

• • a supporting structure having two wheel supports and two wheels rotating around a common virtual axis running above the supporting structure,
• • at least one tread surface arranged on or at the supporting structure,
• • a grab bar with at least one handle, and
• • a push bar with at least one handle.

The tread has at least a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is formed with a higher strength and the second region with a lower strength and the first region is arranged at the front in the longitudinal direction of the path aid and the second region is arranged at the rear in the longitudinal direction of the path aid.

Thus, at least one special tread according to the invention is provided for a path aid as mentioned above.

This mobility aid is intended to transport people, preferably children, and/or objects. The movement is carried out by the Pushing the mobility aid by another person. Both the person being transported or being transported and the person pushing are referred to as the user.

The walkway aid first comprises a supporting structure dimensioned and shaped to accommodate and/or support the remaining components. In the simplest case, this can be a U-shaped structure made of a sufficiently stable or rigid material, with the wheel mounts located on its upwardly directed wings. To facilitate entry into the walkway aid and provide more dynamic handling, the wings of the U-shaped supporting structure can be angled outward.

The width of the support structure transverse to the direction of travel should be selected so that a person being transported can comfortably place both feet side by side on it, or on the at least one step arranged on or against the support structure. The length of the support structure should be based on the length of the feet and can be slightly longer than this to allow for comfortable standing. Any other design for the support structure is conceivable, provided the following conditions can be met.

The two wheel mounts, each supporting a wheel, are now arranged on the supporting structure. The wheel mounts and wheels are arranged and aligned in such a way that a virtual axis is created for both wheels. This axis is called a virtual axis because there is no actual, continuous axis connecting the two wheels. The virtual axis is defined only by the respective rotational axes of the two wheels in the wheel mounts, which coincide. The virtual axis lies above the supporting structure, i.e., above it, relative to the position of use of the wayfinding aid.

At least one step is arranged on or near the supporting structure, on which a person can or should stand, or on which objects can be placed. A continuous step can be provided that surrounds the grab bar and push bar described below, so that they pass through corresponding recesses, or two individual steps can be provided, each for a foot, located on either side of the grab bar and push bar. The step should be non-slip to ensure that the person being transported has sufficient grip.

To ensure that the person being transported has sufficient support and safety when moving the mobility aid, it is equipped with a grab bar with at least one handle. The person being transported should hold on to the grab bar, and in particular, its at least one handle.

To push the path aid, a push bar is provided, which also has at least one handle.

The grab bar and push bar are attached to the supporting structure. Relative to the position of use of the accessibility aid, the grab bar is upright, while the push bar is tilted backwards so that the person pushing it can easily reach it and move the accessibility aid without colliding with it while walking. The push bar and grab bar are preferably arranged on the same longitudinal axis in the center of the accessibility aid, with the longitudinal axis corresponding to the direction of travel of the accessibility aid. In particular, the grab bar is arranged close to the front edge of the supporting structure, with the push bar behind it and oriented towards the rear edge. This allows the person being transported to stand behind the grab bar and above the tilted push bar.

According to the invention, the tread surface is designed to form at least two regions. A first region forms a front part of the tread surface, relative to a longitudinal direction of the path aid, which corresponds to a direction of travel, and a second region forms the rear part of the tread surface. The first region should have greater strength than the second region. The strength, which can also be referred to as hardness here, can be specified, for example, using the Shore hardness. Shore hardness is a measure of a material's resistance to indentation.

The division of the at least two areas can, for example, be centered, so that a front half of the tread surface is designed as the first, firmer area and the rear half as the second, softer area. The division should be such that the heel of a foot standing on the tread surface rests in the softer, second area, and the forefoot rests on the first, firmer area. Shifting the boundary between the first and second areas to adapt to the length of the user's feet and the desired standing position is expressly within the scope of the invention.

The tread surface can be composed of at least two elements of different strengths or can be manufactured in one piece with at least two areas of different strengths.

If a person being transported stands on at least one of the treads of the walking aid designed in this way, with the forefoot on the firmer part of the tread and the heel on the softer part, this causes the toes or metatarsus to lift and the heel or tarsus to lower, thus creating a biomechanically activated posture for the person being transported. This biomechanically activated posture is reflected in a slight bend in the knee resulting from the foot position and a slightly increased body tension, which prevents tipping forward when using the walking aid and activates the body's own suspension. As a result, the person being transported can dynamically follow the travel movements of the walking aid and thus experience increased riding pleasure. At the same time, the activated posture also increases the willingness to jump off if contact with an obstacle seems unavoidable.

A tread surface according to the invention can also have more than two areas with different strengths, but in the front area there must be an area with higher strength and in the rear area there must be an area with lower strength in order to achieve the desired biomechanically activated posture.

Optional configurations of the tread surface according to the invention are explained below. Reference is made to the singular "tread surface." The path aid also claimed is intended to provide at least one of these tread surfaces, and in particular two. The following explanations naturally apply to each of the tread surfaces.

According to a first embodiment of the tread, the first area and/or the second area is formed with a rubber or a foam.

The raw material for rubber production is natural or synthetic rubber. Vulcanization produces the material known as rubber. Rubber is resistant to external influences, which is advantageous when using the pathway aid where at least one tread surface is likely to become wet and dirty.

Foams are plastics that acquire a cellular structure through foaming. The cells, also called chambers, are hollow and usually filled with air. This makes foams very lightweight and can be compressed within certain limits.

What both materials have in common is that they provide light suspension, so that fewer vibrations from the mobility aid's movement are transmitted to the person being transported.

The materials mentioned can be used for both the first and the second area, provided that the different strengths are achieved for the first and second areas.

A second embodiment of the tread provides that the strength of the first area and the second area can be adjusted by using different materials and/or by forming cavities.

This means that by selecting and using different materials, the desired strength differences can be achieved and assigned to the first and second ranges. This includes both fundamentally different materials, but also materials that are similar due to the use of some identical starting materials, but achieve different strengths.

Alternatively or additionally, the strength of the areas can be adjusted by creating cavities. A higher number of cavities and/or larger cavities results in a lower material strength. These cavities can be foam cells, whose distribution can be influenced by the foaming process, or cavities defined in size and distribution, which are specifically introduced into a specific area of the tread during production.

By selecting and assigning appropriately manufactured materials or components made from them to the areas of the tread, their strength can be influenced.

In an alternative design of the tread, the second area is formed as a recess. In this case, no material is provided in the second area, but rather a hollow space in the broadest sense. The absence of material, compared to a material in the first area of the tread, achieves the desired difference in strength and also lowers the heel of the foot placed there. The absence of material also reduces the weight of the tread and thus the walkway aid.

According to a further embodiment, the tread surface may have a covering layer. This top layer is intended to form the user surface of the tread, and thus the contact area between the feet or shoes of a person being transported and the tread, or between an object being transported and the tread. The top layer thus protects the first and second areas from wear and damage, especially when they are constructed with a lower strength. The top layer should therefore be made of sufficiently strong, resilient materials. These could be plastics or rubber, for example.

The top layer should preferably be slip-resistant to provide more grip for a transported person or object. This can be achieved through material selection, i.e., by using anti-slip materials. Slip resistance can also be achieved through a surface design, such as a profiling, as is common on the soles of sports shoes. A top layer can therefore also be formed with a profiled sheet.

A particularly preferred design for the tread is one that can be removably attached to the supporting structure. "Removable" means that it can be removed from the supporting structure of the pathway aid, preferably by the user themselves. This allows the tread to be interchangeable, allowing it to be replaced as it becomes increasingly worn. If the tread is offered in various colors, the removably attached tread to the supporting structure also allows for replacement for design reasons.

A detachable fastening can be implemented in particular with a click connection or as an insertion into rails provided for this purpose on the supporting structure of the pathway aid.

Click connections can also be referred to as snap-in connections. One element has at least one snap-in point, and the other has a corresponding receptacle. The corresponding elements here are the tread and the supporting structure. Both the tread and the supporting structure can have at least one snap-in point. To connect the elements, the snap-in points are brought into engagement with the corresponding receptacles, thus fixing their relative position. The connection is released by breaking the engagement between the snap-in points and the corresponding receptacles by overcoming the snap-in point.

An alternative could be a slide-in system, in which rails are provided on the supporting structure, between which the tread can be inserted. The tread is then held in place by the rails. To secure the inserted tread, locking devices or a locking point can be provided. The rails can also be shaped to prevent the tread from accidentally slipping out of the rails.

A particular advantage of interchangeable treads is that the tread can be adapted to a specific weight range and an expected load. As already explained, the strength of the tread can be influenced, for example, by the selection of materials used and/or the creation of hollow spaces. This not only allows a difference in strength to be set between the first and second areas, but the strength can also be adjusted to the weight of the person being transported on the mobility aid. For example, a softer tread can be provided for a younger, smaller child, and a firmer one for a larger, heavier child. If the mobility aid is used by several people or children, the tread can be quickly and easily exchanged so that the ride comfort and, above all, the cushioning remains consistently comfortable, adapted to the weight. Since it is not practical to provide a separate tread for each weight, this can be done for the aforementioned weight ranges or weight classes.

A particular embodiment of the tread surface according to the invention is preferably intended for the transport of objects. The first and second regions have the same strength, and the tread surface has a cover layer formed as a checkered sheet. Checkered sheets are sheets with a rolled-on structure, which are also referred to as teardrops. This achieves a high level of slip resistance.

For the transport of objects such as goods, sports equipment, crates of drinks, and the like, hardly any cushioning and no active posture is necessary. Therefore, the strength of the two areas can be equal, and both areas can be covered by a checkered plate. The first and second areas then form a kind of supporting structure for the checkered plate, which would potentially deform under load. If the tread with checkered plate is intended as a replacement component, part of the detachable connection to the supporting structure can be provided in the first and/or second areas.

Furthermore, such a checkered sheet can also form a covering layer for the tread surface from the previously explained designs.

According to the invention, the path aid already explained in detail at the outset is also claimed, which is formed with at least one of the disclosed treads.

This walker can be used particularly flexibly if it can be converted into a small pack size for transport. This is referred to below as the transport position.

For this purpose, the grab bar and/or the push bar can be telescopic. A smaller pack size for the transport position is achieved if both bars are telescopic. A telescopic grab bar or push bar means that they can be pushed together and pulled apart, as is the case with the handles of rolling suitcases, for example. In the simplest case, telescoping can take place between a completely pushed together and a completely extended end position. However, intermediate positions can also be provided that allow the grab bar to be adjusted to the size of the person being transported or the push bar to the person pushing. The respective bar is then only partially extended. Locking devices can be provided to fix these telescoping positions.

The push bar can also be designed to be foldable along the length of the walker. It should be possible to fold it forward from the previously explained backward tilted position in the use position to reduce the size of the walker in the transport position.

For this purpose, the push bar can be mounted so that it can rotate around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the walkway aid. Suitable locking devices should also be provided to maintain the aforementioned positions.

At least one of the handles on the push bar should also be foldable to take up as little space as possible in the transport position. Depending on the specific design of the handles, the folding direction can vary. For example, if the push bar has two handles that point to the right and left of the push bar in the use position, it may be advisable to fold them down. If a larger, continuous handle is provided for two hands, it may be advisable to fold it forward to reduce the volume in the transport position.

Optionally, the handle of the grab bar can be foldable.

The position of use for transporting people and/or objects according to this optional design of the walking aid is when the push bar is folded back, the grab bar and the push bar, if telescopic, are extended to the desired length and all handles that are foldable are unfolded to be used as intended (position of use of the handles).

To convert to the transport position, the folding handles are folded into the non-use position, the push bar is folded forward, and the grab bar and push bar, if telescopic, are retracted. To perform these movements, the respective locks on the folding handles, the push bar, and, if applicable, the grab bar must be released.

The mobility aid in transport position can now be easily carried until needed to transport a child or objects. Then it can be returned to the use position in reverse order.

With the disclosed walking aid and the at least one footrest with two different firm areas, as described, an active posture of a transported person is achieved, which results in more comfortable and active riding on the walking aid. This is accompanied by increased riding pleasure. At the same time, the design of the footrest and the resulting posture prevent the walking aid from tipping forward.

The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another, unless otherwise stated in the individual case.

• 1 in drei 1a bis 1c eine beispielhafte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Wegehilfe in Gebrauchsposition,
• 2 in drei 2a bis 2c die Wegehilfe aus 1 in Transportposition,
• 3 in den 3a und 3b ein Detail der Wegehilfe zur Veranschaulichung der Trittfläche,
• 4 ein weiteres Detail der Trittfläche an der Wegehilfe, und
• 5 ein Ausschnitt einer Trittfläche mit Riffelblech.

The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

• 1 in three 1a to 1c an exemplary embodiment of the path aid according to the invention in use position,
• 2 in three 2a to 2c the wayfinding 1 in transport position,
• 3 in the 3a and 3b a detail of the wayfinding aid to illustrate the tread,
• 4 another detail of the tread on the path aid, and
• 5 a section of a tread with checkered plate.

To improve understanding of the design of the at least one tread surface 60, the path aid 10 and its optional design as a collapsible path aid 10 will first be explained. The structure of the tread surface(s) 60 will then be described.

1 shows in the three 1a to 1c an exemplary embodiment of the path aid 10 according to the invention in the use position G. 1a shows it in perspective from the front, 1b from behind and 1c from the front with users 54, 56. The 1a to 1c are described together.

The illustrated path aid 10 is formed with a supporting structure 12, which holds wheel mounts 14 on both sides, on each of which a wheel 16 with tires 18 and rim 20 is arranged. As in particular 1a As can be seen, no actual axis is formed between the wheels 16, but a common virtual axis 22 of the wheels 16 can be determined, which extends significantly above the supporting structure 12. The wheels 16 can, for example, have a diameter of 200 mm. The wheels 16 shown are formed with tires 18, which are formed with a foam insert (not shown). This prevents them from losing air.

Two treads 60 are arranged on the supporting structure 12, located on either side of the support rod 80 and the push rod 30. The push rod 30 and the support rod 80 are designed to be telescopic. A ring-shaped handle 82 is provided on the support rod 80. Furthermore, the walker 10 has mudguards 36 that are inclined outward. This allows a person to be transported to climb onto it more easily.

The push bar 30 has a handle 34 which can be folded forward, as described with reference to 2 becomes clear. The push bar 30 can also be folded forward. In the use position G, the handle 34 of the push bar 30 is located at a height of approximately 1 m, which corresponds, for example, to the height of the handle of a shopping cart.

1c shows the use of the walker 10. The walker 10 is pushed by a person 54 and now moves along its longitudinal direction 52. A child 56 is transported with it. Also shown is the use of an attachment 50 in the form of lighting.

The path aid 10 has rounded edges on the supporting structure 12, the two treads 60, the support bar 80, the push bar 30 and the mudguards 36, so that the risk of injury can be minimized and moving over obstacles is made easier. In addition, 1a recognize that the front edge and the underside of the supporting structure 12 are not further apart from the virtual axis 22 than the radius of the rim 20. This means that the tire 18 or, if applicable, the rim 20 always hits a curb first and never the supporting structure 12, even if a tire 18 is damaged.

2 shows in the 2a to 2c the route aid 10 in the transport position Tr. In 2a the wayfinding aid 10 is shown diagonally from behind.

To set the transport position Tr, the handle 34 of the push bar 30 was folded forward, then the push bar 30 was folded forward and retracted. The support bar 80 was retracted or pushed in. In this transport position Tr, the path aid 10 now has a width B of 360 millimeters, a height H of 450 millimeters, and a depth T of 200 millimeters, the latter corresponding to the diameter of the wheels 16.

In this position, the walker 10 can be used, for example, as a swing seat, with the handle 34 of the push bar 30 serving as the seat. If the walker 10 is placed on this handle 34, it can also be used as a seat without creating a swinging motion. The supporting structure 12 now forms the seat.

Due to its small pack size, the path aid 10 can be transported in a backpack 58 until it is needed ( 2c To ensure that it is as light as possible, the essential parts, i.e. the supporting structure 12, the support rod 80, the push rod 30 and the mudguards 36, are made of aluminum.

In the 3a and 3b The wayfinding aid 10 is shown in the area around the treads 60. As already mentioned for the 1a to 1c The path aid 10 is designed with two treads 60, one to the right and one to the left of the push bar 30 and the holding bar 80. 3a shows the treads 60 from the front, so that their covering layer 66 and the first area 62 can be seen. In the view from behind in 3b the cover layer 60 and the second area of the tread 60 can be seen. In particular in 4 It is clear from the section shown there that the first area 62 forms the front half and the second area 64 forms the rear half of the tread 60.

The first area 62 of the tread 60 is of greater strength than the second area 64. It faces forward in the longitudinal direction 52 of the pathway aid 10, and the second area 64 faces rearward. The different strengths of areas 62 and 64 are achieved by foaming the base material of both areas 62, 64 to varying degrees. By foaming the base material, a plastic, slight damping is achieved, so that fewer vibrations from uneven surfaces are transmitted to the transported person. To protect areas 62, 64, the cover layer 66 is applied to them. It is designed as a profiled rubber layer, so it provides protection and is non-slip.

If the child 56 now stands on the treads 60 of the walking aid 10, the greater rigidity in the front, first area 62 and the lower rigidity in the rear, second area 64 cause the forefoot to be raised and the heel to be lowered. This results in a slight knee bend of the child 56, which is considered a biomechanically activated posture. This allows the child 56 to ride more dynamically on the walking aid 10, achieving natural shock absorption and preventing forward tipping.

Ideally, the treads 60 are attached to the supporting structure 12 with a click connection (not shown) so that they can be removed and replaced with other treads 60. These can be treads 60 that are designed for a higher weight of the person to be transported and are therefore designed with more rigid first areas 62 and second areas 64. However, the replacement can also be made with treads 60 that have equally rigid first areas 62 and second areas 64 and are covered with a chequered plate 68. These treads are particularly suitable for the transport of loads and are used, for example, in 5 shown.

List of reference symbols

10

Wayfinding

12

supporting structure

14

Wheel mount

16

wheel

18

Tires

20

rim

22

virtual axis

30

push bar

32

Axle push rod

34

Handle

36

mudguard

50

Attachment lighting

52

Longitudinal direction of the wayfinding aid

54

pushing person

55

transported object

56

transported person

58

Backpack

60

Tread

62

first area

64

second area

66

Top layer

68

checkered plate

80

Grab bar

82

Handle grab bar

B

Width

H

Height

T

depth

G

Use position

Tr

Transport position

Claims (9)

Tread (60) for a walking aid (10) for the pushing transport of persons (56) and/or objects (55), comprising • a supporting structure (12) having two wheel mounts (14) and two wheels (16) rotating about a common virtual axis (22) extending above the supporting structure (12), • at least one tread (60) arranged on or at the supporting structure (12), • a holding rod (80) with at least one handle (82), and • a pushing rod (30) with at least one handle (34), wherein the tread (60) has at least a first (62) region and a second region (64), wherein the first region (62) is formed with a higher strength and the second region (64) with a lower strength, and the first region (62) is formed at the front in the longitudinal direction (52) of the walking aid (10) and the second region (64) is formed in the longitudinal direction (52) of the walking aid (10) is located at the rear. Tread (60) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the first region (62) and/or the second region (64) is formed with a rubber or a foam. Tread (60) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the strength of the first region (62) and the second region (64) can be adjusted by using different materials and/or by forming cavities. Tread surface after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the second region (64) is designed as a recess. Tread surface (60) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tread surface (60) has a cover layer (66), in particular a non-slip cover layer (66). Tread (60) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be detachably fastened to the supporting structure (12), in particular with a click connection or as an insertion into rails provided for this purpose on the supporting structure (12) of the path aid (10). Tread (60) after Claim 6 , characterized in that the tread (60) is adapted for a weight range of an expected load. Tread surface (60) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first region (62) and the second region (64) have the same strength and the tread surface (60) has a cover layer (66), wherein the cover layer (66) is designed as a checkered plate (68). A walking aid (10) for the pushing transport of persons (56) and/or objects (55), comprising: • a supporting structure (12) having two wheel receptacles (14) and two wheels (16) rotating about a common virtual axis (22) extending above the supporting structure (12); • at least one tread (60) arranged on or at the supporting structure (12); • a holding rod (80) having at least one handle (82); and • a pushing rod (30) having at least one handle (34), wherein the at least one tread (60) is designed according to one of the preceding claims.