Lock release mechanism for foldable walkers
View Patent ↗A locking assembly is disclosed for use with a walker having foldable side members. The locking assembly includes a locking pin movable between a first position in which the corresponding side member is held in a locked, unfolded state and a second position in which the side member is in an unlocked, folded state. A lock plate extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the corresponding side member, and includes an aperture adapted to receive a locking end of the locking pin when the pin is in its first position. A lever is coupled to the locking pin such that when the lever is pivoted by upwardly applied pressure, the locking pin is moved from its first position to its second position to permit rotation of the corresponding side member to its folded state.
1. A locking assembly for use with a first member concentric with and rotatably mounted in a tubular second member, said locking assembly comprising:
a locking pin positioned substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of each of said first and second members and located external thereto, said locking pin being movable between a first position in which said first and second members are held in a locked state and a second position in which said members are in an unlocked state such that said first and second members are able to rotate in relation to each other;
a lock plate secured to one of said first and second members and extending transversely to the longitudinal axes thereof, said lock plate having an aperture adapted to receive a locking end of said locking pin when said pin is in its first position; and
a lever assembly for moving the locking pin from its first position to its second position to permit rotation of said first member in relation to said second member, said lever assembly including:
a housing attached to another of said first and second members to which said lock plate is not secured, and
an actuating lever having a force-applying handle end and a housing attaching end operatively connected to said housing, a portion of the actuating lever between the force-applying handle end and the housing attaching end being coupled to said locking pin such that when an upward force is applied to the handle end of said actuating lever, said actuating lever pivots with respect to said housing and moves said locking pin from the first position to the second position so as to allow said first and second members to be rotatable relative to each other.
2. The locking assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a first body portion having a first bore through which extends the first member, and a second body portion having a second bore through which extends the locking pin.
3. The locking assembly according to claim 2 , further comprising a spring for biasing said locking pin towards said first position, said spring adapted to be received in a said second bore and having a first end operatively engaging said locking pin and a second end operatively engaging a shoulder seat in said second bore.
4. The locking assembly according to claim 2 , further comprising an elongated member coupled between the portion of said actuating lever and said locking pin.
5. The locking assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the elongated member is pivotally attached to the portion of said actuating lever.
6. The locking assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the elongated member is pivotally attached to said locking pin.
7. The locking assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said actuating lever includes a third bore through which extends the first member wherein said first and third bores are substantially aligned.
8. The locking assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the housing attaching end of the actuating lever includes a extension portion extending therefrom, and the housing includes a recessed portion dimensioned to receive the extension portion therein, the extension portion and the recessed portion providing a fulcrum about which the actuating lever pivots relative to the housing.
9. The locking assembly according to claim 8 wherein the extension portion includes a bulbous end received by the recessed portion of the housing.
10. A foldable walker comprising:
a pair of side frames each having a substantially vertical front leg and a substantially vertical rear leg;
a cross brace having a pair of substantially vertical end sleeves wherein each front leg is concentric with and held in a distinct one of said end sleeves so that said front legs are rotatable in relation to said cross brace between a locked state and an unlocked state;
a locking assembly associated with a front leg and corresponding end sleeve, said locking assembly comprising:
a housing secured to said front leg,
a locking pin extending through a first bore in said housing, said locking pin being movable between a first position in which said front leg and end said sleeve are in the locked state and incapable of rotating in relation to each other and a second position in which said front leg and said end sleeve are in an unlocked state and capable of rotating in relation to each other;
a lock plate connected to said end sleeve and extending substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof, said lock plate having an aperture adapted to receive a locking end of said locking pin when said locking pin is in the first position; and
an actuating lever pivotally coupled to said housing, said lever having a force applying handle end and a housing attach end operatively connected to the housing, a portion of the actuating lever between the force applying handle end and the housing attach end being coupled to said locking pin, wherein a substantially upward force applied to the handle end pivots said actuating lever with respect to said housing member and moves said locking pin to its second position allowing said front leg to be rotated relative to the cross brace.
11. The foldable walker according to claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a second bore through which extends the front leg, longitudinal axes of the first and second bores being substantially parallel to each other.
12. The foldable walker according to claim 10 , further comprising a spring for biasing said locking pin towards said first position, said spring adapted to be received in a recessed portion of said first bore and having a first end operatively engaging said locking pin and a second end operatively engaging a shoulder seat of said recessed portion.
13. The foldable walker according to claim 10 , further comprising an elongated member coupled between the portion of said actuating lever and said locking pin.
14. The foldable walker according to claim 13 , wherein the elongated member is pivotally attached to the portion of the actuating lever.
15. The foldable walker according to claim 13 , wherein the elongated member is pivotally attached to the locking pin.
16. The foldable walker according to claim 11 , wherein the housing attach end of the actuating lever includes a third bore through which extends the leg, wherein said first and third bores are in alignment.
17. The foldable walker according to claim 10 , wherein the housing attaching end of the actuating lever includes an extension portion extending therefrom, and the housing includes a recessed portion dimensioned to receive the extension portion, the extension portion and the recessed portion providing a fulcrum about which the actuating lever pivots relative to the housing.
18. The foldable walker according to claim 17 , wherein the extension portion includes a bulbous end received by the recessed portion of the housing.
19. The foldable walker according to claim 10 , wherein each side frame includes a substantially horizontal portion and a hand grip connected thereto, the force applying handle end of the actuating lever being disposed relative to the hand grip such that the upward force applied to the force applying handle end may be applied by one or more fingers of a user's hand while the palm and thumb of the hand engage with the hand grip.
20. A foldable walker, comprising:
a pair of side frames each having a substantially vertical front tubular leg;
a cross brace having a pair of substantially vertical end sleeves wherein said tubular legs are concentrically contained in said sleeves so that said tubular legs are rotatable between a locked state and an unlocked state; and
a locking assembly associated with each tubular leg and corresponding end sleeve, each locking assembly comprising:
a first body portion having a first bore through which extends said tubular leg along a first longitudinal axis;
a locking pin movable between a first position in which said tubular leg and said sleeve are in the locked state and a second position in which said tubular leg and said sleeve are in the unlocked state;
a second body portion rigidly connected to said first body portion having a second bore through which extends the locking pin along a second longitudinal axis, said first and second longitudinal axes being in relative parallel position;
a lock plate rigidly connected to said sleeve and extending transversely to the first and second longitudinal axes, said lock plate having an aperture adapted to receive a locking end of said locking pin when said locking pin is in the first position; and
an actuating lever having a force-applying handle end and a body attach end pivotally connected to at least one of the first and second body portions, a portion of the actuating lever being coupled to the locking pin such that when an upward force is applied to the force-applying handle end, said actuating lever pivots with respect to the at least one of the first and second body portions and moves said locking pin from the first position to the second position so that the tubular leg is capable of being moved relative to the corresponding end sleeve.
21. The foldable walker of claim 20 , further comprising a spring disposed in the second bore for biasing said locking pin towards its first position.
22. The foldable walker of claim 20 , further comprising a rod member connected between the portion of the actuating lever and the locking pin.
23. The foldable walker of claim 22 , wherein the rod member is pivotally connected to the portion of the actuating lever.
24. The foldable walker of claim 22 , wherein the rod member is pivotally connected to the locking pin.
25. The foldable walker of claim 20 , wherein one of the body attach end of the actuating lever and the at least one of the first and second body portions includes an extension member and the other of the body attach end of the actuating lever and the at least one of the first and second body portions includes a recessed portion into which the extension member is received and to which the extension member is pivotally engaged.
26. The foldable walker of claim 25 , wherein the body attach end of the actuating lever includes the extension member and the at least one of the first and second body portions includes the recessed portion.
27. The foldable walker of claim 25 , wherein the extension member is bulbous.