A knee walker includes a frame; a cushion; a front crossmember; two rear wheels; two front spindles and two front wheels each pivotally connected to one of the two front spindles. Positive steering is provided by a handlebar rotatably connected to the front end of the frame; a steering gear responsively engaged with the rotatably connected handlebar shaft; a steering arm actuated by the steering gear responsive to the handlebar; a steering rod connecting the steering arm and one of the two front spindles, so as to pivot one associated front wheel responsive to the steering arm; and a tie rod linking the two front spindles responsively to the steering rod.
1. A knee walker comprising:
a frame having two spaced apart and generally parallel members, a front end and a rear end spaced apart therefrom;
a cushion supported on an upper side of said frame;
a front crossmember supported on a lower side of the front end of said frame and extending laterally outwardly therefrom;
two rear wheels, each rotatably connected adjacent the rear end of said frame;
two front spindles, each positioned at an end of said front crossmember and approximately perpendicular thereto;
two front wheels each pivotally connected to one of said two front spindles, said two front wheels farther spaced apart than said two rear wheels;
a handlebar borne at an upper end of a height adjustable shaft rotatably connected at the front end of said frame;
a steering gear supported at the front end of said frame and responsively engaged with said rotatably connected handlebar shaft;
a steering arm actuated by said steering gear responsive to said handlebar;
a steering rod connecting said steering arm and one of said two front spindles, so as to pivot a first front wheel responsive to said steering arm; and
a tie rod linking said two front spindles responsively to said steering rod so as to pivot a second front wheel responsive to said steering arm.
2. The knee walker of claim 1 , wherein said spaced apart and generally parallel members are tubular.
3. The knee walker of claim 1 , wherein said steering gear comprises ball bearings.
4. The knee walker of claim 1 , further comprising a friction brake positioned to stop at least one of said two rear wheels, said brake actuated by a cable operably connected to a loop handle supported on said handlebar.
5. The knee walker of claim 1 , further comprising a friction brake having a manually actuated loop handle which surrounds the user's hand so as to prevent the hand from slipping off the brake handle.
6. The knee walker of claim 1 , further comprising at least one mechanical member positioned to physically lock at least one wheel as a parking brake.
7. The knee walker of claim 1 , wherein the handlebar shaft further comprises a folding joint so that said shaft may be folded thereabout.
8. The knee walker of claim 1 , wherein said cushion is supported on a height adjustable post connected to said frame.
9. The knee walker of claim 1 , wherein said handlebar is generally T-shaped and has ends that are offset toward the rear end of said frame.
10. The knee walker of claim 1 , wherein said front wheels are spaced apart at least twice the distance between said rear wheels.
11. A knee walker comprising:
a frame having two spaced apart and generally parallel members, a front end and a rear end spaced apart therefrom;
a front crossmember on the front end of said frame;
two rear wheels rotatably borne at the rear end of said frame;
two front spindles, each positioned at an end of said front crossmember;
two front wheels each pivotally connected to one of said two front spindles;
a handlebar having a shaft rotatably connected at the front end of said frame;
a steering arm actuated by turning of the handlebar shaft;
a first member linking said steering arm and a first of said two front spindles, thereby pivoting the front wheel connected thereto; and
a second member linking the first front spindle with the second front spindle.
12. The knee walker of claim 11 , wherein said frame comprises two tubular members.
13. The knee walker of claim 11 , further comprising a steering gear engaged with the handlebar shaft and responsive thereto.
14. The knee walker of claim 11 , further comprising a friction brake positioned to stop at least one of said two rear wheels, said brake actuated by a cable operably connected to a loop handle supported on said handlebar.
15. The knee walker of claim 11 , further comprising a friction brake having a manually actuated loop handle which surrounds the user's hand so as to prevent the hand from slipping off the brake handle.
16. The knee walker of claim 11 , further comprising at least one mechanical member positioned to physically lock at least one wheel as a parking brake.
17. The knee walker of claim 11 , wherein the handlebar shaft further comprises a folding joint so that said shaft may be folded thereabout.
18. The knee walker of claim 11 , wherein said cushion is supported on a height adjustable post connected to said frame.
19. The knee walker of claim 11 , wherein said handlebar is generally T-shaped and has ends that are offset toward the rear end of said frame.
20. The knee walker of claim 11 , wherein said front wheels are spaced apart at least twice the distance between said rear wheels.
21. A knee walker comprising:
a frame having two spaced apart and generally parallel members, a front end and a spaced apart rear end;
at least one rear wheel rotatably connected at the rear end of said frame;
a front crossmember at the front end of said frame;
first and second front spindles, each positioned at an end of said front crossmember;
two front wheels each pivotally connected to one of said first and second front spindles;
a handlebar having a shaft rotatably connected at the front end of said frame;
a steering gear engaged with said rotatable shaft;
a steering arm actuated by said steering gear;
a first steering link operably connecting said steering arm to the first spindle, to thereby turn a first front wheel; and
a second steering link operably connecting the first front spindle with the second front spindle.
22. The knee walker of claim 21 , wherein said frame comprises two tubular members.
23. The knee walker of claim 21 , wherein said steering gear comprises ball bearings.
24. The knee walker of claim 21 , further comprising a friction brake positioned to stop at least one of said two rear wheels, said brake actuated by a cable operably connected to a loop handle supported on said handlebar.
25. The knee walker of claim 21 , further comprising a friction brake having a manually actuated loop handle which surrounds the user's hand so as to prevent the hand from slipping off the brake handle.
26. The knee walker of claim 21 , further comprising at least one mechanical member positioned to physically lock at least one wheel as a parking brake.
27. The knee walker of claim 21 , wherein the handlebar shaft further comprises a folding joint so that said shaft may be folded thereabout.
28. The knee walker of claim 21 , wherein said cushion is supported on a height adjustable post connected to said frame.
29. The knee walker of claim 21 , wherein said handlebar is generally T-shaped and has ends that are offset toward the rear end of said frame.
30. The knee walker of claim 21 , wherein said front wheels are spaced apart at least twice the distance between said rear wheels.