Rolling walker

Abstract

A walker device for assisting an individual with mobility which is temporarily convertible to a wheeled transportation chair, includes a frame structure having two front legs and two rear legs supported or rotatable wheels. A seat is attached to the frame structure. A backrest is selectively disposed in a front position for a rearward seating condition or in a rear position for a forward seating condition. A footrest assembly is optionally attached to the frame structure and is adapted to pivot about first and second pivoting axes parallel to each other, between a folded position and an unfolded position.

1 . A walker device for assisting an individual with mobility, comprising:
 a frame structure including:
 two front legs in a substantially parallel relationship, each having an upper end and a lower end thereof, and 
 two rear legs in a substantially parallel relationship, each having an upper end and a lower end thereof, the rear legs being connected at the upper end thereof to the respective front legs; 
   means for rolling transporting the walker device along a support surface;   a seat attached to the frame structure and extending between the front legs and between the rear legs; and   a detachable backrest adapted to be selectively attached to the front legs in a front position or to the rear legs in a rear position.   
   
   
       2 . The walker device as defined in  claim 1  wherein the frame structure comprises a first pair of brackets affixed to the respective front legs for receiving the backrest in the front position and a second pair of brackets affixed to the respective rear legs for receiving the backrest in the rear position. 
   
   
       3 . The walker device as defined in  claim 2  wherein the backrest comprises an upper portion extending transversely with respect to the frame structure and two arms to be selectively supported in the first or second pair of brackets. 
   
   
       4 . The walker device as defined in  claim 3  wherein the frame structure comprises a pair of hand grips, each being adjustably attached to the upper end of one of the front legs, the hand grips being enabled to adjust in height without interference with the upper portion of the backrest when the backrest is in the rear position. 
   
   
       5 . The walker device as defined in  claim 1  wherein the means for rolling transporting the walker device along the support surface comprises four wheels, each being attached to the lower end of the respective front and rear legs. 
   
   
       6 . The walker device as defined in  claim 1  comprising a foldable footrest assembly attached to the lower ends of the front legs, the footrest assembly being selectively dispose din a folded position when the walker device is used as a walker or in an unfolded position to support a user's feet when the walker device is used as a transportation chair. 
   
   
       7 . The walker device as defined in  claim 6  wherein the footrest assembly comprises a pair of arms, each having first and second ends thereof, the arms being pivotally mounted at the first ends thereof to the respective front legs and adapted to pivot about a first pivoting axis extending transversely across the frame structure, the arms supporting a footrest bar at the second ends thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The walker device as defined in  claim 7  wherein the footrest bar is configured in a U shape, pivotally connected to the second ends of the arms and adapted to pivot about a second pivoting axis substantially parallel to the first pivoting axis. 
   
   
       9 . A walker device for assisting an individual with mobility, the walker device being convertible to a transportation chair, comprising:
 a frame structure supported on rotatable wheels, including:
 two front legs in a substantially parallel relationship, each having an upper end and a lower end thereof, and 
 two rear legs in a substantially parallel relationship, each having an upper end and a lower end; 
   a seat attached to the frame structure;   a backrest attached to the frame structure and adapted to be selectively disposed in a front position for a rearward seating condition or in a rear position for a forward seating condition; and   a footrest assembly attached to the frame structure and adapted to pivot about first and second pivoting axes parallel to each other, between a folded position and an unfolded position.   
   
   
       10 . The walker device as defined in  claim 9  wherein the footrest assembly comprises a pair of arms, each having first and second ends thereof, the arms being pivotally connected at the first ends thereof to the lower ends of the front legs and being adapted to pivot about the pivoting first axis. 
   
   
       11 . The walker device as defined in  claim 10  wherein the arms of the footrest are substantially oriented similarly to an orientation of the front legs when the footrest assembly is in the folded position, and wherein the arms extend forwardly from the frame structure when the footrest assembly is in the unfolded position. 
   
   
       12 . The walker device as defined in  claim 11  wherein the footrest assembly comprises a footrest member pivotally connected to the second ends of the arms to pivot about the second pivoting axis. 
   
   
       13 . The walker device as defined in  claim 12  wherein the footrest member is suspended downwardly from the second ends of the arms when the footrest assembly is in either the folded or unfolded condition. 
   
   
       14 . The walker device as defined in  claim 9  wherein the footrest assembly comprises a first hinge device having means for restricting a first pivotal motion of the footrest assembly about the first pivotal axis within a first predetermined angular range, and a second hinge device having means for restricting a second pivotal motion of the footrest assembly about the second pivotal axis within a second predetermined angular range.