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US-12616627-B2 - Asymmetrical walker glides with improved stability

US12616627B2US 12616627 B2US12616627 B2US 12616627B2US-12616627-B2

Abstract

Disclosed is a device related to walker glides. The pair of walker glides has an asymmetric design for improving the stability of a walker. The glide may comprise a seat configured for gliding on various surfaces, and a sleeve positioned on top of the seat for slidably mounting the glide on a rear walker leg. In the medial-to-lateral direction, the sleeve, which is the area of support for each rear walker leg, is positioned closer to the medial side of the seat than the lateral side of the seat, which results in an asymmetric configuration for the pair of walker glides.

Inventors

  • Andrew S. Kenoe

Assignees

  • Tip Less LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20240620

Claims (8)

  1. 1 . A glide configured for to be slidably mountable on a walker leg, the glide comprising: a seat comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface; a plurality of sides, wherein the plurality of sides further comprises a lateral side and a medial side; and a sleeve configured to slidably fit on the walker leg; wherein the seat and the sleeve are configured relative to one another such that the sleeve is closer to the medial side than the lateral side.
  2. 2 . The glide of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sides comprises at least four sides.
  3. 3 . The glide of claim 1 , wherein the seat is made of a polymer or plastic and the sleeve is made of rubber.
  4. 4 . The glide of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve accommodates the walker leg with a snug fit, and wherein the sleeve is coupled to the seat by a screw.
  5. 5 . The glide of claim 4 , wherein the walker leg is a rear walker leg of a walker.
  6. 6 . The glide of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is made of a rubber.
  7. 7 . The glide of claim 1 , wherein the seat and the sleeve are made from one piece of material.
  8. 8 . The glide of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the sleeve and the lateral side is at least 0.5 inches.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/522,318, filed Jun. 21, 2023, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to medical mobility devices and, in particular, to walker glides. BACKGROUND Walkers are devices that provide support during movement. Walkers are typically used by people with limited mobility or functionality. For instance, they may be used by people who need assistance while walking due to advanced age, injury, or weakness as a result of an underlying medical condition. A typical walker has a frame structure with front and rear legs. Its rear legs are typically equipped with rubber tips, which do not glide easily over carpeting or area rugs or over rough or uneven surfaces (e.g., cracked and/or pocked concrete and asphalt surfaces). Rubber tips often hinder movement and do not enhance the stability of the walker. Accidents resulting from walker use have been a significant problem. The CDC estimates that between 2001 and 2006, each day there were about 129 adults in the age group of 65+ who were treated in emergency departments across the US for injuries due to accidents involving walkers and canes. This adds up to a total of more than 47,000 each year. Notably, 87 percent of these accidents were attributable to walker use. The problem is further illustrated by the fact these injuries most commonly resulted in fractures (38 percent) and about a third of all injuries from falls involving walkers were to the lower trunk (e.g., to the hip or pelvis). One in three people whose fall involved a walker had to be hospitalized. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 47,000 Older Adults Treated in Emergency Departments Annually for Fall Injuries Related to Walkers and Canes (Jun. 29, 2009), https://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2009/r090629.htm; See also Eustice, C. Elderly Falls Tied to Canes and Walkers: Tips for Safe Use, Verywell Health (Feb. 25, 2022), https://www.verywellhealth.com/elderly-falls-tied-to-canes-and-walkers-2552063. The need for improving stability of walkers continues to exist and is addressed by the present invention. SUMMARY In general, this disclosure is directed to an asymmetrically designed pair of walker glides mountable on the rear legs of a walker. The asymmetrical design of the pair of walker glides improves the stability of a walker. In certain embodiments, the glide includes a sleeve for mounting the glide on a walker leg, a seat that is designed for gliding on the ground, and fastening means including a screw, a washer and a nut that hold the sleeve and the seat together. Typically, the seat has a flat portion with a smooth bottom surface, and a raised tip (similar to a ski tip) at the front. The sleeve is positioned on the seat closer to one side of the seat such that side-to-side an asymmetric design is achieved making the seat of the glide wider on one side of the sleeve (the lateral side) than on the other side of the sleeve (the medial side). The glides provide added stability to a walker when mounted on a walker because the wider part of the seat is located laterally, and the narrower part of the seat is located medially. The details of different embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a pair of glides in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B shows a top view of an exploded glide in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1C shows a bottom view of an exploded glide in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a front elevation view of a pair of glides in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention on the rear legs of a walker. FIG. 3 shows a side elevation view of a glide in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a rear elevation view of a glide in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention on the rear legs of a walker. FIG. 5 shows a bottom perspective view of a glide in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a view of the pair of glides attached to an exemplary walker in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In one or more implementations, not all of the depicted components in each figure may be required, and one or more implementations may include additional components not shown in a figure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure. Additional components, different components, or fewer components may be utilized within the scope of the subject disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The detail