Mobile support frame

Abstract

A lightweight frame for individual use, to promote safe locomotion, has a frame with two elongated, laterally spaced handles of adjustable height, for gripping by the user, and an arched support frame, providing unobstructed access between the handles, with a clear space for the user to safely prostrate themselves within the readily movable frame. The two frame lower portions extend laterally outward for enhanced lateral stability of the frame against tipping, and can serve as runners on ice, or be fitted with wheels or castors. The frame lower portions may be longer than the handles for greater stability. The frame is disassemblable, to facilitate packaging and transportation, and may have opposed matching portions of different length, to facilitate nesting together when packaged. Metal tubing, including sleeve couplings with set screws, may be used.

1 . A mobile support frame for individual use, having a pair of hand rails in mutual, substantially horizontal, parallel relation; hand rail support means connected with the hand rails, and at least one spacer bridge securing said handrails in spaced relation, to provide substantially unrestricted access between the hand rails, the frame being readily movable by the user in a selected direction.  
     
     
         2 . The mobile support frame as set forth in  claim 1 , said hand rail support means including mutually laterally spaced ground-contact portions, the spacing therebetween being greater than the lateral spacing between said hand rails, to promote enhanced lateral stability of the frame against tipping and overturning.  
     
     
         3 . The mobile support frame as set forth in  claim 1 , said hand rails being adjustably connected to said frame, to permit selective adjustment of the height of the hand rails above the ground, to enable selective use of the frame by individuals of differing stature.  
     
     
         4 . The mobile support frame as set forth in  claim 1 , the lower portion of the frame including two runner-like support portions for use on ice.  
     
     
         5 . The mobile support frame as set forth in  claim 1 , the frame lower portions being longer than said hand rails, to promote longitudinal stability of the frame, when in use.  
     
     
         6 . The mobile support frame as set forth in  claim 1 , said frame consisting of a number of disassemblable elements, to facilitate packaging and transportation.  
     
     
         7 . The mobile support frame as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein respective corresponding portions of the frame may be of different length, to facilitate nesting of one portion within another.  
     
     
         8 . The mobile support frame as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said frame consists of tubular elements, with coupling means connecting adjoining frame elements in disassemblable relation.  
     
     
         9 . The mobile support frame as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said coupling means consist of muff couplings incorporating set screws.  
     
     
         10 . The mobile support frame as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said hand rails include fastener means removably engagable with said hand rail support means.  
     
     
         11 . The mobile support frame as set forth in  claim 1 , having rotatable support means, to facilitate movement of the frame over a supporting surface.  
     
     
         12 . The mobile support frame as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said two runner like-portions each have curved ends, for attachment to leg portions of said frame, and wherein one said runner-like portion is shorter than the other said runner like portion, to permit close packing of said two portions in mutually nested relation.