Step over walking aid

Abstract

An ambulatory assistance system includes an article of footwear adapted to be worn on a foot of a user or walking aid devices; and a barrier coupled to the article of footwear such that, when the article of footwear is worn on a foot of the user, at least a portion of the barrier extends into a visually engagable region that is adjacent to a medial side of the one foot of the user, that is visible to the user, and that lies in a path of movement of another foot of the user. Further, the barrier may be coupled to the article of footwear via an attachment. Moreover, the ambulatory assistance system may be adapted for use with one or two articles of footwear.

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . An ambulatory assistance system, comprising: 
 a walking assistance device; and    at least one barrier attached to said walking assistance device such that at least a portion of the barrier extends into a visually engageable region of the user that is adjacent to a medial side of the walking assistance device and that lies in a path of movement of a foot of the user, the barrier proximate a walking surface when the walking assistance device is in contact with the walking surface.    
     
     
         27 . The ambulatory assistance system according to  claim 26 , wherein the walking assistance device is a walker.  
     
     
         28 . An ambulatory assistance system according to  claim 27 , wherein said walker has first and second legs for contacting ground to be located adjacent opposite sides of a user.  
     
     
         29 . An ambulatory assistance system according to  claim 28 , wherein said leg has a body portion affixed to a lower end thereof and wherein each said body portion has one said barrier affixed thereto.  
     
     
         30 . An ambulatory assistance system according to  claim 29 , wherein said walker comprises a wheel mounted to a lower end of each of said first and second legs and each said leg further comprising a downwardly extending extension to which one said barrier is mounted and wherein said extension maintains said barrier adjacent a walking surface such that a user may step over said barrier.  
     
     
         31 . The ambulatory assistance system according to  claim 26 , wherein said walking assistance device comprises a cane.  
     
     
         32 . The ambulatory assistance system according to  claim 31 , wherein said walking assistance device comprises first and second canes.  
     
     
         33 . The ambulatory assistance system according to  claim 26 , wherein said walking assistance device comprises a shoe.  
     
     
         34 . The ambulatory assistance system according to  claim 26 , wherein said walking assistance device comprises a pair of shoes.  
     
     
         35 . An ambulatory assistance system according to  claim 26 , wherein the barrier is rigid.  
     
     
         36 . An ambulatory assistance system according to  claim 26 , wherein the barrier is flexible.  
     
     
         37 . An ambulatory assistance system according to  claim 26 , wherein the barrier is magnetically coupled to the walking assistance device.  
     
     
         38 . An ambulatory assistance system according to  claim 26 , wherein wherein the barrier is elongated and has an axial length of about 1½-6 inches.  
     
     
         39 . The ambulatory assistance system of  claim 26 , wherein the barrier has a maximum transverse dimension of about ¼-2 inches.  
     
     
         40 . The ambulatory assistance system of  claim 26 , wherein the barrier is a coil spring.  
     
     
         41 . The ambulatory assistance system of  claim 26 , wherein the barrier is immovably fixed to the walking assistance device.  
     
     
         42 . The ambulatory assistance system of  claim 26 , wherein the barrier is rotatably fixed to the walking assistance device.  
     
     
         43 . The ambulatory assistance system of  claim 26 , wherein the barrier is capable of detachment from the walking assistance device.  
     
     
         44 . The ambulatory assistance system of  claim 43 , wherein the barrier further comprises an attachment member.  
     
     
         45 . An ambulatory assistance system, comprising: 
 a walker having a first side and a second side,    the first side having a first side front support portion, a first side rear support portion, and a first side handle portion,    the second side having a second side front support portion, a second side rear support portion, and a second side handle portion;    at least one cross support member, wherein the first side and the second side are joined by the at least one cross support member;    at least one barrier attached to at least one of the first side front support portion or the second side front support portion such that at least a portion of the barrier extends into a visually engageable region of the user that that lies in a path of movement of a foot of the user,    the barrier proximate a walking surface when the walker is in contact with a walking surface.    
     
     
         46 . An ambulatory assistance system, comprising: 
 a walking assistance device;    a visual stimulation means for visually stimulating a user,    wherein the visual stimulation means is attached to said walking assistance device such that at least a portion of the visual stimulation means extends into a visually engageable region that is adjacent to a medial side of said walking assistance device, that is visible to the user, and that lies in a path of movement of a foot of the user, said means for coupling maintaining said visual stimulation means proximate a walking surface when said walking assistance device is in contact with the walking surface.