Ambulatory Therapy Device

Abstract

An ambulatory therapy device for the training or retraining of persons in developing walking skills and/or balance skills after suffering a serious illness, injury, or other infirmity, which limits their walking skills. The present invention is particularly useful for children suffering from infantile hypotonia, also known as floppy infant syndrome. The device is comprised of four telescoping vertical support columns mounted and located at the corners of a stable walking platform. Two flexible cables are attached to the upper ends of the support columns and extend longitudinally along both edges of the walking platform. The two cables are adjustable in tension such that a higher tension provides more support and wherein the tension can be progressively lessened as the user develops walking and balance skills. A pipe can encompass a majority of the length of each cable for easier use.

1 . An ambulatory therapy device comprising
 four vertical support columns, two cables each with a tension, a platform, and a means of adjusting the tension of the two cables,   where the four vertical support columns are adjustable in height, where the four vertical support columns are mounted at the corners of the platform,   where the platform is rectangular in shape,   where each cable extends longitudinally from a vertical support column to another vertical support column, where a majority of the length of each cable is encompassed by a pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The ambulatory therapy device of  claim 1 , wherein each vertical support column comprises an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, where the inner tubular member is telescopically coupled within the outer tubular member. 
     
     
         3 . The ambulatory therapy device of  claim 2 , further comprising a locking mechanism; where the locking mechanism secures the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member together at a desired height. 
     
     
         4 . The ambulatory therapy device of  claim 1 , further comprising four diagonal reinforcement members, where the diagonal reinforcement members provide support to the four vertical support columns. 
     
     
         5 . A device comprising
 four vertical support columns, two cables each with a tension and a length, and a means of adjusting the tension of the two cables,   where the two cables are supported by the four vertical support columns.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the vertical support columns are adjustable in height. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein each vertical support column comprises an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, where the inner tubular member is telescopically coupled within the outer tubular member. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a locking mechanism; where the locking mechanism secures the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member together at a desired height. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising four diagonal reinforcement members where the diagonal reinforcement members provide support to the four vertical support columns. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising two pipes, where each pipe encompasses a majority of the length of a cable. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the two pipes comprise polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the four vertical support columns are permanently affixed to a floor. 
     
     
         13 . A method of training or retraining a person to walk comprising the steps of
 acquiring an ambulatory therapy device, where the ambulatory therapy device comprises four vertical support columns, two cables each with a tension and a length, and a means of adjusting the tension of the two cables,   adjusting the tension of the two cables to a high-tension state, and   having the person walk using the two cables as support.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of
 loosening the tension of the two cables, and   having the person walk using the two cables as support.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the vertical support columns are adjustable in height. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each vertical support column comprises an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, where the inner tubular member is telescopically coupled within the outer tubular member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the ambulatory therapy device further comprises a locking mechanism; where the locking mechanism secures the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member together at a desired height. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ambulatory therapy device further comprises two pipes, where each pipe encompasses a majority of the length of a cable. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ambulatory therapy device further comprises a platform, wherein the platform is rectangular in shape, wherein the four vertical support columns are mounted at the corners of the platform, where each cable extends longitudinally from one vertical support column to another vertical support column longitudinally. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the four vertical support columns are permanently affixed to a floor.