Standing aid

Abstract

There is provided a standing aid comprising a leg engaging means and a handle and wherein the standing aid is adapted such that, in use, a user can brace the leg engaging means against a leg and pull on the handle so that the user is aided to move from a seated position to a standing position. Also provided is a method of using the aid.

1 . A standing aid comprising a leg engaging means and a handle and wherein the standing aid is adapted such that, in use, a user can brace the leg engaging means against a leg and pull on the handle so that the user is aided to move from a seated position to a standing position. 
     
     
         2 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg engaging means comprises a leg engaging section. 
     
     
         3 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the standing aid comprises a ground contacting part adapted to contact the ground in use. 
     
     
         4 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the standing aid is adapted such that it can be used as a walking aid. 
     
     
         5 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the standing aid is adapted such that it has a contact area of between 4 cm 2  and 10 cm 2  with the ground. 
     
     
         6 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the standing aid comprises a ground contacting part adapted, in use, to lie to one side of a user's foot when the leg engaging means engages the user's leg. 
     
     
         7 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the standing aid comprises a ground contacting part or parts adapted to lie to both sides of a user's foot. 
     
     
         8 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the standing aid comprises a ground contacting part adapted to lie only to one side of a user's foot. 
     
     
         9 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the standing aid comprises a ground contacting part adapted to extend under part of a user's foot in use. 
     
     
         10 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg engaging means comprises parts adapted to engage opposed sides of a user's leg in use. 
     
     
         11 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg engaging means comprises a first part for engaging the front of a user's leg. 
     
     
         12 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg engaging means comprises a first part for engaging the front of a user's leg and a second part for engaging the back of a user's leg and/or the back of a user's foot. 
     
     
         13 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg engaging means comprises a part adapted to engage the front of a leg at the knee and/or between the knee and the foot. 
     
     
         14 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg engaging means comprises a part adapted to engage the back of a leg at the heel and/or between the heel and the knee. 
     
     
         15 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg engaging means comprises a first part adapted to conform to the front of a leg. 
     
     
         16 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the first leg engaging part is adapted to contact a user's leg, over a surface area of at least 10 cm 2 . 
     
     
         17 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg engaging means comprises a second part adapted to conform to the back of a leg. 
     
     
         18 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the second leg engaging part is adapted to contact a user's leg, over a surface area of at least 2 cm 2 . 
     
     
         19 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the standing aid comprises hanging means by which it can be hung up. 
     
     
         20 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the standing aid is adapted to be freestanding. 
     
     
         21 . A standing aid according to  claim 1 , wherein the standing aid comprises a replaceable ground contacting part. 
     
     
         22 . A standing aid according to  claim 21 , wherein the replaceable ground contacting part comprises a rubber plug and the standing aid comprises a foot having a recess adapted to receive the plug. 
     
     
         23 . A method of moving from a seated position to a standing position wherein the method comprises a user locating a standing aid according to any preceding claim such that the leg engaging means of said aid engages the user's leg and the user then pulling on the handle of the standing aid to aid them to stand.