An ambulatory patient support mechanism, for use in hospitals and the like
for assisting patients in walking along hallways, corridors, and the
like. The mechanism includes a specially developed U-shaped support
frame, configured to support a person in an upright position while
walking. A telescoping column is vertically adjustable relative to the
floor. A moveable carriage connected to the telescoping column provides
horizontal movement along a suspended overhead track vertically above a
given path of a hallway, corridor, or the like. A rotation mechanism
allows the U-shaped frame to rotate 180.degree. allowing patients to
reverse their direction of travel along the given path. The U-shaped
frame is adjustable to accommodate a wide range of body sizes. A pair of
adjustable handgrips at the end of each U-frame member stabilizes the
patient within the interior of the U-shaped frame. Commonly used belting
and buckles secure each of the patient's upper arms to an arm restraint
to aid in fall prevention should patient stumble or lose consciousness.
When not in use, the mechanism can be folded to lie flat against the
ceiling for storage.