Who Invented the Zimmer Frame? The Real History of the Walking Frame

Who invented the Zimmer frame? The short answer is that no single inventor can be named with certainty. "Zimmer" is not the name of the inventor. It is a brand name that comes from Zimmer, an American orthopaedic company. The earliest patent we could find for a walking frame of this kind belongs to William Cribbes Robb, from Stretford, England. He first filed it in Britain in August 1949. This article sets out what the records show, and corrects some popular stories that cannot be backed up.

Key points

• "Zimmer frame" is a trademark that became the everyday British name for a walking frame. Americans usually say "walker".
• The name comes from the company now called Zimmer Biomet, founded in 1927 by Justin O. Zimmer in Warsaw, Indiana.
• William Cribbes Robb of Stretford, England, filed a "walking aid" in Britain on 11 August 1949. His US patent was granted on 27 October 1953.
• Later US patents added wheels (1957) and new frame designs (1965 and 1970).
• Stories that a nurse called "Sarah Zimmer" invented the frame do not appear in any reliable source we could find.

Where the name "Zimmer" comes from

The Cambridge Dictionary lists "Zimmer frame" as a UK trademark and describes it as a brand name for a metal walking frame. In American English the same thing is usually called a "walker". In the UK, "Zimmer frame" (or just "Zimmer") is now used for walking frames in general, much as people say "Hoover" for any vacuum cleaner.

The brand comes from the orthopaedic company Zimmer, today Zimmer Biomet. It was founded in 1927 by Justin O. Zimmer in Warsaw, Indiana, in the United States, originally to make aluminium splints. The company is now best known for joint replacement parts. We could not find a reliable record of exactly when the Zimmer name first appeared on walking frames sold in Britain, so we have not given a date.

The first patented walking frame

Walking frames as we know them started to appear around the early 1950s. The earliest patent we could verify is for a "walking aid" by William Cribbes Robb of Stretford, England. The patent record shows:

Date	What happened
11 August 1949	Application filed in Great Britain
21 December 1949	Application filed in the United States
27 October 1953	US patent 2,656,874 granted to Robb, assigned to Enna Limited of Greenford, England

Robb's design was a folding, trestle-like frame. It had a front and a rear part, each with a pair of feet, hinged together at the top, with a pair of handles. The user stood between the handles to get support. His patent also pointed out a problem with earlier wheeled supports, which had obvious drawbacks on sloping ground.

There is no evidence we could find that Robb was connected to the Zimmer company.

How the design developed

After Robb, other inventors patented their own designs, mostly in the United States:

• 1957: two designs with wheels were granted US patents in May 1957.
• 1965: Elmer F. Ries of Cincinnati, Ohio, was granted a US patent for a "walker or walker aid", filed in 1961. Encyclopaedia sources describe it as the first design without wheels to be called a "walker".
• 1970: Alfred A. Smith of Van Nuys, California, was granted a US patent for an invalid walker, filed in 1969. Encyclopaedia sources describe it as the first to look like modern walkers.

Many other makers have since produced walking frames in different styles. Frames are now often made of lightweight aluminium, and many fold and adjust in height. Some have wheels. Frames with three or four wheels, brakes and a seat are usually called rollators. Read more in what is a rollator.

Walking frames today

Today's walking frames are used in hospitals, care homes and people's own homes. Modern features include:

• lightweight aluminium frames
• height-adjustable legs
• comfortable handgrips
• folding frames for travel and storage
• front wheels, or on rollators, brakes, seats and baskets

For a practical guide to choosing and using one, see what is a Zimmer frame.

Why the walking frame matters

A walking frame gives more support than a walking stick. The NHS says you can use one to get around your home or to get out and about. For many older people, a frame makes it possible to keep doing everyday things like making a drink, getting to the bathroom or going to the shops. Using a walking aid is one of the steps the NHS suggests to help prevent falls.

Strength and balance work helps too. Our guide to exercises to do every day when over 50 has some ideas, but check with a physiotherapist what is safe for you.

A simple design that lasted

The basic idea behind Robb's 1949 design, a stable frame you stand inside and hold, is still recognisable in walking frames today. The name on it may come from an American company, but the walking frame became so common in Britain that "Zimmer" is now an everyday word.

Frequently asked questions

Did someone called Zimmer invent the Zimmer frame?

No reliable source we found says so. The name comes from the Zimmer company (now Zimmer Biomet), which was founded by Justin O. Zimmer in 1927. We could not find evidence that he, or anyone else called Zimmer, invented the walking frame.

How much does a walking frame cost today?

The NHS says walking frames cost from about £40 to £200 to buy. You may not need to buy one: you can borrow a walking frame from the NHS by asking your GP, a physiotherapist or hospital staff, though you might have to pay a deposit. If you are disabled or have a long-term illness, you may also be able to buy disability equipment without paying VAT.

Can children use walking frames?

Children who need a walking aid should be assessed by a physiotherapist, who will advise on the right type and size and set it up. Ask your child's GP or hospital team for a referral.

How long does a modern walking frame last?

It depends on how much it is used and how well it is looked after. Check the rubber feet (ferrules) regularly, as they wear out quickly, and keep the frame clean and dry. If any part is loose or damaged, get it checked before using it again.

Sources

• US2656874A: Walking aid, William Cribbes Robb (Google Patents)
• US3165112A: Walker or walker aid, Elmer F. Ries (Google Patents)
• US3517677A: Invalid walker, Alfred A. Smith (Google Patents)
• Walker (mobility) (Wikipedia)
• Zimmer Biomet (Wikipedia)
• Zimmer frame (Cambridge Dictionary)
• Walking aids, wheelchairs and mobility scooters (NHS)
• Falls (NHS)
• Keeping active and using a walking aid (Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust)
• VAT relief for disabled people (GOV.UK)