AU610826B2 - Support device - Google Patents

Description

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ALlA*gb, PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Form Short Title: I ft. Cl Application Number: Lodged: pomplete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority Related Art: 0 TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: HANS C. MENGSHOEL and P=TE OPSVIK Bygdoy Jlle 12, N-0262, Oslo 2, Norway and Hogtunveien 12, N-1370, Asker, Norway Actual Inventor: As above Address for Service: SANT)EIXX2K, SMIITH BEADLE, Patent Attorneys 207 Riversdale Road~, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: SUPPORT DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-* Note: The description is to be typed in double s Pacing, pica type face, in an area not bxceeding 250 mm in depth and 160 mm in width, on tough-white pt'per of good quality and it is to be inserted inside this form.

14166/77-L 141 66/fl-I ~Printed by c. i. T~tMm, mr,-n Signature of TO applicant or (Signaturej Australian SANDERCOCK, SMITH BEADLE attorney SANDERCOCK SMITH BEADLE THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS This form must be accompanied by either a provisional specification (Form 9 and true copy) or by a complete specification (Form 10 and true copy).

2 1 This invention relates to support device's of the type 2 which combine a seat and kneeling pad for use by tradesmen, 3 sportsmen, handy men and gardeners.

4 Persons who are required or choose to spend extended periods of time in a fully or partly kneeling position often 6 contract physical problems such as conditions known as 7 "housemaid's knee". This a serious problem for persons 8 whose livelihood depends upon the ability to continue 9 assuming this position, for example carpet layers, tilers, carpenters, concreters and gardeners.

11 It is an object of the present invention to provide an 12 improved device by means of which the physical problems m 13 associated with the spending of long periods in a kneeling .0 a o 14 position may be at least reduced or ameliorated.

o 1o 15 In one aspect, the present invention provides a device 16 for supporting a person in a kneeling position, comprising a 17 at least one relatively light-weight frame member, a knee- 0 o, 18 engaging pad secured to or forming part of said frame member 1 19 adjacent one end thereof, and a supportion portion attached to or forming part of said frame member adjacent the other 21 end thereof and positioned such as to be capable of engaging 22 the posterior of the wearer when in the kneeling position 23 engaging said knee-engaging pad, and means for attaching 24 said frame member and/or said pad and supportion portion to the lower leg of a wearer.

26 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device 27 includes two relatively light-weight frame members between 28 which said knee-engaging pad and said supporting portion are 29 supported, said attaching means comprising adjustable straps 870602, tbspe.016,mensopsv.spe, .i To: The Commissioner of Patents, Australia Sigiijaure(s) of declarant(s).

3 1 attached at one end to one side member and having at the 2 other end clip means for attachment to the other side member 3 to attach said device to the lower leg of the wearer. The 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 0 0 13 O 44 00 0 14 o o o 15 16 oo 17 a 0 19 goo° 18 O 00 19 21 0 0 4 0" 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 side members are preferably configured so that they are clear of the ground when attached to the lower leg of the wearer. In this way, the wearer may walk freely with one or more of the devices attached to the lower leg.

Although it is preferred that the knee-engaging pad be formed as a separate item attached to the side member, the pad may be formed as part of an integral moulded device in which the side member(s) at least partially surrounds the leg of the wearer and is attached by means of at least one adjustable belt means.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for supporting a person in a kneeling position, comprising a pad member adapted to be engaged by the knee of a user and held in engagement with the leg of the user by removable attachment means, and an ankle member adapted to at least partially surround the lower leg of the user and being capable of removable attachment thereto, said ankle member having such dimensions that the uppermost surface may be engaged by the posterior of the user when in the kneeling position.

It will be appreciated from the above that both aspects of the present invention provide means by which the knee(s) of the user may be protected and which enables the user to be supported at the posterior region to partly sit while in t"'e kneeling position, thereby substantially reducing the weight taken by the knee(s) of the user.

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1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 0 0 17 0 0 0 18 19 21 Oo 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 -4- Several preferred embodiments of the invehtion will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of one preferred form of the device embodying the invention; Figures 3 and 4 are plan views from above and below of the devices of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 shows how the device according to Figures 1 to 4 is attached to the lower leg of the user; Figure 6 show a number of users of the device of Figures 1 to 5, and Figures 7 to 12 show various modifications of the device of Figures 1 to 6.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the device embodying the invention comprises two shaped tubular side frame members 1 and 2, interconnected adjacent one end by a cross bar 3 and a shaped knee-engaging pad 4 which is pivotally mounted between the ends of the side frame members 1 and 2 by a rivet The side frame members 1 and 2 are generally j-shaped and a further shaped pad member 6 is attached between the frame members T and 2 at its opposite end by means of rivets 7 and 8. The upwardly direct surface of the further pad 6 is generally flat while the downwardly directed surface is concave, as is the knee-engaging pad 4, to locate the pads 4 and 6 on the leg of the user in the manner shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. Adjustable attachment belts 9 and having buckles 11 and 12 at either end with tongues 13 which 1 87 0 60 2 ,!tbspe.016,mensopsv.spe, r r

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1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 14 Q 0 0 0 0 16 S23 27 0.V° 18 28 29 O 20 21 0 0r 28 29 5 engage slots 14 in the side frame members 1 arid 2 (as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings), are provided to adjustably attach the device to the leg(s) of the:wearer as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The knee-engaging pad 4 is formed with a raised ground engaging pattern 15 to reduce the tendency of the pad 4 to slip. Similarly, the side frame members 1 and 2 each have ground engaging pads 16 riveted thereto as shown. Neither of these features is essential to the invention and may be excluded without adverse effects.

The means for attaching the belts 9 and 10 to the frame members 1 and 2 may be modified by pivotally attaching a buckle at one end of each belt to one frame member and by providing a rivet on the other frame member adapted to engage a slot in a buckle at the other end of each belt.

Numerous other methods of attachment may also be used, for example, press studs, Velcro (registered trade mark) or the like.

As shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the device of Figures 1 to 4 is easily attached to the lower leg of the user and when the belts 9 and 10 are secured around the leg, the frame members 1 and 2 are held clear of the ground so that the user may comfortably walk with the devices attached to the lower legs.

As shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the knee pads 4 not only cushion the knees of the user, but part of the weight of the user may be supported by the further pads 6 which are positioned by the frame members 1 and 2 to be engageable by the posterior of the user.

870602, tbspe.016,mensopsv.spe, Li_ I .1 I L1 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 "12 i 13 0 o 3 S 14 0 o 15 16 o 17 61 18 19 2 21 o o, 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 6- Referring now to Figures 7 to 11 of the drawings, a number of modified forms of the invention are shown. In the case of Figure 7, the frame nimbers 1 and 2 are replaced by modified frame members 20 and 21 which support at one end a knee pad 22, a posterior-engaging pad 23 midway along their lengths, the frame members 20 and 21 extending from the pad 23 and terminating in curved end portions 24,25 which engage the ground when the user is in the kneeling position. Leg engaging straps 26 and 27 are attached to the frame members 21 and are releasably attachable to the other frame member 20 to secure the device in position as shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings.

In the embodiment of Figure 8, the knee pad 28 and posterior pad 29 are integrally moulded from a suitably resilient material with a connecting portion 30, equivalent to the frame members extending therebetween. In Figure 9 a knee pad 31 is pivoted between two arms 32, 33 extending from a posterior supporting area 34 supported by legs 36.

In Figure 10 of the drawings, there is shown a support device in which a separate knee pad 37 is attached to the leg of the user and a posteror pad 38 having a leg receiving cavity housing a leg strap is attached to the lower leg.

In Figure 11, an alternative posterior-engaging pad 39 is supported by frame members 40 and 41 held together by means of a crossbar 34 which in use rests on the instep of the user when standing. A retaining belt similar to the previously described belts is provided.

In Figure 12, the posterior-engaging pad 43 is part of 870602,ltbspe.016,mensopsv.spe, _li 7 a moulded ankle engaging assembly incorporating a retaining belt 44 and a locating bar 38, similar to the bar The entire contents of the provisional specifications lodged with Australian Patent Applications of which this is the complete specification are hereby imported into this specification and form part of the disclosure of this specification. The claims form part of the disclosure of this specification.

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Claims (8)

1. A device for supporting a person in a kneeling position, comprising at least one relatively light-weight frame member, a knee-engaging pad secured to or forming part of said frame member adjacent one end thereof, and a supportion portion attached to or forming part of said frame member adjacent the other end thereof and positioned such as to be capable of engaging the posterior of the wearer when in the kneeling position engaging said knee-engaging pad, and means for attaching said frame member and/or said pad and supportion portion to the lower leg of a wearer.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises two relatively light-weight frame members between which said knee-engaging pad and said supporting portion are supported, said attach;ing means comprising adjustable straps attached at one end to one side member and having at the other end clip means for attachment to the other side member to attach said device to the lower leg of the wearer.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said side members are configured and said straps are positioned so that the said side members are clear of the ground when strapped to the lower leg of the user.

4. The device of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said knee pad is formed as a separate unit attached to said frame member(s).

5. The device of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said knee pad is formed integrally with said frame member.

6. A device for supporting a person in a kneeling position, comprising a pad member adapted to be engaged by the knee of a user and held in engagement with the leg of 870602, tbspe.016,mensopsv.spe, i c 1 9 1 the user by removable attachment means, and an ankle member 2 adapted to at least partially surround the lower leg of the 3 user and being capable of removable attachment thereto, said 4 ankle member having such dimensions that the uppermost surface may be engaged by the posterior of the user when in 6 the kneeling position.

7 7. The device of any preceding claim wherein said frame 8 member(s) are substantially as described with reference to 9 Figures 1 to 4 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 of the accompanying drawings. 11

8. A support device substantial ly as described with 12 reference to Figures 1 to 5 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or .1 or 12 13 of the accompanying drawings. o 14 1 6 DATED THIS 2nd June 1987 17 SANDERCOCK, SMITH BEADLE S 18 Fellows Institute of Patent 19 Attorneys of Australia. 20 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant o 0 21 HANS C. MENGSHOEL and 22 PETER OPSVIK 22 PETER OPSVIK a 870602,!tbspe.016,mensopsv.spe, IL 1