EP0000660B1 - A foldable crutch - Google Patents

A foldable crutch Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0000660B1
EP0000660B1 EP78300196A EP78300196A EP0000660B1 EP 0000660 B1 EP0000660 B1 EP 0000660B1 EP 78300196 A EP78300196 A EP 78300196A EP 78300196 A EP78300196 A EP 78300196A EP 0000660 B1 EP0000660 B1 EP 0000660B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
locking
bores
crutch
pair
projections
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP78300196A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0000660A1 (en
Inventor
Kotaro Nakajima
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0000660A1 publication Critical patent/EP0000660A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0000660B1 publication Critical patent/EP0000660B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
    • A61H3/02—Crutches
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
    • A61H2201/01—Constructive details
    • A61H2201/0161—Size reducing arrangements when not in use, for stowing or transport

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a crutch.
  • a crutch is a vital and indispensable instrument which they cannot be without even for a moment in their daily lives.
  • a foldable crutch is disclosed in specification US-A-2 490 380 including a locking means which can be operated by one hand (c.f. Figure 4 of the document).
  • the construction of the locking means is inconvenient in that it can be difficult for the user to align the locking pins 17, 18 with the corresponding locking holes.
  • the object of the present invention is to avoid this disadvantage.
  • the present invention provides a crutch including an elongated upper portion; an elongated lower portion; connecting means for pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of said upper and lower portions to each other, said connecting means including a pair of spaced U-shaped portions formed at the end of either one of said upper and lower portions, a pair of shaped projections formed at the end of the other of said upper and lower portions, each of said projections being adapted to be received within a groove defined by legs of corresponding U-shaped portions, there being through bores formed in mutual alignment in said U-shaped portions and said projections, a rod extending through said through bores so that U-shaped portions and said projections are pivotally connected to each other; stop means for preventing said upper portion from rotating beyond a position in which said upper portion is in alignment with said lower portion; and locking means for locking said upper and lower portions against pivotal movement, including locking pins extending parallel to said rod, first locking bores formed in said U-shaped portions, parallel to said rod, respective second locking bores formed in each of said projections, said
  • a crutch which can be conveniently folded into a short length when not in use which has secure locking means for locking the crutch in the unfolded position for use and in which means is provided for conveniently and reliably operating the locking means when it is desired to fold the crutch.
  • a crutch embodying the present invention has an upper portion 1 and a lower portion 2 of substantially equal lengths.
  • the upper portion 1 is provided with a handle or a hand-retaining bar 3.
  • the lower end of the upper portion 1 has a pair of forked or U-shaped portions 1 a.
  • Each U-shaped portion 1 a has a groove 1 b extending in the longitudinal direction of the upper portion 1 and at a right angle to the breadthwise direction of the latter.
  • the lower portion 2 is provided with a pair of projections 2a formed on its upper end. These projections 2a are received by the grooves 1 b of corresponding U-shaped portions 1 a.
  • the U-shaped portion 1 a and the projection 2a have lateral extensions which are shown, in Figure 7, to project downwardly from the upper and lower portions 1, 2.
  • Mutually aligned through bores 4 are formed in these lateral extensions of the U-shaped portions 1 a and the projections 2a.
  • the common axis X-X of the through bores 4 extends in the breadthwise direction of the crutch and at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the crutch.
  • the centre X of the through bore 4 is slightly deviated outwardly from the side edges 1 c, 2c of the upper and lower portions 1, 2 of the crutch.
  • the upper portion 1 and the lower portion 2 are pivotally connected to each other through a rod 5 which is inserted into the through bores 4.
  • the lower portion 2 can be swung by 180° around the axis of the rod 5, from the folded position as shown in Figures 3, 4 in which it extends in parallel with the upper portion 1 to the stretched position as shown in Figures 1, 2 in which it is linearly extended from the upper portion 1.
  • each U-shaped portion 1 a abut shoulders 2d formed at both sides of each projection 2a, when the lower portion 2 is rotated by 180° into the stretched position, thereby to prevent the lower portion 2 from being further rotated beyond 180°. It is also possible to prevent the rotation of the lower portion 2 beyond 180° by the abutment of the end surface of each projection 2a and the bottom surface of the corresponding groove 1 b.
  • a locking mechanism generally designated at a reference numeral 6 includes a locking bore 7 formed in the U-shaped portion 1 a and another locking bore 8 formed in the projection 2a. These locking bores 7, 8 are so arranged that they are brought into alignment with each other when the lower portion 2 is in the stretched position.
  • Guide pipes 9 are fixed to the opposing surfaces of two U-shaped portions 1 a, 1 a, in axial alignment with respective locking bores 7. Each guide pipe 9 slidably holds a locking pin 10. Each locking pin 10 is fixed to an operation plate 11. These operation plates 11 are fixed to respective pipes 12 which are slidable along the rod 5. A collar 13 is fixed by suitable means to the centre of the rod 5. A coiled spring 14 is disposed on each side of the collar 13. These coiled springs 14 are adapted to bias respective operation plates toward the corresponding U-shaped portions 1 a, so as to drive the locking pins into the locking bores 7, 8. Two operation plates 11, 11 are spaced apart from each other by such a distance that these operation plates can easily be brought together by fingers of single hand.
  • the lower portion 2 of the crutch in accordance with the invention is locked at the stretched position as shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the locking pins 10 received by corresponding locking bores as shown in Figure 5.
  • the crutch in the folded state can be handled quite easily and can conveniently be stored even in an extremely limited space.
  • the folded crutch can support itself and, therefore, can conveniently be used as a temporary stool, by flattening the lower end of the crutch in the folded state as shown in Figure 3.
  • the invention provides a crutch which can be readily manufactured and which will serve a useful purpose for those people who have need of a crutch.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)
EP78300196A 1977-07-28 1978-07-25 A foldable crutch Expired EP0000660B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP101380/77 1977-07-28
JP1977101380U JPS5428295U (ja) 1977-07-28 1977-07-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0000660A1 EP0000660A1 (en) 1979-02-07
EP0000660B1 true EP0000660B1 (en) 1982-06-30

Family

ID=14299173

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP78300196A Expired EP0000660B1 (en) 1977-07-28 1978-07-25 A foldable crutch

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4184503A (ja)
EP (1) EP0000660B1 (ja)
JP (1) JPS5428295U (ja)
DE (1) DE2861922D1 (ja)

Families Citing this family (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4237915A (en) * 1979-06-15 1980-12-09 George Spector Handi crutch
US5042820A (en) * 1987-05-26 1991-08-27 Ford James M Soccerball returner
US4865064A (en) * 1988-07-08 1989-09-12 Parsons Thomas O Hinge apparatus
US4941498A (en) * 1989-02-27 1990-07-17 Escallier Richard J Crutch attachment
JP2906584B2 (ja) * 1990-05-24 1999-06-21 タカタ株式会社 エアバッグ収納用カバー
KR20040026249A (ko) * 2002-09-23 2004-03-31 신재화 접철식 목발
US20040139995A1 (en) * 2003-01-16 2004-07-22 Hsieh Erh Li Rotatable or adjustable crutch
US20100024857A1 (en) * 2003-10-10 2010-02-04 Millennial Medical Equipment, Llc Crutch
US7104271B2 (en) * 2003-10-10 2006-09-12 Millennial Medical Equipment, L.L.C. Ergonomic collapsible crutch
US20080053503A1 (en) * 2003-10-10 2008-03-06 Millennial Medical Equipment, Llc Ergonomic forearm crutch
US7434592B2 (en) * 2003-10-10 2008-10-14 Millennial Medical Equipment, L.L.C. Ergonomic collapsible crutch
US8707975B2 (en) 2003-10-10 2014-04-29 Millennial Medical Equipment, Llc Crutch
WO2007095195A2 (en) * 2006-02-13 2007-08-23 Delace Steven A Ambulation assistance apparatus and methods
US7712479B2 (en) * 2006-10-13 2010-05-11 University Of South Florida Folding crutch
KR101045526B1 (ko) 2009-10-05 2011-07-05 박정훈 접철식 목발
US11470929B1 (en) 2020-05-11 2022-10-18 Kenneth D. Jenkins Convertible ambulatory device kit

Family Cites Families (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US595637A (en) * 1897-12-14 Folding crutch
US790653A (en) * 1904-12-15 1905-05-23 Henry Notthoff Door-securer.
US1534820A (en) * 1921-04-28 1925-04-21 Walmsley Joseph Umbrella
US1587383A (en) * 1924-09-22 1926-06-01 Kennett Charles Edward Convertible ladder
US1835389A (en) * 1930-11-19 1931-12-08 Ghittino Alexander Window construction
US1945460A (en) * 1932-11-15 1934-01-30 David E Oglesby Folding crutch
US2490380A (en) * 1946-05-09 1949-12-06 Oliver T Schweppenheiser Foldable crutch
US2484406A (en) * 1947-09-17 1949-10-11 Sr Henry L Gibson Folding crutch
US2788793A (en) * 1955-04-01 1957-04-16 Charles E Abbott Crutch
US3492999A (en) * 1968-11-20 1970-02-03 Zane R Boyd Folding crutch
CH551560A (de) * 1972-04-11 1974-07-15 Kuemmerlin Walter Gelenkbeschlag fuer klappbare leitern.
US3886962A (en) * 1973-06-20 1975-06-03 Damon Diamontis Folding crutch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5428295U (ja) 1979-02-23
DE2861922D1 (en) 1982-08-19
US4184503A (en) 1980-01-22
EP0000660A1 (en) 1979-02-07

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