EP0071982B1 - Resilient tip for walking aids, especially for crutches - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a support foot according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the case of such a support foot, as is known, for example, from DE-C-341 874, the position of the sole body is fixed according to FIG. 3 via an inwardly curved border edge which penetrates into the outer surface of a rubber-elastic block in the assembled state of the sole. The sole body itself is provided with smooth surfaces, with which it is supported on the one hand on the ground and on the other hand on the support plate.

A disadvantage of this known support foot is that the rubber-elastic sole body can only be fastened under its forced deformation, so that the insertion and exchange of the block on the one hand becomes very difficult and exhausting and on the other hand inevitably causes local overuse of the sole body material. This overstressing of the block, which is caused by assembly and construction technology, significantly shortens its lifespan, especially since the edge surround engages in the outer surface of the elastic sole body during the entire lifespan of the walking aid and the notch effect present from the beginning is maintained. This edging, which is unfavorable for the sole body, is not only detrimental to the lifespan of the support foot, but it also has the further disadvantage that the fixation is not or remains completely reliable, since the sole body deforms repeatedly in the dynamic load acting on it and in Tired area slowly but inevitably. The holding function can therefore no longer be reliably performed after a certain number of load cycles.

US-A-3 335 735 therefore proposes to inseparably connect the sole body to the support plate. However, this leads to the disadvantage that it makes the manufacture of the support foot and later also the replacement of the expired sole relatively expensive, because for this purpose the support plate with the integrally formed ball joint half must be replaced.

The invention has for its object to provide a support foot according to the preamble of claim 1, which is characterized in particular by an extended lifespan and with absolutely reliable mounting on the support tube of the walking aid in that it ensures the safe movement of the disabled on the crutch while ensuring a disability-friendly usability in any environment.

This object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

According to the invention it is achieved that the disabled person can loosen the support foot of the walking aid with a few hand movements and in a short time by loosening an easily detachable connection between the sole body and the support plate in such a way that he optimally suits the particular terrain in which the disabled person wants to move Way is adjusted. The articulated mounting of the support plate complies with the solution according to the invention, since the sole body is precisely defined by the fact that it remains in an unchanged positional assignment with respect to the ground throughout the entire and relatively complex movement sequence, and is mainly only subjected to pressure, with a maximum of support surface always being provided provided. Because the sole body transmits the support reaction force more evenly in difficult or wavy terrain due to the articulated connection with the support tube of the walking aid, the connection between the sole body and the support plate no longer has to be as intimate as was previously required. It is entirely sufficient if the sole body only rests on the support plate and the fastening means only form a safeguard against peeling forces. The fastening means do not subject the sole body to any constraining forces which, on the one hand, impair the lifespan of the sole body and, on the other hand, could cause difficulties when inserting and replacing the sole body. In this way, the sole body is in any case free of tension, so that the handicapped person is much easier to replace the sole body. This advantageous effect is further enhanced by the fact that the releasable fastening means are arranged at a location which is very easily accessible, thereby ensuring that the operation is disabled-friendly.

By carrying different sole bodies, which are accommodated in a universal plug-in socket of the support plate, the disabled person can safely enter areas previously inaccessible to him. For example, he can use a rubber-elastic and highly flexible body when walking on firm and level ground, a sole body with steel pins when walking on icy ground, or a sole body with an enlarged support surface when walking on very soft ground. In this way, the living area of the disabled is greatly expanded, and the concept according to the invention ensures that the price for this extension of the living space is kept as low as possible.

If the border edge has the shape of a hollow cylinder into which the guide section of the respective sole body is received with a fit, there is the particular advantage that the support conditions can be kept the same under all circumstances due to the rotationally symmetrical design. In this case, a ball joint connection offers itself as a joint device, which has the advantage that this joint connection can be realized with three degrees of freedom with a single effective surface. On the other hand, this development leads to the fact that the sole body can be provided with a geometrically simple and economically producible guiding or centering surface, which also contributes to simplifying the insertion of the sole body into the edging edge.

If the sole body is designed in the form of a rubber-elastic block as a reversible body, which has a stud profile on both sides, the envelope of which is matched to the support surface of the support plate, the following particular advantages result: The joint device in combination with the rubber-elastic block means that this sole body means that everyone Design of the subsoil can largely follow without affecting the introduction of force onto the support tube of the walking aid. For this reason, slipping of the support foot on the ground is almost impossible, so that the handicapped person can move with such a support foot completely safely even in the most difficult terrain. The formation of the sole body as a reversible sole with, for example, leveled profiling means that its lifespan is at least a factor of 2, ie. H. can be raised significantly. The so far often necessary replacement of the sole body therefore only has to be carried out seldom, especially since the monoblock is very defined and controlled by the edging and fixation on the support plate, so that overstressing and resulting deformations in the plastic area during normal operation of the walking aid and during the replacement process are completely excluded. The monoblock, which is very evenly or symmetrically and mainly subjected to pressure due to the articulated suspension of the support plate, can easily withstand all the forces acting on it due to its compact design and does not wear unilaterally or unevenly due to the articulated suspension, so that a reliable and clean pressure force transfer to the support plate is guaranteed even after turning. The controlled application of force to the sole due to the inclusion in the support foot also allows, without weakening the stability of the support foot, to provide a profile which enables the monoblock to reliably adapt to even strongly undulating surfaces by elastically displacing the tread lugs, and thereby the Always take support force over the entire block. This significantly increases the adhesive force of the support foot on the subsurface, and the strongly changing load conditions that have so far occurred during the movement cycle, particularly on undulating subsurface - the support force acting on the support foot migrates essentially across the entire support surface - so that it is largely absorbed Fatigue symptoms of the sole can no longer occur to the extent that has been given up to now. The lifespan of the sole body can thereby be increased, which is particularly advantageous because the safety risk for the disabled can also be reduced on difficult ground. The above-mentioned fastening means do not subject the rubber-elastic monoblock to any constraining forces which, on the one hand, impair the lifespan of the sole and, on the other hand, could cause difficulties when inserting and turning the sole. If the in particular leveled stud profile is provided with steel pins on at least one side of the sole body and is otherwise identical to the stud profile on the other side, the support leg can be converted in a few simple steps in such a way that the handicapped person is absolutely on a smooth surface with snow and ice gets a secure support point with respect to the subsurface. The field of application of the walking aid can be expanded significantly without any additional devices. This solution is particularly economical, since only a single sole body is required to ensure optimal support for a wide variety of ground conditions.

If the support plate has on its underside at least two spaced or intersecting support webs which engage in the profiling of a rubber-elastic block and via which this is supported on the support plate, it is achieved that the support ratios of the monoblock on the support plate also after always remain equally good when turning a profile that is worn on one side or evenly, for example. These measures also ensure that the profile of the monoblock protrudes by a predetermined amount on the border edge after turning, regardless of the degree of wear. The stabilization of the support leg after turning a monoblock worn on one side is just as great as is the case with the unused monoblock.

If the rubber-elastic block is secured with a retaining bolt diametrically through the support plate, which penetrates the center of the rubber-elastic block in the core, wherein a steel sleeve is vulcanized into the rubber-elastic block for receiving the retaining bolt, the stability of the monoblock can be further increased and the service life of the support foot can be increased lengthened because the metal retaining bolt is no longer in direct contact with the elastic material of the monoblock reached. In addition, the steel sleeve gives the monoblock greater rigidity so that fatigue of the monoblock can be largely reduced.

The ease of use of the support foot construction according to the invention can be improved if the sole body is fixed to the support plate in such a way that the sole body is detachably fixed under surface contact with the support plate with a snap fit on the rim of the support plate. The snap lock alone enables the handicapped person without having to take any tools and moreover within a very short time, i. H. with almost negligible expenditure of time to replace the sole body of the support foot or to turn it when the disabled person returns to his apartment, for example in winter, in which he would damage the floor, for example the parquet, with the spike foot. With a suitable design of the snap fit - which is also possible without further ado, as a result of which the multi-surface support of the sole in the articulated round plate essentially only has to be absorbed due to traction forces - the connection between the sole body and the support plate is absolutely reliable and impact-resistant, which can rule out that the sole body detaches from the support plate.

If the snap fit is formed by at least two diametrically opposite pin ends, for which an annularly closed plug hole or a downwardly open clamping slot opening is provided on the edge of the support plate, a detachable snap fit connection is created which fully meets both the strength and handling requirements, that worked absolutely reliably even after an endurance test with 1 million load cycles. This solution also has the great advantage that the force to be exerted by the disabled person for releasing and establishing this connection can be kept very small.

If the pin end for the clamping slot opening is provided with a widened grip head, the replacement or loosening of the sole body becomes particularly convenient. In addition, the snap connection created in this way can be produced economically, as a result of which the disabled receives an inexpensive aid. This connection is particularly advantageous when the sole is designed as a turning body. In this case, the retaining pins only have to be placed in the center plane of the sole turning body.

If the support plate designed as a round plate has an annular web on its support surface, to which a corresponding depression is assigned on the side of the sole body, the support plate is reinforced on the one hand. At the same time, this reinforcing ring web is used in a particularly advantageous manner for additional stabilization of the sole body, which essentially does not have to undergo any further change, since profiling of the sole is generally necessary anyway. In addition, this design of the support plate opens up a particularly advantageous solution for accommodating a reversible sole body which is provided on one side with a pure profiling and on another side with spikes which protrude from the turning body by the amount of the profile depth. If the sole body is inserted with the profile surface to the outside, the ring web reliably prevents the spikes from pressing into the support plate when the support foot is loaded, so that it can be produced from a relatively soft material, for example from plastic, which makes economical production methods, for example Injection molding techniques are applicable. If the spikes are attached to a metal plate vulcanized into the rubber-elastic block, the result is a very rigid construction, which can also increase the service life of the support foot.

If the sole body is designed as a round plate protruding radially over the edge from plastic, for example from polyethylene, which has a funnel-shaped depression on the underside, from which profile grooves lead outwards, the disabled person is provided with a device with which the living area of the disabled can be expanded. With a sole designed in this way, the handicapped can walk on a previously closed terrain without hesitation, without fear of sinking into, for example, soft ground and no longer being able to advance. The articulated mounting of the support plate on the support tube enables this design of the sole body without this being subjected to greater loads or rapid unilateral closure, so that it can also be used as a plastic plate, ie. H. very easy to manufacture. In this way it is additionally ensured that the handicapped person does not get too tired even on long walks in difficult terrain. In addition, this choice of material also has economic advantages, because in this way master forms, such as casting techniques, are available for production.

As a rule, the snap connection mentioned above can also ensure adequate fixation for this sole body. For special security, however, a releasable form fit by means of an additional diametrically extending retaining pin could also be considered in this case. The fixing pin penetrating the sole body does not impair the manageability and the user-friendliness of the support foot, since in this case, when the terrain is difficult, the quick replacement of the sole is of only minor importance.

If the sole body additionally one in the Has ring web engaging centering stump, the presence of the ring web formed on the underside of the support plate is advantageously used for additional stabilization of the sole body. An additional centering function is thus transferred to the ring land.

The above describes the means by which the disabled people's area of life can be expanded and their safety increased. It must, of course, be taken into account that the disabled must primarily be offered a reliable but at the same time an inexpensive solution which enables every disabled person to benefit from the new development described. An additional step in this direction is taken with the further training according to subclaim 17. Use is made of the fact that the support tubes of walking aids are generally standardized, i. H. have a fixed inside and outside diameter. According to a preferred development, the adapter incorporated between the support foot and the support tube of the walking aid is exhausted in a ball stud shaft, which is anchored in the support tube, for example, with a clamp fit. Here, for example, a solution is conceivable according to which a slotted hollow shaft is pushed into the support tube with radial elastic deformation of the individual shaft segments. However, other non-positive and positive anchoring of the adapter is also possible, provided that this connection is easy to release and ensures reliable securing. Of course, you can also form the ball socket of the ball joint in an adapter, which is then inserted into the support tube and connected to it so that it cannot rotate and move. In this case, a ball pin is then attached to the top of the support plate. The provision of an adapter, in particular when a ball joint shaft is used, reduces the components required for converting a conventional walking aid to a minimum and ensures that the existing and still used components of the walking aid do not have to be redesigned.

A very reliable pairing for the detachable seat of the adapter in the support tube of the walking aid is obtained if, for example, the ball-and-socket joint is made of plastic. In the event that the ball is molded in one piece, this choice of material leads, in addition to the cost advantages, to the additional advantage that a snap connection with the ball socket or spherical cap can be produced very easily in this way. The stresses on this snap connection are relatively low and the application of force is defined in such a way that such a snap connection can be selected without any concerns regarding the functional reliability.

If a stabilizing spring device is provided between the support plate and the adapter, for example the ball pin or the support tube of the walking aid, this leads to the further advantage that the support plate is flat even when the crutch is moved forward and accelerated quickly can be placed on the ground without too long a swinging back and forth of the support foot around the very smooth joint could complicate this process. This stabilizing spring device is particularly advantageous when a sole body is inserted into the universal jack, which protrudes radially relatively far beyond the rim.

A particularly advantageous solution is obtained if the spring device is formed by a tubular elastic bellows which shields the joint device from the surroundings. In this way, the operational reliability of the joint device is increased using the simplest constructional measures, so that the walking aid can also be used reliably in swampy terrain, for example. In addition, the lifespan of the joint device and thus of the support foot is increased and the external appearance of the walking aid is enhanced. In addition to the tubular elastic bellows, it is of course also possible to use an additional spring device between the support plate and the support tube or the adapter. However, this is not necessary if the elastic bellows is pulled upwards sufficiently high to ensure that the relatively large pivoting movements of the support plate are absorbed with relatively small and purely elastic deformations of the elastic bellows. By varying the dimensions and the wall thickness or by selecting the material for the elastic bellows, the lifespan of the bellows can be increased almost arbitrarily. In addition, the choice of a suitable material for the support plate and for the sole body results in a relatively small moment of inertia of the support foot, so that the stresses on the elastic bellows remain very low anyway.

The constructional design described above allows a very free choice of materials, which proves to be particularly advantageous, particularly in tribological terms. Almost any material combination can be used in the area of the articulated connection. However, it was recognized that the pairing polyethylene / polyethylene, which is advantageous for an economical production of the device according to the invention, already provides completely sufficient values. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the remaining subclaims.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Gehhilfsmittels bzw. einer Krücke mit Stützfuß.
• Figur 2 eine Ansicht eines Längsschnitts durch eine Ausführungsform des Stützfußes der Krücke.
• Figur 3 eine Ansicht eines Schnitts durch den in Fig. 1 gezeigten Stützfuß mit Blickrichtung der Pfeile 111-111.
• Figur 4 bis 6 perspektivische Ansichten verschiedener Profilausgestaltungen für den Monoblock,
• Figur 7 eine der Fig. 2 ähnliche Ansicht eines Längsschnitts durch eine weitere Ausführungsform des Stützfußes für ein Gehhilfsmittel, wobei die Wendesohle in ihren beiden Positionen dargestellt ist.
• Figur 8 eine Schnittansicht eines beidseitig profilierten Sohlen-Wendekörpers.
• Figur 9 eine Ansicht des in Fig. 8 gezeigten Wendekörpers von unten bzw. oben.
• Figur 10 eine Schnittansicht der in Fig. 7 gezeigten Stützplatte zur Aufnahme der Sohle und des Kugelzapfens.
• Figur 11 eine Ansicht der in Fig. 10 gezeigten Stützplatte von oben.
• Figur 12 eine Teilansicht der in den Fig. 10 und 11 gezeigten Stützplatte mit Blickrichtung entlang des Pfeils XII.
• Figur. 13 eine Ansicht des in Fig. 7 gezeigten Kugelzapfens.
• Figur 14 eine Schnittansicht einer Ausführungsform der als « Flurplatte ausgebildeten Stützfußsohle, und
• Figur 15 eine vereinfachte Darstellung einer Ansicht der in Fig. 14 gezeigten « Flurplatte » von unten.

Several exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of schematic drawings. Show it :

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a walking aid or a crutch with a support foot.
• Figure 2 is a view of a longitudinal section by an embodiment of the support foot of the crutch.
• Figure 3 is a view of a section through the support leg shown in Fig. 1 with the direction of arrows 111-111.
• 4 to 6 are perspective views of different profile configurations for the monoblock,
• 7 shows a view similar to FIG. 2 of a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of the support foot for a walking aid, the reversible sole being shown in its two positions.
• Figure 8 is a sectional view of a sole reversible body profiled on both sides.
• Figure 9 is a view of the turning body shown in Fig. 8 from below or above.
• Figure 10 is a sectional view of the support plate shown in Fig. 7 for receiving the sole and the ball stud.
• Figure 11 is a top view of the support plate shown in Figure 10.
• Figure 12 is a partial view of the support plate shown in Figs. 10 and 11 looking in the direction of arrow XII.
• Figure. 13 is a view of the ball stud shown in FIG. 7.
• FIG. 14 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the support foot sole designed as a «floor plate, and
• FIG. 15 shows a simplified illustration of a view of the “floor plate” shown in FIG. 14 from below.

The crutch 1 shown in FIG. 1 can generally be divided into an arm support device 2 and a ground contact area 3. The arm support apparatus is connected to the ground contact area via a support tube designed as a telescopic tube 4, through which the length of the crutch 1 can be adjusted. The arm support apparatus 2 has a forearm support 5 which is firmly anchored to an outer tube 6, to which a hand support handle 7 is adjustably connected. The ground contact area or the section 3 of the crutch 1 which comes into contact with the ground is firmly anchored to the telescopic tube 4 and has a flexible shoe 8 which, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, is designed as a rubber-elastic sole which is positioned over a ( not shown) supported by an elastic bellows 9 supporting plate on the foot portion 4a of the support tube 4 of the crutch 1.

The elastic bellows 9 shown in FIG. 1 hides a joint connecting device 10, which is formed by a spatial joint with three degrees of freedom. Fig. 2 shows a partial section through the support foot of the crutch 1 such a joint device, which in this case is formed by a ball joint consisting of a ball pin 11 and a ball socket 12. According to this embodiment, the ball pin 11 is attached centrally to a support plate 13 in the form of a round plate which, facing the floor, has a rim 14 serving as a universal socket for various sole bodies. The rotary plate 13 thus forms a receiving body for the sole 8 of the support foot which is limited over the entire circumference. The inside of the round plate 13 is flat and thus forms a flat support surface 15 for the rubber-elastic sole 8. According to this embodiment, the rubber-elastic sole is formed by a monoblock, which is also circular in shape and is thus supported over its entire circumference by the rim 14. The monoblock 8 has the outline design of a cylindrical disk, preferably 60 mm in diameter, which has plane-parallel end faces. The outer surface of the monoblock forms the guide section for the plug-in socket 14. Furthermore, the monoblock 8 has a profile 16, which creates a stud profile which, when viewed in cross-section, is trapezoidal. The outer surfaces 161 of the profiling lie in that the profiling 16 is leveled, all in one plane and they are connected to the respective profile base surfaces 162 via oblique profile surfaces 163. The envelope E of the profile 16 is adapted to the support surface 15.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the monoblock is provided with identical profiling on its two end faces, but a profiling on the outer surfaces 161 is equipped with metal pins 17.

The monoblock is held in the round plate 13 by means of a retaining bolt 18 which penetrates the round plate 13 and the core of the monoblock 8 diametrically. For this purpose, a steel sleeve 19, which receives the retaining bolt 18, is vulcanized into the core of the monoblock 8. The retaining pin 18 takes over i. W. only a securing function, since the monoblock 8 is supported on the support surface 15 under the action of a support force F via the profile surfaces 161 not in contact with the ground or via the steel pins 17. Since the retaining bolt 18 penetrates the monoblock 8 in the center of the core, the monoblock 8 can, if the terrain requires it, be easily turned without changing the principle of the support of the rubber-elastic sole on the support plate.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, support webs 20 are fastened or attached to the inner support surface 15 of the round plate 13, which engage in the profiling 16 of the monoblock 8 and support the monoblock via the inner surfaces 162 of the profile 16. The number of these support webs 20 and the arrangement of these support webs 20 with respect to one another can be adapted as desired to the respective profile, so that the stress on the monoblock 8 can be kept within relatively narrow limits. With these support webs 20, the monoblock 8 can still be effectively and evenly supported over a large area if one side of the profiling is worn out after a long period of use and the monoblock 8 has been turned. The cross section of the support is preferably webs 20 adapted to the trapezoidal space between the studs of the profiling 16.

The ball socket 12 of the ball joint 10 is formed according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in an adapter 21 which is inserted into the lower section of the telescopic tube 4. The dash-dotted line 22 in FIG. 2 indicates a detachable connection point between the telescopic tube 4 and the adapter 21. A detachable connection could be made, for example, with a Finn splint or simply with a radial pin. In the event that the adapter 21 is firmly and permanently connected to the telescopic tube 4, it is advantageous to design the connection between the ball head 11 and the ball socket 12 of the ball joint 10 releasably. For this purpose, the lower end portion 22 of the adapter 21, which through its inner circumference constitutes a swivel angle limitation for the neck of the ball pin 11, has a recess adapted to the neck of the ball pin 11, so that the rotary plate 13 in this special orientation with this groove around one normal pivoting angle α can be pivoted far beyond the release angle. If the ball 11 of the ball pin on the top 11a has a flattening, the ball pin can be removed from the ball socket 12 in the widely pivoted release position. In the normal position of the ball 11, this is secured by a resilient locking ring 23 in the adapter 21. The adapter 21 is formed by a stepped tube, the stepping shoulder 24 of which supports the supporting force F and the centering section 25 of which bends to be transmitted. Since the telescopic tubes 4 of the crutches have both a standardized outer and a standardized inner diameter, different adapters 21 fit into each foot 4a of a crutch, so that it is possible to attach the disabled with a large number of adapters 21 with them via the articulated connection 10 Equip round plates and differently profiled monoblocks, so that the handicapped person only has to change the adapter with a small handle in order to adapt his walking aid to the respective requirements, i.e. H. adapt to the respective terrain or flooring.

In order to protect the articulated connection 10 from the effects of dirt, an elastic bellows 9, indicated with the dash-dotted line in FIG. 2, is provided, which on the one hand either with the telescopic tube 4 or with the adapter 21 and on the other hand with the rotary plate 13, preferably with the rim 14 suitably is detachably connected. The connection points between the elastic bellows 9 and the rotary plate or the telescopic tube 4 or the adapter 21 must be tight, for example to prevent the ingress of water or mud. For this purpose, the adapter 21 or the telescopic tube 4 is provided with a recess (not expressly shown) around which an end section of the elastic bellows 9 is pushed. Then an elastic clamping device, also not shown, such. B. a hose tie around this end section and braced against the rotation. On the other hand, the round plate 13 has a circumferential retaining lug 26 for the same purpose, which is overlapped by the other end section of the elastic bellows 9 and behind which the end section of the elastic bellows 9 is clamped to the rim 14 by means of a further elastic clamping device.

In FIG. 2, the swivel range that can be realized by the ball joint 10 is additionally indicated by specifying the limit swivel angle a. This angle α is, for example, about 20 °, so that the support foot can be placed securely even when going downhill in steep terrain.

As already mentioned above, it is not absolutely necessary for both end faces of the monoblock to be provided with an identical profile 16. 4 to 6 show further profile variants, which can either be formed on one side of the monoblock or on both sides. These profile variants can also be provided with steel pins or spikes. 4 to 6 show a smooth monoblock surface (FIG. 4), a stud profile, as already shown in FIG. 2, in which the studs 81 are in the form of parallel webs with a trapezoidal cross-section over the entire width of the monoblock 8 (FIG.) and a cleat profile in the form of truncated pyramids 82 which are formed on the entire end face of the monoblock 8. The taper of the studs influences the adhesion of dirt on the sole and it should therefore preferably be between 6 and 8 °.

A further and equally possible solution for the joint device 10 can be seen in a combination of a cardan joint and a swivel joint, whereby the required degrees of freedom of the joint device can also be ensured.

Variations exist in particular in the design of the support plate, which can be adapted to the respective specific requirements both in terms of size and in terms of the outer contour.

The attachment of the monoblock 8 to the support plate can also be replaced by a simple pin running diametrically through the core area of the monoblock or by a plurality of locking pins driven radially from the outside by the bordering edge into the monoblock, which are secured by means of a spreading effect.

The design of the monoblock 8 can also be varied within wide limits, so that optimal support conditions can be created by suitably coordinating the profile depth, the profile width and the profile support.

Below is another embodiment Form of the support foot according to the invention for walking aids described. The same reference numbers serve to identify the same or functionally similar components of the subject of the application.

An adapter 21 'is inserted into the support tube 4, which is indicated schematically by dash-dotted lines, and consists of a shaft 211' to 216 'with a ball pin 217' attached. The shaft is composed in particular of a cylindrical guide section 211 ', an adjoining conical clamping section 212', a stop shoulder section 213 ', a screw-in section 214', a shoulder section 215 'and an adjoining shaft section 216'. The ball 217 'of the ball pivot is over a snap. Connection connected to the support plate 13 ', in which, in contrast to the embodiment described above, the ball socket or spherical cap 12' is formed. The support plate 13 'shown in FIG. 7 is also designed as a round plate which has a border 14' pointing towards the floor. The rotary plate 13 'and 14' thus forms a receiving body for the sole 8 'of the support foot which is closed over the entire circumference and thus in turn the universal plug-in socket for various sole bodies. The inside of the rotary plate 13 'is essentially flat, but it has an annular web 131' which is concentric with the border 14 'and which can engage in a profile 16' of the sole 8 '. The sole 8 ′ shown in FIG. 7 consists, as in the embodiments described above, of a block designed as a reversible body, which is designed as a rubber-elastic body. One side of the block 8 'is profiled, the other side can be flat or smooth, with steel pins or spikes 17' protruding from this surface. A metal plate 83 'is vulcanized into the core of the rubber-elastic turning body 8', to which a plurality of spikes 17 'are attached, distributed uniformly over the circumference. The metal pins or spikes 17 'protrude from the sole body 8' by a dimension S, this dimension S corresponding to the tread depth T and essentially the height H of the concentric annular web 131 '.

The sole body 8 'is fastened to the support plate 13' which is designed as a rotary plate via a snap connection to be described in more detail below. For this purpose, pin ends protrude from the sole body 8 'at diametrically opposite locations, which can be brought into engagement with the bordering edge 14' of the support plate 13 '. Preferably, the pin ends - as is also shown in FIG. 7 - belong to a single fastening pin 18 'which penetrates the turning body sole 8' centrally and is guided through a central bore in the sole body 8 '. It can be seen from the illustration according to FIGS. 7 and 8 that the metal plate 83 'stiffening the sole body 8' is shaped in such a way that it bypasses the bore receiving the retaining pin 18 '. The holding pin 18 'thus reliably secures the sole body 8' against falling out or being pulled off or from the support plate 13 '. The case on the right side of FIG. 7 shows that the sole body 8 'is supported on the ground via the spikes 17'. The force is then transmitted to the support plate 13 'both via the ring web 131' and via the support surface of the support plate 13 '. On the left side, the turning body 8 'is shown in the turned state, in which it is in contact with the ground via the profiling 16'. The power transmission to the support plate 13 'takes place essentially via the ring web 131', so that the metal pins 17 'cannot press into the support plate 13' even when large forces are introduced, even if these are made of a relatively soft material such as, for. B. is made of plastic.

The spherical cap 12 'in the support plate 13' is exactly adapted to the ball pivot 217 '. The insertion opening 132 'is provided with an annular collar 133', over which the ball pin 217 'is pressed in order to produce a secure articulated connection and a snap fit. The dimensioning of the ring collar with respect to both the height and the inside diameter is matched to the dimensioning of the ball 217 ', the material pairing between the support plate 13' and ball stud 217 'having to be taken into account. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 can be realized in an advantageous manner with the polyethylene / polyethylene pairing.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the support plate 13 'for receiving the sole body 8' is given some special designs which will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 10. The support plate 13 'has both a radial flange 134' and an adjacent ring recess 135 'above the rim 14'. The radial flange 134 'serves as a support surface for a stabilizing spring 28 which is supported on the other side on the underside of the shoulder section 215' of the adapter 21 '. The ring recess 135 'serves as a receptacle for an elastic bellows 9' which extends as far as the recess portion 214 'of the adapter 21'. With the elastic bellows 9 ', the joint device between the adapter 21' and the support plate 13 'is effectively removed from the environment, ie. H. shielded from dirt. It has been shown that by appropriately dimensioning the elastic bellows - as shown in Fig. - The stabilizing spring 28 can be omitted. Due to the relatively large height, the bellows 9 'alone is in a very good position to accommodate the pivoting movements of the support plate 13' under elastic deformation.

As can be seen from FIG. 10, the border 14 'is diametrically opposite regions on the one hand with a closed plug hole 141' and others on the one hand, as can be seen from Fig. 12, formed with a downwardly open clamping slot opening 142 '. The diameter D of the plug hole 141 'corresponds to the diameter of the holding pin 18' which extends through this plug hole. The width W of the clamping slot opening 142 'is somewhat smaller, so that the retaining pin 18' can snap into the clamping slot opening 142 '. The holding pin 18 'is preferably provided on the side engaging with the clamping slot opening 142' with a widened grip head, not shown, in order to facilitate insertion or removal. Due to the action of relatively small forces on the widened handle head, the holding pin 18 'snaps out of the clamping slot opening 142, after which the turning body 8' is removed or turned from the support plate 13 'by slight displacement, ie by pulling the other end of the pin out of the plug hole 141' can.

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the rubber-elastic sole body 8 ′ shown in FIG. 7, which is designed as a turning body. In this embodiment, both sides of the sole body 8 'are each provided with an identical profile 16'. A metal plate 83 'is in turn vulcanized into the central plane 84', the through hole 85 'for the holding pin 18' also running in this central plane 84 '.

FIG. 13 again shows the shape of the adapter 21 ′ shown in FIG. 7 in a single illustration. A closer look at the figure is not necessary since the description of FIG. 7 already addresses the essential elements of the adapter 21 '.

14 and 15, a further embodiment of a sole body is described which can be fitted into the rim. 14 and 15 show a sole body 82 'which serves as a “leisure or corridor plate”. The lower section of the support plate 13 'with integrally formed border 14' is indicated by dash-dotted lines. The corridor plate 82 'is positively centered over the border 14' and over the ring web 131 'in the support plate 13'. The sole body 82 'is designed as a round plate, which projects radially beyond the rim 14' and is provided on its underside with a funnel-shaped depression 81 "and with a plurality of profile grooves 82". The sole body 82 'is fixed to the support plate 13' either only via the snap connection described above comprising the holding pin, plug hole and clamping slot opening and / or via a holding pin (not shown in any more detail) which diametrically protrudes through the holding body 8 'and which surrounds the rim 14 on both sides 'is penetrated and secured in the penetrating position. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the support force is transmitted directly to the central region of the support plate 13 'via the edge surround 14', via the ring web 131 'and possibly via a centering stump 83'.

Preferred materials for the adapter 21 ', the support plate 13' and the floor plate 82 'are the plastics which can be processed in the injection molding process, such as, for. B. polyolefins, preferably polyethylene (PE), in particular high density polyethylene (HDPE).

The invention thus creates a support foot for walking aids, in particular for crutches, with a sole body which is fastened to a support plate articulated on the support tube. The support plate has an edging edge which serves as a universal plug-in socket for a uniformly configured guide section of various sole bodies which are secured in this detachable securing means which penetrate the edging edge. The support leg is designed in such a way that it provides the disabled person with an unprecedented level of safety and also ensures it; that a conventional walking aid for the disabled can be converted with very little effort in such a way that it is optimally adapted to the prevailing environment.

Claims (21)

1. A resilient support foot for walking aids, in particular crutches, comprising a sole body which establishes contact with the ground and is supported, at the end remote from the tread surface, at a support plate comprising at its lower end a bordering skirt destined to give lateral support to the sole body and a peg attached to its upper end and linked by a joint means to the support shaft of the walking aid, characterized in that the sole body (8 ; 8' ; 8") is fitted loosely in the bordering skirt (14 ; 14') embodied as a universal plug socket to receive a standardized guide section of different sole bodies (8 ; 8' ; 8") each secured releasably in the bordering skirt (14 ; 14') by fastening means (18 ; 18') penetrating the same.

2. The support foot according to claim 1, characterized in that the bordering skirt (14 ; 14') is designed as a hollow cylinder in which the guide section of the respective sole body (8:8'; 8") is received in snug fit.

3. The support foot according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sole body (8 ; 8') being a rubber-elastic block is designed as turn-over body having at both sides a calked profile (16 ; 16') the contour (E) of which is adapted to the support face (15 : 15') of the support plate (13 ; 13').

4. The support foot according to claim 3, characterized in that one of the calked profiles (16 ; 16') which each are levelled is provided with steel pins resp. spikes (17) but otherwise identical with the other calked profile.

5. The support foot according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the support plate (13 ; 13') is furnished at its underside (15 ; 15') with at least two spaced or crossing support webs (20) engaging with the calked profile (16 ; 16') of the rubber-elastic block (8 ; 8') and by means of which said body (8 ; 8') is supported on the support plate (13; 13').

6. The support foot according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fastening means are embodied by at least one pin (18 ; 18') penetrating the bordering skirt (14 ; 14').

7. The support foot according to one of the claims 3 to 6, wherein the support plate with its bordering skirt are designed as an axially symmetrical support plate, characterized in that the rubber-elastic block (8 ; 8') is secured by a locking pin (18 ; 18') extending diametrically through the support plate (13 ; 13') and penetrating the central core of the rubber-elastic block (8 ; 8'), a steel sleeve (19) being vulcanized in the rubber-elastic block (8') to receive the locking pin (18 ; 18').

8. The support foot according to claim 7, wherein the rubber-elastic block (8 ; 8') has the form of a cylindrical disc, characterized in that the disc diameter is approximately 60 mm.

9. The support foot according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sole body (8 ; 8' ; 8") disposed in facial abutment against the support plate (13 ; 13') is snapped releasably in the bordering skirt (14 ; 14') of the support plate (13 ; 13'), the snap fit being provided by at least two diametrically opposed pin ends for which the bordering skirt (14 ; 14') is formed with an annularly defined insert hole (141') resp. a downwardly open clamping slot opening (142').

10. The support foot accprding to claim 9, characterized in that the pin end for the clamping slot opening (142') is formed with an enlarged gripping head.

11. The support foot according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the sole body (8') is designed as turn-over body and the pin ends lie in the central plane (84') of the turn-over body (8') and are constituted by the ends of a single throughgoing locking pin (18').

12. The support foot according to one of the claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the support plate being designed as a round plate (13') includes on its support face for the engagement with an annular web (131') a corresponding recess (16' ; 83") at the sole body (8' ; 8").

13. The support foot according to claim 12, characterized in that the depth of profile (T) of the sole body (8') corresponds to the height (H) of the annular web (131').

14. The support foot according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the sole body being designed as turn-over body (18') is provided at one side with spikes (17') the height (S) of which corresponds to the depth of profile (T) and which are fixed to a metal plate (83') vulcanized in the material.

15. The support foot according to one of the claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the sole body (8") is designed as a round plate (8") projecting radially beyond the bordering skirt (14') and made of plastics, for example polyethylene, and including, at its underside, a funnel-shaped recess (81") from which profile grooves (82") lead to the outside.

16. The support foot according to claim 15, characterized by an additional diametrically extending locking pin for fixing to the bordering skirt (14') and a centering butt end (83") engaging with the annular web (131').

17. The support foot according to one of the claims 1 to 16, wherein one joint half of the joint means is formed in an adapter which is secured against rotation and displacement in the support shaft of the walking aid, characterized in that the adapter (21 ; 21') is connected releasably to the support shaft (4).

18. The support foot according to claim 17, characterized in that the support plate (13') includes, at its upper face, a hemispherical snap- in socket (12') for receiving releasably, if desired, a ball end pin (217') the shaft (211' to 216') of which being received with force fit in the support shaft (4) of the walking aid.

19. The support foot according to one of the claims 1 to 18, characterized in that a stabilizing spring means (28 ; 9 ; 9') is provided between the support plate (13') and the support shaft resp. the adapter (11 ; 217').

20. The support foot according to claim 19, characterized in that the spring means is a hose- like elastic bellows (9 ; 9') shielding the joint means (10 to 12) from the surroundings.

21. The support foot according to one of the claims 15 to 20, characterized in that the ball end pin (217') and its shaft (211' to 216') are made of polyethylene.

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