EP0212772A2 - Krücken - Google Patents

Krücken Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0212772A2
EP0212772A2 EP86302738A EP86302738A EP0212772A2 EP 0212772 A2 EP0212772 A2 EP 0212772A2 EP 86302738 A EP86302738 A EP 86302738A EP 86302738 A EP86302738 A EP 86302738A EP 0212772 A2 EP0212772 A2 EP 0212772A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bolt
crutch
handle
members
tubular members
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP86302738A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0212772A3 (de
Inventor
Jim. R. Schultz
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.)
Guardian Products Inc
Original Assignee
Guardian Products Inc
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 Guardian Products Inc filed Critical Guardian Products Inc
Publication of EP0212772A2 publication Critical patent/EP0212772A2/de
Publication of EP0212772A3 publication Critical patent/EP0212772A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61HPHYSICAL 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
    • A61H3/00Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
    • A61H3/02Crutches

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains generally to the field of walking aids for invalids and is more particularly directed to an improved crutch of simplified construction.
  • existing crutches consist of a vertical support, typically made of aluminum tubing or wood, and having an arm rest cushion or padding affixed to its upper end designed to fit under the arm pit of the user, and a handle attached to the vertical support at an intermediate point between the arm rest and a tip affixed to the lower end of the crutch.
  • adjustment means which allow the crutch to be fitted to the physical requirements of different patients having varying body height and arm length.
  • Such adjustment means typically include height adjustment which varies the overall length of the crutch from the arm rest to the lower tip, and a handle adjustment which allows the handle to be positioned at different points along the crutch for a particular crutch height adjustment.
  • the hand grip could be adjusted by releasing a handle screw fastener, repositioning the handle along the crutch and tightening the fastener at the new location.
  • the crutch length could also be adjusted by releasing a separate fastener, e.g., revolving a bolt extending through telescopically extendably crutch members, adjusting the relative position of the crutch members and securing the members at the new position with the corresponding fastener without disturbing the handle fastener in doing so.
  • crutch presently in use, known as a single box axillary crutch is constructed around two telescoping tubular members with a handle affixed to an intermediate portion of the larger diameter tube.
  • the relative telescoping extension of the two tubular members is adjustable by means of a locking pin mounted to one of the members and which fits into one of several axially spaced holes in the other member so as to interlock the two members against telescoping movement at one of several relative telescopic extensions to thus allow adjustment of the overall length of the crutch.
  • the handle usually is a single piece tubular member which is secured in perpendicular relationship to the larger diameter tubular member of the crutch by means of a single bolt that extends axially through the handle and diametrically through one of several handle mounting holes in the tubular member.
  • the position of the handle along the tubular crutch member can be changed by inserting the retaining bolt through any one of the several holes spaced along the tubular member and provided for this purpose.
  • the present invention meets the aforementioned objective by providing a single adjustment crutch having at least two telescoping tubular members, a handle, and a fastener simultaneously operative for securing the handle to one of the tubular members as well as for locking the two tubular members against relative telescoping movement.
  • the fastener also allows the selective positioning of the handle along the tubular member to which it is secured for a given relative telescopic extension, i.e. for a given overall length adjustment of the two tubular members.
  • the fastener may comprise a single bolt extending through the handle and through aligned bolt holes in the two tubular members, and a bolt retainer such as a nut or a knob in which is formed a threaded bore. The bolt retainer is threaded onto the protruding end of the single bolt after passing which through the two tubular members to thereby draw and tighten the handle against the tubular member.
  • a series of spaced apart bolt holes are formed in each of the telescoping tubular members such that several pairs of holes in the two telescoping tubes can be aligned simultaneously at each of several telescopic extensions of the two tubular members, i.e. for each of several different overall length adjustment of the two telescoping tubes.
  • the single bolt may be inserted through any one of the aligned hole pairs, so as to provide a choice of position for the handle along the larger diameter tubular telescoping movement regardless of which of the aligned hole pairs the bolt is inserted through.
  • improved handle construction which is capable of bearing substantially greater loads than previous crutch handles notwithstanding the fact the improved handle is still retained to the crutch tubular member by a single fastener.
  • the improved handle grip has a hand grip portion with an end proximal to the tubular member and an opposite end distal thereto, a support portion extending downwardly from the proximal end parallel and adjacent to the tubular member and terminating in a lower end, and a brace portion connecting the distal end of the hand grip portion to the lower end of the support portion, so that weight bearing downwardly on the hand grip is transferred through the brace and the support portions against the tubular member to which is affixed the handle.
  • the improved handle may take the form of a generally triangular frame in which is defined an interior hand opening.
  • the improved handle structure may be secured to a tubular member of the crutch by means of a single bolt extending through the hand grip portion and through aligned holes in the telescoping tubular members.
  • Figure 1 illustrating s single adjustment crutch 10 comprising a first tubular member 12 within which is telescopically slidable a second tubular member 14 of smaller diameter.
  • the upper end of the larger diameter tube 12 is provided with an axillary pad 16 designed and contoured to fit comfortably into a person's armpit.
  • the upper end of the tube 12 is flattened and bent as best seen in Figure 2 and the arm rest 16 is attached to the flattened portion by means of fasteners 18.
  • the lower end of the smaller diameter tube 14 is provided with a rubber tip 20 preferably made of a high friction material to resist sliding on smooth ground surfaces, and preferably of a resilient material such that no tapping or scrapping noises are produced by use of the crutch, and which also may serve as a shock absorbing device.
  • the upper tube 12 has a first series of bolt holes 22 evenly spaced in an axial direction along the outer tube 12.
  • Each bolt hole 22 includes diametrically opposed openings in the wall of tube 12 so as to allow a fastener bolt to pass diametrically through the tube 12.
  • a second series of bolt holes 24 is evenly spaced in an axial direction along the inner tube 14.
  • Each bolt hole 24 likewise, consists of diametrically opposed openings in the tube wall allowing passage of a fastener bolt diametrically through the member 14. While in most cases it would be desirable for the member 14 to be a hollow tube due to weight considerations, the member 14 may be a solid rod in which case the bolt holes 24 are bored diametrically through the solid rod member.
  • the spacing between the bolt holes 22 in the outer tube is equal to the spacing between the bolt holes 24 in the inner tube member, and the diameter of the bolt holes 22 and 24 is similar.
  • the inner tube 14 As the inner tube 14 is telescoped within the outer tube 12, it is possible to bring at least some of the bolt holes 24 into alignment with bolt holes 22 as illustrated in Figure 3 for a number of different telescopic extensions of the two members 12 and 14, i.e. for different overall length adjustment of the crutch 10. Such alignment is obtained in stepwise increments equal to the spacing between adjacent bolt holes 24. Furthermore, at most of the relative telescopic extensions at which alignment of the holes is obtained, alignment of more than one pair of inner and outer bolt holes 24, 22 respectively is obtained, allowing a choice of through holes for insertion of a single bolt fastener 26. For example, the bolt 26 can be inserted through any one of seven aligned hole pairs as suggested by the parallel arrows B1 - B7 in Figure 3 to thereby lock the outer tube 12 and inner tube 14 against relative telescoping displacement.
  • the inner or lower tube 14 is desirably provided with a friction element 25 near the upper end of the tube and is disposed for making frictional engagement with the inner surface of the upper or outer tube 12 when the two tubes 12 and 14 are in telescoping relationship, so as to prevent the lower tube 14 from falling out while adjustment of the crutch length is being made.
  • the friction element 25 consists of a button, or equivalent element extending radially through a hole in the wall of tube 14 and spring loaded by a suitable internal spring 27 mounted within the tube for urging the friction element outwardly through its hole in the tube wall and thus into frictional engagement with the inner surface of the upper tube 12.
  • the crutch 10 further includes a handle 30 of improved design which incorporates a generally cylindrical hand grip portion 32 disposed with its main axis in perpendicular relationship to the upper tube 12.
  • the lower end of the support portion 34 is connected to the distal end of the hand grip portion 32 by a brace portion 36.
  • the hand grip, support and brace portions of the hand grip element 30 define a triangular structure as best appreciated in Figure 2 with an interior hand opening 38 which receives the hand of the user when gripping and curling around the hand grip portion 32.
  • the brace portion 36 preferably rises at an angle from the lower end of the hand grip portion 32.
  • the hand grip portion and the support portion connects the ends of the perpendicular portions at an angle, thus approximating a right triangle configuration.
  • the hand grip portion 32 is bored axially for accepting a bolt fastener 26 which has a head end 42 and a threaded end 44 and which is sufficiently long to extend fully through the upper tube 12, and still protrudes sufficently on the side of the tube 12 opposite the handle 30 so as to be engaged by a bolt retainer such as a threaded, knurled knob 40 as shown in Figure 1.
  • a bolt retainer such as a threaded, knurled knob 40 as shown in Figure 1.
  • the surface of the support portion 34 which is adjacent the tubular member 12 is desirably contoured in concave cylindrical form so as to conform to the cylindrical outer surface of the tube 12.
  • Such fitting of the support surface of the tube 12 is useful in preventing the handle 30 from rotating about the single fastener bolt 26 when the support surface is snuggly drawn against the surface of the tube 12 by means of the bolt 26 and retainer knob 40.
  • the single fastener bolt 26 is thus relieved of part of the force it would otherwise have to withstand, and which caused undesirable flexing of the handle in prior art crutch handles which were not braced in the fashion disclosed herein, but consisted simply of an elongated handle affixed in perpendicular relationship to a crutch tube.
  • the use of the improved handle 30 is not limited to the single fastener crutch construction shown herein but is equally useful in other crutch constructions wherein separate adjustment means are provided for fixing the overall length of the crutch, such as an additional bolt extending through aligned hole openings in the two telescoping tubes but independent from any handle retaining bolt.

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)
  • Mutual Connection Of Rods And Tubes (AREA)
EP86302738A 1985-08-15 1986-04-14 Krücken Withdrawn EP0212772A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US76583085A 1985-08-15 1985-08-15
US765830 1985-08-15

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0212772A2 true EP0212772A2 (de) 1987-03-04
EP0212772A3 EP0212772A3 (de) 1988-10-26

Family

ID=25074610

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86302738A Withdrawn EP0212772A3 (de) 1985-08-15 1986-04-14 Krücken

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0212772A3 (de)
JP (1) JPS6244253A (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT393216B (de) * 1989-03-08 1991-09-10 Mackl Franz Gehstuetze
EP2595594A2 (de) * 2010-07-21 2013-05-29 Daniel Hennessey Massagegerät
CN110338530A (zh) * 2019-08-19 2019-10-18 台州市温岭中医医疗中心(集团) 一种多节联动自锁调控拐杖
CN111329727A (zh) * 2020-03-03 2020-06-26 米伦医疗科技(苏州)有限公司 一种握把高低可调节的肘拐助行器

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006047413A2 (en) * 2004-10-25 2006-05-04 Nexstep Mobility, Llc Crutch

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB482770A (en) * 1937-01-06 1938-04-05 Albert Frank Browne Improvements in crutches
US2736330A (en) * 1953-05-18 1956-02-28 Lorin A Wood Crutch
US3157387A (en) * 1962-11-06 1964-11-17 Kay Inc Van Automatic tire spreader

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5223191U (de) * 1975-08-05 1977-02-18
JPS6049822B2 (ja) * 1978-06-15 1985-11-05 三菱電機株式会社 冷暖房装置

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB482770A (en) * 1937-01-06 1938-04-05 Albert Frank Browne Improvements in crutches
US2736330A (en) * 1953-05-18 1956-02-28 Lorin A Wood Crutch
US3157387A (en) * 1962-11-06 1964-11-17 Kay Inc Van Automatic tire spreader

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT393216B (de) * 1989-03-08 1991-09-10 Mackl Franz Gehstuetze
EP2595594A2 (de) * 2010-07-21 2013-05-29 Daniel Hennessey Massagegerät
EP2595594A4 (de) * 2010-07-21 2014-03-19 Daniel Hennessey Massagegerät
CN110338530A (zh) * 2019-08-19 2019-10-18 台州市温岭中医医疗中心(集团) 一种多节联动自锁调控拐杖
CN110338530B (zh) * 2019-08-19 2024-05-31 台州市温岭中医医疗中心(集团) 一种多节联动自锁调控拐杖
CN111329727A (zh) * 2020-03-03 2020-06-26 米伦医疗科技(苏州)有限公司 一种握把高低可调节的肘拐助行器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0212772A3 (de) 1988-10-26
JPS6244253A (ja) 1987-02-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3947140A (en) Connector for telescoping tubular stick members
US4809725A (en) Telescopic crutch and walking stick
US5139040A (en) Collapsible lightweight crutch
US4787405A (en) Convertible crutch
US6055998A (en) Shock absorbing fixture
EP1017945B1 (de) Einstückiges spielausgleichsteil mit rastknopf
EP1487392B1 (de) Griff für ein krankenhausbett
US4963904A (en) Portable camera support assembly
US4245659A (en) Crutch assembly
US5606985A (en) Crutch with adjustable inclined hand grip
EP0770340A1 (de) Verstellbarer Stock
US7347215B1 (en) Ergonomic crutches
EP2158009B1 (de) Einstellbarer mast
US20040107983A1 (en) Joint mechanism
US4733682A (en) Tubular crutch construction
US20070089770A1 (en) Custom fitted crutch with two shock-absorbers
US20030098051A1 (en) Detachable knee or lower leg support system for crutches
US4838291A (en) Axilliary crutch
US6378540B2 (en) Walking assistance device and walking assistance attachment for the device
US3947025A (en) Arm wrestling unit
US4882869A (en) Combination rifle rest and animal choke stick
EP0015034A1 (de) Geh-Hilfsvorrichtung
EP0212772A2 (de) Krücken
CA2689600A1 (en) Length adjustable crutch
US5197502A (en) Walking stick

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT SE

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19881103

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: SCHULTZ, JIM. R.