EP1097691B1 - Geh-Hilfsvorrichtung - Google Patents

Geh-Hilfsvorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1097691B1
EP1097691B1 EP99308853A EP99308853A EP1097691B1 EP 1097691 B1 EP1097691 B1 EP 1097691B1 EP 99308853 A EP99308853 A EP 99308853A EP 99308853 A EP99308853 A EP 99308853A EP 1097691 B1 EP1097691 B1 EP 1097691B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ground
engaging
ball
shank
mounting member
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP99308853A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1097691A1 (de
Inventor
Jacqueline Ann Robins
Tracy Diane Youde
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
Priority to GB9816302A priority Critical patent/GB2339682B/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AT99308853T priority patent/ATE251442T1/de
Priority to ES99308853T priority patent/ES2212475T3/es
Priority to EP99308853A priority patent/EP1097691B1/de
Priority to DE69911970T priority patent/DE69911970T2/de
Publication of EP1097691A1 publication Critical patent/EP1097691A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1097691B1 publication Critical patent/EP1097691B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • A61H3/0277—Shock absorbers therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
    • A45B9/00—Details
    • A45B9/04—Ferrules or tips
    • 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
    • A61H3/0288—Ferrules or tips therefor
    • 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
    • A61H3/0288—Ferrules or tips therefor
    • A61H2003/0294—Ferrules or tips therefor comprising a ball-and-socket joint

Definitions

  • This invention is concerned with a walking aid device, and relates in particular to a foot-like object that can be mounted at the end of a walking stick or crutch, or the like, so as to provide the User with greater stability and security.
  • a walking aid such as a walking stick or a crutch is merely an elongate stick-like body with a pad or ring-like support at the upper, or proximal, end, to fit under the arm, and perhaps some sort of tip at the lower, or distal, end. Even a walking frame - a Zimmer frame - is in essence much the same.
  • Such aids can be made of a variety of materials - wood or aluminium sticks with rubber tips are common - but a favourite combination for a crutch/stick is a rigid aluminium tube with a rubber grommet on the ground-engaging end and a fixed hand grip up towards the opposite end (which is usually either bifurcated to provide support for a pad that fits into the armpit or has a semi-ring at the top which fits around the User's upper arm).
  • the invention suggests, for use with a walking aid, a ground-engaging device which is like a shin-ankle-foot combination; it has a shin-like mounting member (to be carried by or adapted to be mounted on the shank of the aid) and a terminal ground-engaging foot-like member connected to the shin by a ball-and-socket coupling that will permit a limited degree of flexing of the foot about the axis of the shank, the coupling's ball being fixedly secured to the shin and being retained within a socket in the foot in which there is a ball-supporting plunger resiliently biassed towards the ball so as to provide a degree of shock absorbency.
  • the present invention provides a ground-engaging device to be attached to the end of a crutch or other walking aid for a disabled person, the crutch or other aid being of the type having a longitudinally-extended shank onto the distal end of which the ground-engaging device can be mounted, which device comprises:
  • the invention relates to a ground-engaging device to be attached to the end of a crutch or other walking aid for a disabled person.
  • This walking aid can be of any sort provided it has a longitudinally-extended shank onto the distal end of which the ground-engaging device can be mounted, but for the most part it will be a stick or a crutch.
  • the ground-engaging device of the invention includes a mounting member mountable on the shank of the walking aid.
  • the like ground-engaging members known in the Art can be affixed in a number of ways - as a sleeve fitting outside the end of the shank, or as a rod fitting inside the shank end; for the invention, the mounting member preferably comprises a sleeve member, and while this sleeve member can be a screw or other fit on the shank most preferably it is a push fit - that is to say, a "friction" fit.
  • the mounting member carries coupling means in the form of a ball joint the ball of which is fixedly attached to the mounting member and is rotatably retained within the socket in the ground-engaging member - that is to say, the mounting member carries a distally-projecting ball which engages as a captive fit within a corresponding socket in the proximal end of the ground engaging member.
  • One way of retaining the ball within the socket is by means of a split retaining cap, which may be attached to the ground engaging member by any suitable means, such as retaining screws or bolts.
  • a more convenient way is to form the entire ground-engaging member as two suitably-shaped halves - the member being "split" from top to bottom (longitudinally) - which are then put together to hold the ball captive therebetween.
  • the two halves desirably each have location means (such as projecting pins in one mating with corresponding recesses in the other) whereby they can be correctly positioned with respect to each other, and can be glued, screwed or - and preferably - welded together (most suitable plastics, such as nylon [NYLON is a Registered Trademark], can be welded as here required).
  • the two halves can be held together with one or more small circlip device.
  • the ground-engaging member of the invention's device contains - within the ball-retaining socket - bias means - typically a spring co-operating with a plunger/piston in actual contact with the ball - for ensuring a frictional engagement of the ball in the socket.
  • This bias means also provides a measure of shock absorbency when the ground-engaging member strikes the ground.
  • ground-engaging member does in fact directly engage the ground, most preferably its distal end carries a rubber or similar pad to provide a friction surface for secure ground engagement.
  • one or other - or both - of the ground-engaging member and the mounting member provided with means for limiting the extent of flexing of the one member relative to the other.
  • the means for limiting the extent of relative flexing or pivoting can take one or other of several forms. For example, it can take the form of inter-engaging chamfers or tapers on the opposed faces of the mounting member and ground-engaging member. Alternatively, the opposed faces of these members may carry axially-projecting stocks against which the other member bears as the ground engaging member pivots or flexes.
  • the ground-engaging member can be provided with a sleeve which extends axially to encompass at least part of the mounting member and/or the shank, and the clearance between the inner wall of the sleeve and the outer wall of the shank or mounting member permits flexing or pivoting of the ground engaging member until the sleeve engages the shank or mounting member.
  • the device of the invention preferably has radial symmetry, and the ground engaging member can flex or pivot through an angle of 5 to 20 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the shank in all directions.
  • the ground-engaging device of the invention is one which, by virtue of its ball-joint flexible coupling always sits flat to the engaging ground surface even on a compound angle, and which, because of its spring loading, has and an inbuilt shock-absorbing feature.
  • the walking aid of Figure 1 is a crutch of the type having an elongate shank (11) at the top - proximal - end is a half-ring arm support (12) below which is a fixed handle (13), and having at the bottom - distal - end a ground-engaging device (generally 14) of the invention.
  • the shank is "telescopic" - it is in two parts (upper: 11 u , and lower: 11 l ) mounted with the lower inside the upper and fixable therein using pins (not shown) through corresponding holes (as 15).
  • the ground-engaging device 14 - shown in detail in Figure 2 - has a sleeve-like mounting member (16) mounted onto a ground-engaging member (17) by way of a ball joint flexible coupling (see Figure 2).
  • the walking aid is show in engagement with the ground (18: at an angle), with the dashed view (19) indicating how far the crutch may lean and yet still have complete ground contact.
  • FIG. 2 shows the details of the ground-engaging device of the invention.
  • the device has a sleeve-like mounting member 16 within which can be received the distal end of the walking aid's shank (not shown), and at the distal end of which sleeve is the ball (21) of a ball joint.
  • the ball fits into a socket (22) in the proximal end of a ground-engaging member 17, and is held therein by a split retaining cap (23) secured in place by screws (as 24).
  • a shaped plunger/piston (25) that is urged into frictional engagement with the ball 21 by a spring (26) located in an extension (27) of the socket 22.
  • the plunger 25 can be pushed down against the spring 26, so providing the required degree of resilience and shock absorbency.
  • ground-engaging member 17 On the actual distal end of the ground-engaging member 17 is a non-slip ground-engaging pad (28).
  • FIG. 3 shows the details of an alternative form of ground-engaging member for use in the device of the invention.
  • the ground-engaging member (37) is "split" from top to bottom (horizontally, as actually depicted here) into two like parts (37 u ,37 l ), which fit together using a number of locating pins/recesses (as 39) to define a ball-retaing socket (22) in the proximal end.
  • the two halves are here welded together.
  • a shaped plunger/piston 25 that is urged into frictional engagement with the ball 21 (not shown in Figure 3) by a spring 26 located in an extension 27 of the socket 22, and on the actual distal end of the ground-engaging member 17 is a non-slip ground-engaging pad 28.

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)
  • Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, And Fans (AREA)
  • Manipulator (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Bodenkontaktvorrichtung (14), die am Ende eine Krücke oder einer sonstigen Gehilfe für eine behinderte Person angebracht wird, wobei die Krücke oder sonstige Hilfe einen längs verlaufenden Schaft (11) aufweist, an dessen distalem Ende die Bodenkontaktvorrichtung (14) montiert werden kann, wobei die Vorrichtung Folgendes umfasst:
    ein am Schaft (11) montierbares Halterungselement (16) und
    ein Bodenkontaktelement (17), das mit dem Halterungselement durch ein Kupplungsmittel (21) verbunden ist, das beim Gebrauch ein Knicken des Bodenkontaktelementes um die Längsachse des Schafts (11) zulässt, wobei das Bodenkontaktelement (17) und/oder das Halterungselement (16) mit Mitteln zum Begrenzen des Ausmaßes des Knickens des Bodenkontaktelementes relativ zu dem Halterungselement versehen ist/sind,
       wobei das Bodenkontaktelement (17) eine Fassung (22) aufweist und
       das Kupplungsmittel (21) ein Kugelgelenk ist, dessen Kugel (21) starr an dem Halterungselement (16) angebracht und drehbar in der Fassung (22) im Bodenkontaktelement (17) gehalten wird;
       und dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:
    ein elastisches Vorspannmittel (26) in der Fassung (22, 27) angeordnet ist, das an der Kugel (21) angreift und ein gewisses Maß an Stoßdämpfung bietet.
  2. Bodenkontaktvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, bei der das Halterungselement (16) ein Hülsenelement umfasst.
  3. Bodenkontaktvorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, bei der das Hülsenelement (16) auf den Schaft (11) aufgeschoben wird.
  4. Bodenkontaktvorrichtung nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, bei der das Bodenkontaktelement (17, 37) als zwei geeignet gestaltete Längshälften (37u, 37l) ausgebildet ist, die dann zusammengesetzt werden, um die Kugel (22) zwischen sich eingeschlossen zu halten.
  5. Bodenkontaktvorrichtung nach Anspruch 4, bei der die beiden Hälften (37u, 37l) zusammengeschweißt sind.
  6. Bodenkontaktvorrichtung nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, bei der das Vorspannmittel (25, 26) in der Kugelhaltefassung (22) eine Feder (26) ist, die mit einem Stößel/Kolben (25) in direktem Kontakt mit der Kugel (21) zusammenwirkt.
  7. Bodenkontaktvorrichtung nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, bei der das Bodenkontaktelement (17) einen Puffer (28) aus Gummi oder dergleichen trägt, um eine Friktionsfläche für einen sicheren Bodenkontakt zu erzeugen.
  8. Bodenkontaktvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, bei der das Mittel zum Begrenzen des Ausmaßes des relativen Knickens des Bodenkontaktelementes (17) und des Halterungselementes (16) die Form von ineinandergreifenden Schrägungen oder Konizitäten an den gegenüberliegenden Flächen des Halterungselementes und des Bodenkontaktelementes hat.
  9. Bodenkontaktvorrichtung nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, bei der sich das Bodenkontaktelement (17) um einen Winkel von 5 bis 20 Grad um die Längsachse des Schafts (11) in allen Richtungen knicken oder schwenken kann.
EP99308853A 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Geh-Hilfsvorrichtung Expired - Lifetime EP1097691B1 (de)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9816302A GB2339682B (en) 1998-07-27 1998-07-27 Walking aid device
AT99308853T ATE251442T1 (de) 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Geh-hilfsvorrichtung
ES99308853T ES2212475T3 (es) 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Dispositivo de ayuda para caminar.
EP99308853A EP1097691B1 (de) 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Geh-Hilfsvorrichtung
DE69911970T DE69911970T2 (de) 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Geh-Hilfsvorrichtung

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9816302A GB2339682B (en) 1998-07-27 1998-07-27 Walking aid device
EP99308853A EP1097691B1 (de) 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Geh-Hilfsvorrichtung

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1097691A1 EP1097691A1 (de) 2001-05-09
EP1097691B1 true EP1097691B1 (de) 2003-10-08

Family

ID=26153597

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99308853A Expired - Lifetime EP1097691B1 (de) 1998-07-27 1999-11-05 Geh-Hilfsvorrichtung

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1097691B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE251442T1 (de)
DE (1) DE69911970T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2212475T3 (de)
GB (1) GB2339682B (de)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB0717167D0 (en) 2007-09-04 2007-10-17 Goodwin David M Walking aids
CA2783395A1 (en) * 2008-12-15 2010-06-24 Sidestix Ventures Inc. Assistive mobility device
DE102017002502B3 (de) 2017-03-15 2018-05-17 Semen Schofmann Gehstock oder Unterarmgehstütze
DE202017001390U1 (de) 2017-03-15 2017-03-22 Semen Schofmann Gehstock oder Unterarmgehstütze

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL6006C (de) * 1919-06-03
GB196117A (en) * 1922-01-26 1923-04-19 Harry Rivett Improvements relating to crutches, walking sticks and the like
US2453742A (en) * 1945-03-23 1948-11-16 Henry B Bowen Terminal attachment for crutches and the like
US3741226A (en) * 1971-09-30 1973-06-26 Lamico Inc Crutch tip with insert
GB1373593A (en) * 1973-03-20 1974-11-13 Thrift P A Glide for use on articles of furniture or the like
DE3004028C2 (de) * 1980-02-05 1983-07-28 Josef 5000 Köln Lottner Gleitschutzkörper für den Stock einer Gehhilfe
DE3039324A1 (de) * 1980-10-17 1982-09-30 Holger G. 7750 Konstanz Weber Fussteil fuer sicherheitsgeh- bzw. krueckstock
US4510957A (en) * 1981-08-05 1985-04-16 S & F Orthopadietechnik Gmbh Resilient support foot for walking aids, particularly crutches
FR2614529A1 (fr) * 1987-04-29 1988-11-04 Levasseur Daniel Canne du type " anglaise " ou analogue
GB2270627A (en) * 1992-09-17 1994-03-23 Alan Cunnick Walking aid
FR2715559B1 (fr) * 1994-01-31 1996-03-29 Daniel Levasseur Embout de sécurité pour cannes, béquilles ou analogues.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69911970T2 (de) 2004-09-09
ES2212475T3 (es) 2004-07-16
GB2339682B (en) 2000-06-28
GB2339682A (en) 2000-02-09
EP1097691A1 (de) 2001-05-09
GB2339682A8 (en) 2000-03-14
GB9816302D0 (en) 1998-09-23
ATE251442T1 (de) 2003-10-15
DE69911970D1 (de) 2003-11-13

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