EP2155137A1

EP2155137A1 - Crutch sleeve

Info

Publication number: EP2155137A1
Application number: EP08753974A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ann-Marie Sundqvist
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-05-29
Filing date: 2008-05-27
Publication date: 2010-02-24
Also published as: WO2008147285A1; SE0701361L; SE530243C2; AU2008257649A1

Abstract

Muff-like accessory (1) to a handle (2) on a crutch (3), or similar, designed to be temporarily slipped-on and off the handle (2), containing a sleeve-like body (4) with an inner chamber (5) defined by an open-end (6 ) and a closed-end (7), whose sleeve-like body (4) is equipped with at least one magnetic body (9) with which the crutch (3) can temporarily be fixed with a magnetic material or material that is attracted by the magnet. The magnetic body (9) is molded into the closed-end (7), or alternatively attached to the outside of the closed-end (7) and covered with at least one layer of material (7), and the edge of the open-end (6) is angled according to the V angle in relation to muff-like accessory's (1) axial center with the intention of facilitating the application of the muff-like accessory (1) to the handle (2).

Description

CRUTCH SLEEVE

Technical Field

The present invention concerns an accessory to a crutch or the like in the form of a muff-like accessory designed to be temporarily slipped-on or off the handle of a crutch. More specifically the present invention regards a muff-like accessory which is designed to be slipped-on and slipped-off a handle to a crutch, said invention containing a magnetic body in accordance with the claims.

Background of the Invention

A major problem in the use of crutches and the like is that crutches can easily fall over when the user temporarily places the crutches against a wall, a table, the side of a car, a refrigerator, at the cashier in a store or the like. For a person with reduced mobility a crutch, after it has fallen over, may be difficult if not impossible to retrieve. It is a problem for the user to get hold of a crutch after it has fallen down on the floor and this can result in the user being immobilized without being able to move around. Alternatively, the user can fall and in the worst case be left lying on the floor in their attempt to get hold of the crutch.

A further problem with crutches is that it is common for crutches to be lent to the user during the time that the user needs to use them. To permanently mount a device, which allows for the crutch (or crutches) to remain upright, or similar, can therefore be inappropriate. The user of the loaned crutch can, at worst, be liable for alterations made to the borrowed crutch. A number of designs have been developed to solve the problem of crutches easily falling over when they are put aside. For example, accessories to crutches have been developed which can be fitted on the lower end of a crutch, the part that comes into contact with the ground, providing the technical effect of the crutch remaining upright when it is put aside. Examples of this are found in patent documents US6651684 and US4091828. The design allows the crutch to stands upright but has the disadvantage of allowing the crutch to easily tip over. Furthermore, the design also adds extra weight to the crutch.

Other types of designs which are intended to make it easier for the user to retrieve a crutch after it has temporarily been put aside consists of variations of consoles, fasteners and the like which can be temporarily attached to the crutch. After attachment the crutch can be hanged, with the aid of the device, on a table or the like. These designs have the disadvantage of allowing cratches, equipped with these devices, to easily fall to the floor.

Prior Art

In patent document US5339849, by the applicant Stutz, is described a pair of cratches which through two connectors, one male and one female, on each end of the handles are designed to be interconnected. By this interconnection, the cratches can be set against a wall or similar whereby the cratches are prevented from falling over. The present invention differs substantially from the reviewed design because the connection is not accomplished by magnetic force. In addition, the device can not prevent a single cratch from falling over. Furthermore, the design according to the patent document is not intended to be temporarily fitted on the handle (of the crutch).

In patent document DE3530387, by the applicant Bittner, is described a pair of cratches whose handles are designed to temporarily be connected with each other by means of magnets. This interconnection of cratches is accomplished by at least one of the cratches being equipped with a magnet and that the other cratch' s end is equipped with a material that is attracted by the magnet. The design presupposes that the magnet is attached during manufacture or permanently fitted to an existing cratch. The design does not provide for a device to be temporarily attached on an existing crutch. Furthermore, the magnet is not fitted with a protective layer which prevents the magnet from scratching delicate surfaces such as the exterior surfaces of a car or similar object.

In the Swedish patent document SE512606 by Geewe is described a holding device which can be temporarily fixed in a suitable place on a cratch, walking stick, cratches or the like. The design differs substantially from the present invention.

Different types of sleeves which are designed to improve the user's grip on the cratch have long been known. Thus, a number of variants of home-made paddings and even industrially developed sleeves have been made. These sleeves have the disadvantage that most of these accessories are not fixed in a secure manner to the cratch's handle. None of these sleeves includes a magnet to which the cratch can be attached to a coated metal surface without scratching the surface. Brief Description of the Invention Concept

One objective of the present invention is to achieve a considerable improvement in the above mentioned drawbacks. This is achieved by using a device in accordance with the patent claims' characteristic parts. Another aim of the present invention is to achieve a crutch sleeve which in a simple way can temporarily be attached to the handle of a crutch or the like. A further objective of the present invention is to achieve a crutch sleeve with which the crutch can temporarily be attached, for example, to a coated metal surface without the coated surface becoming scratched.

Description of the Invention The invention will be described in detail in the following text with reference to the enclosed schematic drawings that in an exemplifying purpose show the current preferred embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 shows the present invention attached to a crutch.

Figures 2 and 3 show in two views a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the present invention slipped onto a crutch handle. Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to the drawings a muff-like accessory 1 according to the present invention is shown which is designed to be temporarily slipped-on and off the handle 2 of a crutch 3 or the like. The drawings show a specific type of crutch that is not restrictive for the scope of the present invention. The crutches and the accessory's dimensions can vary widely within the scope of the present invention. The muff-like accessory 1 includes a sleeve-like body 4 with an inner chamber 5. The sleeve-like body is preferably produced of an elastic material. The inner chamber 5 is defined by an open-end 6 and a closed-end 7. The closed-end 7 is equipped with at least one attachment organ 8. The attachment organ 8 consists preferably of at least one magnetic body 9.

With the magnetic body in the accessory the crutch can temporarily be attached with a magnetic material or a material that is attracted by the magnet. The magnetic body 8 can be integrated into the material in the closed-end 7 or, alternatively, be fixed to the outside or the inside of the closed-end 7. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the magnetic body 9 is molded into the material in the muff-like accessory's 1 closed-end 7 in connection with the manufacture of the muff-like accessory 1. Molding has the technical effect of reducing the risk of the surfaces with which the crutch is temporarily attached to by way of the magnetic body 9 being scratched by the material of the magnetic body 9. The magnetic body 9 may, in alternative embodiments, be attached on the inside or the outside of muff-like accessory's 1 closed-end 7 by gluing, vulcanization or other suitable for the purpose known method or procedure. If the magnet is attached to the outside of the muff-like accessory's closed-end 7, the magnet's surface (surfaces), which is not attached to the end of the sleeve 7, must be provided with a layer of material which prevents scratching of surfaces that the crutch is attached to.

During development of the muff-like accessory, it has unexpectedly been discovered that the muff-like accessory can much easier be mounted on the handle of the crutch, if the muff-like accessory in its open-end has an angle of 15 to 60 degrees in relation to the muff-like accessory's axial center. An optimum has been shown to exist at an approximately 26 degree angle.

The edge of the open-end 6 can also be fitted with an internal bevel (not shown in the figure) to facilitate the attachment of the muff-like accessory 1 to the handle 2. Furthermore, the edge of the open-end 6 can be equipped with a bevel (not shown in the figure) to facilitate a smoother transition between the handle's surface and the sleeve-like body's 4 surface in the muff-like accessory 1.

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment differs from the first embodiment essentially only by the length of the sleeve-like body 4. Because the muff-like accessory's sleeve covers a large portion of the handle's 2 length, a further improved attachment (fixation) of the muff-like accessory against the handle 2 in relation to the first embodiment is achieved. The shorter length of the sleeve-like body 4 of the first embodiment facilitates the threading of the sleeve onto the handle 2.

Even if some preferred embodiments have been described in detail, variations and modifications within the scope of the invention can become apparent for professionals in the field and all these variations are considered to fall under the subsequent claims. Alternatively, a material with a higher friction than the rest of the material in the sleeve-like body 4 can be applied or molded into the entire, or a partial part of, the outer surface of the sleeve-shaped body 4. The friction material on the outside of the sleeve-like body 4 improves the ability of a person with weak muscles in the hand and/or the forearm to hold the handle (crutch) without the hand sliding against the sleeve-like body 4.

In alternative embodiments a heat reflecting or heat emitting material such as a conductive polymer (with PCT properties) can be used in the muff-like accessory. Together with a heat emitting material the muff-like accessory is preferably manufactured in accordance with the second embodiment that is to say with a longer sleeve-like body 4. Obvious design details for providing and storing energy for operation of the conductive polymer are part of this embodiment. The heat emitting material is valuable for persons with impaired movement in their hands as in the case of certain types of rheumatic diseases and the like.

Advantages of the Invention

With the present invention problems with existing designs that were previously described in this patent application are eliminated. The main advantage is that the crutch with the applied muff-like accessory can easily be put aside without the crutch falling over. This is achieved by the magnetic body being temporarily fixed with a second magnet or against a material that is attracted by the magnet. An additional advantage of the present invention is that the magnetic body is molded into the muff-like accessory (alternatively, the magnetic body is fitted with a protective layer), which prevents scratching of surfaces that the crutch is temporarily attached to with the magnetic body. For example, temporary fixation against a coated surface such as a painted car, the outside of a refrigerator or other painted surface without the painted surface being scratched is possible.

Claims

1. Muff-like accessory (1) to a handle (2) on a crutch (3), or similar, designed to be temporarily slipped-on and off the handle (2), containing a sleeve-like body (4) with an inner chamber (5) defined by an open-end (6 ) and a closed-end (7), whose sleeve-like body (4) is equipped with at least one magnetic body (9) with which the crutch (3) can temporarily be fixed with a magnetic material or material that is attracted by the magnet characterized by that the magnetic body (9) is molded into the closed-end (7), or alternatively attached to the outside of the closed-end (7) and covered with at least one layer of material (7), and that the edge of the open-end (6) is angled according to the V angle in relation to muff-like accessory's (1) axial center with the intention of facilitating the application of the muff-like accessory (1) to the handle (2).

2. Muff-like accessory (1) according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by that the angle V lies within an interval of 15 to 60 degrees.

3. Muff-like accessory (1) according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by that the muff-like accessory (1) contains a heat reflecting material.

4. Muff-like accessory (1) according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by that the muff-like accessory (1) contains a heat emitting material.

5. Muff-like accessory (1) according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by that the sleeve-like body's (4) outer surface is entirely or partially equipped with a material with greater friction than in the rest of the material in the sleeve-like body (4).