EP3747420A2 - Crutch support - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a crutch support (S) for a crutch tube (K) with an expandable support leg (1.1, 1.2), a tubular sleeve (2) being provided, with an actuating sleeve (3) connected to the tubular sleeve (2) via an energy store (4 ) is preloaded, the travel path of the actuating sleeve (3) to the pipe sleeve (2) through a first collar on the pipe sleeve (2) in the direction of an underground (U) and through a second collar away from the underground (U) through the support leg system (8) is limited, wherein the tubular sleeve (2) comprises a fastener (5) and the actuating sleeve (3) has a fastener shoulder (6) and a foot actuator (7), the actuating sleeve (3) via a tongue and groove connection can be moved to the tubular sleeve (2), the actuating sleeve (3) enclosing the tubular sleeve (2) as well as the crutch pipe (K), the actuating sleeve (3) on one side having the fixing shoulder (6) and the foot actuator (7) having, wherein in the parking position of the fixing paragraph (6) in the hard casually (5) is retracted.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a crutch support for a crutch tube according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

Such crutch supports are already known and used in a variety of forms and designs. For example, in the DE 10 2016 011 593 A1 discloses a crutch in which a support mechanism can be triggered in a special way via a button on a handle, with an extensive mechanism having to be kept in the tube of the crutch.

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a crutch support is to be provided, which in a simple manner the setting down of a crutch and the Should enable further transport, with already existing crutches, walking sticks, seat sticks, etc. should also be able to be retrofitted with the crutch support.

Solution of the task

The features according to claim 1 lead to the solution of the object. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

A crutch support according to the invention is intended to be attached to a crutch tube. The crutch tube is designed as part of a crutch. It is irrelevant here whether the crutch support is provided on a new product, i.e. as part of the manufacture of a crutch, or is subsequently attached to a crutch tube that is already in use as part of a retrofit.

The crutch support has an expandable support leg. But it is also conceivable that more than one support leg that can be spread apart is provided in order to ensure greater stability. A particularly preferred embodiment has exactly two spreadable support legs, the two spreadable support legs being arranged at an angle of 80 ° to 150 °, more preferably at an angle of 120 °, around the crutch tube.

In the context of the invention, there is talk of a storage position and a transport position. The position when the spreadable support leg is arranged away from the crutch tube towards a base is referred to as the parking position. In this position, the crutch support or crutch can be put down so that it cannot fall over unintentionally. In the context of the invention, a transport position is referred to when the spreadable support leg is folded away from the ground to the crutch tube and thus transport and also use as a walking aid is possible.

The crutch support according to the invention has a tubular sleeve. This tubular sleeve is arranged around the crutch tube. It can be pulled onto the crutch tube in one piece or it can be placed around the crutch tube from two half-parts that can be connected to one another and then screwed together. The tubular sleeve is attachable to the crutch tube in a manner described later. An actuating sleeve is prestressed to the tubular sleeve via an energy storage device. The actuating sleeve can be pressed against the force of the energy store along the tubular sleeve to a base. As soon as the actuating sleeve is released, the energy storage device unfolds its effect, so that the actuating sleeve is pressed away from a substrate again along the tubular sleeve. The area on which the crutch is supported during use as a walking aid is referred to as the subsurface.

For this purpose, a rubber buffer is placed on one end of the crutch tube. At the other end of the crutch tube, a forearm support and a handle are usually arranged. However, it can also be a simple walking stick, so that only one handle would be arranged on the other end of the crutch tube.

A travel path of the actuating sleeve to the tubular sleeve is limited by a first collar on the tubular sleeve in the direction of the ground and a second collar away from the ground in the form of a support leg. When the spreadable support legs are folded away from the ground again, the spreadable support legs abut the respective support leg system so that the travel distance away from the ground is limited. This explains the formulation that the travel distance away from the ground is limited by the support leg system.

In this way, the actuating sleeve can only move towards or away from a substrate in a specific area of the tubular sleeve.

The tubular sleeve comprises a fastener and the actuating sleeve comprises a fastener shoulder. The fastener heel is pressed into a receptacle of the fastener by the user pressing a foot actuator. In the transport position, by pressing a foot actuator and thus moving the actuating sleeve against the force of the energy storage element, the user has pressed the fastener shoulder into a receptacle of the fastener. The fixing device is arranged in such a way that it comprises a fixing force storage device. In this way, the fastener is spring-loaded to the tubular sleeve. In order to get from the storage position into the transport position, the user has to operate the fixing device around an axis of rotation against the force of the fixing energy storage device. In this case, the fastener shoulder is released by the fastener so that the actuating sleeve can slide away from the ground in the transport position again. In order to get into the storage position more easily, the fastener has a drive-in area that is slightly rounded towards the ground. In this way, the fastener shoulder can move more easily along the entry surface into the receiving opening of the fastener.

The fixture has an axis of rotation. On one side of the axis of rotation there is a rounding and on the other side a locking lever. The rounding is intended to simplify the pivoting movement of the fastener on the tubular sleeve. The securing lever can be pressed towards a surface by the user's foot so that the securing device is released and the tubular sleeve slides from the storage position into the transport position.

The actuating sleeve can be moved to the tubular sleeve via a tongue and groove connection. This in turn means that the actuating sleeve is arranged around the tubular sleeve and can move along the crutch tube to or away from a substrate within the framework of the tongue and groove connection.

Furthermore, the actuating sleeve is constructed in such a way that the fixing shoulder and the foot actuator are arranged on one side of the actuating sleeve and a support foot system is arranged on the other side of the actuating sleeve.

The expandable support leg has an L-shape, the short edge of the L-shape having an angle of more than 90 ° to the long edge of the L-shape.

In order to be able to bring the spreadable support leg from the set position to the transport position, a link element is required. For this purpose, the link element is arranged between the actuating sleeve and the spreadable support leg. In detail, the expandable support leg is connected to the tubular sleeve via a first pivot connection. In the transition from the short edge of the L-shape to the long edge of the L-shape of the spreadable support leg there is a second pivot connection, the second pivot connection achieving a connection to the link element.

The link element has the second pivot connection at one end to the expandable support leg and at the other end a third pivot connection to the actuating sleeve. In order to achieve better functionality, a shoulder is formed on the actuating sleeve which extends away from the actuating sleeve.

The third pivot connection, which connects the actuating sleeve to the link element, is arranged on this shoulder. The link element is a linearly aligned rod element, common openings of the respective components, through which an axis is carried out connecting the respective parts to one another.

The tubular sleeve is attached to the crutch ear via an opening and a screw inserted in the opening. For this purpose, the screw is screwed in through an associated thread of the opening and thus the tubular sleeve is clamped to the crutch ear. In another exemplary embodiment, it is also conceivable, because of the different diameters of crutch tubes and other walking aids, to make through holes of different sizes in the tubular sleeve and in the actuating tube.

It is also possible to operate the crutch support via a mechanism from the handle area.

In addition, protection is desired for a connecting device for a crutch tube with a crutch support and another crutch tube. The crutch tube is part of a crutch and the other crutch tube is part of another crutch.

To connect the two crutch tubes, and thus also the two crutches, a double clamp with two clamping channels is reversibly arranged between the crutch tube and the other crutch tube. For this purpose, the clamping channels must be resilient.

This allows the clamping channels to be clipped onto the crutch tubes. This enables the two crutch tubes to be connected and released quickly and easily from one another or with one another.

Because the crutch tube is equipped with the crutch support, when the crutch tube is put down through the crutch support and the connection of the further crutch tube without a crutch support, an inexpensive and simple possibility can be created that two crutch tubes can be set down with one crutch support. With the double clamp, the user can park the crutch tube of the crutch and the other crutch tube of the other crutch together.

In the storage position, the crutch tube can be received in the first clamping channel and the further crutch tube can be received in the second clamping channel. To do this, the dimensions of the clamping channels must be adapted to the dimensions of the crutch tubes.

The first clamping channel can be pivoted to the second clamping channel via a common axis of rotation. In this way it is made possible that the crutch tube with the crutch support can be set down essentially perpendicular to the ground and the further crutch tube can be arranged at an angle to the crutch tube and thereby achieve a stable position.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the further crutch tube can also have a further crutch support.

Figure description

Figur 1

eine Ansicht eines Teils eines Krückenrohrs einer Krücke mit angebrachter erfindungsgemäßer Krückenstütze S in Abstelllage;

Figur 2

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht der Figur 1;

Figur 3

die Ansicht aus Figur 1 in Transportlage;

Figur 4

die Ansicht aus Figur 2 in Transportlage;

Figur 5

eine Seitenansicht einer Krücke und eine weiteren Krücke in Abstelllage;

Figur 6

eine Stirnansicht der Figur 5;

Figur 7

eine vergrößerte Teilansicht der Figur 6;

Figur 8

eine schematische Ansicht einer Verstellvorrichtung.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings; these show in:

Figure 1

a view of part of a crutch tube of a crutch with attached inventive crutch support S in the storage position;

Figure 2

a sectional side view of the Figure 1 ;

Figure 3

the view Figure 1 in transport position;

Figure 4

the view Figure 2 in transport position;

Figure 5

a side view of a crutch and another crutch in the storage position;

Figure 6

an end view of the Figure 5 ;

Figure 7

an enlarged partial view of FIG Figure 6 ;

Figure 8

a schematic view of an adjusting device.

Figure 1 shows a crutch tube K of a crutch, the crutch tube K comprising a rubber buffer 20 which rests on a base U. In the same way, two support legs 1.1, 1.2 can be seen, which are shown folded away from a tubular sleeve 2 and an actuating sleeve 3 towards the base U in the storage position. In this way, the crutch tube K is supported by the two spreadable support legs 1.1, 1.2 in such a way that the crutch tube K can be placed on a suitable surface U.

The position shown here is the storage position.

Next is in the Figure 1 shows how the actuating sleeve 3 forms a support leg system 8 for the spreadable support legs 1.1, 1.2, by means of which the travel path of the actuating sleeve 3 away from a substrate U is limited. The travel of the actuating sleeve 3 away from the substrate U is not visible here, but in the Figure 2 visible energy store 4 triggered.

Position information with regard to the subsurface U always relate to the proper use of the crutch, in which a rubber buffer 20 is regularly brought into contact with the subsurface U for support.

This means that the actuating sleeve 3 must be pressed against the force of the energy store 4 in the direction of the subsurface U. In addition, a fastener 5 is shown which, in the storage position, locks the actuating sleeve 3 to the tubular sleeve 2 and also fixes the position of the two support legs 1.1, 1.2 in relation to the substrate U.

The spreadable support leg 1.1 is operatively connected to the link element 15 and the second spreadable support leg 1.2 is operatively connected to a second link element 15.1.

In the Figure 2 is a sectional drawing of the Figure 1 shown. There is the expandable support leg 1.1. The Figure 2 results from the section on the section line AA 'from Figure 1 .

It can now be clearly seen here how the energy storage device 4 is arranged inside the actuating sleeve 3 against an end stop of the tubular sleeve 2, the energy of the energy storage device pressing away from a substrate U. In the storage position shown here, the energy store 4 is compressed because the actuating sleeve 3 has been pressed towards the rubber buffer 20 in the storage position.

The examiner can use one foot actuator 7, which is molded onto the actuating sleeve 3. The foot actuator 7 and a fixing shoulder 6 are arranged on one side of the actuating sleeve 3. In the parking position, the fastener shoulder 6 is retracted into the receiving opening 12 of the fastener 5.

In order to achieve a simpler retraction of the fastener shoulder 6 into the receiving opening 12, the fastener 5 has an entry surface 19 on the side facing the actuating sleeve 3, which is arranged as a ramp slightly flattened towards the resulting receiving opening 12. The fixing device 5 is pivoted from the tubular sleeve 2 to the actuating sleeve 3 by the force of a fixing energy storage device 10 in the parked position. For this purpose, the fastener 5 has an axis of rotation 9.

The fixing energy storage device 10 must be pressed against the force of the fixing energy storage device 10 towards the substrate U or the rubber buffer 20 by actuating the fixing lever 11 so that the receiving opening 12 is released and the fixing shoulder 6 can slide out of the receiving opening 12 so that the actuating sleeve 3 can be spaced from the fastener 5 and thereby fold up the two support legs 1.1, 1.2 away from the ground U to a support leg system 8 by a construction described in more detail below. The support leg system 8 is formed on the other side of the actuating sleeve 3.

The actuating sleeve 3 forms a shoulder 21. This shoulder 21 has a third pivot connection 16 which connects the shoulder 21 to a link element 15, which is a rod-shaped element here. The third pivot connection 16 is arranged on the other end of the link element 15. The second pivot connection 14 is arranged at one end of the link element 15.

The second pivot connection 14 in turn connects the link element 15 to the support leg 1.1. Form the support leg 1.1 and also the support leg 1.2 an L-shape, the long edge of the L-shape forming an angle of over 90 ° to the short edge of the L-shape. The second pivot connection 14 is arranged in the area of the transition from the short edge of the L-shape to the long edge of the L-shape. Finally, there is a first swivel connection 13 which is formed on a tubular shoulder 22 and thereby connects the tubular sleeve 2 to the support leg 1.1. The first pivot connection 13 is located on the short edge of the L-shape and here preferably in the area which is furthest away from the transition area or kink area to the long edge of the L-shape.

The tubular shoulder 22 and the shoulder 21 are arranged above or below one another. The shoulder 21 protrudes further from the actuating sleeve 3 than the tubular shoulder 22 does from the tubular sleeve 2. Overall, viewed from the crutch tube K, the shoulder 21 protrudes beyond the tubular shoulder 22 by a factor of 1.5 to 2.5, preferably 2.

In addition, an opening 17 in the tubular sleeve 2 can be seen in the first collar. The opening 17 is formed in the area of the tubular sleeve 2 that is not covered by the actuating sleeve 3 and cannot be driven over. In the opening 17 there is a screw 18 which can be screwed against the crutch tube K by means of a thread (not shown in detail) in order to fasten the actuating sleeve 3 to the crutch tube K in a clamping manner.

The actuating sleeve 3 and the tubular sleeve 2 represent an overall construction through which the crutch tube K extends.

If now the securing lever 11 of the securing device 5 is pressed towards the subsurface U, the dissolving receiving opening 12 releases the securing shoulder 6, so that the actuating sleeve 3 moves away from the subsurface U or the rubber buffer 20 and over the shoulder 21 and the third Pivoting connection 16 of the link element 15 pulls along, which in turn spreads over the second pivoting connection 14 1.1 takes along the support leg, which in turn is actuated via the first pivot connection 13. This means that the spreadable support leg 1.1 is pivoted away from the ground U towards the support leg system 8.

After entering the Figures 3 and 4th repeat the individual features, the repeated designation of each individual feature is dispensed with, whereby it is expressly pointed out that the statements on the individual features from the Figures 1 and 2 also for them Figures 3 and 4th should apply.

In the Figures 3 and 4th the transport position is shown, which only indicates the intended use as a walking aid. There, the two spreadable support legs 1.1, 1.2 are folded away from the ground U so that the crutch tube K can be used in the form of a walking aid.

The transport position differs in that the actuating sleeve 3 is pushed away from the fastener 5 by the energy store 4, so that the link element 15 is carried along by the shoulder 21. After the link element 15 has the second pivot connection 14 at one end and the third pivot connection 16 at the other end, when the link element 15 is pulled away through the shoulder 21, the second pivot connection 14 is moved past the first pivot connection 13. In the transport position, the second pivot connection 14 is located between the first pivot connection 13 and the third pivot connection 16. In the storage position, the first pivot connection 13 is located between the second pivot connection 14 and the third pivot connection 16.

In the transport position, the two spreadable support legs 1.1, 1.2 rest against the support leg system 8, which has corresponding receptacles.

In the Figure 4 it is shown how the receiving opening 12 is released against the force of the fixing force accumulator 10 by actuating the fixing lever 11 was because the fastener 5 was pivoted away from the crutch tube K about the axis of rotation 9 in the area of the receiving opening 12 and the fastener heel 6 slipped out of the receiving opening 12 and, due to the force of the energy accumulator 4, the actuating sleeve 3 was at a greater distance from the rubber buffer 20 or to the subsurface U or the fixer 5 has taken.

Figure 5 shows a side view of a crutch and another crutch in the storage position. The crutch has a crutch tube K and the other crutch has another crutch tube K2. In the storage position, the two crutch tubes K, K2 are not used, that is, they are parked. The crutch tube K has a crutch support S, the crutch support S also being shown in the storage position. The two spreadable support legs 1.1, 1.2 are folded out towards the substrate U. The crutch tube K and the further crutch tube K2 are connected to one another by a double clamp 25.

Figure 6 shows an end view of Figure 5 shown. There is shown a section A, which in the Figure 6 is shown enlarged. In the Figure 6 it can be clearly seen that the double clamp 25 in the exemplary embodiment shown here consists of two clamping channels 26, 27, the double clamp 25 being arranged between the crutch tube K and the further crutch tube K2.

In the storage position shown here, the crutch tube K is received in the first clamping channel 26 and the further crutch tube K2 is received in the second clamping channel 27.

Figure 8 shows a schematic view of a double clamp 25. It shows how the first clamping channel 26 can be pivoted to the second clamping channel 27 via a common axis of rotation 28. The axis of rotation 28 can be self-locking. <b> List of reference symbols </b> 1 Support leg 2 Pipe sleeve 3 Actuating sleeve 4th Energy storage 5 Festleper 6th Fixed heel 7th Foot actuator 8th Support leg lap 9 Axis of rotation 10 Locking mechanism 11 Locking lever 12th Receiving opening 13th first swivel connection 14th second swivel connection 15th Backdrop element 16 third pivot connection 17th opening 18th screw 19th Drive-in area 20th Rubber buffer 21st paragraph 22nd Tube heel 23 First covenant 24 Second fret 25th Double clamp 26th First clamping channel 27 Second clamping channel 28 Axis of rotation A. Cutout K Crutch tube U Underground S. Crutch support

Claims (14)

Crutch support (S) for a crutch tube (K) with an expandable support leg (1.1, 1.2),
characterized in that
a pipe sleeve (2) is present, an actuating sleeve (3) being prestressed to the pipe sleeve (2) via an energy storage device (4), the travel of the actuating sleeve (3) to the pipe sleeve (2) by a first collar on the pipe sleeve (2) is limited in the direction of a subsurface (U) and by a second collar away from the subsurface (U) through the support leg system (8), the tubular sleeve (2) comprising a fastener (5) and the actuating sleeve (3) a Has fixing heel (6) and a foot actuator (7), the actuating sleeve (3) being movable via a tongue and groove connection to the tubular sleeve (2), the actuating sleeve (3), the tubular sleeve (2) and the crutch tube ( K), with the actuating sleeve (3) having the fixing shoulder (6) and the foot actuator (7) on one side, the fixing shoulder (6) being retracted into the fixing (5) in the storage position. Crutch support (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastener (5) comprises an axis of rotation (9). Crutch support (S) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fastener (5) is spring-mounted to the tubular sleeve (2) via a fastening energy store (10). Crutch support (S) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastener (5) has a curve at one end and a fastening lever (11) at the other. Crutch support (S) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixture (5) has a receiving opening (12), the fixing shoulder (6) being retracted into the receiving opening (12) in the storage position. Crutch support (S) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spreadable support leg (1.1, 1.2) has an L-shape. Crutch support (S) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spreadable support leg (1.1, 1.2) has a first pivot connection (13) with the tubular sleeve (2), has a second pivot connection (14) with a link element (15) and that Link element (15) is in turn connected to the actuating sleeve (3) via a third pivot connection (16), the second pivot connection (14) being arranged on one end on the link element (15) and the third pivot connection (16) on the other end on the link element (15) is. Crutch support (S) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular sleeve (2) can be fixed to the crutch tube (K) via an opening (17) and a screw (18) inserted in the opening (17). Crutch support (S) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating sleeve (3) has a support leg support (8) on the other side. Retrofitting a crutch tube (K) with a crutch support (S) according to one of the preceding claims. Connecting device for a crutch tube (K) with a crutch support (S) and another crutch tube (K2), characterized in that a Double clamp (25) with two clamping channels (26, 27) between the crutch tube (K) and the further crutch tube (K2) can be arranged. Connecting device according to claim 11, characterized in that in the storage position the crutch tube (K) can be received in the first clamping channel (26) and the further crutch tube (K2) can be received in the second clamping channel (27). Connecting device according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the first clamping channel (26) can be pivoted to the second clamping channel (27) via a common axis of rotation (28). Connecting device according to one of Claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the further crutch tube (K2) has a further crutch support.

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