FR3110078A1 - HANDS-FREE STAND WITH MEANS OF LIMITING THE ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF A LEG PLATE IN RELATION TO A LEG FORCE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hands-free crutch (1) for assisting a user in his movement, comprising a leg plate (4) arranged to support a leg of the user and a strut to which the leg plate (4). ) is coupled, the strut and said leg plate (4) being surmounted by a crural support (5) shaped to support the user's thigh, characterized in that the leg plate (4) is articulated angularly relative to the crural support (5) on the one hand and relative to the strut on the other hand, the hands-free crutch (1) further comprising means for limiting the angular movement of the leg plate (4) relative to the strut according to an extreme angular position of use of the leg plate (4) corresponding to an angular position of said plate greater than or equal to 40 degrees relative to the strut. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

HANDS-FREE CRUTCH COMPRISING MEANS FOR LIMITING THE ANGULAR TRAVEL OF A LEG PLATE IN RELATION TO A LEG

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of crutches for assisting the mobility of a person.

The invention relates more particularly to a hands-free crutch intended to assist a user in his movement, comprising a leg plate arranged to support a leg of the user and a support leg to which the leg plate is coupled, the support leg and said leg plate being surmounted by a crural support shaped to support the user's thigh.

STATE OF THE ART

There are different types of crutches to assist people in their movement. Among these different types, there are so-called hands-free crutches. The advantage of hands-free crutches is that they free up the hands for tasks other than stabilizing the crutch as is the case with conventional crutches.

Among free-hand crutches, the one described in application WO2013/096484 is known in particular. This hands-free crutch 1 comprises a frame to which are coupled a thigh support, a leg plate and a foot.

The disadvantage of this crutch is that it keeps the leg in relation to the thigh in one and the same position, preventing any flexion and extension of the knee during the walking phase or even allowing angular positions other than that imposed structurally by the crutch. Furthermore, due to the immobilization of the knee, the user must swing the leg equipped with the crutch in order to walk, which generates a relatively unnatural gait. In addition, due again to the immobilization of the knee, the use of the crutch requires a certain physical effort. The crutch can then be perceived by certain users as a demanding, tiring and uncomfortable piece of equipment.

We also know from patent US8778031 a hands-free crutch which allows, unlike the crutch described above, to flex and extend the leg during ambulation. According to a particular embodiment, the crutch comprises an upper part comprising one or more accessories for fixing the thigh of a user, a leg support, a lower part and a prosthetic foot. In order to allow the leg to flex and extend, the upper part and the leg support are coupled together with a hinge so as to allow the upper part and the leg support to pivot l relative to each other while the leg support is held fixed relative to the strut.

Despite the flexing and extension of the leg made possible by the crutch of patent US8778031, the arrangement of the leg support relative to the support leg requires the user to swing the leg equipped with the crutch when moving . This results in an imbalance in the hips, an imbalance resulting in a relatively unnatural gait and which can generate discomfort for the user. It also has the disadvantage of placing the user's leg in flexed positions before a maximum extension of 90 degrees from the upper part and therefore can promote problems with venous return of the leg.

The invention aims to remedy the aforementioned problems by proposing a hands-free crutch allowing a user, according to need, either to use the movement of his own knee to control his movement or to allow the leg to be held in a desired angular position, while maintaining freedom of movement of his arms and hands.

The invention also aims to provide a hands-free crutch offering complete discharge of the leg not wearing the crutch.

The invention also aims to provide a hands-free crutch that can be adjusted according to the situation of use (walking, stationary position, seated position), and thus to improve the comfort of the user as well as to limit the problems of venous return. encountered with the crutches of the prior art.

The aim of the invention is to propose a stable hands-free crutch which would tend towards a natural gait and make it possible to adapt to the activity of the person by using different modes (active mode in which the person uses the crutch to walk, rest mode in which the person is stationary, in a standing position, storage mode).

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a hands-free crutch intended to assist a user in his movement, comprising a leg plate arranged to support a leg of the user and a strut to which the plate leg is coupled, the strut and the said leg plate being surmounted by a crural support shaped to support the thigh of the user, characterized in that the leg plate is articulated angularly with respect to the crural support on the one hand and relative to the strut on the other hand, the hands-free crutch further comprising means for limiting the angular displacement of the leg plate relative to the strut according to an extreme angular position of use of the leg plate corresponding to an angular position of the leg plate greater than or equal to 40 degrees relative to the support leg.

• des positions angulaires d’utilisation du plateau jambier dans la limite de la position angulaire extrême d’utilisation,
• une position angulaire dite de repos correspondant à une position du plateau jambier comprise entre 40 et 60 degrés, et de préférence de l’ordre de 50 degrés, et
• une position de rangement correspondant à une position angulaire du plateau jambier supérieure ou égale à 150 degrés par rapport à par rapport à la jambe de force.

Advantageously, the hands-free crutch comprises a mechanism for tilting the leg plate that can be maneuvered to move the leg plate angularly between:

• angular positions of use of the leg plate within the limit of the extreme angular position of use,
• a so-called resting angular position corresponding to a position of the leg plate of between 40 and 60 degrees, and preferably of the order of 50 degrees, and
• a storage position corresponding to an angular position of the leg plate greater than or equal to 150 degrees relative to relative to the strut.

More generally, the angular position of rest corresponds to the minimum possible angulation with respect to the support leg so that the foot does not touch the ground.

Advantageously, the extreme angular position of use of the leg plate corresponds to the angular position of rest.

Advantageously, the angular positions of use of the leg plate are between 40 and 90 degrees with respect to the support leg.

According to a particular embodiment, the mechanism for tilting the leg plate is maneuverable between an unlocked position in which the leg plate is angularly movable between the extreme angular position of use and the storage position and locked positions in which the plate leg is blocked in the inclination position chosen from among the angular positions of use of the leg plate within the limit of the extreme angular position of use.

According to a preferred embodiment, the strut comprises a first support assembly comprising two uprights surmounted by the crural support and interconnected by an axis spacer (A) to which the leg plate is coupled articulated along the axis (A) and a second support assembly comprising two uprights connected to the leg plate via the tilt mechanism.

Advantageously, the tilting mechanism comprises a spacer mounted to slide along the two uprights of the second support assembly and coupled to the leg plate by a sliding connection ensuring a translational movement in the mid-sagittal plane of the hands-free crutch.

Advantageously, the hands-free crutch includes means for abutting the spacer of the tilt mechanism, said abutting means constituting the means for limiting the angular travel of the leg plate.

Advantageously, the leg plate is movable along said uprights of the first support assembly and along the uprights of the second support assembly in a decoupled manner.

Advantageously, the uprights of the first support assembly are offset sagittally forward relative to the uprights of the second support assembly. This arrangement has the advantage of distributing the weight of the wearer of the hands-free crutch and thus offering improved stability.

Advantageously, the strut is provided at the end with an axis foot (D) coplanar with the uprights of the second support assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of the invention which will follow with reference to the appended figures and in which:
There shows a front perspective view of a hands-free crutch according to an exemplary embodiment;
There shows a perspective view from behind of the stand of the ;
There shows a perspective view from below of the hands-free crutch of the ;
There shows a perspective view of the hands-free crutch of the in the folded position;
There shows a side view of the hands-free kickstand of the ;
There shows the hands-free crutch of the worn by a person according to a specific inclination of the leg plate;
There shows the hands-free crutch of the carried by a person according to another example of inclination of the leg plate;
There represents a diagram of the three modes of use of the hands-free crutch of the .

The directional terms used in the following description, such as "front", "front", "rear", must be understood in the context of a standing human being wearing the hands-free crutch according to the invention.

The angular positions are given, in the following description, in relation to the axis of the support leg corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the hands-free crutch. In the example described, the axis of the support leg considered is the vertical axis when the stand is in the median support position with the ground. By median support position with the ground, we mean the position of the landing gear when the contact of its foot with the ground is such that the resultant of the forces is equal to zero. Figures 1, 2 and 4 to 7 show the stand in the middle support position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In relation to the figures, a hands-free crutch 1 is described according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

The hands-free crutch 1 comprises a support structure 2 mounted on a foot 3, on which a leg plate 4 and a crural support 5 are mounted.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support structure 2 comprises a first support assembly of two uprights 20, 22 interconnected by a spacer 21 of axis A on which the leg plate 4 is mounted. As will be described later, the leg plate 4 is rotatably mounted on said spacer 21 around the axis A shown on the . In the example illustrated, the two uprights 20, 22 extend symmetrically with respect to the mid-sagittal plane of the crutch while the spacer 21 extends perpendicular to the mid-sagittal plane of the crutch. In the present application, the median sagittal plane of the crutch is understood to mean the plane corresponding to the vertical plane passing axially through the leg plate 4 when the leg is fixed on the crutch.

Advantageously, the spacer 21 is slidably mounted along the uprights 20, 22. In the example shown, the spacer 21 is connected to the uprights 20, 22 by tubular T-shaped connecting elements 7. Each upright 20, 22 is provided with means 8 for abutting the spacer 21 blocking the sliding movement of the spacer 21 along said uprights 20, 22. In the example illustrated, the abutting means 8 comprise two retaining rings arranged around the uprights 20, 22, under the connecting elements 7. The abutment means 8 are adjustable in height on the uprights 20, 22. The leg plate 4 being integral with the spacer 21, the movement of the spacer 21 together with the abutment means 8 thus make it possible to adjust the leg plate 4 to the desired height.

The uprights 20, 22 are advantageously telescopic. They consist of two tubular parts 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B mounted to slide one inside the other. Each tubular part 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B comprises holes 23 distributed over all or part of their length as well as a pin 24 for locking the telescopic parts relative to each other by inserting said locking pin 24 through holes in each of the tubular parts placed opposite each other. This thus makes it possible to adjust the length of the uprights 20, 22 to the height of the crural support 5 desired in order to adapt the hands-free crutch 1 to the user wearing the hands-free crutch and in particular to the length of his thigh.

The support structure 2 comprises a second support assembly of two uprights 60, 62 interconnected by a spacer 61. Like the uprights 20, 22 and the spacer 21 of the first support assembly, the uprights 60, 62, in the vertical example illustrated, advantageously extend symmetrically with respect to the sagittal median plane and the spacer 61 is slidably mounted along the uprights 60, 62. In the example illustrated, the spacer 61 is connected to the secondary uprights 60, 62 by connecting elements 9 tubular T.

In order to lock the spacer 61 in position on the uprights 60, 62, locking means 24 are provided. In the example illustrated, the blocking means 24 comprise indexing fingers 24a capable of being inserted into orifices made along the uprights 60, 62. Thus, any movement of the spacer 61 on the uprights 60, 62 is prevented. The hands-free crutch 1 further comprises means making it possible to limit the angular movement of the leg plate relative to the support leg, in order to avoid possible injury to the user when wearing the crutch. The means for limiting the angular displacement are arranged to prevent an inclination of the leg plate 4 going beyond an extreme position of use of the leg plate which corresponds to an angular position of said plate greater than or equal to 60 degrees with respect to the strenght leg. In the example illustrated, the means for limiting the angular displacement comprise the blocking means described above, the extreme angular position being defined by the orifice of each of the uprights 60, 62 located the lowest. Advantageously, the extreme position corresponds to the so-called rest mode, and corresponds to the minimum possible angulation with respect to the support leg so that the foot does not touch the ground.

Provision may also be made for abutment means similar to those used to block the sliding of the spacer 21. In this case, the abutment means may constitute means limiting the angular movement of the leg plate 4. The latter can pivot until the connecting elements 9 come into abutment on the abutment means. The hands-free crutch can be equipped according to the needs of the user with blocking means 24 and/or with abutment means.

The uprights of the first and second support assemblies are mounted on a common base. The first and second support assemblies of the support structure 2 define the strut of the hands-free crutch 1.

The leg plate 4 is arranged to receive and support a leg of the user, the knee being arranged on the front side of the support structure while the foot 3 is oriented towards the rear of the crutch, on the side opposite to the support structure. . The leg plate 4 advantageously has a curved shape to conform to the contour of the leg, thus contributing to the stability and control of the hands-free crutch 1.

The leg plate 4 is mounted articulated on the spacer 21 of the support structure 2, pivoting around the axis A of said spacer. It is also connected to the spacer 61 of the second support assembly by a sliding connection 11 arranged to ensure translational movement in the sagittal median plane. In the illustrated embodiment, the sliding link 11 comprises a longitudinal guide rail 12 fixed under the leg plate 4 and a sliding shoe 13 carried by the spacer 61. The sliding shoe 13 is hingedly mounted on the spacer 61 ( ).

The spacer 61 and the slide connection 11 thus form a mechanism allowing the inclination of the leg plate 4. As is understood, the tilting mechanism is maneuverable between an unlocked position allowing the angular movement of the leg plate 4, and a plurality of locked positions allowing the leg plate 4 to be locked in a chosen inclination position within the limit of the extreme angular position of use. The unlocked position will be obtained by removing the locking means 24, in the example the indexing fingers 24a, the locking position being obtained by placing the indexing fingers in one of the holes following the position d desired inclination and/or any other equivalent means provided for this purpose. The blocking can be performed in a folded position of the leg plate 4 as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 (storage mode) or in a desired wearing position corresponding to the active mode (horizontal position or any other angular position advantageously between 60 and 90 degrees from the strut as shown in Figures 6 and 7). According to another possible use, provision may be made for the leg plate 4 to be, not locked in a given angular position, but free to pivot within the limit of the extreme angular position of use.

With regard to the storage position, the leg plate 4, in the example shown, is raised, causing the spacer 21 to slide downwards along the uprights 20 while the spacer 61 goes up along the uprights 60, 62 to then be locked in position via the indexing fingers. Advantageously, the optimal storage position has an inclination relative to the strut greater than or equal to 150 degrees.

• en mode actif, le plateau jambier 4 de la béquille mains-libres 1 présente une position angulaire α₁comprise entre 40 et 90 degrés. Préférentiellement, le plateau jambier a est positionné à 90 degrés par rapport à la jambe de force. Il peut être réglé cependant suivant des positions différentes comprise entre 40 et 90 degrés dans la limite de la position angulaire extrême comme cela est représenté par les positions angulaires en pointillées.
• en mode repos, le plateau jambier 4 de la béquille mains-libres 1 présente une position angulaire α₂comprise entre 40 et 60 degrés, et de préférence 50 degrés.
• en mode rangement, le plateau jambier 4 de la béquille mains-libres 1 présente une position angulaire α₃supérieure ou également à 150 degrés.

There schematizes the three modes of use of the hands-free crutch and the associated positions of the leg plate 4. Thus:

• in active mode, the leg plate 4 of the hands-free crutch 1 has an angular position α ₁ of between 40 and 90 degrees. Preferably, the leg plate a is positioned at 90 degrees with respect to the force leg. It can however be adjusted according to different positions between 40 and 90 degrees within the limit of the extreme angular position as shown by the dotted angular positions.
• in rest mode, the leg plate 4 of the hands-free crutch 1 has an angular position α ₂ of between 40 and 60 degrees, and preferably 50 degrees.
• in storage mode, the leg plate 4 of the hands-free crutch 1 has an angular position α ₃ greater than or also at 150 degrees.

As shown in the figures (see in particular the ), the leg plate 4 comprises a system for attaching a strap, comprising two attachments 40, 41 arranged on either side of the leg plate 4 for attaching a strap provided with two attachments capable of cooperating with the fasteners 40, 41 of the leg plate 4. The fasteners 40, 41 are advantageously located towards the rear of the leg plate 4 to ensure satisfactory support for the leg.

The crural support 5 is mounted integral at the level of the upper ends of the uprights 20, 22 of the support structure 2. It comprises a front part 51 on which the front face of the thigh is intended to come to rest when the hands-free crutch 1 is carried by the user. The front part 51 is extended by two lateral extensions 50, 52 advantageously mounted so as to be able to rotate with respect to the front part 51 around respectively a vertical axis of rotation ( , axes B and C). The spacing of the lateral extensions 50, 52 can thus be adjusted to the size and shape of the thigh. The crural support 5 can thus be adjusted to the morphology of the user's thigh.

The lateral extensions 50, 52 are respectively provided at their end with a clip 53, 54, as illustrated in the , to allow the attachment of a strap equipped with two fasteners capable of cooperating with the fasteners 53, 54 of the side extensions 50, 52.

The hands-free crutch 1 further comprises a handle 14 extending forward from the support structure 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 14 is carried by the crural support 5 and is advantageously formed of a alone with the front part 51.

As illustrated in the figures, the foot 3, surmounted by the base 15 bearing the support structure 2, has an axis D extending in the plane defined by the secondary uprights 60, 62 of the support structure 2. The uprights 20, 22 are for their part offset axially with respect to the additional uprights 60, 62, towards the front of the support structure 2, and each connected to the base 15 by an angled part.

The invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that the person skilled in the art is able to carry out different variant embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (11)

Hands-free crutch (1) intended to assist a user in his movement, comprising a leg plate (4) arranged to support a leg of the user and a strut to which the leg plate (4) is coupled, the leg force and said leg plate (4) being surmounted by a crural support (5) shaped to support the thigh of the user, characterized in that the leg plate (4) is articulated angularly with respect to the crural support (5) on the one hand and with respect to the strut on the other hand, the hands-free crutch (1) further comprising means for limiting the angular movement of the leg plate (4) with respect to the strut following an extreme angular position of use of the leg plate (4) corresponding to an angular position of said plate greater than or equal to 40 degrees relative to the strut. Hands-free crutch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a mechanism for inclination of the leg plate (4) maneuverable to angularly move the leg plate (4) between angular positions of use of the leg plate (4) within the limit of the extreme angular position of use, a so-called angular position of rest corresponding to a position of the leg plate between 40 and 60 degrees, and preferably of the order of 50 degrees, and a position of storage corresponding to an angular position of the leg plate (4) greater than or equal to 150 degrees relative to the support leg. Hands-free crutch (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the extreme angular position of use of the leg plate corresponds to the angular position of rest. Hands-free crutch (1) according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterized in that the angular positions of use of the leg plate (4) are between 40 and 90 degrees with respect to the support leg. Hands-free crutch (1) according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the mechanism for tilting the leg plate (4) can be maneuvered between:

• an unlocked position in which the leg plate (4) is angularly movable between the extreme angular position of use and the storage position and
• locked positions in which the leg plate (4) is blocked in a tilt position chosen from among the angular positions of use of the leg plate (4) within the limit of the extreme angular position of use.

Hands-free crutch (1) according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the strut comprises a first support assembly comprising two uprights (20, 22) surmounted by the crural support (5) and connected between them by a spacer (21) of axis (A) to which the leg plate (4) is coupled articulated along the axis (A) and a second support assembly comprising two uprights (60, 62) connected to the leg plate ( 4) through the tilt mechanism. Hands-free crutch (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tilting mechanism comprises a spacer (61) mounted to slide along the two uprights (60, 62) of the second support assembly and coupled to the leg plate (4 ) by a sliding connection (11) ensuring a translational movement in the mid-sagittal plane of the hands-free crutch (1). Hands-free crutch (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises means for abutting the spacer (61) of the tilting mechanism, the said abutting means constituting the means for limiting the angular stroke of the leg plate (4). Hands-free crutch (1) according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the leg plate (4) is movable along the uprights (20, 22) of the first support assembly and along the uprights (60 , 62) of the second support assembly in a decoupled manner. Hands-free crutch (1) according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the uprights (20, 22) of the first support assembly are offset sagittally forwards with respect to the uprights (60, 62) of the second carrier assembly. Hands-free crutch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strut is provided at the end with a foot (3) of axis (D) coplanar with the uprights (60, 62) of the second carrier assembly.